Joint Task Force RNC The 2008 Republican National Convention showcased the Minnesota National Guard s capability to support civil authorities. With augmentation from all branches of military service, the Minnesota National Guard performed basic security functions in order to free up peace officers, allowing them to address higher level law enforcement tasks. We backed up civilian agencies when the situation required, and we were ready to stand up Brig. Gen. Joe Kelly, the Asst. Adjutant Gen. of significant the Minnesota National support in Guard, was the Dual Hat Commander of all federal the event and state military forces supporting the RNC. something catastrophic occurred. The exceptional professionalism, dedication, and commitment from all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen ensured a secure environment for the RNC. St. Paul s Xcel Energy Center was the venue for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul were the center of the political world from Sept. 1-4, 2008 as the Republican National Committee (RNC) chose the region to host the 2008 Presidential Nominating Convention. The event would draw more than 50,000 visitors to the area, among them delegates, national media, prominent elected officials, and of course the presidential nominee. A high profile event such as a major political convention could be a target for potential terrorists or groups that could exploit the gathering and media to divert attention to their views. The Department of Homeland Security designated this high profile convention as a National Special Security Event, and authorized that a joint military task force be formed from both federal and state military forces in order to assist in security. The military force that planned, prepared, trained, assembled and executed this security mission was called Joint Task Force Republican National Convention, or JTF-RNC. Brig. Gen. Joe Kelly JTF-RNC Commander 1
Military Organization Joint Task Force RNC (JTF-RNC) was formed with more than 1,700 military service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Joint Task Force RNC had a dual status unified command structure with one commander for both federal and state National Guard forces. This unified command structure provided all military forces with one common operating picture that would create a safe and secure environment for the Republican National Convention. Joint Task Force RNC was comprised of four major commands; Task Force 10, Task Force 32, Task Force Aviation and Task Force Civil Support. The Minnesota National Guard s 347th Regional Support Group provided general support. Task Force 10 federal resources included Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Teams with capabilities to detect and identify explosive devices through the use of Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) Teams, and the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) of the United States Marine Corps, with capabilities to provide decontamination, medical assistance and extraction. Task Force 32 state resources came from the Minnesota National Guard encompassing units from the 84th Troop Command, 34th Military Police Company, 257th Military Police Company, 114th Transportation Company, 1-194th Combined Arms Battalion, 148th Fighter Wing, 133rd Air Wing, and the Chemical Enhanced Response Force. Task Force Aviation support came from the Minnesota Army National Guard s 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Regiment. Helicopters were on 24-hour alert in order to deliver aerial support to local and federal law enforcement agencies during the RNC. Task Force Civil Support provided command and control of DoD incident management forces capable of responding to a catastrophic attack. 2 Task Force Civil Support resources came from the 55th Civil Support Team, Minnesota National Guard; 71st Civil Support Team, Iowa National Guard; 81st Civil Support Team, North Dakota National Guard; 54th Civil Support Team, Wisconsin National Guard; 7th Civil Support Team, Missouri National Guard; 12th Civil Support Team, New Hampshire National Guard; 32nd Civil Support Team, Maryland National Guard; 82nd Civil Support Team, South Dakota National Guard and 103rd Civil Support Team, Alaska National Guard. Servicemembers from all military branches made up JTF-RNC. Military organizations will perform basic security functions to free up police officers for higher level law enforcement tasks. If a significant event occurs, we will back up the civil agencies, as they require. If something catastrophic happens, we must be ready to stand up additional military forces in order to help quickly restore order, protect the public, and provide essential services.
