Most National Guard troops on duty along Arizona border

Most National Guard troops on duty along Arizona border
By Brady McCombs, Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star
September 14, 2010 1:17 pm

Nearly all of the National Guard troops that will be stationed along Arizona’s stretch of U.S.-Mexico border have joined the mission.

More than 520 troops have either begun training or are already supporting the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Arizona National Guard Lt. Valentine Castillo. More troops are joining the mission today and they are on track to have 560 troops on board by Oct. 1.

The mission will last for approximately one year with a target completion date of June 30, Castillo said.

In Arizona, most of the troops will be helping the Border Patrol in surveillance, as extra “eyes and ears,â€