Photo By Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Reed-Cox | Joint Task Force Southern Guard conducts joint reception staging onward movement and...... read more read more
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Tasked with ensuring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led migrant operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are executed with legal precision, the JTF-SG legal team translate complex laws and policies into clear, actionable guidance for commanders and troops on the ground.
"We make sure commanders and service members understand the legal implications of their actions and have the tools they need to make comprehensive decisions in dynamic environments," said U.S. Army Col. Jennifer Venghaus, JTF-SG Staff Judge Advocate (SJA).
Whether advising on rules for the use of force (RUF), fiscal law, standards of care, or operations supporting the DHS, the legal team ensures that every decision made in the field is both tactically sound and legally defensible.
"We work closely with the JTF Commander and his staff throughout the entire joint planning process, from concept development to execution,” said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Davis, JTF-SG attorney. “One of our primary responsibilities is to translate policy decisions into legally sound plans and orders that align with national security objectives."
The legal team plays a pivotal role in ensuring that operational decisions adhere to both U.S. and international law. Their expertise guides critical areas such as force escalation protocols, detainee treatment policies, and modifications to the standing rules of engagement and rules for the use of force.
"For JTF-SG, that means ensuring our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are empowered to provide safe and humane care and control of individuals transferred to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in support of the Department of Homeland Security," Davis added.
At the heart of the legal team’s day-to-day mission is U.S. Army Sgt. Shaun Honeycutt, the JTF-SG paralegal noncommissioned officer in charge, who ensures that legal guidance reaches every level of the force.
His work involves conducting joint reception staging onward movement and integration (JRSOI) briefs, notarizing documents for service members, preparing documents for the attorneys, and ensuring legal issues are routed to the appropriate attorney for action.
"One of my most important responsibilities is training incoming Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen on the RUF,” Honeycutt explained. “This training ensures that every service member fully understands the tasks, conditions, and standards governing the application of force.”
As a vital member of the JRSOI team, Honeycutt is one of the faces every service member must see within 24 hours of arriving the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
“I ensure that all the incoming personnel understand the tasks, conditions, and standards for the use of force which ultimately leads to the safety of the force and the safe and humane treatment of the illegal alien population,” Honeycutt continued.
The SJA ensures that legal considerations are not an afterthought but a fundamental part of the operational process by integrating into mission planning and engaging directly with commanders. Their work ensures that service members have the confidence to execute their mission while upholding the values and standards that define U.S. military operations.
"Our job isn’t just to interpret the law, it’s to make it actionable for those executing the mission and to ensure lawful and humane treatment of vulnerable illegal alien population," Venghaus emphasized. "By bridging the gap between legal policy and frontline execution, we enable JTF-SG to operate effectively, ethically, and within the bounds of the law.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2025 16:19 |
| Story ID: | 491061 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Legal team translate policy into action during Operation Southern Guard, by SSG ShaTyra Reed-Cox, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
