Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Kellie Bliss | Air Force Staff Sgt. Gary Learmonth, of the Base Emergency Engineer Force, Joint Task...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- No project is too big – or too small – for Joint Task Force Guantanamo's 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, also known as the Base Emergency Engineer Force.
The 474th ECES is made up of two units; the 186th Civil Engineering Squadron from Meridian, Miss., consisting of 39 people, and the 102nd CES from Cape Cod, Mass., consisting of five service members.
The BEEF is an important part of operations at JTF Guantanamo, handling construction and sustainment of Camp Justice and the Expeditionary Legal Complex in support of military commissions at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
"Our mission is to support the Commissions Support Group and the ELC in any way they need," said Air Force 2nd Lt. Robert Threatt, BEEF deputy commander. "That mission is important because commissions must happen without any hiccups. We make sure they have utilities and power."
The BEEF team consists of specialists including engineering assistants, interior and exterior electricians, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, welders, utility workers and power production specialists. While they're all experts in their own career fields, they work together to get the job done – all the while building the camaraderie among service members.
"Everybody here has their role, but our main focus as a team is to keep everything in working order," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Randy Anderson, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the heating, cooling and refrigeration shop. "And we take care of each other."
Most of the Airmen in the unit have deployed at least once – many multiple times.
While the BEEF's main mission supports the ELC and CSG, the team helps out on projects when needed.
"Most of our day-to-day stuff is keeping the ELC running, and our main mission is to make sure things keep going smoothly," Threatt said. "We also do missions outside of here."
Some of the outside missions include jobs in and around Camp America, and repairing roads throughout the base. Much of the work they do is behind the scenes. For instance, they recently restored the decorative cannon wheels on display on Sherman Avenue near the road to Windward Ferry Landing.
Limited supplies, unique time constraints and a small crew are just some of the challenges the 474th ECES faces while deployed to Guantanamo Bay. But nothing keeps them from doing their jobs.
"The only setbacks we have really had are waiting on materials," Threatt said. "We have the ability to generate our own power, do concrete work and we have our own electricians. The [service members] do an awesome job."
The 474th ECES not only works together, but they spend their off-time having fun as a unit.
"We have cookouts, a softball team and we play paintball," Threatt said. "We also do unit physical training three times a week."
Though the job may be hard work in the GTMO sun, the BEEF is an all-inclusive team that relies on teamwork to get the mission done.
"Everybody has their ups and downs, but everyone really tries to keep each other going," Anderson said. "I love serving my country with the BEEF team."
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2010 15:25 |
| Story ID: | 48473 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 169 |
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