Vet News: New York National Guard Provides Convention Protection

ARLINGTON, Va., August 25, 2004 -- The New York National Guard is standing up and being counted, with some significant numbers, for the Republican National Convention as part of the Guard’s homeland security and defense mission.

More than 1,000 Guard members from the Empire State will be on duty during the convention that will take place in New York City from Aug. 30-Sept. 2. The Guard troops will support of an extensive civilian security effort to deter terrorism and maintain order.

The Guard is supporting lead federal agencies, such as the U.S. Secret Service, during the National Special Security Event as part of its obligation to protect the homeland, whether against natural disaster or terrorist threat, whether at home or abroad, officials have pointed out.

“We are ready, willing and able to deter, defend against, and defeat terrorist activities,” Guard officials have stated. ”The National Guard has developed enhanced capabilities and diversified readiness that can save American lives.”

New York Guard members will work in direct support of the New York Police Department as well as in general support of the event. Guard members from other states, including Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan and Kentucky, will also be on duty in New York and in nearby New Jersey.

Army Guard Col. F. David Sheppard, the New York Guard’s deputy adjutant general, will have overall command of a joint task force that will include all military forces on state Title 32 and federal Title 10 status for the convention to streamline that operation and make it more flexible.

That command structure, under National Guard leadership, has already been successfully implemented this summer during the Group of Eight economic summit in Georgia and during the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld approved the arrangement, which required the endorsements of President George Bush and New York Gov. George Pataki, on Aug. 18.

New York Guard members are supporting the civil authorities through their roles in the joint task force, critical infrastructure protection and maritime security, and by being ready to respond to attacks with weapons of mass destruction.

Being prepared for terrorist attacks is nothing new for New York Guard members considering that New York City has been at the Orange, or high, threat level since the World Trade Center was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

Guard members continuously train, coordinate and exercise with local and state emergency responders throughout the country.

The New York Guard’s 2nd Civil Support Team will be prepared, as always, to test disaster sites for biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear agents for emergency responders - police officers, firefighters, and medical personnel - in the event of a weapons of mass destruction incident.

Civil support teams from four other states are also taking part in the security force that is in line with the National Guard’s pledge to aggressively deter and defend against threats to this country at home and abroad.

SOURCE: VNIS