Florida Counterdrug Missions:
a. Mission 1 (Program Management). The FLNG CD staff is engaged daily on all aspects of future planning, current operations, budget analysis and management, personnel management, and logistics. The headquarters cell works collaboratively and in full support of Florida Joint Forces Headquarters providing staff joint planning, counterdrug specific operational experience, and counterdrug initiative visibility to ensure strong working relationships are maintained with Joint Forces Leadership and National Guard Bureau.
b. Mission 2 (Technical Support).
1) Linguist Support. Members of 260th Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist) and 3rd Battalion 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) employ their language skills on a daily basis in performance of their counterdrug duties. Soldiers transcribe taped foreign language conversations, often with unique dialects, who serve the supported LEAs while maintaining/improving their highly perishable skills. Without FLNG CD assistance in this area supported agencies would be limited in capacity to accurately translate tactically critical tapes in a timely manner.
2) Investigative Case and Analyst Support. Members from a variety of units including Military Intelligence, Special Forces, Air Defense, Infantry, and Air Force Security and Intelligence personnel employ their criminal analysis skill sets, operational and planning techniques and doctrine to law enforcement and Combatant Command case analysis. Specialized case and initiative support provided by NG analysts (often recognized as “neutral parties” for investigative and information sharing purposes) facilitates interagency coordination and effort. Without FLNG CD assistance in this area, supported LEAs could only execute a small fraction of required analytical case work.
3) Illicit Narcotics Detection Support. FLNG CD maintains the capability, within established policy/procedure, to provide illicit narcotics detection support as required by LEAs and Combatant Commands. This capability assist in verifying the existence and type of narcotics and related content present using portable Ion Scanners and Mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems.
4) Communications Support. FLNG CD provides communications support to law enforcement. Soldiers and Airmen with communications and/or electronics training provide valuable assistance in developing, installing and operating audio and video reconnaissance equipment in support of on-going investigative operations. Exposure to emerging technologies as well as a familiarity with law enforcement communications equipment often proves valuable to guardsmen when operating in a contemporary environment.
5) Engineer Support. FLNG CD maintains the capability, within established policy/procedure, to provide engineer support as required by Law Enforcement. Where a narcotics nexus exists, this capability assists in the destruction and removal of associated materials and/or structures.
6) Subsurface/Diver Support. FLNG CD employs highly trained Combat Divers from 3/20th Special Forces Group. Military SCUBA qualified divers apply skills in open circuit diving, underwater navigation, small boat operations, dive medical operations, and dive supervisory duties while assisting law enforcement in the search for drug-related threats below and from the waterline. Additionally, FLNG CD Divers teach underwater search techniques, small boat operations, and water survival to law enforcement; techniques unavailable to traditional LEA organizations.
7) Counter Threat Finance Analyst. FLNG Counterdrug will support law enforcement investigations to deny, disrupt, destroy, or defeat finance systems and networks that negatively affect U.S. interests in compliance with all existing authorities and procedures. This includes those activities and capabilities undertaken with other Government agencies and/or partner nations. Department of Defense Counter Threat Finance counters financing used by illicit networks that traffic narcotics, precursor chemicals, launder illicit proceeds and related activities that support DTOs, narco-terrorism and transnational criminal organizations. Analyst duties may include approved criminal analyst duties, liaison tasks with other analysts or relevant agencies; information sharing and exchange with law enforcement partners and geographic combatant commands; as well as any other analytical duties deemed necessary by the supported agency.
c. Mission 3 (General Support).
1) Domestic Cannabis Suppression Operations Support. FLNG CD provides support to suppression/eradication operations through employment of surface and aerial reconnaissance assets in conjunction with analyst support and LEA training.
2) Transportation Support. The FLNG CD RC-26 program assists law enforcement in controlled delivery operations by transporting agents, suspects, and drugs from the point of interdiction to the projected point of distribution. Pilots maintain doctrinal flight currencies and skills in navigation and air to ground communications while assisting law enforcement in these critically time sensitive missions for which LEAs may have no other option. Additionally, FLNG CD Operations provides non-CD platform aircraft coordination to leverage other Department of Defense Aircraft in cases where RC-26s are not available or correct for the mission support requested.
d. Mission 4 (Counterdrug Training). In collaboration with and through the MCTFT Program, FLNG CD executes the predominance of its counterdrug training support to Federal, State, and local law enforcement, Department of Defense Partners (Combatant Commands), and CBOs. Additionally, the FLNG CD Program continues to identify, develop, and resource, needs-based, cost-effective training in response to the changing drug threats that may not fit within present MCTFT curriculums/initiatives.
e. Mission 5 (Reconnaissance). FLNG CD employs Soldiers and Airmen with purposely diversified and relevant occupational specialties to aid Federal, State, and local LEAs in drug-related reconnaissance missions.
1) Ground Reconnaissance. FLNG CD personnel apply advanced small-unit movement, reconnaissance, and security tactics while employing advanced military communications and reconnaissance equipment in order to provide law enforcement with real time intelligence on drug trafficking areas/targets. Without this highly unique military capability, supported agencies would be limited on the development of intelligence/evidence necessary to counter emerging drug threats throughout Florida and the region.
2) Aerial Reconnaissance. FLNG CD employs both ART UH-72 and Air Force RC-26 aircraft to conduct long-range reconnaissance of suspected drug areas, suspects, and related trans-national threats. FLNG CD aircrew members and specially configured CD aircraft aid law enforcement in locating domestic drug operations, surveillance of drug areas/suspects, providing high resolution aerial photography and assisting in high-risk tactical drug operations. This mission supports aircrew doctrinal proficiency and provides a high value tactical service not readily available to many LEAs.
f. Mission 6 (Drug Demand Reduction). The FLNG CD DDR Program provides drug education, awareness, and leadership training to our youth in the support of drug prevention coalitions, state organizations, schools of all grades and other agencies in unified effort to reduce the demand for and the use of drugs and the dangers of alcohol and tobacco indulgence. DDR personnel also provide audio and video capabilities to prevention organizations in support of their events and training. Without FLNG CD support in this area, thousands of youth would not receive critical drug prevention and awareness training and prevention organizations would have to expend limited resources to support training initiatives at the expense of their core prevention activities.
1) Education and Programs – Evidence-based and Measurable. In FY12, FLNG DDR will provide evidenced based Stay on Track and Life Skills Curriculum to a minimum of 15,000 students within public and private school sectors to reduce drug abuse throughout Florida.
2) Support to Educations and Programs. In FY12, FLNG DDR will conduct leadership camps (youth summer camps), adventure-based events (Youth LEADER Curriculum), and educational programs (Night Vision Curriculum) throughout Florida’s public and private school sectors to a minimum of 115,000 students in order to motivate youth to make positive life choices.
3) Support to Coalitions. In FY12, FLNG DDR will provide training, technical expertise, networking, and meeting facilitation assistance throughout Florida to assist a minimum of 45 CBOs and coalitions with a minimum of 10,000 hours of support promoting anti-drug initiatives and messages.