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Experienced Member |
Interesting, earlier I had considered suggesting that the name of the thread should have been "We got assistance." I wasn't aware this was a competition. |
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Basic Training |
At any rate: If their intentions are honorable and aimed towards to better the United States, then welcome to the team. As long as they keep their perception by the public in a positive light. Unfortunately, since the word "Auxiliary" is the commonality and something happens negatively, the public will only remember the word "Auxiliary". It won't matter what its prefixed with.
As a side note, I must ask: FL, where do you get all your information, you must be themaster of "Googling". My hat's off to you for having this info  |
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Basic Training |
The bottom of their website's homepage says:
But Ive found some things to the contrary: A 2005 online POLICE NEWS article that says the USBP was interested in forming a citizen auxiliary. Border chief says citizen volunteers could form patrol auxiliary And the website of the parent org Homeland Security Policy Institute Group displays the DHS logo, and the words "Authorized to Use DHS logo." |
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Basic Training |
So theres no confusion: besides the Homeland Security Policy Institute Group, there is also a Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University.
The BPAUX is affiliated with HSPIG. |
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Member |
I named it, Mighty, and what was going through my mind was competition for the hearts and minds of Homeland Security and its premier agency, the United States Coast Guard. Some of the players with silver shoulders get pretty autocratic on occasion and forget their primary purpose in life, serving the Coast Guard. I was thinking that now that we are not the only game in town, Silver Shoulders need to look to their laurels. |
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Experienced Member |
OK, just a minor thing here, and I hope all take it in it's best intention, but you guys don't serve the CG. You are part of the CG and together, WE serve this country.
Something to think of below, if anyone hasn't seen it is the "Guardian Ethos." This is something we are putting in the minds of every Cape May Grad. Not a bad thing for any of us to repeat to ourselves!  UNITED STATES COAST GUARD “THE GUARDIAN ETHOS” I am America’s Maritime Guardian. I serve the citizens of the United States. I will protect them. I will defend them. I will save them. I am their Shield. For them I am Semper Paratus. I live the Coast Guard Core Values. I am a Guardian. We are the United States Coast Guard. |
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Basic Training |
Well, I would not say competition, I would say HELP!
Let me introduce us, we are the Border Patrol Auxiliary! We are the private sector working to assist all law enforcement agencies around the country in the effort to help secure our nations borders. We are NOT a political organization, we exist only to serve and to assist law enforcement. Our organization was formed based on the USCG Aux, and we used it as our working model since it has been in existence for many years we thought it made a perfect fit in what we wanted to accomplish. We brought together a group of like-minded people who wanted to help law enforcement in ways that would promote the information sharing flow both ways. Our organization got started back in October of 2007 when we came up with the idea to take the border security to the next level, since then we have been very busy getting everything ready for the launch in Feb. 2008 that would open it up to the public. As with any new organization, it is a very large project and takes many hours from many very dedicated people who put their pants on one leg at a time like all of us do to get things rolling and into a position where we can actually do some good. We have already had a interior border watch muster, and this coming weekend March 8, 2008 we will be having our first water watch in San Diego. We have been working closely with CBP and now with the USCG to get this event into it’s current state. We are looking to get many more members involved at both the interior border and in the marine, light air wing and cyber watch divisions. So if you are interested, please feel free to check up on us. It seems that a number of you already have and from what I see you have some good things to say! Our web site say’s everything about us, our policy is if it is not on the web site, it does not exist! We want to be completely open about everything we do for our members to have complete confidence in it’s leadership and goals & objectives. For those of you who may be interested, we are looking to get members in as many states as we can, we currently have a few members in Florida and are looking for more in that area as well as any of the other states. Here is the web site: www.bpaux.org And if you have ANY questions please feel free to ask me personally. Ken Dreger National Leadership Border Patrol Auxiliary This message has been edited. Last edited by: kdreger, |
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A bad day on the water beats a good day at the office. |
Mightyz--
Thank you for posting the Guardian Ethos, Master Chief. I'm going to print it out and keep it handy. |
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Member |
Thank you, Master Chief. In my case, and the case of many on this board, you are preaching to the choir. I do a good bit with the Coast Guard AD, and I always find them to be very inclusive of me in all we do. Unfortunately that is not always the case with the "Chain of Information and Management" in the auxiliary. About two years ago I was told directly by a District Commodore "Stay away from the Coast Guard, Doug." It doesn't sound like that he thought we were part of the Coast Guard. For what it's worth, the name of my AuxFac is Centurion 2000. It was named in honor of the Centurions who stood guard against the barbarians while Rome disintegrated. I am on board with the Guardian Ethos. |
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Experienced Member |
Thank you shipmate for being smarter than me and posting a link to the pretty copy. |
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Basic Training |
We welcome all of these comments, and look forward to answering them.
Let's start off with the use of the name: We intentionally did NOT use "US" in the name because it caused major probelms. One poster mentioned a problem already, that was not us, that was some minutmen group in 2005 who tried, but gave up on his efforts to create an organization. As for the HSPIG connection, BPAUX is a project under Homeland Security Policy Institute group, Inc. a real Non-Profit corporation since 2003 completley done by private individuals, not government people! The private sector. HSPIG has been involved with a number of projects, one being a Anthrax project, another one is a memorial monument dedicated to all military divers to be created at the Washington DC Navy yard, and various other projects of which this is one. HSPIG is authorized by DHS to use its logo, you must have authorization from DHS to use it legally, and HSPIG did get that years ago. Also HSPIG is authorized and get on a daily basis the DHS daily briefing that HSPIG post online for us, and as an archive of these reports, now going back some 900+ versions. We are not a wantabe group of folks, we have active and retired BP, LEO and military people in the group. I will keep answering all of your questions as we get them, and thank you for your support. Ken This message has been edited. Last edited by: kdreger, |
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Basic Training |
Ken,
First of all, thank you for joining this thread and sharing your side of the information. As I said before, if your intention is to benefit the citizens and country of the United States of America, then I thank you. Secondly, while browsing your site, I noticed that certain levels of your organization (please correct me if I am wrong) must past certain weapons qualifications. That, to me, implies that you will be armed at some point. Is that true? The USCG Aux is NOT allowed to carry weapons of any kind. It is for our own safety as well as the USCG. My concern about your group is that if you will be carrying firearms, how will that be perceived by the public. Thank you in advance for your answer. Master Chief, Thank you for the ethos. I saw that and the Core Values at the Coast Guard Island and wanted a copy of both but could not find them. I now have the ethos. Could you point me to where I can find the Core Values? Thanks, Mike |
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Basic Training |
Mike-
thank you for the kind words, as for carrying, we must obey all the laws of the state in which we are participating in. We observe these at all of our interior musters to the letter and beyond. Yes we require our members who care to carry to go thru a training class given by one of our trained NRA members. Even if that person has a CCW. The last thing we want is an issue with someone and a firearm. We strictley observe and report to the numbers we have been provided by CBP & USCG the activity we observe, at no time will we enguage anyone. When we are doing interior musters we carry on land that is BLM or where we have written permission to be on. And I can tell you first hand the public who we are in contact with (ie People who live down at the border) really love us and what we do. I personally have had many people come to camp and say that they were glad to see us because now they could sleep while we are in the area! That says a lot for what the public says about us. We have clocked over 135,000 Hours of border work in the last 3+ years without a single issue on either side! Core values will be what our mission statement says: The Mission of the Border Patrol Auxiliary is to provide education and support. Education on the challenges of securing our Border and the citizens responsibility for ensuring a secure America. Support for the ongoing efforts of our Border Patrol Agents and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officers, and other law enforcement agencies around the country, as would any local "Neighborhood Watch" group! BPAUX will operate in a "Full Disclosure" fashion, and make public all statements of accountability and organizational changes, meetings, projects, funding, taxes, events and future projects that are in the best interest of the general public and the members of BPAUX. Any member or non-member with the apropopriate BPAUX staff member in a “Full Disclosure” fashion and can discuss questions about any of these items. It is our policy that we have nothing to hide, and are ready willing and able to provide the answers to the public's and members questions. Hope that clears up these good questions. Ken |
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Member |
O.K., you guys, I joined. Now I am in the market for an Ultra-Light. Maybe I can put this forty-eight years of incident and accident free aviation experience to good use in the service of my country.
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Basic Training |
RiverAux-
Just another wannabe Minuteman group. People who would go for that probably don't need to be in the CG Aux in the first place. (No, we are not a minuteman group, we have some members who are minutemen, but we also have members who belong to the Red Cross, or The Elks Club, and retired Border Patrol & LEO’s) in the org. We are not a political organization. Personally, I think they run a risk of some adverse law enforcement actions based on their use of the name. Unfortunately, the feds and their state counterparts have not been all that vigilant against groups making illegal use of the names of actual government organizations. This has primarily been seen in groups claiming to be state defense forces and using their names when they are not actually sanctioned by the state government. (we are not using any Government name, we checked it out and it is legal for us to use, so as private citizens we exercised those rights and do what the public sector does best, think out side the box and went for it! ) Impersonating a police officer would be the specific concern here. Another example is the so-called District of Columbia Defense Force. They are supposedly the DC Defense Force Association, but the name tapes on their uniforms say DC Defense Force, which would be an official agency of that government were it to exist. (Not an issue, we make no clams at all to be any type of LEO, actually we try very hard to be as non-discrete as we can.) MikeAUX- You know, this just has a very suspicious smell to it. If you were to look at all the different levels that a "Member" can achieve, it looks like their goal not wannabism but more vigilantyism. This seems scary to me. I agree with River... Mike- This sounds just like Mr. Bush! Vigilantly? That would be just like calling the USCG AUX a group of Vigilantes Mike! Don’t go there please. Read this: Members are from all walks of life, we have members from law enforcement, retired border patrol agents, small businessmen, school teachers, retired military, leaders in boy scouts, leaders in the Red Cross. Our interview process before membership filters out any person who we feel may have any racist tendencies toward any race, religion, or nationality. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination at all, and if found it would cause immediate termination from the Auxiliary. No member of BPAUX can be involved in any racially orientated group and participate in BPAUX. FL51D7 The organizational structure, which is above the very familiar map, should also ring a few bells: sectors, with districts above them and then national. Ring bells no, we actually used the AUX as our model for BPAUX, then tailored it to fit what we wanted to accomplish. It looks like there is no flotilla or division equivalent since "The Sector is the basic organizational unit of the BP Auxiliary and is comprised of at least 25 qualified members who carry out Auxiliary program activities. Every Auxiliarist is a member of a local sector. A Sector Chief (SC) heads each Sector." AUXDOC- found their image library, a couple attempts at Photoshop were made before the final product, at the front of the helm it appears to say POLICE. (I think it says BPAUX) Also a photo of their headquarters--doesn't quite look the same as what's on their website. (Actually yes it is, and it really is one sweet place! And very reasonable for us to use!) I have been there and it is very nice! Hope this also clears up any of your questions. Ken |
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Member |
How about light sport -- as opposed to an ultra-light? Here is the result of two years of mashed fingers, scraped knuckles, and occassional frustration requiring component re-dos...   Forewatch would appreciate that it has a "joy stick" in the "cockpit"...   Designed to be built primarily by one person in less than 1000 man-hours it was an enjoyable project. The FAA DAR inspected it this past Saturday and issued the airworthiness certificate. Hopefully, the maiden flight will occur next week - weather permitting... BTW, gun pods and drop points may be added... |
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Basic Training |
Really cool, but remember when you fly near the border you have to stay quite far away or they send out the big guns!
If we use the Ultra-Lights, they can stay 200 yards away and under 200' in the air! No bombs or Machine gunes please! Maybe paint balls ? or Water baloons? We will see.. |
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Basic Training |
Ken,
Let me make myself clear. As I said before, if this venture benefits the CITIZENS of, and the country of the United States of America, then thank you. If I recall, none of those volunteer organizations you mentioned are allowed to carry firearms. I know FOR CERTAIN that the Boy Scouts are not IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM unless at a sanctioned, licensed firing range. Once you add that variable of firearms, you will have issues with labeling (and also other potential hazards). That also personally concerns me to what may happen. That is what I meant in that one post. That is YOUR burden to carry. Not once was any of my posts racist (in my opinion). If you take the term "vigilantism" as racist, then I am sorry you took that way. It was not meant that way. The USCG Aux has been labeled many things in the past. The one that sticks the best is "Americas Volunteer Life Savers". I like that one the best. The men and women of the armed forces, whether it be local law enforcement, fire fighting, or military, have fought for us to have freedom of speech. Including Mr. Bush. You joined this frey, now take it for what it's worth. I went there. I wish you and your organization good luck. As I will say, once again, If your intentions are true and noble AND you are able to ACT to those intentions, then may you be blessed. |
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Basic Training |
Mike, point well taken, and yes, we are here to benefit the Citizens of America! We are armed with handguns ONLY when at the interior borders for our own self protection, we do not want to place ourselves in any harms way of not being able to protect ourselves as a last resort if we MUST. Sorry that I may of missunderstood the comment about Vigilanties, but that really sticks me in a spot where people who do not understand what we do, and what we sacrifice doing what we do. Because we try to assist LEO's to the best of our ability we are often labeled with many terms, that is one that I just get bent out of shape on. We really do understand the burden to carry, that is why our rules on this are very strong, and we adheare to them to the letter. My comment about the Boy Scouts was to only say that many of our members are from many different organizations, of which some are leaders in the Boy Scouts as well as the Red Cross, American Legion and others. Sorry to have caused the confusion. Ken |
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