Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard personnel load a security boat on a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. The C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. transported the Coast Guardsmen and their equipment to their deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andre Phillip, 732nd Airlift Squadron loadmaster, assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., signals the movement of a security boat on to a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. Airmen from both Air Force bases and U.S. Coast Guardsmen worked together to load boats and a large equipment pallet on to the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Electrician 2nd Class Garrett Conol, Port Security Unit 305 crewmember, secures a security boat to a forklift before loading it onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. The Port Security Unit 305 will perform shore and water-side security during a joint task force deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Coast Guard Machinery Technician 1st Class Eric Zupan, Port Security Unit 305 crewmember, signals a to forklift operator while loading security boats onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. Zupan and his team loaded their equipment onto the aircraft in preparation for a joint task force deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Coast Guard Machinery Technician 2nd Class Aldofo Rodriguez and Machinery Technician 1st Class Eric Zupan, Port Security Unit 305 crewmembers, prepare to deploy on a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. Rodriguez and Zupan joined other guardsmen from their unit for a joint task force deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
Coast Guard utilizes skills gained through joint training
U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard personnel prepare to load a security boat on a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Feb. 8, 2017. The Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Port Security Unit 305 loaded the plane in preparation to deploy. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois)
By Airman 1st Class Kaylee Dubois / Published Feb. 15, 2017
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. ,
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, transported U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Port Security Unit 305 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to a deployed location, Feb. 8, 2017.
The Coast Guardsmen accompanied security boats and essential equipment aboard the C-17 Globemaster III, while other members of the unit joined them the following week.
“Overseas deployments for the Coast Guard as a whole, are minimal, especially for a reserve unit,” said U.S. Coast Guard Machinery Technician 1st Class Eric Zupan, PSU 305 crewmember. “Our port security unit and our sister unit are the only ones who do it, so it’s fairly unique to our service.”
A joint force between the Coast Guard, members of the 733rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, 1st Operation Support Squadron and 732nd Airlift Squadron allowed the coordination of assets to be transported quickly and efficiently for the deployment. For this specific deployment, the PSU 305, with the help of JBLE, brought an aircraft to the flightline, which needed to move cargo downrange.
“This area is a wealth of resources, opportunities for joint training and provides the ability to learn more about the other services,” said U.S. Coast Guard Chief Machinery Technician Rocky Ricapito, PSU 305 chief. “The other services can also learn more about what we can do. The opportunity to interact helps us promote the Coast Guard and our unique unit.”
According to Ricapito, Coast Guardsmen are trained to be flexible to perform under a broad spectrum of crafts, and the partnership with JBLE allows the unit to hone these necessary skills. Ricapito commends his unit’s readiness and determination to use the skills they gained during their joint training exercises.
“These guys have worked extremely hard for this,” said Ricapito. “They go through an immense amount of training to be qualified to do this mission. Just like any deployment, everyone in the military, we put ourselves out there and this is no different.”
For more information about the USCG Port Security Unit 305, call 757-878-5922 or visit www.uscg.mil.
