GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — When the waters at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay start getting rough, and the waves make the boat rock back and forth, fear not; Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91103 Los Angeles/Long Beach is on the way. As a part of their mission, members of MSST 91103 work to keep Guantanamo Bay safe and secure.
Assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo, MSST 91103 is part of the Deployable Operations Group and has the responsibility of securing waterways in and around Guantanamo Bay.
The DOG establishes a single command authority to rapidly provide the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice and other interagency operational commanders adaptive force packages drawn from the Coast Guard's deployable specialized force units.
The DOG's purpose is to develop systems and processes for standardized training, equipment, organization, planning and scheduling of rapidly deployable specialized forces to execute mission objectives in support of tactical and operational commanders.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Charlene Downey, MSST 91103 commander, sees this as an opportunity for the unit to implement training they have received and to grow closer as a team.
"We are accustomed to adjusting to various conditions and working with others," Downey said. "We don't feel that there will be too much pressure. We believe the transition into our watches will be seamless. I am sure that we will fall right in with the JTF.
"The unit has great expectations for the upcoming deployment," Downey continued. "We stress to the crew the importance of not only mission first, but completing the mission safely."
Downey is confident in the abilities of her unit, but remains vigilant to the needs of her service members.
"We know that our biggest challenge is to keep our team focused on the mission and to stay healthy throughout our deployment," Downey said. "We are also aware of our Guardians' needs to manage their work-life and the needs of their families back home, and we are always here to support them in any way we can."
Even while being separated from their loved ones stateside, MSST 91103 is
still amongst family, "The best thing about this deployment," Downey said, "is that it has brought us closer as a team while here."
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.