Nov. 27, 2007 — Army National Guardsmen from around the United States converged on St. Croix in record numbers this week for a personnel security conference.
A total of 96 guardsman, civilian personnel and spouses are staying at Divi Carina Resort for the conference that began Monday and continues through Friday. The attendees, in civilian clothes, made it look like any other meeting at the conference room downstairs in the casino, but military personnel security was the topic.
"We have a lot more participation than in the past, because of the appealing venue," Sgt. Frederick Sanders said.
Representing the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., Sanders is one of six organizers of the conference. The Guard began organizing the event six months ago and it was lucky to get the conference on St. Croix, he said. Nearly all states sent representatives, some sending as many as three people.
Brigadier General Renaldo Rivera, adjutant general for the Virgin Islands, delivered opening remarks to the conference.
"Army National Guard demands for security monitoring and screening measures have transformed since 9/11," he said. "In order to address the numerous requirements in the workplace, military personnel security analysts must first safeguard their personal environments and remain ever vigilant."
Attendees are addressing challenges in solving personnel security issues and looking at ways to improve the delivery of services and clearances, organizers said.
Col. Jeffrey Mitchell, a conference organizer from Washington, D.C., served as keynote speaker for the opening day. His career has spanned 30 years, with 20 of those in military intelligence.
Historically the Guard didn't do intelligence and security, he said.
"A lot has changed since 9/11," Mitchell said. "We're broken, and we don't have the staff to do what we need to do."
Administration has not kept up with the tremendous growth in the National Guard, and the bureaucracy is unbelievable, Mitchell said.
"They make us jump through a lot of hoops," he said.
Mitchell told the attendees to remember to raise their concerns through the chain of command.
"Military intelligence clearance on personnel security is buried," Mitchell said. "It needs to be streamlined so soldiers can go off and do what they need to do."
Maj. Mathias Sampson of the V.I. National Guard briefed the attendees on local security threats. On St. Croix there aren't any serious threats — nothing like terrorist threats, anti-military or anti-American threats, he said. Sampson gave practical advice and cautioned residents to stay hydrated and wear insect repellent because of the threat of Dengue fever.
Following Sampson's remarks, the conference was closed to the media so the attendees could work on policies and procedures.
"I hope to see a lot of input and feedback from participants on procedures coming out of this conference," Mitchell said.
Maine guardsman Brooks Gagnon said he wants to see the mix of pros and cons on clearance initiatives.
"I hope to learn the new regulations and see what other states are doing," he said.
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