Maritime Security Detachment Joint Taskforce Guantanamo holds transfer of authority

[The Patriot]

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (91114) replaced Maritime Safety and Security Team Galveston (91104) at Joint Task Force (JTF) Guantanamo during a transfer of authority ceremony at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Friday.

MSSTs safeguard the public and protect vessels, harbors, ports, facilities and cargo in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States from destruction, loss, or injury from crime or sabotage due to terrorist activity, and to respond to such activity should it occur.

As part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the MSSTs form the Maritime Security Detachment and are responsible for securing the port and waterways around the base. They also provide landside security mission while Commissions for detainees are underway.

"I very much appreciate the way we were embraced and made a part of the JTF," said Coast Guard Cmdr. Adrian L. West, commanding officer of MSST Galveston. "This deployment has been long on mission hours and memories, but it hasn’t been long enough for the friendships we’ve made.”

MSST Miami arrived more than one week ago to begin the area familiarization and to integrate into the operations being conducted by MSST Galveston.

“MSST Miami is up to the mission,” West said. “They hit the ground running. They’re going to do the Coast Guard and the JTF proud.”

“I’m grateful for all of the mentorship and support that we’ve received from MSST Galveston and the JTF,” said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Bryan E. Clampitt, commanding officer of MSST Miami. “We are ready to take the watch.”

The Maritime Safety and Security Teams were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.

MSSTS are a component of the Deployable Operations Group (DOG). The DOG provides properly equipped, trained and organized Deployable Specialized Forces (DSFs) to Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and interagency operational and tactical commanders.





101102-G-0000X-059 MSST Miami deploys to U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI – Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (91114) pose for a unit photo before departing Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., for an extended deployment to support U.S. Southern Command, Nov. 2, 2010. MSST Miami will be relieving MSST Galveston as Maritime Security Detachment assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Lewis



101102-G-0000X-096 MSST Miami deploys to U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI – Petty Officer Jason Levin, of Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (91114), and his wife, Joann, embrace before MSST Miami departs from Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., for an extended deployment to support U.S. Southern Command, Nov. 2, 2010. MSST Miami is relieving MSST Galveston as the Maritime Security Detachment for Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Lewis





101102-G-0000x-117 MSST Miami departs for U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI – Members of Maritime Safety and Security Unit Miami (91114) board an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., for an extended deployment to support U.S. Southern Command, Nov. 2, 2010. MSST Miami is relieving MSST Galveston as the Maritime Security Detachment for Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Lewis





101110-G-0000X-376 MSST Galveston and MSST Miami patrol Guantanamo Bay

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Joint boat crews consisting of members from Maritime Safety and Security Teams Galveston (91104) and Miami (91114) patrol the waters around Guantanamo Bay, Nov. 10, 2010. The two teams patrolled together as part of pass down leading up to MSST Miami assuming the role as Maritime Security Detachment for joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Anderson





101110-G-0000X-363 MSST Galveston and MSST Miami patrol Guantanamo Bay

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Petty Officer 3rd Class James Hoff, a gunner’s mate with Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (91114) observes the sun setting during a patrol of Guantanamo Bay, Nov. 10, 2010. Hoff was on an area familiarization patrol that was part of the pass down leading up to MSST Miami assuming the role as Maritime Security Detachment for joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Anderson



101110-G-0000x-061 Martime Security Detachment Guantanamo holds transfer of authority

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – U.S. Navy Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson, Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, transfers authority of Maritime Security Detachment Guantanamo to Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Clampitt, commanding officer of Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami (91114), as the Maritime Security Detachment Guantanamo at Naval Station Guantanamo, Nov. 12, 2010. As part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the MSST Miami will responsible for securing the port and waterways around the base. They also will provide landside security mission while Commissions for detainees are underway. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Lewis



101110-G-0000X-070 Martime Security Detachment Guantanamo holds transfer of authority

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – U.S. Navy Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson, Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, thanks Cmdr. Adrian West, commanding officer of Maritime Safety and Security Team Galveston (91104), for his leadership during MSST Galveston’s tour as the Maritime Security Detachment Guantanamo at Naval Station Guantanamo, Nov. 12, 2010. As part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the MSST Galveston was responsible for securing the port and waterways around the base. They also provided landside security mission while Commissions for detainees are underway. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Lewis




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