July 2 - July 8INTROGood Morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! Inviting Your Stories: Be a Part of USBP History This Week in USBP History is not just a reflection of our past but an ongoing celebration of the men and women who have made the United States Border Patrol what it is today. Through our weekly posts, we aim to boost morale and instill a sense of pride and unity among all members of the USBP family. Today, we invite YOU to be an active participant in this ongoing chronicle. Have you served in the USBP? Do you have family or friends who have been a part of this honorable institution? Or perhaps you’re a keen observer of the USBP’s history and want to share your insights. We want to hear from you! Call for Guest Blog Posts We are inviting submissions for guest blog posts that align with our mission of honoring the guardians of the border, reflecting on the USBP’s legacy, and fostering organizational pride. What We’re Looking For:
Submission Guidelines:
Please email your submissions to [email protected]. This is an open and continuous invitation. Other Ways to Contribute Beyond blog posts, there are more ways you can contribute to HonorFirst.com and USBP history:
And don’t forget – you can also participate in discussions and share your thoughts in the Disqus comments at the bottom of the page. By sharing our stories, we come together as a family, united in our commitment to protect and serve. Let us continue to build a legacy that we can all be proud of. This week, journey with us back to 1913 when the Father of the Border Patrol, Frank Berkshire, proposed significant changes to the Mounted Inspector role. Delve into the complexities of alien deportation compliance in 1928 and the innovative strategies used to navigate bureaucratic limitations. Get a glimpse of a shooting competition in the El Paso District in 1934, and untangle the intricacies of Patrol job titles and pay grades in 1936. These stories and much more await in our exploration of the U.S. Border Patrol's rich and multifaceted history. Join us on this fascinating journey. As we delve into the past, we also pause to honor the memory of ten Patrol heroes on the anniversary of their Newton-Azrak Award actions. During this week, we solemnly remember nine of our fallen, including Susan L. Rodriguez and Ricardo G. Salinas, who tragically lost their lives in the same incident in 1998. It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge the nine separate occasions on which the USBP has experienced the devastating loss of two Agents/Inspectors in a single event, totaling 18 fallen. We honor their memory and sacrifice, with their names listed below:
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 WEEKWhen Past Meets Present This evocative photograph from the late 1970s/early 1980s immortalizes a moment where time converges on an arid mountainside at the US border. A couple, whose journey in search of a new life is brought to a standstill, are escorted by Border Patrol agents on horseback, reminiscent of a bygone era. Hovering in the backdrop, a modern helicopter symbolizes the dawn of a new age in immigration enforcement. Here, tradition and innovation collide, as the relentless pursuit of border security is tempered by the timeless human quest for a better life. DOCUMENTS AND EVENTS1913
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
February 2025
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