Family members and friends greet members of Port Security Unit 313 on their return from extended deployment, Jan. 27, 2022. PSU 313 operations focused on seaward security and provided around-the- clock waterside and shore side anti-terrorism and force protection defense security to Department of Defense assets and personnel at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Tippets Members of PSU 313 return home after 9-month deployment Members from Port Security Unit 313 returned to Everett, Washington, Jan. 27 following a nine-month deployment to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo and U.S. Southern Command operations as the 37th assigned Coast Guard Maritime Security Detachment. Landing at Paine Field in Everett, the unit was greeted on the tarmac by Rear Adm. Melvin Bouboulis, commander of Coast Guard District 13. “We are so happy you all made it back safe and sound and are very proud of the hard work you all performed in support of an important mission,” Bouboulis said. During the deployment, unit operations focused on seaward security, providing more than 42,000 hours of around-the-clock waterside and shore side anti-terrorism and force protection defense security to Department of Defense assets and personnel at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. “The success of this unit in its deployment, in the midst of a pandemic, is testament to the resilience of the crew and their prioritization of mission excellence,” said Cmdr. James W. Fitzgerald, PSU 313’s commanding officer. “Our members excelled in this joint operating environment, expanding inter- service operability and capabilities, and exceeded every established metric for accomplishing our assigned tasking. Their devotion to duty and the support from their families at home during this deployment have been inspiring. With the mission now complete, we look forward to our members reintegrating with their families.” PSU 313’s operations also consisted of escorting marine traffic in and out of port as well as enforcing the naval defense sea area security zone around the base. Unit personnel worked closely with service members from JTF Guantanamo, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Harbor Patrol Unit, Marine Corps Security Forces Company, and Air Force and Army personnel conducting interagency operations and training at the naval station and along adjoining waters. Those members, although primarily focused on the essential anti-terrorism and force protection mission assigned, also took opportunities to improve facilities for operations. A joint Maritime Security Detachment and Air Force Base Engineer 12 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2022 Emergency Force worked closely with Marine Corps personnel for the clearing and grading of eight miles of Naval Station installation perimeter roadways. This work reduced emergency response time for security forces and improved their operational effectiveness. “The work to improve fence line roadways and pour more than 160 cubic yards of concrete to reinforce the facilities for our Air Force colleagues was truly a team effort,” said Chief Warrant Officer Derek Chase, Maritime Security Detachment engineering officer. “It demonstrated again the unique capabilities and skills of the Coast Guard Reserve in a joint setting to surpass operational expectations and sustain a cohesive team focus.” The unit also conceived and successfully executed a series of blank fire training exercises, leveraging waterside and shoreside security personnel in coordination with Marine Corps and Army personnel to demonstrate the effective layered security in protection of JTF facilities. The achievements of the unit during the deployment also extended into the unexpected. When the master of the Naval station ferry that conveys vehicles and personnel between the leeward and windward sides of the station suffered a medical condition and lost consciousness while underway in September, multiple unit transportable port security boats were able to respond and board the ferry within minutes. “Our members were first on scene and already had the EMT training necessary in order to immediately board the vessel, bring it under control, and revive the master of the ferry before transporting him to a higher level of care,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Shelly Foster, the senior enlisted leader for the Maritime Security Detachment. “Our crew, whether ashore or underway, all are able to handle the unexpected professionally. This is the standard of excellence this unit sets and sustains at all times, both in garrison and when globally deployed.” �
