Guarding the Golden Gate

FEW--structures in the United States are as physically imposing, economically important and universally recognized as California's Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, in today's world those qualities also make it an ideal target for terrorists.

"This bridge is a national icon," said CPT John T. Preston of the California Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Regiment. "And the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, showed us clearly that those who want to strike a psychological blow against this country are drawn to our national icons."

Though his usual Guard assignment is as a 143rd FA firing-battery commander, Preston is currently the mission OIC for Operation Golden Span II, the California Guard's effort to protect the bridge against terrorist attack.

The first Operation Golden Span was initiated just after the Sept. 11 attacks to secure two bridges in Southern California, the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco with nearby Oakland, Preston said. The mission evolved over time and eventually came to include just the Golden Gate.

A Vital Link

The Golden Gate is more than just a symbol--it is also a high-value economic target.

The historic span--which connects San Francisco with Marin County to the north--is a vital transportation link crossed by some 111,000 vehicles each day, and if terrorists succeeded in destroying it or blocking the roadway, traffic would have to take a lengthy and time-consuming detour, officials said. Moreover, the tolls charged to motorists traveling across the bridge from north to south pour nearly $5 million into California's coffers every month.

Given the bridge's importance, ensuring that it remains open, unobstructed and secure is a task that involves a number of organizations.

"Several agencies--federal, state and local--share responsibility for the safety and security of the bridge and its approaches," said LTC James M. Kennedy, commander of the 1st Bn., 143rd FA, and task force commander for Operation Golden Span II.

"The Golden Gate Bridge Authority's police force is responsible for the overall security of the structure, the California Highway Patrol is responsible for the thoroughfare across the bridge, the Coast Guard is responsible for the water beneath it and the National Park Service is responsible for the historic sites at each end. So the effort to secure the bridge is obviously a multi-agency joint operation," Kennedy said.

The Guard's role in the operation is to provide the sort of round-the-clock military protection that the other agencies cannot offer, he said.

"Guard Soldiers on state active duty are authorized by law to provide armed support to civilian law-enforcement organizations, and have the weapons, equipment and training to do the job," Kennedy added.

A Robust Force

While information on the exact size and makeup of the Guard's bridge-security force is restricted for obvious security reasons, Kennedy called it "robust."

"The 143rd FA has command and control of the mission, and about half the Soldiers involved in Operation Golden Span ii are from that unit," he said. "The remainder belong to the California Guard's 1st Bn., 184th Inf. Regt., and other units based mainly in the northern part of the state."

The mission is controlled by a headquarters located in the vicinity of the bridge, Preston said. And because several agencies have a stake in the bridge and its security, coordination among all the players is essential.

"In addition to maintaining constant communications within the unit, we communicate directly with the other agencies," he said. "While there are several lines of jurisdiction, there are no turf wars because we all have a great sense of teamwork."

That close coordination at the command level prevents a duplication of effort by the various agencies involved, Kennedy said, and allows the Soldiers on the ground to concentrate on the job at hand.

The nature of that job is wide-ranging, and the way the Guard Soldiers go about it is based on an in-depth assessment of the structure's vulnerabilities, he said.

"Without getting too specific because of operational-security concerns, it's safe to say that this mission includes such things as roving patrols and guarding certain key bridge structures and facilities," Kennedy said.

Trained and Motivated

The Soldiers assigned to Operation Golden Span II work in teams, each of which is usually led by a staff sergeant. While most team members have artillery MOSs, there are also infantrymen and Soldiers from other skill areas. The Soldiers are armed and are authorized to use their weapons within established parameters, Preston said.

"We put a lot of emphasis on Soldiers understanding the rules governing the use of force," he said. "We train in a variety of areas, including observation and reporting techniques, weapons qualification and reinforcing common tasks."

The other "secret weapon" in the mission, Kennedy said, is the motivation of the Soldiers involved.

"They take this mission very seriously, and they don't see it as just a 9-to-5 job," he said. "The potential threat against this structure is a serious one, and these Soldiers are dedicated to ensuring that no harm comes to the bridge or those who use it or work on it.

"This job is different every day," said SPC Devin L. Sorenson of 1st Bn., 184th Inf. "The size and complexity of the bridge, and the nature of the mission, make every day interesting. There is nothing mundane about this job."

A Public Operation

The Guard Soldiers' dedication to ensuring the safety of those who use the Golden Gate Bridge often takes them well beyond their usual military duties, Preston said.

"Our Soldiers have helped a number of people who were in distress," he said.

For example, team leader SGT Manuel E. Lerma of Co. D, 1st Bn., 184th Inf. Regt., rendered first aid to a female runner who had a severe panic attack just after running across the bridge during a marathon. In another incident, Guard Soldiers saw a woman drive her car over a guardrail along San Francisco Bay and were able to pull her to safety.

"These Soldiers don't have to be told to help out in an emergency," Preston said. "If somebody is in trouble or needs help, these Soldiers show initiative and do what needs to be done."

"Our primary mission is to guard the bridge," Lerma said. "But we also deal with the public every day. Because we're often in areas that get a lot of tourists, people are always coming up to us and asking questions about the Army, the Guard and why we're here at the bridge. We do whatever we can to answer their questions and help them out in any way we can."

The public's reaction to seeing BDU-clad, weapon-carrying Soldiers guarding the bridge has been almost universally positive, Preston said, though some people need a bit more time to get used to the military presence.

"Some people are a little leery of us at first, because they might never have seen armed Soldiers in public," said SGT Antonio D. Washington, of Service Battery, 1st Bn., 143rd FA. "But we make an effort to be friendly and personable, and that helps break the ice."

And once the ice is broken, visitors often express their gratitude for the important work the Soldiers are doing.

"People often thank us for being out here and doing this job," said Sorenson. "Most of the folks we interact with realize how important it is to the state and the nation to keep this bridge intact and operating normally."

An Important Mission

"This is an interesting mission, probably one of the best I've ever been involved with," Lerma said. "We're helping to secure one of the nation's most important structures, and I think we all take pride in that."

But there is another, deeper meaning to protecting the Golden Gate, Lerma said.

"We realize that we're not in the direct line of tire like our fellow Soldiers are in Iraq of Afghanistan, but we feel that we're helping to protect America from the threat of attack by terrorists," he said. "Sept. 11, 2001, showed that the enemy can hit us where we least expect it, right here at home. And those of us on this mission take a lot of pride in being able to do what we can to help keep the homeland secure."

COPYRIGHT 2004 Soldiers Magazine
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group