National Guard As early as 5 a.m. a special force of Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers, all volunteers wearing camouflage fatigues and carrying loaded M-16 rifles, will make history as they become a part of a contingent of nearly 5,000 citizen soldiers nationwide called to help with airport security following the worst acts of terrorism in the nation's history.
aids air security
About 150 volunteer soldiers will
participate in an effort to
maintain safety at isle airportsBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comAbout 150 Hawaii Army and Air National Guard soldiers have been called up to man initial entry points at Honolulu Airport and other Neighbor Island flight facilities. Up to 30 guardsmen will be manning every check point at a time, adding another security presence to back up law enforcement officials.
The soldiers will provide security for about six months while civilian personnel are trained for the job, said Maj. Gen. Edward L. Correa, Jr., who heads the Hawaii National Guard.
The National Guard troops will not search baggage or run the X-ray machines, but will be at those stations to supplement existing law enforcement people there. They will pull eight-hour shifts each day.
The Hawaii National Guard may also be called upon to provide security to supplement in-house measures at other possible targets of terrorist attacks such as electrical, water and communications facilities, officials said.
Maj. Chuck Anthony, Hawaii National Guard spokesman, said the state hopes to only use volunteers taken out of pool of drill status individuals, traditional soldiers and airmen who normally only spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year in uniform.
"Right now we have more volunteers than is needed to fill the slots," Anthony said.
He believes that many of the National Guard personnel who volunteered for airport security duty did it because they lost their jobs, one of the economic impacts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Guard members will receive pay and benefits based on their rank and time in service.
Col. Stan Keolanui, Hawaii Army National Guard plans and operations military support officer, said the state will get an additional $4.5 million to pay for the services of these airmen and soldiers.
Keolanui said each volunteer was required to take 16 hours of classroom training taught by the Federal Aviation Administration. Guardsmen were trained in everything from handling disturbances to screening passengers and their luggage to dealing with dangerous items such as weapons.
"There also was hands-on training offered by the National Guard," he said, "to help educate guard members on what to look for and how to assist law enforcement personnel."
Volunteers also were taken to the airport last week to familiarize them with the areas and were presented with different scenarios and situations they might encounter, Keolanui said.
Although the presence of armed uniformed guardsmen may cause some uneasiness in the flying public, Correa said they provide "a sense of security," and the fatigues provide clear identification that the personnel are soldiers.
As a part of Operation Noble Eagle, the military is performing a variety of missions as part of homeland defense, including patrols, remote sensing, transportation and advisory teams.
Keolanui pointed out that the troops guarding the nation's airports are not part of the federal mobilization of 25,765 reservists from 183 units in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. As yet, no National Guard troops from Hawaii have been part of the federal mobilization.
Immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the Hawaii National Guard activated a quick reaction force that patrolled island airports. That group was kept at the airports providing security for two weeks.
"The community support then was overwhelming," Keolanui said. "It was confidence-inspiring."
He said island travelers should realize "the reason we are there to make things safer for everyone. We're there to protect."
Reporter Leila Fujimori contributed to this story.
