SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – From the sandy beaches of San Diego to the rocky cliffs of the Pacific Northwest, California’s 840-mile coastline remains a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. However, it is also a major hub for illegal drug smuggling activity.
Beginning in August, the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force had an opportunity to increase support to law enforcement agencies and brought over 65 new members onto the program to help detect drug smugglers along the coast.
“This is one of the biggest threats for our civilian law enforcement partners; it’s one of the things they are trying to counter right now,” Capt. Richard Long, the Counterdrug Task Force long-range plans officer, said. “So since that’s their effort, we decided to make it our effort too.”
The effort was dubbed Operation Triton.
Soldiers from across the state – from multiple units and specialties – with a wide range of experience, stepped up to fill the role.
The majority of support came from 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry, whose members have the training and equipment necessary to perform maritime observation missions. They were augmented by members of the 1-160th Infantry Battalion, the 649th Military Police Company, the 40th Infantry Division, the 115th Regional Support Group and the 40th Brigade Support Battalion.
“Within the cavalry, we are very much about combined arms,” said Capt. Joel Barret, the commander of Troop C, 1-18th Cavalry and officer in charge of Operation Triton. “We wholeheartedly embrace everything that any different (military occupational specialty) brings to the fight as force multipliers.”
In order to successfully accomplish their mission, the Soldiers completed four long days of training at Camp San Luis Obispo before heading out to their assigned locations.
For those not organic to the cavalry, the training provided a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience with the surveillance equipment.
“This is my first time using (the equipment).” said Spc. Jennifer Williams, a food service specialist with D Company, 40th BSB. “I’m excited to learn something new, something outside my specialty, something exciting – that’s why I joined the Army.”
For others, they have seized the opportunity to expand upon their skills.
“I’ve gone to a lot of schools already – sniper school, squad designated marksmanship, combatives, the Combat Lifesaver Course – so I figured I’d do something that I’ve never done and put counterdrug under my belt as well,” Spc. Alberto Martinez, an infantryman with Troop C, 1-18th Cavalry, said. “I’m in this for the knowledge, to learn stuff.”
Pfc. Jean Antoine, who is also an infantryman with Troop C, 1-18th Cavalry, echoed these sentiments, adding that “This is my first year in the military so I want to get the most experience I can.”
Operation Triton embodies the cavalry’s doctrinal mission as scouts in the National Guard. Barret said it is a great opportunity for them to practice and execute their skill proficiencies in a state mission.
“I think we bring a set of skills and a body of knowledge as subject matter experts in reconnaissance and surveillance and security and target acquisition,” he said. “It’s exciting for them to be able to do this mission.”
Ultimately, the additional personnel more than double the Counterdrug Task Force’s current maritime observation operations.
“By increasing support to the Department of Homeland Security, border patrol and the Coast Guard, we hope to further deter and disrupt the smuggling of illegal drugs into our state,” Maj. Jeffrey Moore, the Counterdrug Task Force operations officer said.