Unfortunately, there are not enough troops to go around. Moreover, this type of duty would dull a unit's tactical combat skills.
That may or may not be true - but if we can spend billions of dollars and use aircraft carriers to help out militant Muslims in Indonesia after a tidal wave, we can handle the slight loss of capability... and if things heat up, the units might get an opportunity to hone their sniper skills.
"Unfortunately, there are not enough troops to go around. Moreover, this type of duty would dull a unit's tactical combat skills."
Depends, ...... designating illegal border crossing as an attack on the US, then picking off the vermin as they try to get in will make good target practice.
With all due respect -- that's baloney.
It's nothing but a canard by the open border and pro illegal crowd and has been factually disproved by many, including blow hard in chief, Bill O'Reilly.
For one it would be the NG mainly guarding the borders, and who are under the direct control of the Governors of their states. They could call them up 'in a heart beat'. And again, it's been proved that there's more than enough NG units to do the job.
As to dulling UA Army regulars combat skills, that's quite a leap of logic. If the deserts of AZ, NM & Texas don't mirror the Middle East, what does? But as to dulling a unit how's this:
in 'the old days', Ft Hood TEXAS was home to the 3rd Armored Division which was a "COLD WEATHER" unit 'trained' to fight the commies in Europe and they 'trained' in the sweltering Texas summer sun in FULL WINTER GEAR (my cousin Larry almost died of heat stroke and still hates Texas). So much for dulling a unit.
Also, as I recall there's some mountains there too in the SW (Rockies?) and right now the 10th Mountain Division is stationed in Fort Drum, NEW YORK. That was their problem in Afghanistan - they couldn't handle the terrain until they got acclimated. So moving the 10th Mountain Division to the MOUNTAINS of the SW might make a tad more sense, no?
And just in case you bring up the Posse Comitatus Act as many incorrectly do to cloud the issue (not that you are), it doesn't apply. Illegals aren't US citizens ergo they can be 'arrested' by our Military.
I don't agree. It would take less than 20,000 to do the job, even working in three shifts, 24/7. After all, they are patrolling in vehicles and manning observation posts, not fighting battles (we hope). These could be a mix of active duty and guard/reserve troops.
The southern border is about 2,000 miles long. Some of it is inaccessible for border crossers for a variety of reasons. Most of the crossing routes are long-established and can be plugged with a determined effort and a constant presence.
Put the detainees in tent cities, don't catch and release them for a later hearing.
Meanwhile, attack the sources of their jobs here in this country so there is less incentive. This needs to be an multi-pronged effort.
Nobody says doing this is easy or foolproof, but it is something which we can and should do. The Border Patrol is simply outnumbered and overstretched. Massive reinforcements are needed, but the bulk need not be bilingual or trained as customs agents but instead be already trained troops. Soldiers with weapons and some additional training can do the grunt work of spotting and rounding up the vast majority of border crashers. It won't be airtight, but it will discourage most illegals from trying to get in because if they're caught they lose their coyote fee and personal freedom (and ability to make money) for a while.
Enough is enough. We have a military which is very good and trained at protecting other people's borders. Let's use them here.
Not if covert operations were carried out to combat the drug runners, drug lords, and coyotes human smullgers who all are known to be quite violent and threatening.
Why does it have to be the military? Just give enough manpower to the Border Patrol and someone with the gonads to effectively run it.
Then why is an Army unit from Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah GA, currently training on the New Mexico border with JTF-North?
In preparation for rotation to Iraq?
Do you think the Army is stupid enough to send a unit out to dull its tactical skills before sending them into combat?
I certainly don't. I saw us do some dumb things during the 20 years I was in, but this isn't one of them.
Nah. There are enough coyotes and drug runners to keep the troops shooting expert.