Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group
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what’s happening; to be able to deploy and re-deploy resources against<br />
the greatest risks.<br />
Q: With the recently passed FAA re-authorization act, clearing<br />
domestic airspace for widespread UAS use, how will this benefit<br />
CBP’s aerial surveillance capabilities?<br />
A: It’s critical; without the certificates of authorization granted by the<br />
FAA, we wouldn’t be able to operate in any airspace. CBP currently<br />
has coverage along the southern border from the Arizona state line<br />
all the way east and south through Texas, and two ground control stations<br />
that operate both launch and recovery operations. One is in Fort<br />
Huachuca, Ariz., and the other one is in Corpus Christi. We have one<br />
on the northern border in North Dakota, which gives us the ability to<br />
launch and recover up north as well.<br />
During the last flooding of the Red River, CBP’s Predators were able<br />
to provide much-needed downstreaming video to the first responders<br />
and rescuers to get a sense of what the area looked like and how<br />
to deploy, so it was a really good tool for the leadership. CBP has an<br />
agreement with FAA in areas where we may not have a certificate of<br />
authorization to fly. There are protocols in place that, given certain<br />
circumstances from a national security standpoint, we can get waivers<br />
to fly in those areas on a case by case basis.<br />
Q: Can you describe the training program that is offered by the<br />
<strong>Border</strong> Patrol Academy for new <strong>Border</strong> Patrol agents?<br />
2nd Annual<br />
<strong>Border</strong><br />
Management<br />
Conference &<br />
Technology Expo<br />
October 15th – 17th, 2012<br />
Judson F William Convention<br />
Center, El Paso, TX<br />
Information, Integration, and Rapid Response<br />
Event Features:<br />
• Get exclusive access to the<br />
latest technology needed to<br />
secure U.S. land, air and<br />
maritime borders<br />
• Interact with over 100 vendors and<br />
thousands of attendees on the exhibit hall fl oor<br />
• Hear from over 30 speakers addressing the<br />
hottest issues in border management and<br />
security including Thomas Winkowski,<br />
Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and<br />
<strong>Border</strong> Protection and <strong>Michael</strong> <strong>Fisher</strong>,<br />
Chief, U.S. <strong>Border</strong> Patrol.<br />
Register today to save!<br />
www.<strong>Border</strong>TechExpo.com<br />
20 | BCD 1.1<br />
A: Our basic academy for <strong>Border</strong> Patrol Agents is in Artesia, N.M. It’s a<br />
55/40 program, meaning the first 55 days covers all the certifications<br />
and instruction that most law enforcement personnel get: firearms<br />
training, law studies, driver training and physical standards training.<br />
After successful completion of the first 55 days of training, <strong>Border</strong><br />
Patrol agents transition to Spanish language training and must<br />
pass a language proficiency test. When an agent passes the language<br />
test, he/she rotates to his/her assigned station and will be part of the<br />
field training unit and complete the one year probation. If a border<br />
patrol agent is not able to pass the language proficiency test, he or<br />
she would stay at the academy for an additional 40 days of language<br />
proficiency training, and then go to their field training units in the<br />
field.<br />
Q: What are the C4ISR priorities for U.S. <strong>Border</strong> Patrol?<br />
A: The priorities for the <strong>Border</strong> Patrol are high-risk areas. In our<br />
world, the high-risk areas are where we know people and/or contraband<br />
are entering illegally in between the ports of entry. It could<br />
be a priority based on geography, it could be a priority based on a<br />
high value target. If we have information that leads us to believe an<br />
individual or group of individuals is intending to cross in a particular<br />
area, that will drive our priorities. It’s really driven by information<br />
and intelligence which identifies those areas and individuals that we<br />
want to look at and need to be able to identify and classify. This type<br />
of information would make up target decks—for our Predator Bs, for<br />
instance. Once you have the information, the next thing is integration.<br />
We’re really talking about joint planning and execution against<br />
some of those areas or targets. The third piece, rapid response, is the<br />
capability to deploy manpower and resources to those areas of highest<br />
risk.<br />
Q: With all this new array of technology and capability, what is<br />
the most beneficial for our national security and border security<br />
mission?<br />
A: The <strong>Border</strong> Patrol agent. Think of it in terms of the “last 50 feet.”<br />
We have within this organization an increase in technology. We have<br />
stuff that, quite frankly, I didn’t think I’d ever see in my career as a<br />
<strong>Border</strong> Patrol agent. I think a lot of people think about the technology,<br />
whether it’s the Predator Bs, the radar systems—we’ve got more<br />
feeds on things that are happening out there, so I think a lot of people<br />
tend to think that we just need more of that. But when you think<br />
of the last 50 feet, it matters not what type of sensing and queuing<br />
capability we have. It doesn’t matter whether we have primary fence<br />
or secondary fence. It doesn’t matter how many unattended ground<br />
sensors we have. Because at the end of the day, in order to identify<br />
and classify and stop a particular threat—individuals who are coming<br />
between the ports of entry for a variety of reasons, some of whom<br />
want to do harm to this country—it’s going to take a <strong>Border</strong> Patrol<br />
agent getting out of a vehicle, dismounting from a horse, or being<br />
inserted by a helicopter to close that last 50 feet to be able to identify,<br />
classify and stop that threat. There is no technology that I have seen<br />
that’s going to be able to close that 50 feet other than the <strong>Border</strong><br />
Patrol agents. In my estimation, they are and will continue to be the<br />
most valuable asset that we have in this organization, which is the<br />
primary reason that identifying, developing and training future leaders<br />
of this organization is so critical and thematic throughout our<br />
strategic plan. O<br />
www.BCD-kmi.com