Mission Statement

Provide port security in support of military or humanitarian operations worldwide. Be prepared to be air-deployable within 96 hours after recall and be self-sufficient for 15 days with the exception of fresh water and 
fuel.

Capabilities

Port Security Unit’s Waterborne Operations use highly maneuverable and armed transportable port security boats using “defense in-depth” tactics. Port Security Unit’s Shoreside Security forces complement waterborne operations, and protect unit personnel, equipment, and command and control facilities as well as
providing point defense for High Value Assets and Maritime Critical Infrastructure.

History

Port Security Unit 305 first mustered as on October 15, 1994 at Coast Guard Reserve Training Center Yorktown, Virginia. Three months later the unit relocated to its present facility at U.S. Army Transportation Center on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia and was formally commissioned on August 19, 1995.

Deployments

Port Security Unit 305's first training period as a Unit occurred in April 1995 when it participated in Allegiant Sentry ‘95; a major exercise held at the Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey. Port Security Unit 305’s first overseas deployment was in 1996 when the unit was sent to Turkey in support of training exercise DYNAMIC MIX. The following year in 1997, the unit was sent to Panama to participate in training exercise FUERTIS DEFENSAS.  In 1999, the unit deployed to Egypt to support a security mission during Operation Bright Star. Immediately following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the unit mobilized within 96 hours to New York harbor for GUARDING LIBERTY as a part of Operation Noble Eagle.

Port Security Unit 305 was the first unit to deploy to Joint Task Force - Guantanamo in 2001, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and has returned several times (2005, 2009, 2017). In 2003 the unit deployed to Rota, Spain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in 2012 to Kuwait in support of Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. The unit was handpicked to march in the 57th Presidential Inauguration in 2013. In 2018 the unit led the first of its kind Adaptive Force Package combing MSSTs and PSUs supporting amphibious security operations led by Australian Defense Forces aboard the HMAS ADELAIDE in Papua New Guinea for OPERATION APEC ASSIT 2018.

Awards

Port Security Unit 305 has distinguished itself by receiving the Coast Guard Unit Commendation (2003, 2017), the Navy Unit Commendation (2003), Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations (1997, 1998, 2009), Navy League’s Morris Awards for mobilization readiness (1997, 1999) and the DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award (2012, 2018).