Navy Seabees Solve Problems Daily at Joint Task Force Guantanamo

Photo By Sgt. Emily Greene | Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 break old cement in the parking lot of G.J. Denich Gymnasium during a restoration project aboard U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Nov. 16. NMCB 25 is on a six-month deployment in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo and naval station construction projects. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. 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 War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

11.16.2009

Story by Pfc. Christopher Vann 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — From pressure washing the Tierra Kay housing complex, to improving the drainage at the Seaside Galley and much more, the Joint Task Force Guantanamo engineering department is working hard to improve conditions for the personnel deployed to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

The engineers for the JTF work diligently to upgrade and improve both living and working conditions for its personnel through maintenance and repairs.

"Maintaining and improving facilities at Joint Task Force Guantanamo contributes to the safety and the living conditions for both detainees and [service members]. We will continue to maintain this quality of life for those here until the last detainee and the last [service members] leave," said Navy Rear Adm. Tom Copeman, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

"We have a few projects getting ready to start up, as well as some ongoing ones," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Jason Marino, engineering lead petty officer, "to improve the conditions here."

The overall mission for the engineers is to provide a safer environment for the service members, as well as the detainees.

"Our biggest concern is the well-being and safety of our service members," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Hanson, JTF Guantanamo assistant lead petty officer of engineering, "I believe an engineer has one of the most important missions at JTF and abroad."

Road work construction for extending the sidewalk on Kittery Road leading to the access gate at JTF Guantanamo, and improving its drainage, is scheduled to begin in the following weeks. The street's draining issue is being addressed to prevent the build up of water after it rains, which can be a driving hazard.

Along with the sidewalk, traffic lanes throughout JTF will be striped. The striping is to ensure proper lane maintenance, thus preventing possible collisions.

The pressure washing at Tierra Kay housing has already begun, giving the service members a more suitable living environment free of exterior dirt and debris.

One of the major projects ahead is building two large pre-fabricated facilities for U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103 Los Angeles/Long Beach's administration department. This will give them an adequate workspace to complete their missions in a more productive manner.

For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.

• Date Taken: 11.16.2009
• Date Posted: 12.01.2009 07:41
• Story ID: 42189
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU