Press
Release #2 [page here]
Updated:
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Camp
X-Ray receives second group of detainees
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA — Thirty additional Al-Qaeda
and Taliban detainees arrived here today under tight security, bringing
the total number of detainees to fifty.
The detainees arrived via military aircraft and were transported to
Camp X-Ray for in-processing and detention.
"This
group of detainees is just as dangerous as the first group that arrived
last week. The transfer of custody from Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba is all part of the global war on terrorism. Removing these high-risk
individuals from combat conditions in Afghanistan affords other military
forces to concentrate on other vital missions. Today’s transfer
and the future removal and detention of Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees
are all in support of Operation Enduring Freedom" said Army Lt.
Col. Bill Costello, a military spokesman.
Detained persons have been and will continue to be treated humanely.
Humane treatment includes adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and
medical treatment. Guantanamo Bay is preparing to receive up to 2,000
Al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees.
More than 850 military personnel, from each of the five branches of
the Armed Forces, are currently assigned to Joint Task Force 160 to
support security operations here.
Press
Release #7 [page here]
Updated:
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Medical
facilities built for detainees
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA - In response to health concerns
about the detainees at Camp X-Ray, Navy service members began construction
here this week of a temporary medical facility capable of providing
medical attention that ranges from dental exams to major surgery.
The construction of the hospital required over 180 people in conjunction
with Navy Fleet Hospital 20 from Camp Lejeune, N.C. Initially, it took
17 Navy builders from Construction Battalion 423, commonly known as
"the Seabees," to clear and prepare the land for the hospital.
This took over three days of intense 24-hour operations beginning January
18. Tents went up in one day and the International Standards Organization
(ISO) containers were unpacked, expanded and organized into rooms and
storage areas fit for labs, washrooms and examination rooms.
According to the fleet hospital executive officer, Navy Commander Kevin
L. Gallagher, no detainees will receive medical care outside of Cuba.
If a specialist is required, he will be brought into the hospital.
"There
is a regular plan set to screen for diseases as the detainees arrive.
Any test that’s indicated we have the capability to do, or we can
send off for it," said Gallagher. "This is a complete hospital,
so we have top of the line lab equipment, respirators, ICU (intensive
care unit) equipment, OR (operating room) equipment, anesthesia machines…
this is fully capable."
The hospital is also large enough to take on the task ahead.
"It
takes up approximately 1½ acres. It has a 36-bed capacity. Due
to security we are redesigning the hospital as we go. This hospital
has never been designed to work with detainees, so it’s one of
the things you have to adjust to as we go along," said Navy Builder
Chief Will Clarke, Construction Battalion 423.
Joel Moore, with the Fleet Hospital Assistance Team (FHAT) represents
the fleet hospital support office. His office designs and packs the
hospital into the ISOs and sends a technical representative during construction.
If there is a problem with the construction or utilities, they try to
resolve the problem. He has been in the design department of the fleet
hospital for eight years.
"In
this particular hospital, it will have three wings: It will have a pharmacy,
a lab, an x-ray, and mobile utility modules, (which is like a head facility),"
said Moore. "The second wing is a medical suite which has the casualty
receiving and operating room. The third wing is an intensive care unit
wing."
This hospital will give the detainees the same care that we would give
our own troops, he said.
Water is provided through one 1500-gallon portable tank and four 2000-gallon
water bladders. Wastewater is stored in two other specialized ISO containers.
Power is currently provided through generators, but there is a plan
to hook up shore power and use the generators as backups. In addition,
laundry facilities for hospital linens will be on site according to
Clarke.
The 24-hour facility will have security measures in place, with two
military police accompanying each detainee to the hospital and remaining
there with him.
The majority of the hospital staff is from fleet hospital Camp Lejeune.
There is also staff participating from all over the nation.
"It’s
always neat to see something that you’ve put on paper for two or
three years actually go up and go operational," Moore said.
The workload of the staff will depend on the health condition of the
detainees and what their needs are, which will not be known until they
arrive at the hospital.
The hospital is scheduled to be here as long as medical facilities are
needed.
"The
commander in chief requested that we treat these detainees and give
them top of the line medical care and we’re proud to do that,"
Gallagher said.
Press
Release #15 [page here]
Updated:
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Change
of Command for JTF-160, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
U.S.
NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Army Brig. Gen. Rick Baccus will
take command of Joint Task Force 160 as successor for Marine Brig. Gen.
Michael R. Lehnert. The official Change of Command ceremony will take
place March 28. Location of the ceremony has not yet been determined.
Baccus,
a member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard, arrives following
a successful tour as the commander of the 43rd Military Police Brigade.
He assumed that duty on March 7, 2001. As the commander, he was responsible
for the readiness of six units and more than 800 soldiers.
Lehnert
will return to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he commands the 2nd Force Service
Support Group.
Press
Release #17 [page here]
Updated:
Tuesday, May 21, 2002
National
Guard Unit Makes History With First Ever Joint Task Force Command
The
43rd Military Police Brigade, a mobilized National Guard unit from Warwick,
RI, assumed command of the core staff element of Joint Task Force 160
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Monday. The 43rd MP Brig. was activated in
late April and joins its commander, Army Brig. Gen. Rick Baccus, who
assumed command of the task force March 28th.
JTF-160 oversees the care, custody and control of 384 detainees apprehended
by United States and international forces in the global war on terrorism.
The 43rd MP Brig. replaces the 89th Military Police Brigade, an active
duty MP Brigade based out of Fort Hood, Texas.
Baccus praised the 89th MP Brig. for being a “…fine group
of professionals,” and wished the unit a safe trip home.
Following a final call to formation, Baccus dismissed the 89th MP Brig.
and welcomed the 43rd MP Brig. to its new home. The 43rd MP Brig. will
continue the core staff and headquarters functions held by the 89th
MP Brig. as well as provide critical security requirements in and around
Camp Delta, where the detainees are held.
In supporting JTF-160's mission, the brigade sets a historic precedent
as the first National Guard unit to assume the role of a joint task
force command, demonstrating the National Guard’s ability to seamlessly
transition into an active duty command.
