Assistant Port Director Pete Macias welcomed the children in attendance and thanked the parents for allowing their children to participate in the event.  Invocation was delivered by Chaplain Supervisory CBP Officer Arnulfo Molina. APD Macias introduced the CBPO volunteers who participated in creating the event and extended his gratitude to the different agencies and committees that helped with this event.  

   U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, and Air and Marine Operations were on hand for the event. CBP Employees invited their sons and daughters attending school from the grade levels of third through the 12th grade. A total of 29 boys and girls attended the event. Children were divided into three groups by age. Five stations were set up for the groups to interact and learn the different duties that their family members perform here at CBP. Firearms, non-lethal tactics, enforcement inspections, canine demonstration, and Agriculture Quarantine Inspection information activities were the stations set up for the boys and girls to rotate and experience.  

   “I am ecstatic, to see the future of CBP learn hands on, the different skills and tasks that our CBP officers possess to carry out the CBP mission,” said Port Director John Brandt, Eagle Pass Port of Entry. “It gives me great joy to see the girls and boys look up to their mom or dad in CBP as a positive role model.” 

Explorer Post 2303 members helped guide the young boys and girls to rotate from the different stations. An Office of Field Operations Air and Marine Helicopter made a grand entrance to amaze the spectators. Children were escorted to the helicopter area where the pilot greeted the children and gave a brief description of what his mission with OFO involves. He also gave a complete description of the type of aircraft Air and Marine use to perform their mission. Children asked every question imaginable and more. Groups were also assigned to firearms and non-lethal defensive tactics, where children learned gun safety and how to discharge a firearm loaded with simulated ammunition. Children had the opportunity to discharge an M-4 rifle also loaded with simulated ammunition. Firearms demonstrations were followed by non-lethal defensive tactics where boys and girls were given a scenario, during which they had to give verbal commands to a subject dressed in red man gear. Boys and girls gave verbal commands with a noncompliant response by the subject leading to the arrest of the subject. The use of a taser was also demonstrated at the non-lethal defensive tactics station. Firearms instructors deployed a taser as the groups stood in amazement on the distance the probes can reach. The following station was the enforcement inspection station where groups were given a presentation of detecting hidden compartments. The hidden compartments were located in seized-vehicle empty gas tanks, luggage, and a human body carrier. 

   CBP canine handlers displayed the loyalty of their fellow partners. Different scenarios were utilized to give the girls and boys situations that they can encounter in CBP. The final station was the AQI lab. CBP agriculture specialists held their presentation in the lab where AQI specialists arranged several microscopes with different slides of pests found in fruits and vegetables. AQI specialists also incorporated the different meat and plant products that are not allowed to make entry into the United States. The event marks another milestone in the hearts and minds of this year’s children.