The electricians of 'Tent City'

Photo By Cpl. Justin Wheeler | Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Moore, with the 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, checks the status of one of the generators inside Camp Justice, May 18. The 474th ECES supports Joint Task Force Guantanamo by maintaining the Expeditionary Legal Complex and Camp Justice facilities and infrastructure for use by the Office of Military Commissions. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. 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 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

05.14.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Justin Wheeler 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- Without electricity, Camp Justice would be a stifling collection of tents, unable to function. The electrical shop of the Base Emergency Engineering Force, or BEEF, maintains Camp Justice's power – the lifeblood of Office of Military Commissions operations in the camp.

"If we weren't here, we wouldn't have power," said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Larry McQueen, the electrical superintendant of the electrical shop. "No one would be able to do their work."

The shop generates and maintains the electric power in Camp Justice by conducting periodic maintenance. It also supports the Expeditionary Legal Complex.

BEEF service member duties generally consist of performing maintenance on high-voltage equipment, expanding existing electrical systems and providing raceways, which protect communication cables from damage, as well as other periodic tasks. McQueen is satisfied with the abilities of his troops when conducting these duties.

"I've spent my whole career in the electrical shop and this is one of the best groups I've worked with," McQueen said. "They do an outstanding job."

However, integrating new team members can be a challenge.

"One of the biggest obstacles is working with people you've never worked with before," said McQueen. "We've overcome that by being patient, working together and by setting a standard."

After serving as an electrician with the Air National Guard, Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Moore, an electrician with the BEEF, decided to become a full-time electrician as a civilian as well.

"I love what I do," said Moore. "I'm a full-time high-voltage electrician and it's helped me out a lot in the Air Guard."

Because of his experience, Moore can conduct some aspects of the job more quickly than his peers. He hopes to become more experienced in Guantanamo Bay before returning to his home state of Mississippi.

Besides building skills, the product is the job's reward.

"We're satisfied as long as the lights are on," said McQueen. "It's just our job. We don't look for any recognition."

• Date Taken: 05.14.2010
• Date Posted: 06.03.2010 11:09
• Story ID: 50790
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU