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Committee
Report on the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command (NJNMJC) to The
Adjutant General
Appendix A - US Coast Guard Letter
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Commander
United States Coast Guard
Activities New York |
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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
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