An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 11, 2006

Guard called to airports to augment security after U.K. terrorist plot foiled

By Compiled from reports

ARLINGTON, Va. - In the wake of an Aug. 10 announcement by British authorities that they arrested several people involved in a plot to blow up commercial airliners, the governors of three states activated Guardsmen to augment security at several airports across the country.

The governors of Massachusetts, California and New York had called up troops to help secure several airports in respective states in support of local law enforcement agencies.

Others governors, including Alaska’s, had alerted their Guard forces to be ready to assist.

This came as U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the terror level for flights from Great Britain to red (severe).

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney called Guardmembers up to state active duty to assist at Logan International Airport. They were to support the State Police, the Transportation Security Administration, Massport (Massachusetts Port Authority) and other state public safety personnel. All forces involved in the security augmentation mission were to receive training from the TSA and Massport.

“I appreciate your honor and integrity … willingness to respond so quickly to the emergency that we face." said Governor Romney to about 50 members of the 972nd Military Police Company deployed to Logan to man new security checkpoints.

“This kind of rapid and robust support for public safety agencies is at the heart of the National Guard’s capabilities, experience and citizen-soldier heritage.” said Brig. Gen. Oliver J. Mason, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard.

National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in California had received authorization from the governor to utilize Soldiers in state active duty to support TSA security.

New York had received the governor’s authorization to mobilize an additional 75 Soldiers to supplement critical infrastructure security that was already in place.

“We have offered the mayor, New York City law enforcement and the Port Authority any additional assistance they might need to further support and bolster their security efforts including offering to increase National Guard presence at our two airports,” said Governor George Pataki in a statement Aug. 10.

These call-ups came as all domestic flights in the United States were under orange alert, the Department of Homeland Security’s second highest security ranking. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said the British plot involved the use of liquid explosives that could be carried on board aircraft disguised as beverages, electronic devices and other common objects.

It’s not the first time the National Guard has been called up to help secure airports. After the 9/11 attacks, 52 states and territories activated over 7,000 Guardsmen for similar missions in 442 airports across the country.

 

 

Related Articles
Cara Loken, Reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard and spouse of John Loken, commander of the 155th Maintenance Group, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year. The award recognizes the contributions of spouses of Air Force personnel across Active Duty, Guard and Reserve components.
Nebraska Woman is Air National Guard Spouse of the Year
By Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Nielsen, | Feb. 14, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. - Cara Loken, reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year.This prestigious Air Force...

The 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, marks the arrival of its new helicopter, a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II, Jan. 31, 2025, at Moffett Air National Guard Base near Mountain View, California. The wing is from HH-60G Pave Hawk model helicopters.
California Air Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Upgrading Aircraft
By Senior Airman Serena Smith, | Feb. 14, 2025
MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif.- The U.S. Air Force 129th Rescue Wing is replacing the HH-60G Pave Hawk with six newer HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters.The first two helicopters arrived this month and the wing plans...

The seven-Soldier team representing the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, participates in the Voice Intercept Challenge during the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb. 6, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Washington National Guard won the  2024 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) Command Language Program of the Year Award.
Washington Guard Linguists Excel at Best Linguist Competition
By Staff Sgt. Kelly Wiebe, | Feb. 14, 2025
SALT LAKE CITY - Seven Soldiers with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, competed in the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb...