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 | Dec. 21, 2010

McKinley visits border mission National Guard troops in California

By Army Staff Sgt. Jessica Inigo Joint Task Force Sierra

SAN DIEGO - The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the southwest border mission here Dec. 14.

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, along with a handful of other key leaders from NGB and Joint Forces Headquarters in Sacramento, came together to discuss the future of the operation, as well as get some face-time with the troops.

“It was a great experience. I never met a general face-to-face,” said Army Spc. Christopher Eade, who works as an entry identification Soldier at a mobile radar truck in Point Loma.

“It was great that he came out and he wanted to know what we were doing on the front lines, instead of just staying back and talking about it. Now he’s got a first-hand look at exactly the things that we are doing.”

Eade was coined by McKinley at his worksite, the first four-star-general’s coin he has received.

The lasting impression of having the National Guard’s top officer actually come out and visit one of the 17 Entry Identification Team sites manned by California National Guardsmembers and see him test the equipment he uses daily in support U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents is enormous to his career as a Guardsman, Eade said.

“I came out to California to meet with the adjutant general this morning, but more importantly to get out and meet with the Soldiers and the Airmen who are performing this very vital mission for our national security,” McKinley said from a coastal EIT site during his tour.

He emphasized that he is “most impressed” with the work he saw from the California National Guard troops on the mission.

During his visit, McKinley also met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials, U.S. Coast Guard representatives and Joint Task Force Sierra leadership.

 “We’ve seen a bunch of interagency partners today… it’s great to see the collaboration,” McKinley said. “This whole mission of assisting our law enforcement agencies is very important to the National Guard.”

After receiving several briefings on statistics of apprehension-assists – at more than 1,200 apprehensions in less than four months time – and smuggling contraband discoveries – including more than 50 tons of marijuana found through the Tunnel Task Force just in November – McKinley joined JTF Sierra Commander Col. William “Rudy” Arruda for an aerial tour of the border and manned EIT sites along land and coastal routes.

“It was just wonderful having the chief of the National Guard Bureau come out here and see the ground-based operation of what Joint Task Force Sierra is all about,” Arruda said after the tour.

“Leadership visits like this always mean a lot to the men and women serving in the California National Guard.”

This visit comes at the heels of a similar visit from Dennis McCarthy, the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs earlier this month.

McKinley said their opinions of the California National Guardsmen mirrored those he witnessed during his tour – superior motivation and excellence.

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...