Published 27 Oct 06

Beyond the DropZone

W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Defending "America's longest border"
An exclusive interview with Rear Admiral Timothy D. Beard, III

Rear Admiral Timothy D. Beard, III

The United States' extreme vulnerability to terrorist infiltration – and attack – is a reality of great concern for Rear Admiral Timothy D. Beard, III.

The continental U.S. is vast: In addition to its huge porous land borders with Canada and Mexico; it is surrounded by more than 95,000 miles of coastline – "America's longest border" – including 361 sea and river ports, and numerous isolated inland lakes and rivers.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is responsible for the defense of the sea-border. But with only 45,000 active-duty Coast Guardsmen and approximately 8,000 Reservists – and with many USCG assets deployed overseas – there is only so much homeland ground and sea the USCG can cover in a given day. And the U.S. Navy is busy taking the fight to the enemy around the world in the Global War on Terror.

The answer to the problem is the Admiral's new command: The U.S. Maritime Homeland Defense Force (USMHDF), which, according to Beard, will serve as an effective, economic force-multiplier defending 37 coastal/navigational river states and the Great Lakes.

Currently headquartered at Metuchen, New Jersey the USMHDF is still awaiting the full Federal nod (which equates to full funding), but it officially exists as a "forming" unit. And at its full complement of 30,000 men and women, the USMHDF will cost the U.S. taxpayers $20-21-million, annually. It may sound like a lot, but it is literally hundreds-of-millions less than it would cost to field an equal number of drilling Naval Reservists. And the added protection the USMHDF will ultimately provide the homeland is immeasurable.

Having served as a Naval officer in a variety of posts for nearly three decades, Admiral Beard is the right commander at the right time. In 1999, he was appointed commander of the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command (of the New Jersey State Guard) by then-Governor Christine Todd Whitman. He was commanding in that capacity on the morning of September 11, 2001.

W. THOMAS SMITH JR.: Admiral, share with us your personal experience of September 11, 2001.

REAR ADMIRAL TIMOTHY D. BEARD, III: 9-11 was an extremely busy time for my command [The New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command] and me. Prior to 9/11, we were activated six times for emergencies within the state of New Jersey, but, of course, 9/11 was the big show in terms of what we did.

On that morning, I was in the New Jersey National Guard Joint Command Center when the second plane hit. As the flag officer on site, I activated the Command Center, then alerted my medical unit and chaplain unit. Contacting Major General Paul Glazar, the New Jersey Adjutant General, I was directed to proceed. We activated the entire unit, small boats, personnel, etc.

We put the medical and chaplain units in New York City within eight hours. We assumed security for the George Washington Bridge on the water. We assisted the Coast Guard at Sandy Hook, as requested. We provided security personnel at NAEC [Naval Air Engineering Center] and small boats and personnel (water side) at Earl Naval Weapons Depot. We assisted New Jersey State Police on water security for the Salem Nuclear Power Plant, and transportation/ferry service was also provided from New Jersey to NYC 24-7. Operation of the NJ ops center was also assumed, releasing other fleet personnel for critical duties.

SMITH: What exactly is the U.S. Maritime Homeland Defense Force (forming)?

BEARD: The Maritime Homeland Defense Force (forming) is currently a headquarters company, which is organizing a highly trained voluntary force of prior military personnel to serve as a force multiplier to the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The force will be trained to Navy/Coast Guard standards. It will make use of cascaded equipment. It will be cost effective – in fact, operating at less than 40 percent of a similar size Naval Reserve unit. It will make use of personnel currently not being utilized by the U.S. military. It will be non-competitive with the Navy, Coast Guard, and the Marine Corps. It will be sustainable, utilizing military and civilian resources, state and federal supplies and equipment without impacting the budget in a major way. Then, as a force multiplier, the USMHDF units will fill the littoral 'shallow water' gap that exists between the Navy and the Coast Guard.

The force will be available to the call of the president of the United States and/or governors of participating states for homeland security missions, civil defense emergencies, natural disasters, domestic disorder, military support to civilian authorities or other service support missions. And when formed and authorized, the 30,000-man force will be deployed in 37 coastal, great lakes, and navigable river states as part of the organized militia.

SMITH: What capabilities does the USMHDF bring to the table that other Guard and Reserve forces do not?

BEARD: Several things: First, manpower and expertise not available or currently utilized by the service branches or the National Guard. Then there are factors of economy; accountability; flexibility as a force multiplier to the USN/USCG; availability to state and federal authorities; and a dedication to homeland security matters as its number-one priority.

SMITH: Why has the force not yet been given Federal approval?

BEARD: You have to understand, these are extremely busy times in Washington. And it takes time for new organizations to be reviewed and authorized, even though it is an extremely viable, cost effective, sustainable program. Right now, government personnel are extremely busy with hundreds of vital issues. But I do expect the USMHDF to be approved in relative short order.

SMITH: What is it about the defense of our homeland that most concerns you?

BEARD: We are a very large, affluent nation involved in global commerce. So I would say: protection of our ports, shipping channels, rivers, great lakes, and coastal borders from an enemy who is very creative and is determined to destroy the U.S. as we know it today.

SMITH: Are we doing everything we can to secure seaports? Is it enough?

BEARD: We are working very hard to maintain security at our seaports. However, our enemy is creative and presents a constant challenge to our Navy and Coast Guard efforts. Additional personnel and unique expertise, which could be made available by utilizing the USMHDF, would contribute greatly to this continuing effort with little added cost.

SMITH: How vulnerable are our coastlines?

BEARD:It's difficult to defend a coastline as large as ours. It will never be fully secure even though the Navy and Coast Guard are doing an outstanding job of protecting our coasts. But with the USMHDF, many [of the force's] personnel are going to be local, they know their particular coastlines like the backs of their hands, and they are small-boat trained.

SMITH: Are we as a nation doing everything we can to protect ourselves from a weapon-of-mass-destruction attack? Where can we improve in our defense against possible WMD attacks?

BEARD: This is an enormous task in a constantly changing environment. We are doing an awful lot in the face of a difficult enemy. We could do more, but the problem is the limit to our current manpower and the large complicated areas covered.

SMITH: Have our domestic intelligence-gathering capabilities improved since 9/11? In what ways?

BEARD: Yes, it has. People are more aware. Information is now being passed between agencies, and data is shared more quickly. Also, communications have improved, and key personnel have been added at key levels.

SMITH: What can the average citizen do to help make our nation safer and more secure?

BEARD: Several things: Be observant. Report unusual activities. Volunteer. Work with and support local, state and federal government. Support homeland security and defense projects even if you don't understand them: They are usually based on sound intelligence. And support our military, because they are doing a great job!

— W. Thomas Smith Jr., a former U.S. Marine infantry leader, parachutist, and shipboard counterterrorism instructor, writes about military/defense issues and has covered conflict in the Balkans and on the West Bank. He is an award-winning author of four books, the co-author of two, and his articles have appeared in USA Today, George, U.S. News & World Report, BusinessWeek, National Review Online, CBS News, The Washington Times, and many others.

W. Thomas Smith Jr. can be reached at wthomassmithjr@yahoo.com.

© 2006 W. Thomas Smith Jr.

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