I agree, an excellent article that addresses SOME of the problems facing the lone Officer/Agent in the field. The mission, being what it is, is incredibly dangerous due to the variables confronted - alone. This single issue - alone - is, to me, an issue that needs to be corrected ASAP, especially with the recent murder of the BPA. In the military if there is a need to investigate something that went "bump" in the night, in most cases, a team/squad would be used. Few missions use a single operative, a single sniper element comes to mind, but then again, our mission was different than BP. If you guys could use a sniper element, things might be a little more simple.
Alone in the dark is a crappy place to be, the radio cannot watch your six, and backup aint worth a damn if it isn't there.
Cheers
__________________ Before removing the mote from thy neighbors eye; attend to a beam of thine own.
I've often said BP should operate in a quasi-military manner.
- 2 days/week rotation to the field and bivouac onsite.
- 2 vehicles, dune buggy or SUV (whatever terrain dictates).
- 2 of those people should be a designated marksman (sniper) equipped with a .308 minimum rifle, a .50 BMG should be optional.
- Equip them with smoke and incindiary grenades, illum flares and any applicable optic devices.
- 2-man patrols while the other two stay at the bivouac site unless called out by the patrol team.
- The ones that aren't snipers should be equipped with .308 semi-auto combat rifles.
- Unknown vehicles or vehicles seen crossing the border should be stopped with several rounds fired into the engine compartment/wheel well area and retina-searing light shined into the passenger compartment. If the vehicle fails to stop, do whatever it takes to MAKE it stop.
- Logistical arrangements would be made for transport vans to respond to one of several pre-determined locations to retrieve and begin processing the people captured.
Now, this is just the viewpoint of a citizen who also happens to be a cop and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, so take it for what it's worth. :D
Of every one hundred men, ten should not even be here. Eighty are nothing but targets. Nine are real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the One... One of them is a Warrior... He will bring the others back.
I agree 100%, the threat has progressed to a level that (in my opinion) should be met with a strong military operation. Army here, but I agree with the Devil Dog's assessment - Semper Fi - I loved all the fun attention of Quantico as an Army sniper....Marines are a blast!
Force on force, be willing and committed to doing whatever is necessary to complete the mission in securing the Nation. "Do what has to be done"
__________________ Before removing the mote from thy neighbors eye; attend to a beam of thine own.
With what they have to deal with, Rogue Mexican Army units, and crazy druglord cronies they should operate in a militaristic manner. At least pair 'em up and give up some automatic weapons. If any agency is outgunned, it's them.
__________________ One great thing about America?
That I can even question that.
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