Key Partnerships A National Special Security Event (NSSE) is a status declared by the United States Department of Homeland Security for certain events, usually because such a gathering may seem like an attractive target for terrorists due to the event s visibility or political connection. The 2008 Republican National Convention was declared a NSSE. I m really supporting three entities One is to provide Department of Defense capability for the Secret Service for the venue. On the other side is FEMA and in the middle there is a critical part to all of this in Joint Task Force-RNC. - Col. Michael Chesney, The St. Paul Police Department was the lead local agency for RNC security. to ensure that the area around the venue was safe and secure. United States Northern Command USNORTHCOM coordinates federal military support for homeland defense. United States Army North Defense Coordinating Officer ARNORTH is the major ground component force within the US Northern Command. United States Secret Service The USSS was designated as the lead federal agency for the RNC and coordinated all aspects of security for the venue. United States Air Force North Saint Paul Police Department North American Aerospace Defense Command AFNORTH is the major air component force within the US Northern Command. The SPPD was the lead local law enforcement agency and coordinated with state, county, and municipal jurisdictions NORAD monitors and controls airspace above the continent. File Photo The US Air Force monitored the Federal Aviation Administrations s temporary flight restrictions over the Twin Cities during the RNC. 3
Federal Military Forces The US Coast Guard patrolled the Mississippi River and secured water routes around the Xcel Energy Center. Nearly 500 federal military troops were assigned to JTF-RNC in order to provide specialized units and on-call consequence management capability. More than 30 Coast Guard personnel, working hand-in-hand with local law enforcement authorities and other federal partners, were on station patrolling and securing the Mississippi River through downtown St. Paul. In my 25 years in the Coast Guard, this is the largest operation I ve been involved in. I ve never seen the level of cooperation and the smoothness of communication and sharing of information this is the best I ve ever seen. - Capt. Steve Hudson U.S. Coast Guard Chemical Biological Incident Response Force The US Marines deployed the CBIRF in order to provide the JTF-RNC Commander the capability to provide decontamination, medical assistance, and emergency extraction. Lt. Col. Nancy Vincent-Johnson examines an Explosive Ordnance Detection Dog during the RNC Explosive Ordnance Disposal The EOD force supported the RNC with capabilities to detect and identify explosive devices through the use of Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) and EOD teams. 4 CBIRF Marines and Sailors prepare for the RNC.
State Military Forces Army and Air National Guard troops from around the country were critical to the security of the RNC. National Guard RC-26B takes off during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. We bring the capability to address a variety of situations anywhere from the planning and preparations of this event all the way to the consequence management activities. - Steve Buntman, Department of Energy Civil Support Teams Guardsmen from numerous states provided specialized teams to assist the St. Paul Fire Department, US Secret Service, and the Department of Energy in and around the venue with specialized chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection systems. 5 RC-26 Aircraft The Wisconsin and Mississippi Air National Guard provided unique assets in suppport of JTF-RNC. The RC-26B is equipped with full motion video downlink capability that produces realtime aerial footage for ground forces. Lt. Col. Tim Glynn (r) of the Iowa National Guard s 71st Civil Support Team discusses information on a map of the local area with a Department of Energy official during the Republican National Convention.
Minnesota National Guard Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were responsible for a variety of support and security tasks during the 2008 RNC. Infrastructure Security 270 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers provided security at fourteen critical sites throughout the Twin cities during the RNC. Minnesota National Guard troops secured critical infrastructure. Firefighters Minnesota Air National Guard Airmen were on duty in order to free up St. Paul firefighters. A Minnesota Army National Guardsman performs security at a checkpoint near the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Army Aviation Aviators and crews were on stand-by to provide aerial transportation to military forces throughout the RNC. Army National Guard Aviation was on 24-hour alert in support of the military operations. Staff Sgt. Steve Holmes, 133rd Civil Engineering Squadron, opens a fire hydrant to refill his firetruck. 6
Rapid Reaction Force The Rapid Reaction Force conducts riot training at the Inver Grove Heights Armory in anticipation of being called upon by local authorities. A Rapid Reaction Force of 300 Soldiers were specially trained and available to assist with crowd control at the request of the St. Paul Police Department. On Sept. 1, Soldiers from the Brainerd-based 1st Combat Arms Battalion, 194th Armor were on call when small bands of demonstrators began using violent tactics such as dropping tire spikes on interstates, breaking windows, setting dumpsters on fire, and attempting to blockade routes to the convention. Demonstrators en route to the Xcel Energy Center march in front of the St. Paul National Guard Armory. I think it was important for the anarchists and the citizens of St. Paul to see the Guard standing there the Guard was there as a clear sign that the government was still there and that we were still in control and that chaos was not going to be allowed to continue downtown. - John M. Harrington, St. Paul Chief of Police More than 10,000 demonstrators gathered on Sept. 1 to peacefully march during the RNC. 7
Called To Duty With the St. Paul Police Department and its partners fully engaged, National Guard troops were officially requested at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. Minnesota National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor assist St. Paul Police in maintaining order. I have never been more impressed with National Guard security than at this event. There s been a lot of discussion about anarchists and protestors, but everywhere we have traveled over the past week, they ve done an excellent job. Soldiers raise their shields while supporting St. Paul Police in maintaining order during the Republican National Convention. By 3:30 p.m., Soldiers were securing the Wabasha Street Bridge so that law enforcement officers could be freed up to restore peace throughout the capitol city. Throughout the remainder of the convention, Minnesota National Guard troops were stationed in downtown St. Paul and prepared to stand up additional forces as required by local law enforcement. - Rick Lacey Pennsylvania delegate Republican National Convention Minnesota National Guard Soldiers stand ready in downtown St. Paul. 8