Maritime Safety and Security Team: supports the Joint Task Force

Photo By Sgt. Michael Baltz | Coast Guard Petty Officers 3rd Class Charles Akes and Nick Hanson change out the spark plugs on a Coast Guard vessel, June 10. Akes and Hanson are members of the Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle 91101, providing maritime support to Joint Task Force Guantanamo. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the Global War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, law enforcement and war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

06.12.2009

Story by Sgt. Michael Baltz 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle 91101 arrived at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to replace Port Security Unit 305. Although the team has changed, the mission for Joint Task Force Guantanamo stays constant.

"The primary mission of MSST is to provide anti-terrorism force protection within the naval defensive sea area at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Jason Berger, the external security officer-in-charge for commissions. "Additional duties include landside security for the Expeditionary Legal Complex during commissions."

The MSST is new to the Coast Guard, created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The creation of the unit was in response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which is where the unit gets its name from (91101). The unit was modeled after port security units and law enforcement detachments.

"MSST provides waterborne [security] and a modest level of shore-side anti-terrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high-interest vessels and critical infrastructure," Berger said. "We are a quick response force capable of rapid, nationwide deployment in response to changing threat conditions involving maritime homeland security mission requirements."

The MSST will work hand-in-hand with all other services to support the JTF mission.

"This is the first time I have worked with other services," Berger said. "There is a language barrier, [but] I am anxious to learn about the other military cultures."

This mission is something new for a MSST.

"This is more of a PSU mission," said Chief Warrant Officer Jon Nolan. "We are qualified for this mission, but the transition has been a challenge."

Traditionally, MSSTs are focused on federal law enforcement, boating enforcement laws and treaty enforcement.

"Our coxswains are trained to [perform] high-risk maneuvers to support Navy vessels," Nolan explained. "That is included in our daily missions."

Not only are the unit members switching missions, some of them are switching from reserves to active duty.

"I spent my first 10 years on active duty [with the] Coast Guard and the last 10 as a reservist," said Chief Petty Officer Brad Rogers, a safety chief. "Coming from my civilian job to being part of this process has been quite a change. This environment is much more professional."

Even though Rogers misses coaching his son's baseball team, he is proud to be part of this mission.

"I am honored that I was selected for this mission," Rogers stated. "I really love supporting this mission and working with this group of professional individuals."

• Date Taken: 06.12.2009
• Date Posted: 06.16.2009 10:10
• Story ID: 35144
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU