The Patriot (Joint Base Charleston) - Aug. 17, 2018

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Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Patriot Vol. 9, No. 16

Joint Base Charleston: ‘Launch Point For The Nation's Resolve’

August 17, 2018

Operation SHRIMP and GRITS: boating safety, maritime security

A U.S. Coast Guard response boat stops a recreational boater in the Charleston Harbor, S.C. Aug. 11, 2018, as part of Operation SHRIMP and GRITS, a multi-state and multi-jurisdiction maritime enforcement operation. The name stands for “Save Harbor Reach on Intelligence for Multi-state Partnerships and Guarding Responsible Interests for Target Safety.” The operation targets recreational and commercial vessels transitioning north and south along the Intracoastal Waterway and offshore. See more photos at www.jbcharleston.jb.mil.

Story and photos by Senior Airman Tenley Long Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

it gives them the opportunity to expand the scope of the operation. While we all bring something unique to the table, we’re a lot stronger when we bring everyWhen someone mentions “shrimp and grits,” what comes body together.” to mind - a traditional dish in the Lowcountry of coastal South The main objective of Operation SHRIMP and Carolina? In 2016 the U.S. Coast Guard gave “SHRIMP and GRITS is ensuring maritime security and boating GRITS” a whole new meaning: Save Harbor Reach on safety. The Coast Guard, along with the helping agenIntelligence for Multi-state Partnerships and Guarding cies, accomplishes this by conducting searches on the Responsible Interests for Target Safety. water. During these interactions, they conduct boardOperation SHRIMP and GRITS is an annual multi-jurisings to make sure everyone follows the rules and diction and multi-state maritime enforcement operation, stays safe on the water. which took place Aug. 11, 2018. The operation targets recre“We respond to events that occur on the water ational and commercial boaters traveling along the waterways through search and rescue as well as law enforcein South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. One of the objectives ment, but we’re also about preventing these things of this operation is to unify and coordinate investigative from happening,” Baer said. “It’s important for us to efforts between federal, state and local agency assets. get out there, educate and inform the boating public, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Stacy Sinke, USCG Station “This is a huge operation for us and it’s all about our interwhile also learning from them about what’s normal Charleston coxswain, operates a response boat in the Charleston agency partnerships,” said Cmdr. Matt Baer, chief of Harbor, S.C. Aug. 11, 2018, as part of Operation SHRIMP and GRITS, and abnormal in the local water ways.” response at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston and the inci- a multi-state and multi-jurisdiction maritime enforcement operation. The overall goal is boating safety and maritime dent commander for Operation SHRIMP and GRITS. “This is security, but this mission also allows the Coast Guard our third year conducting Operation SHRIMP and GRITS, and the first year we’ve expanded to strengthen their relationships, not only with other agencies, but with the boating public. it down to Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for over 95,000 miles of coastline “Joint operations like this help with our relationships with local law enforcement, and it around this country and over 360 different ports around the nation. We cannot do it alone. Joint brings us together for one common goal,” said Seaman Nathan Guillot, boat crewman at operations like this allow us to ensure a unified response should an unknown or an unfortunate USCG Station Charleston. “We’re strengthening our relationship with the public, and they’re event occur in ports or waterways.” really thankful for what we do. This shows the community that we’re here for them; they don’t There are approximately 86 different agencies and 400 people in the states of Florida, Georgia see us as people who are here to ruin their day.” and South Carolina that are participating in the operation with the U.S. Coast Guard. The agen“We want people to be comfortable sharing information they see on the waterways if somecies cover about 430 to 440 miles of coastline and about 500 miles of internal waterways. thing looks strange to them. We want them to be confident in reporting to law enforcement “It’s a unique blend of authorities, and jurisdictions,” explained Lt. Lloyd Heflin, enforcement what they see, because they are our eyes and ears on the water,” Baer said. “We’re always division chief at USCG Sector Charleston. “As the Coast Guard, we have pretty broad authority excited to get out there and talk to the boating public. We want people to enjoy the water, but and jurisdiction, but with some of the state and local laws which the local partners can enforce, we want folks to do so safely.”

Exercise Dragon Lifeline trains Soldiers in air, land, rail, sea environment

16th AS Airmen return from deployment

ACTION LINE

By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – The 841st Transportation Battalion and 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command hosted Dragon Lifeline, an exercise equipping Soldiers stationed in North Carolina and Virginia, with the opportunity to sharpen their skills in air, land, rail and sea transportation operations from July 30 to Aug. 3. “Dragon Lifeline is a readiness exercise between different elements from Fort Bragg, Fort Eustis and Joint Base Charleston,” said U.S. Army Maj. Edgard Davila, 330th Movement Control Battalion operations officer, Fort Bragg, N.C. “We can build capabilities and skills for any kind of requirement or movement. We need this exercise to build our networking and to better trust and understand each other.” Soldiers trained at the rail system of Joint Base Charleston’s Naval Weapons Station Wharf Alpha, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at the Charleston Harbor, and JB Charleston’s flight line. From planning to execution, Soldiers from these installations were able to share knowledge and learn from subject matter experts of the 841st TB. The 841st TB deploys and conducts surface deployment, redeployment distribution and water terminal operations to support and sustain the warfighter. The battalion’s leadership took advantage of the 841st TB’s Soldier’s experience and diverse features of Joint Base Charleston to bolster the quality of the training experience. “Joint Base Charleston is an ideal location because the distance between Fort Bragg and here is fairly easy to convoy down,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Brenton Breed, 841st Transportation Battalion. “Once you’re here you have multi-modal transportation all within a small area.” Dragon Lifeline served as a way to validate deployment plans and refine outload and deployment procedures. Soldiers were able to become familiar See Exercise Dragon Lifeline (and photos) on Page 3

INSIDE Base commander answers your concerns See page 2

DIVERSITY

Celebrating our diverse heritages and traditions See page 7

U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Helena Owens

Maj. Ben Buxton, 16th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations, is reunited with his family Aug. 2, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The 16th AS managed to complete a total of 1,045 sorties over a span of 2,212 hours, moving 35.6 million pounds of cargo to include 4,980 pallets and 10,914 passengers during their three-month tour in the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility. See more at www.jbcharleston.jb.mil.

BACK TO SCHOOL The safety and resource info you need See page 8

For More Information About The Joint Base Charleston Patriot, Please Visit www.CharlestonMilitary.com CYAN-AOOO MAGENTA-OAOO YELLOW-OOAO BLACK 01/29/08


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