Just as ENE reported several weeks ago, the Joint Forces Training Base will slowly return to its pre-federalization buildup in the coming weeks.
Base Commander Lt. Col. Dan Fox said as much in an interview two weeks ago and he confirmed it in an address to the Los Alamitos Chamber on Friday.
“A small contingent will remain,” he said at last Friday’s Chamber meeting, noting that nearly all the 4,000 National Guard troops and other federal authorities have been withdrawn.
Over the past three months, the once tranquil base has become a major hubbub of activity, immediately following President Donald J. Trump’s order to federalize 4,000 National Guard troops to protect federal buildings and installations in the greater Los Angeles area.
There were approximately 500 Marines federalized as well, and while they too were trained in the area (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station), they were housed at several facilities.
With most of the troops now processed and back to their other state Guard duties, JFTB officials issued a memo this week a a copyu of which was obtained by ENE thanking the hundreds of other operations on the base for being patient during the heightened alert.
“First off, thank you for your patience during the past two months,” began a memo from First Sgt. Lance E. Fuller, which has presumably been sent to the hundreds of private and military contractors that operate on the grounds of the base.
“If you have not heard already, the installation is open for normal business. Veterans, Retirees, and spouses are allowed back on post. The PX is open, the pool will be opening for normal business (11AUG), Fiddler’s Green is again open to civilians,” it said.
“If during this time, there has been any issues that were not already brought up to JFTB Operations, please feel to reach out directly to myself or 1SG Kent,” said Sgt. Fuller.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week issued a demand for the federal government to account for the overall cost of the “Emergency Operations Center, throughout the ordeal (see related story).
Massive tents were erected throughout the vast ground, meals were brought in, training regimes were constructed, and there were significant additions to the base.
Throughout the ordeal, the base was closed off to unauthorized personnel while the base activity, which did include some activity from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the Department of Homeland Security, drew significant protests as well.