Photo By Staff Sgt. David McLean | A U.S. Coast Guardsman, deployed with Maritime Safety and Security Team 91101 Seattle,...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103 Los Angeles/Long Beach replaced Maritime Safety and Security Team 91101 Seattle at Joint Task Force Guantanamo during a transfer of authority ceremony at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Nov. 19, 2009.
The Maritime Safety and Security Teams were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways. The overall mission for MSST 91103 is to provide enhanced port safety and security and law enforcement capabilities to the economic - or militarily-significant port where they are based.
As part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the MSST is not only responsible for securing the waterways, but also has a landside security mission while Commissions for detainees are underway.
"We are doing an entire unit turnover," said Coast Guard Ensign Barrett Caldwell, operations officer for MSST 91101 Seattle. "This means we will be instructing, training, and teaching members from all divisions."
"Primarily, I will be responsible for training the landside division," said Caldwell. "I will teach them the commissions security process and instruct them in how we as a Coast Guard unit secure the Expeditionary Legal Complex. I will teach courtroom security procedures that will ensure a fluid transition from Seattle to LA/LB."
Coast Guard Cmdr. Charlene Downey, commander of MSST 91103, believes that the transition will be seamless. "We, as a unit, are used to adjusting to various conditions, and with the training from the Seattle unit, we will give the best relief possible."
Downey says that the unit is excited about working with Joint Task Force Guantanamo and U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay personnel, but feels the biggest challenge is keeping her team safe and focused.
"We have great expectations," said Downey, "but our biggest concerns are the safety of our crew and, as always, keeping the mission first."
One of the first things on the unit's agenda is to learn their new jobs and how to do them safely and accurately.
For more information about the U.S. Coast Guard, visit the Web site www.uscg.mil.
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2009 19:14 |
| Story ID: | 42081 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 916 |
| Downloads: | 424 |
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