Pacific Area Public Affairs

Press Release

Date:  Oct. 7, 2009

Contact: PA3 Melissa Hauck (510) 437-3375

El Paso, Texas native receives award

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Coast Guard Petty Officer 2^nd Class Abel Flores, an electricians mate stationed at Maritime Safety and Security Team 91105, was recently awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal and received a Coast Guard Letter of Commendation for his efforts during a three-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations in the Middle East.  

Flores, along with seven other members of MSST 91105, participated in the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission, designed to train Iraqi forces in maritime security operations.

The deployed crewmembers were stationed at Umm Qasir Coalition Forces base, Iraq, and the Al Basrah Oil Terminal, Basrah Iraq, where they conducted river patrols, provided classroom instruction and gave practical training on maritime security procedures to Iraqi personnel. The team also evaluated boarding procedures and helped develop standard operating procedures to ensure the Iraqis maintain a high level of readiness.

Prior to the deployment, the crew completed Department of Defense-mandated, pre-deployment mobilization training to meet U.S. requirements to enter CENTCOM’s theater of operations.

The Iraq Campaign Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Iraq for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.

Commissioned in 2003, MSST 91105 has a crew of 77 and is based on Coast Guard Island here.  MSSTs are a multi-mission unit capable of providing waterborne and shore side antiterrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high interest vessels and critical infrastructure.

MSSTs are also a quick response force capable of rapid nationwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security mission requirements.

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