United States Navy Customs
U.S. Navy Customs Battalion | |
---|---|
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Navy |
Type | Customs Battalion |
Role | Customs and Inspection |
Size | One battalion |
Mascot(s) | Octopus |
The United States Navy Customs mission is one that is assigned to the Commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG). The mission is overseen in the Central Command Theater of Operations by Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward Headquarters, as well as the Commander, USCENTCOM.
The Navy Customs mission is detailed by Navy Reserves and augmented by active duty navy, they are mobilized for a period of 240 days. Upon receipt of orders for mobilization, the reserve members report to a Navy Mobilization Processing Site for processing and screening to ensure they are fit for duty, and have no issues that will preclude them from carrying out their primary mission. This process usually takes approximately two weeks from when they report in, until they are sent to NAVELSG for training.
Upon arrival at NAVELSG, the sailors undergo a month of training in everything they need to know to operate in the USCENTCOM theater of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. They are trained in the use of weapons, driving tactical vehicles, first aid, small unit tactics, and the procedures and standards required of items and personnel re-entering the United States from overseas. Upon completion of training, they are certified as Customs Border Clearance Agents, with the authority to carry out customs inspection on equipment and personnel within USCENTCOM only.
Upon arrival in the theater of operations, all personnel check in with the US Army Personnel Support Battalion located at the Army Life Support Area (ALSA), Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. From there, each company then heads to its base of operations, either at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the Kuwait Naval Base, Ali Al Salem, and Camp Beuhring, Camp Virginia or they stay at ALSA for further training before deploying to Balad, Iraq.
During their deployment, a customs mission will examine the baggage of approximately 226,000 passengers (nearly half a million bags), inspect 5,000 - 15,000 vehicles and aircraft, 50,000 - 150,000 pieces of equipment and 20,000 - 40,000 containers. Sailors usually deploy for these missions for approximately eight to nine months in country. The first two weeks of their time in country is spent settling into their new homes, and performing training and gaining qualifications that could not be performed in the United States.
To date, there have been ten Customs Battalions, with NAVELSG Forward KILO currently in theater. They are:
Navy Customs Battalion Oscar
Navy Customs Battalion Papa
Navy Customs Battalion Quebec
Navy Customs Battalion Romeo
Navy Customs Battalion Sierra
Navy Customs Battalion Tango
NAVELSG FWD HOTEL
NAVELSG FWD INDIA
NAVELSG FWD JULIET
NAVELSG FWD KILO (deployed as of December 2009)
NAVELSG FWD LIMA (deployed as of July 2010)
OPSEC Always.