Customs and Border Protection cuts ribbon on new facility at Fort A.P. Hill

Fort A.P. Hill, VA. The Fort A.P. Hill Garrison Command Team welcomed Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and other senior leaders from across the CBP enterprise Friday at a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new CBP's Special Response Team Training Facility.

Formerly home to the U.S. Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group, AWG inactivated in March 2021, the facility has been used on an as-needed basis by various military units for training. CBP SRT is now the full-time tenant.

SRT, established in 2006, provides a unique capability in support of CBP operations. Similar to a SWAT team, they specialize in handling high-risk situations such as heavy wildfires, rescue operations, and unique detention operations. Taking from the ranks of currently serving CBP officers, SRT candidates undergo a challenging assessment, selection, and follow-on advanced training.

SRT, until now, did not have a dedicated facility for training. Their new home at Fort A.P. Hill represents a significant milestone for the development of SRT capabilities. Fort A.P. Hill is a subordinate installation to the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region, which has robust partnerships and integration with CBP as part of their U.S. Northern Command homeland defense mission. Bauer noted the parallel structure of shared missions.

Fort A.P. Hill has long served as the training destination of choice in the mid-Atlantic region for units and agencies of all kinds due to its sprawling size (76,000+ acres), proximity to Washington, D.C., and ability to tailor ranges and facilities to meet the bespoke requirements of training units. The installation continues to press modernization and continuous transformation to support emerging technologies and weapon systems.

In particular, the installation boasts robust unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS training facilities to support the latest technologies, which can also benefit the SRT mission.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Special Response Team is excited to partner with Fort A.P. Hill providing a permanent training location for SRT," said SRT Commander Kevin Green noted. "This will undoubtably enhance CBP's and the Department of War's commitment to national security through the development of special operations."

Seeing the AWG compound back in full-time use after many years is not only beneficial to the installation from a mission support standpoint, but also from the local community standpoint. Area leaders are excited about the having of a new tenant on Fort A.P. Hill, as the new SRT footprint will most likely bring expansion for the local economy.

According to Bauer, the interagency partnership is a win-win for all.

"I'm very much looking forward to continuing this partnership and seeing what the future holds," he said. "A close relationship between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of War is critical for protecting America, and that relationship is being demonstrated right here, at the ground level, where training and building readiness happens."