WEBVTT

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Welcome to our journey through the

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legacy and heritage of Joint Task Force

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North , where vigilance meets valor ,

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where dedication meets duty , and where

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protecting the homeland defines our

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every mission . In the 1980s , the

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United States faced a monumental

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challenge as powerful drug cartels in

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Colombia unleashed a torrent of drugs

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onto American streets , fueling a

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devastating wave of crime and addiction .

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The unprecedented influx of narcotics

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prompted President Ronald Reagan to

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take decisive action . Recognizing the

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urgent need for intervention , Reagan

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launched aggressive anti-drug campaigns

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and implemented policies aimed at

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curbing the flow of illicit substances

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into the country . Following Reagan ,

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President George HW Bush crafted a

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strategy to disrupt , dismantle , and

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ultimately destroy the illegal market

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for drugs by attacking both supply and

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demand sides of the drug prop . As part

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of his plan , he directed the

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Department of Defense to take an active

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role in detecting , monitoring , and

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interdicting drug traffic . In a joint

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message on September 15 , 1989 ,

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General Colin Powell , commanding

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general of Army Forces Command ,

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created Joint Task Force 6 . From

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General Powell . I intend to bring all

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available assets in the active and US

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Army Reserve as well as coordinate with

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the National Guard to concentrate our

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efforts on the southwest border of the

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United States to support federal and

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civilian law enforcement agencies to

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interdict drug traffic . We can provide

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the presence , technology , rapid

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reaction , mobility and experience to

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thicken the border and multiply the

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efforts of border patrol . I propose we

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designate Joint Task Force 6 to be

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commanded by Commanding General 5th

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Army . The joint task force will be

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responsible for directing all DOD

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support of border patrol efforts along

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the entire US-Mexico border . The

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commander Joint Task Force 6 will

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locate the task force headquarters in

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El Paso , center of sector , and

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establish necessary command and control

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of US military forces . Signed Colin L .

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Powell , commanding general , ForceCO .

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From there , Joint Task Force 6

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continued to grow in importance and

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responsibility . Originally operating

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in the four border states of Texas ,

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New Mexico , Arizona , and California ,

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Joint Task Force Six's role expanded in

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1995 to cover the entire continental

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United States . Throughout the

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tumultuous 1990s , Joint Task Force Six

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stood as a stalwart ally alongside the

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US Border Patrol . With unwavering

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determination , it provided critical

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engineer , surveillance and training

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support , fortifying the nation's

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borders against the relentless tide of

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illegal narcotics . In the wake of the

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terror attacks on September 11 , 2001 ,

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President George W . Bush created US

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Northern Command to defend the homeland

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from attack . In September of 2004 ,

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the new command redesignated Joint Task

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Force Six as Joint Task Force North .

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An expanded role accompanied the new

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name . No longer just a counter drug

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unit , Joint Task Force North would

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secure the homeland , provide support

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to federal law enforcement ,

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counterterrorism . And do so over the

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entire continent of North America . The

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year 2014 marked a pivotal juncture in

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its evolution when the Department of

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Defense authorized Joint Task Force

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North to support law enforcement in

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countering transnational criminal

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organizations . It was a recognition of

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the unit's prowess and the shifting

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landscape of national security threats .

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Joint Task Force North continued its

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unwavering support to federal law

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enforcement . However , it was in 2018

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when it assumed a central role in the

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Department of Homeland Security's

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request for assistance from the

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Department of Defense to support its

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border security mission in the crucible

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of real world challenges , Joint Task

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Force North remained steadfast ,

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supporting DHS during migrant surges

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and serving as a linchpin in

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safeguarding our borders against

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illicit activities . As we look to the

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future , Joint Task Force North is

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poised for a new chapter transitioning

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to become a homeland defense

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headquarters . It will expand its focus

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while continuing its critical

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counter-drug and countertransnational

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criminal organization missions from

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across the military and across the

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country . The men and women of Joint

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Task Force North deployed to defend

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their fellow citizens against the

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violent criminals of a new millennium .

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In all they do , they stand ready to

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confront the challenges of tomorrow ,

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ensuring the safety and security of our

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nation . Joint Task Force North

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defending the homeland .