January 22 - January 28 Click the photo to go to the PBR site. Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Recruitment and resiliency... Those are two worthy initiatives into which the USBP is pouring great resource and effort. For recruitment:
Resiliency is a newer concept in the Patrol and is designed to, "Promote physical, mental, and emotional health for employees and their families" as per CBP's 2022-2026 Strategy. The USBP's 2022-2026 Strategy statutes, "The USBP will continue to invest in resiliency programs and identify and pursue other work-life balance programs." The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Fiscal Year 2023 Congressional Justification supports the Patrol with $104.8 million for USBP Hiring/Training/Resiliency:
As the Patrol faces dire projections in staffing, now and in the coming years, recruitment and resiliency are valuable and needed efforts. However, neither address the concept that I consider to be the greatest influence on workplace staffing, leadership. Remember, people generally don't quit jobs, people quit people. Employees quit (or retire) because they have decided the imbalance of workplace stress versus workplace satisfaction favors their departure. In other words, the leave because "It's just not worth it anymore." Without going through a long, itemized list of reasons that employees leave, with complete confidence, I will say that good leadership absolutely mitigates attrition. Good leadership is people focused and does more to reduce workplace stress than any collection of resiliency initiatives. You see, good leadership is the uncredited foundation of Esprit de Corps (see below). If an organization's Esprit de Corps is low, if organizational pride is suffering, if workforce morale is in the tank... It is the responsibility and fault of those occupying positions of leadership, and is due to their bad leadership. Bad leaders are the a$$holes and those failing to have a bias for the workforce. They fail to correct things that are detrimental to the workforce and fail to initiate things that are beneficial. The Patrol believes that those in Command Positions are automatically "leaders". I argue that they are automatically managers of the mission. Remember as Simon Sinek said, "It's not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." If a person in a command position is not taking care of those in their charge, they are not being a leader. Today is an anomaly with only a 1925 document and two references from Joe Banco's books in the Documents/Events section. There are no known Newton-Azrak Award anniversaries for the week. However, I've highlighted the action of Michael G. McManus. He was the first Border Patrol Agent to be a recipient of the Newton-Azrak Award in 1973. His exact date of action is unknown. We remember Border Patrol Agent Aurelio E. Valencia on the anniversary of his death. Since there isn't too much reading in today's newsletter, let me invite you to explore the HonorFirst.com. We have nearly 50 Border Patrol stories, nearly 2,000 photographs and tons of other interesting stuff Have a great week! Cliff PS -
Esprit de Corps The 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. Documents/Events 1925
Newton-Azrak Award Action Anniversaries Follow this link to see examples of USBP employees Upholding Honor First.
 The USBP Newton-Azrak Award Scroll There are no known Newton-Azrak Award anniversaries for the week. However, I've highlighted the action of Michael G. McManus. He was the first Border Patrol Agent to be a recipient of the Newton-Azrak Award in 1973. His exact date of action is unknown. 1973 Michael G. McManus (1937-2019) Border Patrol Agent Houlton Sector Border Patrol Agent Michael G. McManus was recognized for his heroic and unselfish performance in rescuing a man from a burning building. McManus had been called out in the early morning hours by the Calais Police Department to question a Canadian citizen. Upon leaving his house, he observed what appeared to be a prowler in the yard of his neighbor’s home. However, upon investigating, he discovered it was not a prowler, but a visitor in his neighbor’s home who had fled from the house, which was on fire. McManus, without thought of himself, entered the flaming house in search of his neighbor, was driven back out into the air, and once again entered the house, remaining until he located the unconscious victim and brought him safely out of the burning building. BPA McManus’ actions did not end with rescuing the man from the flaming house. Once outside, he then began resuscitation efforts and although exhausted from is efforts, continued his assistance by going to the hospital and helping the staff in removing the burnt clothing from the victim.  U.S. Border Patrol Badge with a Mourning Band USBP Fallen As of December 7, 2022, the U.S. Border Patrol has suffered 153* fallen. Titles:
The names that appear below hold a place of honor. They have made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to fulfill the oath each officer took to protect and defend the United States of America. The facts regarding each officer are presented without major editing of the "language of the day" found in the reports detailing the circumstances of each event. This is done to provide the reader an association with historical timeframes. Employees who died in the line of duty due to being exposed to deadly illnesses will not have the cause of death listed. I will note that Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax is not recognized as officially fallen by Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Border Patrol. The Border Patrol Foundation and the Border Patrol Museum also fail to recognize him. He is remembered by all except organizations containing "Border Patrol" in their title. He is remembered by the:
The U.S. Border Patrol, the Border Patrol Foundation, and the Border Patrol Museum should fix their oversight. HonorFirst.com remembers and lists Agent Gigax among the fallen.  Fallen Border Patrol Agent John Charles Gigax's tombstone. Fallen Border Patrol Agent Jason C. Panides' tombstone in is the background. 1996
Aurelio E. Valencia Date of Birth: November 12, 1963 Entered on Duty: February 28, 1985 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: January 25, 1996 Details: On January 25, 1996, Border Patrol Agent Aurelio E. Valencia was involved in a vehicle accident on California State Route 78, near Glamis, California. Permanently assigned to the Blythe Station, Agent Valencia was working backup for the Highway 78 checkpoint. As he attempted a U-turn to get behind and investigate a suspected smuggling vehicle parked south of the checkpoint, his Service vehicle was struck broadside by a southbound motorist. Agent Valencia died at the scene from injuries sustained in the accident. Agent Valencia began his career with INS as a student aide at Tucson Sector Headquarters. He was promoted to Clerk two months later. After a short break in service, he entered on duty as an Immigration Detention Officer at Wilcox Station, Tucson Sector, on November 26, 1986. On June 13, 1988, he entered on duty as a Border Patrol Agent at Blythe Station, Yuma Sector, the position he was filling at the time of his death. Gravesite
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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
February 2025
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