KILN, Miss. – Coast Guard Port Security Unit 308, based in Kiln, Miss., returned home from a nine-month deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism, Wednesday.
“It was a tough mission in Guantanamo, but we rose to the occasion and performed flawlessly. Our members were true to our core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty,” said Cmdr. Ronzelle Green, commanding officer, PSU 308. “We answered the call, stood the watch, and accomplished our mission supporting our nation’s national security strategy. I’m very proud of each of them”
During the deployment, PSU 308 members maintained a continuous maritime anti-terrorism/force protection presence in the Naval Defensive Sea Area of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, directly supporting the commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay Naval reservation and adjoining waters.
"Our people hit the ground running the day we arrived, and they’ve kept up the pace throughout the deployment,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Kenneth King, command master chief, PSU 308. “They should be proud of the great job they did protecting Joint Task Force and the Naval Station. It is not often you get the privilege of being part of a mission of such historical significance.”
PSU 308 was commissioned September 16, 1998. It has been mobilized five times since its inception, twice to Kuwait in 2003 and 2010, once to Bahrain in 2002, and once previously to Guantanamo in 2007. It is compromised of 142 selected reservists and six active duty personnel. PSU 308 is an expeditionary warfare unit specializing in maritime anti-terrorism/force protection and port security in support of military or humanitarian operations worldwide. PSU 308 maintains garrison facilities as a tenant command of Coast Guard Pacific Area Command in Kiln.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For media interested in more information regarding PSU 308’s homecoming or deployment, please contact Lt. Daniel McMahon at 228-323-0921.