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National Guard in the War on Drugs

NCJ Number
161675
Journal
Military Review Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 41-48
Author(s)
H R Temple Jr; W L Stewart
Date Published
1990
Length
90 pages
Annotation
The National Guard is in a unique position to contribute to drug law enforcement efforts and can assist law enforcement agencies in several areas.
Abstract
The National Guard's involvement in the war on drugs began in 1977 in Hawaii when it provided four helicopters to Operation Green Harvest to detect marijuana fields, transport law enforcement personnel to the fields, and transport confiscated illicit drugs. Based on a 1989 congressional mandate, the National Guard Bureau established a national structure in the Office of Military Support to coordinate and support drug law enforcement operations. The Office of Military Support reviews all drug enforcement plans to ensure that the proposed mission and concept of operation are consistent with National Guard policy and meet prescribed legal, funding, and regulatory requirements. Operations include interdiction through cargo inspection, ground/air surveillance, aerial and infrared photo reconnaissance, and radar; eradication through the use of aerial reconnaissance and transportation; and urban and metropolitan enforcement through military police traffic control, information processing support, aerial command and control platforms, aerial and ground transportation, aerial observation, and specialized training. Forty States have loaned specialized types of military equipment to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to conduct antidrug operations. During fiscal year 1989, the National Guard from 53 States and territories supported 1,811 drug interdiction and eradication operations. A July 1989 evaluation concluded that the National Guard can assist drug law enforcement in several specific ways and that its role must remain that of support. Photographs