Coast Guard makes history at JB MDL

Published May 12, 2010
By Lt. John Titchen

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Instructors from the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade heard a few less "hooahs" and a few more "aye-ayes" as a contingent of active-duty U.S. Coast Guardsmen completed pre-deployment training here.

The Guardians are training to support two Army missions: one concerns redeployment of cargo and hazardous materials; the other involves assisting the Iraqi government in gaining compliance with international shipping standards.

The Coast Guard's Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment has assisted the Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command units in theater by conducting hazardous materials, container, equipment and personnel inspections since 2003.

The RAID teams were comprised of reservists prior to this year. Now for the first time, the RAID team consists of a hand-selected group of active-duty members who volunteered for a one-year tour.

They will join the most forward-deployed operational cadre of Coast Guard personnel in a combat zone.

They come from Coast Guard units around the nation, including Maine, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Although 1st Army's training hosted Guardians before, this is the first large active-duty group to go through the training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"It's pretty neat being part of the first large group of Coast Guardsmen to come through JB MDL," said Petty Officer 1st Class Poden Pedrus, a qualified container inspector who just completed a four-year tour at Marine Safety Unit Savannah.

"We're definitely getting some looks around the base and it's a great way to start conversations with people. We're proud of the mission and proud to be able to help the Army in such a significant way," he said.

The RAID team will support Army missions by facilitating and executing proper stowage, blocking, bracing, segregation, placarding, labeling and documentation of cargo, as well as inspecting container structural integrity. Team members will also train Army unit movement officers and HAZMAT certifiers on cargo requirements. The Guardians can also serve as customs officers if necessary.

"This group is definitely making history in our service," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Bennett, the prospective officer in charge of the RAID Team. "There aren't a lot of Guardians who can say they have served ashore in a combat zone. For that reason alone it's ground-breaking. This team being the first active-duty group makes it even more significant."

The contingent of Guardians training here includes three officers who will join the Port Advisory Coordination Element Team.

The PACE team in theater will feature four officers who advise the Iraqi government on issues concerning international shipping standards. The officers have experience conducting regulatory inspections of vessels, facilities and oil platforms.

"The PACE will provide expertise and guidance to the Iraqi Government Authorities with the long-term goal of gaining compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code," said Capt. Kevin Burke, who most recently served as the deputy commander of Guard Sector Long Island Sound.

Burke and the other three officers of his team are experts in the field of marine safety and prevention. They are qualified port safety and security advisors.

"ISPS is the systematic approach of the day-to-day safety and security measure adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2003," said Burke, a 29-year Coast Guard veteran.

The primary port of focus will be in southern Iraq. Once security plans are established and ISPS security measures are successfully implemented, Iraq will be able to establish opportunities to facilitate commerce directly related to commercial shipping interests.

The Coast Guardsmen at JB MDL will wrap up training next week and are expected to deploy this summer. A second group of Coast Guardsmen from a deployable operations group are now halfway through deployment training as well. They will deploy to Africa to work with the U.S. Navy on anti-piracy measures.

Coast guard makes history