New enlisted leadership takes reins of 525th

Photo By Sgt. Michael Baltz | Army 1st Sgt. William L. Gamble, incoming first sergeant for the 193rd Military Police Company assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Army Capt. Pedro E. Vazquez, commander of the 193rd, and Army 1st Sgt. Mark R. Provost, outgoing first sergeant, stand together during a change of responsibility ceremony for the unit's senior enlisted service members at Trooper's Chapel, May 26. Gamble took responsibility from Provost as the senior enlisted leader of the 193rd, which serves at JTF under the 525th Military Police Battalion. 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, 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

06.06.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Blair Heusdens 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — The enlisted leadership of the 525th Military Police Battalion and the 193rd Military Police Company at Joint Task Force Guantanamo recently changed hands.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Steven M. Raines replaced Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary J. Fowler as the senior enlisted leader of the 525th during a ceremony at Troopers Chapel, May 27. Fowler currently serves as the Joint Detention Group command sergeant major.

Raines has extensive experience in military detention operations and more than 25 years of service as a military policeman. His most recent assignment was as the director of operations sergeant major for the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth.

The 525th Military Police Battalion was established at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Oct. 2004 to provide a guard force for the JTF. Service members from the 525th provide internal security within the detention facilities in support of the JTF mission to provide safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees.

In a separate ceremony, May 26, Army 1st Sgt. William L. Gamble took responsibility from Army 1st Sgt. Mark R. Provost as the senior enlisted leader of the 193rd Military Police Company, which serves under the 525th. Gamble was recently laterally promoted from master sergeant to first sergeant.

Gamble enlisted in 1985 and has served in several corrections capacities. His most recent assignment was as the detainee camp non-commissioned officer-in-charge for the 189th Military Police Company at JTF Guantanamo and he completed a previous tour as the JTF battalion training NCO for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 525th.

Raines feels prepared to continue the 525th legacy of fair, firm and impartial treatment of detainees at JTF Guantanamo.

"I have high expectations that each and every Soldier within this organization will take them seriously," Raines said. "I have high expectations that each and every Soldier within this organization will take the opportunity to improve oneself for the good of the organization."

• Date Taken: 06.06.2009
• Date Posted: 06.10.2009 09:36
• Story ID: 34822
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU