Coast Guard Tradition Continues

Photo By Vaughn Larson | Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class William Adams, who assists with security for the military commissions, was named Joint Task Force Senior Trooper of the Quarter last month. The maritime security detachments here have consistently dominated Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Trooper of the Quarter competitions. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detained enemy combatants, 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, 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

09.05.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn Larson 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – A quick look in the lobby of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Headquarters Building will underscore how dominant the Coast Guard has been in recent Trooper of the Quarter competitions. Look briefly at the plaque denoting recent winners and you will see many of the recent winners are Coast Guard reservists serving with Port Security units here.

Petty Officer 2nd Class William Adams of Port Security Unit 307, who assists with security for the military commissions, maintained the Coast Guard's winning streak by being named the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Senior Trooper of the Quarter for the fourth quarter.

"I've prepared for this my whole career," he explained. "You can study for it, but if you don't use the fundamentals on a regular basis, then you're just trying to remember facts."

Troopers in the competition were asked questions about former presidents, the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, basic weaponry, tasks common to all military members, the Thrift Savings Plan, TriCare and current events.

"I looked at it as having a good basic knowledge of why we do what we do, but also how to help your Troops," he said.

Adams does not view the award as an individual honor, but as an honor for his whole unit.

"I have a team of people who have assisted me," he said. "It was my unit that gave me time to work on this."

Adams credited serving with a Coast Guard Reserve unit for his preparation.

"You have to work hard once a month to retain that knowledge," he pointed out.

Prior to serving in the Coast Guard, Adams served 12 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a truck driver and a petroleum specialist. That experience helped with questions about weapons, he said.

"The competition was very good," Adams continued. "Everybody looked on top of their game. To rise above that challenge was a great honor."

Adams studied three and one-half weeks for the JTF's Senior Trooper competition. He said his wife knew that if he didn't call home it was because he had fallen asleep while studying.

"My wife was very excited," he said of the honor. "She's told everyone in the family."

Despite continuing the Coast Guard's string of senior trooper and junior trooper wins, Adams contends that the significance of the competition goes beyond bragging rights.

"This period in time – what's going on here, why we're here – it's very important for me to win it here," he said. "It's an extreme honor."

• Date Taken: 09.05.2008
• Date Posted: 09.10.2008 12:05
• Story ID: 23463
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU