Click to return to front pageCommittee Report on the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command (NJNMJC) to The Adjutant General
Appendix A - US Coast Guard Letter

  Commander
United States Coast Guard
Activities New York
  212 Coast Guard Drive
Staten Island, NY 10305
Staff Symbol: CS
Phone: (718) 354-4003
Fax: (718) 354-4009

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Dr. Wayne Girardet
Director, Government Relations
Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs
P.O. Box 340
Trenton, N. J. 08625-0340
1600
7 June 2004

Dear Dr. Girardet,

I am heartened to see that the State of New Jersey is taking a serious look at ways to enhance its security along its diverse coastline and that the New Jersey Naval Militia (NJNM) may be part of that discussion. I welcome the opportunity to comment on the prospective mission mix for the NJNM. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, the NJNM deployed boats and crews to the Raritan Bay in the vicinity of Naval Weapons Station Earle. These assets helped provide maritime domain awareness within the port and significantly contributed to the security of NWS Earle. This is just one of many important missions that could be carried out by a capable State militia.

As you may know, the New York Naval Militia (NYNM) has had its vessel PRIVATEER, its boat crews, and armed NY National Guard members aboard, deployed for the past 32 months at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant on the Hudson River. This resource has become an essential part of the maritime security force protecting the region’s critical infrastructure. My staff is currently working with the State of New York to further integrate the NYNM’s training, tactics and newly procured small boats into the joint maritime forces deployed both for planned security events such as Fleet Week and the Republican National Convention (RNC) as well as unplanned intelligence driven security events such as occurred over the year-end holiday season. These joint forces include vessels from federal, state and local law enforcement and security agencies such as the US Coast Guard, NYPD Harbor Unit, NJ State Police Marine Unit, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the U. S. Park Police, and others. The robust collaboration and continuous coordination between these agencies has resulted in enhanced maritime domain awareness and a tighter security net over the port. I firmly believe that full integration of the NYNM’s current capability, as well as the prospective capability of the NJNM, would only improve that posture resulting in better security for each state and the region as a whole.

Our goal should be that of full collaboration toward achieving a seamless security net comprised of federal, state and local security agencies. I believe the extent of collaboration between local Coast Guard forces and the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit has never been better. To that end, my staff has also been working with the NJ Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force on a Memorandum of Agreement for the cooperative enforcement of federal security zones. Each step like this that we take certainly moves us closer to achieving our goal. I envision that a robust, trained and capable NJNM force is yet another large step in that direction. In addition to the visible deterrent that law enforcement vessels project, below are some of the potential missions in which a NJNM role would be beneficial:

• Security Zone Enforcement – a potential enhancement under the prospective MOA to include the use of NJNM assets in support of safety/security zone enforcement.
• Maritime Domain Awareness Patrols – provide intel/information regarding boats or people in and about NJ waters and facilities that can be utilized to raise the MDA of the joint federal, state and local forces operating in the maritime environment.
• Anti-Terrorism Force Protection – provide on water presence/patrols for ships conducting loading operations at NWS EARLE.
• Critical Infrastructure Protection – presence/protection of state or federally designated critical infrastructure similar to the operation of the NYNM at Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.
• Vessel Escorts – escorts of commuter ferries (as soft targets) during elevated maritime security conditions (MARSEC II) and/or cruise ships calling on the new Bayonne Passenger Ship Terminal at MOTBY.
• Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) compliance – many of the over 200 MTSA regulated waterfront facilities within the Captain of the Port (COTP) New York zone requiring an approved facility security plan are located along NJ waters. Once the initial facility security plan approval process is completed at the end of the month, there will be numerous follow-up and random inspections in the months and years to come. NJNM members could receive facility inspector training and assist with visits to regulated facilities, as well as non-regulated facilities such as marinas, public access facilities and work yards.
• Force Multiplier – once trained, NJNM assets and personnel could be utilized in surge operations such as the RNC for waterside tasking as part of the operational force letdown or to work in concert with the NJ Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force, NJSP Marine Units or local Coast Guard units. Similar to joint USN/USCG operations, we are presently developing plans with the NYNM to place USCG personnel onboard NYNM boats to extend law enforcement authority to these boats during the RNC.

Should the State of New Jersey decide to re-emphasize the NJNM, Coast Guard Activities New York would seek every opportunity for the NJNM personnel to operate in a joint environment and cross-train with Coast Guard personnel. I hope this information is helpful to the committee looking at the viability of the NJNM. Please feel free to contact me should you need additional information.

Sincerely,

C. E. BONE
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard
Commander, Coast Guard Activities New York

Copy: MG George T. Garrett, NJ Chief Homeland Security
Al Bunting, EA to New Jersey Adjutant General
Captain J. Sarubbi, COTP Philadelphia