Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. -- Special Reaction Teams with the Provost Marshal’s Offices at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., joined forces to patrol the borders around the eastern portion of MCAS Miramar, Nov. 24.
Encroachment continues to be an issue that Miramar officials and military police take very seriously for a number of reasons.
Safety concerns for potentially unexploded ordnance from ranges when the installation was home to the Army, current ranges and operations taking place using live ordnance and wild fire hazards.
“Our patrols out here serve as somewhat of a preventive measure,” said Staff Sgt. Darryl Cuenca, SRT commander with Miramar PMO and a Temecula, Calif., native. “We venture out to popular areas for people to be, and stop them from coming onto the installation.”
Teams mobilize and patrol installation’s borders regularly to keep those in the public who might have wondered on safe.
“They follow the trails that go from well-known parks, hiking and biking areas onto the installation and a lot of these trails can lead them to where the rifle range is,” said Cuenca. “People we catch might get a little vulgar, or upset, but what we need them to realize is that it isn’t safe for them to be here and we have their safety and well-being in mind.”
With extra sets of eyes from the military police officers with MCRD San Diego along, the SRT has increased their ability to watch for trespassers by almost 100 percent. The idea behind the two teams coming together is to train, build familiarity and cohesion.
“It’s good training for us to be out here together,” said Police Cpl. Marvin Hayden, a retired gunnery sergeant and member of the SRT with MCRD San Diego. “It allows us an opportunity to do something we don’t do typically. It helps us build a good, working rapport with our brothers here on Miramar if we ever need to work together in the future. We’re happy to train and help.”
Cuenca also explained that if people of the San Diego community pay attention to the signs posted around the installation, they will know where they should not be.
Trespassing aboard the installation’s property could result in anything from a verbal or written warning to hefty fines and, in extreme cases, serious injury.
“I understand that sometimes it might be difficult, but please don’t neglect those signs,” said Cuenca. “It’s for your safety.”