The California National Guard is ending its month-old mission to bolster security at six major airports, Guard officials said yesterday.
By Saturday, about 600 Guard members would be removed from airports in San Jose, San Francisco, Burbank, Los Angeles and Orange County as well as San Diego, said Maj. Dan Markert, a state National Guard spokesman.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called up the Guard on Aug. 10, after British intelligence revealed an alleged terrorist plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners using liquid explosives smuggled aboard in carry-on luggage.
"As time went on, the airports were able to adjust to the new security requirements," Markert said.
Leaders of the National Guard, the state Office of Homeland Security and the airports decided this week that the troops could go home because the Transportation Security Administration added personnel and capabilities over the past month.
The troops worked mostly to help screen baggage, check IDs and patrol airport perimeters, Markert said.
The contingent at San Diego's Lindbergh Field included 79 troops, mostly from three local units: the 670th Military Police Company, from National City; the 2nd Battalion, 185th Armored Regiment, from San Diego; and the 40th Infantry Division, from Los Alamitos.
The mission cost the state an estimated $4.4 million.
Copyright 2005 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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