National Guard arrives at McCarran as precautionary measure
About 30 Nevada National Guard soldiers arrived 6 a.m. Sunday at McCarran International Airport as a precautionary measure for travelers leaving Las Vegas following boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s victory over Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night.
“It’s like what we do on New Year’s” to handle crowds at the airport, Nevada Army National Guard spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka said.
The soldiers from the 72nd Military Police and the 137th Military Police companies will be at the airport through Monday. Both units are based in North Las Vegas.
A news release from Nevada National Guard headquarters in Carson City says the detail was requested by the Nevada Division of Emergency Management to assist Southern Nevada law enforcement agencies during the busy weekend at the airport.
“Their presence is no indication of any specific threats to McCarran International Airport or Las Vegas,” the release reads.
Nevada Army National Guard public affairs officer Maj. Mickey Kirschenbaum said the soldiers “will be on duty primarily to provide another set of eyes on the crowds and conditions at the airport.”
He said the detail will appear very similar to the Vigilant Sentinel exercise the Nevada National Guard performs during the New Year’s holiday period.
During that annual exercise, the Nevada Guard stations armed soldiers and airmen at McCarran International Airport and other busy locations to assist law enforcement agencies and remain on-call to provide a quick response to any incidents, if necessary.