The Tennessee National Guard’s 168th Military Police Battalion from Dyersburg has safely returned home following a year-long deployment at the U.S. Southern Border. According to the Department of Military, nearly 50 guardsmen made it back to Tennessee on Monday, after having been deployed to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s efforts to curb illegal border crossings.
Stationed at the Rio Grande Valley Sector near Edinburg, Texas, the Tennesseans were part of Joint Task Force-North, which was later renamed to Joint Task Force-Southern Border. Their mission was to help detect and prevent illegal activities across a span of over 300 miles of the border. The guardsmen were initially activated on October 13, 2024, and their effort helped to significantly reduce illegal crossings from an average of 700 to between 50-70 per week by the end of their deployment. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Crowley, the battalion’s commander, expressed pride in their performance, stating, “Our Soldiers did a phenomenal job, and I am incredibly proud of them,” as stated by the Department of Military.
The guardsmen undertook various tasks, such as assisting Border Patrol agents with disrupting cartel activities and deterrence of drug and human trafficking. They also had roles in criminal apprehensions and were involved in a counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems program to effectively limit criminal drone operations within the United States, as per the Department of Military…