GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The 474th Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning unit is responsible for maintaining the Expeditionary Legal Complex and Camp Justice in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
The unit, which is comprised of Air National Guardsmen from West Virginia, Michigan and Hawaii, is responsible for maintaining environmental control units (ECUs) throughout the ELC and Camp Justice.
"We maintain more than 100 ECUs," Master Sgt. Steve Contreras, the supervisor for 474th HVAC, said. "We perform maintenance on those, which consists of changing filters, motors and condensation removal."
The 474th HVAC is also responsible for maintaining seven M-80 boilers. These boilers provide people with hot showers and warm water. The unit repairs water leaks and maintains the burning systems.
"The bulk of the work we do is preventive maintenance," Contreras said. "That is mixed in with emergency calls."
In case of an emergency, an HVAC technician is posted inside the ELC during the proceedings.
Contreras' staff is also tasked to maintain five advanced-design refrigeration units, which are walk-in refrigerators. The Cuzco trailer billeting is also maintained by the 474th HVAC for the ELC staff, which can include lawyers and reporters for the commissions.
The majority of the members of the unit perform the same kind of tasks in their civilian careers.
"We have a very diverse group," said Contreras. "We have a guy that works on commercial equipment for the University of Michigan, we have a guy that works on specialty equipment and I own a business."
The unit also has a few members who are still in training.
"Our shop is comprised of Guardsmen from various parts of the nation and for them to work together so well has contributed to our success."