August 6 - August 12INTROGood Morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! This week, we're turning our spotlight towards an organization that has been a pillar of support for the Border Patrol community - The Border Patrol Foundation (BPF). The Border Patrol Foundation A Pillar of Support in the USBP Community About the Border Patrol Foundation Border Patrol Foundation (BPF) stands as a testament to the courage, commitment, and sacrifices of U.S. Border Patrol Agents and their families. Conceived by Mike Conners, a private sector Homeland Security executive, and Ron Colburn, then Senior Associate Chief of Operations at U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Headquarters, Washington, D.C. BPF was born out of deep respect and admiration for the agents who risk their lives daily to protect our nation's borders. BPF's journey began on July 23, 2009, a day marked by both the birth of a supportive foundation and the tragic loss of Border Patrol Agent Robert W. Rosas, Jr., who died while on duty near San Diego, CA. The Foundation's inaugural act of support was to provide financial assistance to the Rosas family, setting the tone for its mission to Honor the Memory. Serve the Families. The Foundation's leadership was initially composed of a diverse group of private sector professionals and retired Border Patrol Agents, including Professor Shannon Brown, Attorney Bob Horn, non-profit executive Terry Modglin, businessman Terry Lanni, former Director of Presidential Personnel Bob Nash, retired Border Patrol Deputy Chief Ron Colburn, and retired Border Patrol Deputy Chief Luis Barker. Mike Conners and Ron Colburn, the two visionaries behind BPF, served as its first President and Vice President, respectively, from 2009 to 2012. Today, BPF is led by President Rowdy Adams, who joined the Board of Directors in November 2012, and Erica Aguilar became Executive Director in 2020, the surviving spouse of Border Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar. Their leadership continues to uphold BPF's mission and values, and to further expand the Foundation. As listed in the 2022 Charity Listing from the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), BPF is a recognized charity with a 5-digit code of 79557. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Arizona. BPF's mission is, “To honor the memory of fallen U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents and provide support and resources to the families. BPF provides support to Border Patrol employees, USBP agents and their families for on- and off-duty deaths, injuries, illnesses, family medical emergencies, special circumstances and student scholarships.” The CFC listing also reveals that BPF maintains an annual fundraising and administrative cost of 16.2% of its total revenue. This ensures a significant portion of the funds raised directly supports its mission. BPF falls under the Service Categories (Taxonomy Codes) of Human Services (P) and Education (B), reflecting its dual commitment to immediate support for Border Patrol families and fostering educational opportunities through scholarships. The Mission of the BPF BPF's mission is multifaceted. Firstly, it honors the memory of fallen U.S. Border Patrol agents by providing immediate financial support to their families. This support also extends to all employees of the Border Patrol, including uniformed personnel and mission support, for on- and off-duty deaths, injuries, illnesses, and family medical emergencies. Secondly, BPF offers scholarships to the children of the fallen agents through its Silent Partner Program, and scholarships awarded on a competitive basis to children of active and retired Border Patrol employees, fostering the growth and development of the next generation. Lastly, but certainly not least, BPF recognizes the heroic deeds and exceptional performances of our agents through its annual recognition dinner. This event serves as a platform to celebrate the courage, commitment, and sacrifices of U.S. Border Patrol Agents. In addition to these core activities, the BPF ensures that the memory of fallen agents and inspectors is kept alive by posting on social media about them on the anniversary of their deaths. This act of remembrance is a testament to their service and sacrifice.
BPF Events: Honoring and Supporting Each year BPF hosts several events to honor the memory of fallen agents, support their families and raise funds for the mission. BPF planned for 7 events in 2023, 5 of which have already been held, and the last two major events planned in 2023 are: "Honoring the Green" in Dulles, Virginia on September 22, and their 15th Annual Recognition Dinner at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. on October 27. These events serve as a platform for BPF to raise funds, honor the fallen, and celebrate the courage and commitment of U.S. Border Patrol Agents. Please note that the "Honoring the Green" event is currently sold out, but you can get involved by becoming a BPF volunteer for any of their events. Supporting the BPF BPF's work is made possible by the generous support of individuals, corporations, and other organizations. There are various ways to support BPF's mission, including donations, becoming a national partner, and participating in their events. Every contribution helps BPF continue its invaluable work for the Border Patrol community. If you're interested in supporting BPF, visit their website to learn more about how you can help. Conclusion Over the years, BPF has stood as a beacon of hope and support for the Border Patrol community, embodying the spirit of our motto, "Honor First." As we delve deeper into BPF's history and contributions in this week's blog, let's take a moment to appreciate the invaluable work they do and the lives they've touched This week, we continue our journey through the U.S. Border Patrol's history. We start in 1913, noting the job announcement for "Mounted Inspector (Male)". We then move to 1929, highlighting a confrontation between Patrol Inspectors Charles W. Hayes and Richard R. Costa and alcohol smugglers. A significant development occurred in 1961 when President Kennedy announced that Border Patrol Agents would be placed on commercial airlines to prevent hijackings, marking the birth of the Sky Marshals. Our timeline ends in 1995 with the establishment of a satellite Border Patrol Academy in Charleston. These events, among others, will be our focus this week. Additionally, we'll honor five Border Patrol Agents and two Immigration Officers on the anniversaries of their Newton-Azrak Award actions. We also pause this week to remember Border Patrol Agent Manuel A. Alvarez on the anniversary of his death. Enjoy and have a great week! Cliff P.S. - As an open and continuous invitation to current and former USBP employees, I am always accepting photos to post in the USBP Photo Galleries and in the Upholding Honor First pages. I sure would appreciate you visiting those pages and sending me anything that you think I could post (just send them to [email protected]). As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to the documents and pages. Finally, please forward this blog to whomever you think may enjoy it. ESPRIT DE CORPSThe workplace climate resulting from a combination of organizational pride and employee morale.
Esprit de corps is reinforced through the shared goals, mission and values of the organization and its employees. The definition turns Esprit de Corps into a simple formula and defines parts that comprise organizational pride and employee morale. Esprit de Corps = Organizational Pride + Employee Morale Esprit de Corps is the key to a healthy organization and engaged employees. Honor First is foundational to the Border Patrol's organizational pride and integral to its Esprit de Corps. THROWBACK PHOTO OF THE WEEKGuardians of the Frontier A Sunny Glimpse into the Past This captivating, albeit faded color photograph from around 1960, believed to be taken on the sun-drenched plains of Montana or North Dakota, showcases three dedicated Border Patrol Inspectors in their crisp dress uniforms and campaign hats. They stand tall in front of their iconic seafoam green patrol vehicles - a 1957 Ford Fairlane or Galaxie with single headlights, and a 1958 Ford Galaxie with double headlights and a single fireball on the roof. The men and their vehicles are positioned on a grassy expanse, with rolling hills stretching out behind them and not a tree in sight. The man in the center is Border Patrol Inspector Jerrel B. Scott, grandfather of Mr. L. Floyd, who graciously shared this piece of history with us. These men, and the vehicles they relied on, were integral to the Border Patrol's mission during this era, embodying the spirit of service and dedication that continues to define the agency today. DOCUMENTS AND EVENTS1913
1929
1933
1946
1950
1961
1995
NEWTON-AZRAK AWARD |
Clifford GillBlog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate. Ray HarrisSite founder and owner, former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent. Joseph BancoU.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent. Archives
October 2024
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