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Special Navy Unit Reflects on GTMO Deployment
Story Number: NNS030115-07
Release Date: 1/15/2003 6:58:00 PM
By Army Spc. George Allen, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- "I got called on a Wednesday, and I was at the mobilization station by Saturday," said Fireman Robert Scarro, a Naval Reservist assigned to Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit (MIUWU) 204, ". . .so it took a few days for things to sink in."
"Many of these Reservists had less than 48 hours notice to report for duty," said Lt. Cmdr. John R. Ray. Nevertheless, they trained up for the mission -- seaward surveillance of U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba, which they began in June and recently wrapped up.
Most Sailors of the 204th are from New York and New Jersey, and many were directly impacted by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, said Ray. Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Thomas Butler, a New York City firefighter in Squad 1, answered the call of duty and lost his life saving others from the falling World Trade Center towers.
"The memory of his heroic efforts have inspired the members of MIUWU 204 to be ever vigilant while deployed in support of the war against terrorism," said Ray.
"At GTMO, we’re the fourth fence line," said 204th Chief Quartermaster Doug Edwards. "The Marines have the land perimeter, and the Coast Guard takes care of the harbor. We watch the water from the southern boundary on out."
Like an air-traffic-control of the sea, MIUWU keeps track of all vessels in the "sea lanes of approach," said Edwards. "We have radar, sonar and observation posts where we gather and process the information. We identify if vessels are friendly, and if not, we tell whomever we have to, 'Hey, we have a threat,' and have them take care of it."
MIUWU is in close communication with the Marine observation posts, the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and functions as a command center, Edwards further explained. "We can have tactical control of aircraft or ships to have them identify or react to contacts."
"To use the World War II analogy, the SEALs and Marine Recon would land on an island, then the Marines would storm the beach. Finally, we come in with the Seabees to set up a defense for the incoming main force," said Lt. Brian Hillers, vehicle maintenance officer for the 204th. "While more troops and supplies land, we watch out for the bad guys, keep track of our small craft, etc."
A MIUWU contains surveillance capability, but it also has vehicles, boats, and maintenance and engineering sections. Their self-sufficiency makes the MIUWI a unique type of Naval Reserve unit, said Hillers.
Despite being self-contained equipment wise, MIUWU works as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
"When we first got here, we had to re-invent the wheel some," said Hillers. "In normal naval operations, we were used to a certain pipeline – certain people talk to certain people, and get direction from certain people. Here it was a little different. We had to learn how to speak Army."
The deployment has been a good experience for the unit, according to Hillers. "A lot of people got the chance to become cross-rated, which is a very unusual opportunity for the Navy."
"They’re not going to make a Hollywood movie about our deployment," said Hiller, "but I think that everyone is going home knowing that they’ve contributed to a mission that’s very near and dear to most of our hearts."
For related news, visit the Naval Media Center Broadcasting Affiliate Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/gtmo.
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