GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA (Submitted on Nov. 6, 2009) -- The saying that many hands make light work has been around for years, and the Marines of the Logistics Combat Element attached to the first ever Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SCMAGTF) are putting the wisdom of this adage to full use.
Roughly 14 Marines, including electricians, heavy equipment operators and mechanics, motor transport operators and mechanics, one air conditioner mechanic and one combat engineer, are currently conducting public works projects aboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of the SCMAGTF.
“It’s important for our engineering group to be a part of this SCMAGTF because we’re setting a precedent for all such following operations. They need engineering support and we can make an impact on partner nation relationships by improving quality of life for our Marines stationed abroad through humanitarian assistance and facility repair,” said Gunnery Sgt. John L. Smith, the engineering chief for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (2nd MHG).
The LCE has signed on to numerous projects around the base, working closely with the base Public Works Department.
“We’re building a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program pit, weapons cleaning tables and shelters, repairing sidewalks and we also have an electrical project coming up for Christmas Tree Hill, which is where the base sets up their lights and animated Christmas displays,” said Smith.
Also on their projects list is a visit to Belize, where they will be making improvements to a primary school.
“We are really looking forward to the work we’ll be doing in Belize,” said Smith. “Along with engineers from the Belize Defense Force, we will be undertaking a humanitarian aid project during which we will be pouring concrete sidewalks and painting the exterior of the school.”
“It’s going to be a good project and it will help them improve the learning environment for the children,” he added.
While the projects are a great goal to work toward, they are not the only benefit to be had during this deployment, according to Smith.
“The Marines are getting some really good military occupational specialty training through the things we are doing here. These projects aren’t something they would normally get a chance to be a part of,” he said.
Smith isn’t the only one who can foresee good things to come from being involved with the SCMAGTF.
“I am excited about seeing new cultures since this is my first time being out of the states. I also get to enhance my job experience, because I’ve been allowed to be in a charge of a few things,” said Lance Cpl. Rocky A. Guthrie, a basic electrician with 2nd MHG. “In addition to all that, I still get to help improve the quality of life for everyone aboard Guantanamo Bay. It really helps increase morale when people can look around and see us helping out. It lets them know that someone is thinking about them and the work they are doing here.”
The overall idea of strengthening relationships in the U.S. Southern Command area of focus seems to have found its way into inter-service operability as well.
“The Naval Public Works Department here in Guantanamo Bay has been nothing but helpful and accommodating from the day we arrived. They have gone out of their way to make sure we have gotten everything we have needed,” he said. “We couldn’t have had any better cooperation than we’ve gotten from the Navy personnel we have the good fortune to have worked with here.”
The Marines in the unit have also adopted the spirit of the mission.
“Everyone has been doing exceptionally well. We all know what needs to be done and how to do it and we’re all working together to accomplish the mission,” said Guthrie.
The SCMAGTF is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib with Destroyer Squadron 40 aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). Southern Partnership Station is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges.