On guard in America: the National Guard provides homeland defense.

• Author: Powers, Jon
• Position: National Affairs

SINCE THE TERRORIST ATTACK of Sept. 11, the National Guard has been standing guard across the country. They are in airports, around nuclear facilities, protecting the skies, and posted at entrances of bridges. More than 60,000 Guard members are on Federal active duty to do their part in the air and on the ground in the name of Homeland Defense. Thousands more are serving their state on the orders of the respective governors.

In response to the military presence in the southern states during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA), which embodies the traditional American principle of separating civilian and military authority. The PCA forbids armed Federal troops, like the Marines, from domestic law enforcement or security operations. However, this act does not apply to state militia or National Guard called to duty by a state governor. They may support civil authorities in times of emergency and, if necessary, do so armed. This is why the National Guard has become so important to Homeland Defense. They are the primary resource for personnel, equipment, and operational experience that make the Homeland Defense mission possible. (The last time armed soldiers provided security to the Capitol complex in Washington, D.C., was during the 1968 antiwar riots.)

As an alternative to closing the country's borders and restricting airline travel, government officials have opted for soldiers and airmen guarding America. The basic concept of these missions is to be a highly visible armed deterrent to terrorism and an additional set of eyes and ears to support the current security measures. To be considered a success. Homeland Defense must ease the public's safety concerns and allow the country to return to normal operations, that, before Sept. 11, were considered daily business.

Much of this concern is directed at aircraft and air travel. Nationwide, 422 commercial airports have received more than 5,000 Army National Guard troops to augment and enhance their existing security. These soldiers will remain in the airports under the direction of the Federal Aviation Administration until the Federal security systems are in place and working efficiently. Soldiers stand at security checkpoints monitoring the screening process and providing backup to the other agencies on duty. From New York to Los Angeles, armed National Guard soldiers are on duty around the clock.

There are 30 commercial airports in California alone, and Gov. Gray Davis has activated more than 800 Army Guardsmen to support the transition. In Maryland and Virginia, soldiers are assigned not only to their own state's airports, but to those in Washington. D.C. There are currently more than 18,000 Army Guard and reserves on duty throughout the country. Restoring the public's faith in flying with a visible presence in the airports is just part of the job. One passengers and plane leave the runway, they become the Air Guard's responsibility.

Forty-four Air National Guard fighter wings across the country are now on active duty for Operation Noble Eagle. Under the unified control of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Air National Guard pilots fly combat air patrols 24 hours a day in a comprehensive effort to safeguard aircraft and population. They continually search for stray aircraft over the U.S. and Canada, and have escorted suspicious planes to the nearest landing facility. The rules of engagement in this mission are strictly classified. However, if a situation similar to Sept. 11 repeated itself, the pilots would be in the position to prevent another act of terrorism. This could include shooting down the hijacked airliners.

On the East Coast, the fighter wings and air refueling wings that support them went from a maintenance and training schedule to maximum operational capacity in a single day. Air Force bases from Vermont to Florida are involved in the around-the-clock operations to safeguard our skies.

In Washington, D.C., pilots of the 113th Fighter Wing from Andrews Air Force Base have earned the nickname "The Capitol Guardians." They are protecting the airspace over the nation's capital and receive a constant reminder of the reason they are flying. The smoke from the Pentagon was visible from Andrews AFB on Sept. 11.

California has nearly 1,400 Guard airmen on active duty with the Air Force. Recently, the 144th Fighter Wing, out of Fresno, escorted a commercial jetliner into Los Angeles International Airport after a passenger became a problem on board and was restrained. The 144th FW's F-16 Fighting Falcons, along with the 173rd and 142nd FW from Oregon, cover the entire western coastline, from Mexico to Canada. while on patrol. The Texas Air National Guard received the majority of the escort duties for Air Force One on Sept. 11, protecting Pres. Bush while he was on board. The Ohio Air National Guard activated 576 airmen of the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air Field, to support the state's two fighter wings, the 179th and the 180th. In total, the Air Force activated more than 30,000 Reserve and National Guard members to support Operation Noble Eagle.

Obviously, fighters cannot fly without fuel, and landing just to get gas is too time-consuming. The Air Guard has activated 23 air refueling wings along with the fighters. An air refueling jet looks similar to a commercial airplane. The significant difference is that these jets are giant mobile gas stations able to deliver fuel to other aircraft while thousands of feet in the sky, traveling at hundreds of miles per hour. Their service coverage is regionally centered on patrol areas determined by NORAD and is considered classified information.

In addition to the duties involved with the airports and airliners, individual states have identified specific assets to protect. Most of these fall into the categories of transportation, power, and communications. Soldiers are patrolling the Golden Gate. the George Washington, and every other major bridge in between. A military contingent now provides enhanced security around nuclear power plants. Although the bulk of the missions are similar throughout the country, many states have individual and unique priorities.

In November, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush allocated $5,000,000 from the Coastal Protection Fund to finance Operation Safe Harbor. This mission placed more than 300 Army National Guard soldiers on watch at Port Miami, Port Everglades, the Port of Tampa, and Port Canaveral--the state's four busiest ports. Soldiers received a visit from camouflage-clad Sen. Bob Graham (D.-Fla.) at Port Everglades on Dec. 3.

The members of the New York Army and Air National Guard responded immediately to the attack. Many were at the scene as the twin towers came crashing down, and thousands more reported for duty before nightfall. Soldiers from the 101st Cavalry and the 69th Infantry were among the first National Guard units activated on Sept. 11 in Manhattan. The Lexington Avenue Armory, home of the 69th, is just a few blocks away from Ground Zero and later became the reception center for the...