Photo By 1st Sgt. Alexandria Hughes | Incoming Maritime Security Detachment Commander, Coast Guard Cmdr. Laila M. Grassley...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Maritime Security Detachment welcomed incoming MARSECDET Commander, Coast Guard Cmdr. Laila M. Grassley, and bid farewell to outgoing commander, Coast Guard Capt. Matthew D. Wadleigh, during a transfer of authority ceremony, July 24.
JTF GTMO Commander, Navy Rear Adm. John C. Ring, along with members of the command staff, JTF Troopers, family, and friends, attended the ceremony to show support for Grassley and Wadleigh.
During his remarks, Ring spoke about the multifaceted mission of the outgoing port security unit and thanked the crew and its leadership for all their hard work. Throughout their deployment, these Coast Guard men and women logged thousands of underway and battle security hours, aided in evacuation and fire-fighting procedures during the wild fire earlier this year, and helped combat illegal drug trafficking.
“Thank you for a job well done and for answering the call,” Ring said. “The Nation called and the Coast Guard answered with a group of highly-trained men and women who left their homes and family, friends and neighbors, their communities, and in the case of most Coast Guardsmen: their civilian employers, to serve a mission of vital National importance.”
“I know all of your families will be happy to have you back home,” he continued. “I wish you a safe return, I hope for your continued success and happiness in the future. This family, your GTMO family, will miss you.”
Wadleigh mirrored Ring’s comments, expressing his gratitude for having served with MARSECDET to support the JTF GTMO mission while partnering with different JTF directorates and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay elements.
“This mission is very important,” Wadleigh said. “We have been so proud to be here. So proud to support it, and be a part of the facilitation of justice here.”
“This is a special place,” he continued. “I’m glad it’s part of the history of my career.”
Wadleigh also voiced his faith in the incoming port security unit as a highly-trained, capable unit that would raise the bar for MARSECDET even higher.
Grassley thanked everyone for their kind words and commended the outgoing port security unit for their performance as the MARSECDET.
“We appreciate the warm welcome we received and the onboarding process by the Naval Station and JTF staff,” Grassley said. “Capt. Wadleigh, I have been so impressed with your unit’s contributions to the mission, including all the partnerships you have formed, the wide range of initiatives and improvements that you and your crew have pursued, and the way in which you and your staff deliberately challenged assumptions with an eye toward bringing out efficiencies and improving mission effectiveness. It has been a pleasure to work with you and your crew.”
In bidding farewell to the outgoing port security unit, Ring welcomed the new Coast Guard unit.
“Welcome aboard,” Ring said, addressing the incoming Coast Guard unit—now JTF Troopers. “Cmdr. Grassley, welcome to the team.”
As her first act as MARSECDET Commander, Grassley designated a new bull ensign. The handing off of responsibilities between the outgoing and incoming Coast Guardsmen, signified by passing off the gold ensign collar device, marked the conclusion of the ceremony, followed by the departure of the official party.
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2018 13:45 |
| Story ID: | 289119 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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