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Lorraine Rivera Reports
Guard duty on border similar to duty in Iraq



Thousands of troops remain along the US/Mexico border as a part of Operation Jump Start. the federally funded mission created by President Bush that is intended to free up overburdened Border Patrol agents until more are hired and trained.

During the holiday season, the thousands serving in the four border states are unable to go home.

In Nogales, it's no different because many of them have spent time away before, most recently serving in the Middle East.

Standing guard over the US/Mexico border, Team New York is on a mission.

Major Richard Acevedo said, "Basically, all we do here is just observe and report and whenever we see illegal entries, we report that to the Border Patrol and they react to that."

Soldiers at these posts serve as entry identification teams where guardsmen watch and protect the international line.

Many have served in Iraq moving from one desert to another.

Spc. Chris Mack said, "You trying to protect certain people from coming over here, like it was over there, doing guard, we did guard over there."

In Nogales, the living conditions are just as harsh. Soldiers sleep in a tent, and they eat "meals ready to eat," or "MRE's," but the mission is not nearly as dangerous.

Major Richard Acevedo, who was in Tikrit last year during the holidays, said, "It was just a mission. As soldiers, we sign up for that. That's not the problem. The hardest part for us was being separated from family. I have a wife and two daughters."

Soldiers say that Iraq and Nogales can't compare, though every mission is a challenge.

Pfc. Elvis Farfan said, "With the undocumented aliens and stuff, especially the drug runners, you never know what you'll come across with them."

Major Acevedo said, "I feel like this is a real-world mission as well, because we're protecting the U.S. and that's what the National Guard is all about."