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CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (January 12, 2009) -
Service members travel to the U.S. every day for redeployments,
rest and relaxation, and emergency leave from Camp Patriot,
Kuwait.
Each and every service member exiting theater must go through a
screening process by U.S. Navy Expeditionary Logistics Group,
better known as Navy Customs.
"All of us hold the responsibility of seeing that the mission is
carried out under the command of Capt. Marcus McCance," said Chief
Petty Officer Michelle K. Ramlow, Yeoman, NAVELSG- FWD India.
This group's mission is to successfully expedite military
personnel who are redeploying or traveling on R&R through the
customs process; ensuring restricted items do not enter the
U.S.
"We ensure all gear returning with service members complies with
United States customs regulations for re-entry into the U.S.," said
Ramlow.
The process begins with service members arriving at Camp Patriot
and being processed and manifested for flights through the U.S.
Army Theater Gateway staff.
"Every passenger gets several briefings and one of those is a
customs brief that tells them what they can and cannot bring into
the U.S.," said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Boudreaux,
NAVELSG-FWD India. "Once they have been given an amnesty brief,
they are brought out to my area and given another similar brief. We
are service members too, so we know that when you're getting ready
to go home the last thing on your mind is what contraband could
possibly be in your bag."
After several briefs and the chance to remove any contraband
from their belongings, service members then go through the scanning
process. Upon entering the customs tent they place their bags on a
conveyor that goes through an X-ray scanner monitored by one of the
Navy staff. Service members are then scanned with a metal detection
wand.
"Sometimes we get people coming out of Afghanistan or Iraq, who
were carrying hundreds of rounds while on missions, that may have
accidentally left some brass in one of their many uniform pockets,"
said Boudreaux.
Then service members are sent to individual stations where a
member of the Navy Customs staff will go through everything in
their luggage.
"We know it is frustrating to have to repack all of your gear,
especially in a timely manner, but it's our job to do a thorough
search and we check everything," said Boudreaux.
Once all of their luggage is checked, service members repack and
move on to the next area where they put their bags that aren't
carry-on luggage. The Customs staff has a special box that is a
replica of the overhead bins on aircraft. Each traveling service
member must be able to fit their carry-on luggage into one of the
bins or they must put the bag into the cargo hold of the plane.
"We try to make this process as easy going as possible for the
service member," said Boudreaux.
Once they're done separating their carry-on and cargo hold
luggage, service members and their carry-ons are scanned one more
time.
Once they are finished they are released to a freedom area,
where they are staged until their flight is ready. The freedom area
is made up of several tents with televisions, pool tables and other
recreational activities. It also has a coffee shop and pizza
kiosk.
"I know my Sailors believe in this mission and are outstanding
at accomplishing their task of enforcing the rules and regulations
of U.S. Customs," said Ramlow. "We received the best training
possible to set us up for success."
"The best part of working here in Customs is the gratitude you
receive from service members for sending them home safely," said
Boudreaux.
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