US Navy Customs

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=U.S. Navy Customs Battalion


country=USA
allegiance=
type=Customs Battalion
branch=United States Navy
specialization=Customs and Inspection
size=One battalion
current_commander=
mascot= Octopus
deployments= Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom

The United States Navy Customs mission is one that is assigned to the Commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG). The mission is overseen in the Central Command Theater of Operations by Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward Headquarters, as well as the Commander, USCENTCOM.

The Navy Customs mission is detailed entirely by Navy Reserves, mobilized for a period of 240 days. Upon receipt of orders for mobilization, the reserve members report to a Navy Mobilization Processing Site for processing and screening to ensure they are fit for duty, and have no issues that will preclude them from carrying out their primary mission. This process usually takes approximately two weeks from when they report in, until they are sent to NAVELSG for training.

Upon arrival at NAVELSG, the sailors undergo a month of training in everything they need to know to operate in the USCENTCOM theater of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. They are trained in the use of weapons, driving tactical vehicles, first aid, small unit tactics, and the procedures and standards required of items and personnel re-entering the United States from overseas. Upon completion of training, they are certified as Customs Border Clearance Agents, with the authority to carry out customs inspection on equipment and personnel within USCENTCOM only.

Upon arrival in the theater of operations, all personnel check in with the US Army Personnel Support Battalion located at the Army Life Support Area (ALSA), Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. From there, each company then heads to its base of operations, either at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the Kuwait Naval Base, Ali Al Salem, or they stay at ALSA for further training before deploying to Balad, Iraq.

During their deployment, a customs mission will examine the baggage of approximately a 125,000 - 200,000 passengers (nearly half a million bags), inspect 5,000 - 15,000 vehicles and aircraft, 50,000 - 150,000 pieces of equipment and 20,000 - 40,000 containers. Sailors usually deploy for these missions for approximately eight to nine months in country. The first two weeks of their time in country is spent settling into their new homes, and performing training and gaining qualifications that could not be performed in the United States.

To date, there have been 7 Customs Battalions. They are:
Navy Customs Battalion Oscar
Navy Customs Battalion Papa
Navy Customs Battalion Quebec
Navy Customs Battalion Romeo
Navy Customs Battalion Sierra
Navy Customs Battalion Tango
Navy Customs Battalion Hotel (deployed as of May 2008)