Choir Practice is a time-honored law enforcement tradition for decades. Back in the days, after a long shift or a particularly tough day, you make your way back to the station, gas up the ride and park it for the next shift, stow your gear and strip down to a t-shirt or favorite cover shirt. By then, someone made a run and had a cooler full of adult ice cold beverages. We make our way to our favorite spot (Back of the Station, the parking lot, the “hanging Tree” name your favorite), crack a cold one and then “Choir Practice” would begin.
Why is it called “Choir Practice”? I don’t know. Maybe because we saw it as a sacred gathering of kindred, broken, beaten down souls who have shared in the most traumatic experiences on a daily basis. Spending time raising our voices about everytning. Every problem in our station, the US Border Patrol, the nation and the world was solved at a good Choir Practice. (Just ask us!
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It was good medicine. It bonded us closer than family. We bitched. We complained. We aired out our grievances. We settled a few “personel issues”. and boy did we laugh. At each other. At ourselves. At the Patrol. Everything. We vented. We took a breath. We had a beer.
But Gil, what about the abuses? The alcoholism? The DUI’s? True. It isn’t the perfect most ideal outlet for stress and issues. Are you idealizing this and encouraging drinking and driving??? Easy wokeflake. NO. Choir Practice, in all it’s forms, should never be the only resource and outlet for problems and personal issues.
But…have we gotten better as an agency mentally, emotionally and even spiritually since we eliminated Choir Practice as a cultural norm? Are we more of a family? More of a team? You can decide and answer that for yourself. Right now, Choir Practice can be safer than ever. You have UBER’s, Designated Drivers etc. tons of ways to get home safe. Have DUI’s and alcoholism gone down in the Patrol since then? If so I would love to know.
Our very first Linewatch Agent, Jefferson Davis Milton, pictured here in possibly the very first official Border Patrol Choir Practice, administering doses of medication for some of the most badass Patrol Inspectors (in their “BP Tuxes”) at the time. Patrol Inspectors he trained as their journeyman;
Willard Kelly – 5th Chief Patrol Agent of the Patrol
Nick Collaer – 7th Chief Patrol Agent of the Patrol
Earl Fallis – Chief of the US Border Patrol, Tucson Sector
And now our entire history, heritage and legacy has come full circle. And Jefferson Davis Milton is coming back around to make USBP History again.
Choir Practice at US Border Patrol El Paso Sector. Don’t miss it.
RSVP Here for your spot with the Taquero. hbnb.io/e/4t6h/s/s
Honor first, Honor always, or no Honor at all.
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