Photo By Staff Sgt. Aubree Owens | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gilberto Rodriguez, Joint Task Force Southern Guard command...... read more read more
U.S. service members assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Guard finalized a destructive weather response plan ahead of the peak Atlantic hurricane season, ensuring continued support to the Department of Homeland Security mission while maintaining personnel accountability and safety at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July 21, 2025.
Although the task force has been operating since early 2025, recent rotations in leadership and staff prompted a fresh planning effort to prepare for the unique challenges of the region’s storm season. As a tenant unit on the naval station, JTF-SG follows all weather-related guidance from installation leadership while continuing to support the care and custody of illegal aliens under DHS direction.
“Our plan serves a critical dual purpose: it ensures the organization's internal resilience and mission continuity while simultaneously supporting and complementing the broader DHS task of conducting illegal alien holding operations aboard the installation,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Scott Weibling, JTF-SG operations officer.
The plan outlines how JTF-SG will align its response based on the storm category, with specific procedures for shelter-in-place, evacuation staging, and phased accountability for more than 500 assigned personnel.
“This plan was built from the ground up, tailored to our structure and mission,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Kaylyn Salas, JTF-SG logistics deputy director, who led the planning effort. “Flexibility was built in by breaking out essential and non-essential personnel in the event we evacuate personnel. Our essential personnel list allows for us to continue the mission while reducing overall risk to the personnel.”
Logistical coordination played a major role in the planning process. Storm-specific considerations include ground transportation across the installation, water transportation between the Leeward and Windward sides, and air evacuation procedures if required. All movement plans were built to integrate seamlessly with installation-level guidance and available resources.
“The nature of NSGB requires a combination of ground, water, and air transportation to be used,” said Salas. “Time is precious during these events as the winds can quickly decrease the possibility of crossing the bay and flying out if we need to.”
The finalized plan also includes procedures for communications, classified material handling, and medical support to maintain operational capability under changing conditions. Section leads worked in close coordination to ensure all personnel received updated responsibilities and clear expectations.
“By adapting a holistic and comprehensive approach to planning, the force understands that risk is mitigated by identifying all vulnerabilities through staff actions that incorporate diverse experiences across multiple service components and government agencies,” said Weibling.
As peak storm season approaches, the task force remains focused on its role supporting DHS operations while standing ready to respond to installation directives with speed, coordination and discipline.
“A well-defined destructive weather plan is crucial for safeguarding lives and ensuring the welfare of all personnel within the JTF,” said Weibling. “Ultimately, our plan seeks to reduce chaos, facilitate rapid recovery and build organizational resilience against future events.”
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2025 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 543362 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Storm-ready: JTF-SG aligns for rapid response in high-risk season, by SSgt Aubree Owens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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