About this Unit
MSF Company, located in Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, is a component of the Puerto Rico National Guard with a mission focused on maintenance support. Established to provide essential logistical and mechanical support, the unit has played a crucial role in sustaining operational readiness for National Guard forces across the island. Throughout its history, MSF Co has supported a variety of missions, including disaster response operations during hurricanes and stateside mobilizations. Its personnel are trained in a broad range of technical skills, ensuring that both vehicles and equipment remain mission-capable for all assigned units.
Historical Facts
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Special Mission: The Military Support Facility (MSF) Company at Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, primarily supported communications and cryptologic operations for the U.S. Navy and National Security Agency (NSA) in the Caribbean region.
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Cold War Role: During the Cold War, Sabana Seca was a critical signals intelligence (SIGINT) site, monitoring Soviet and Cuban military communications and contributing to U.S. intelligence efforts in Latin America.
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NSA Connections: MSF Co Sabana Seca was closely aligned with the NSA, serving as one of its key overseas listening posts, with a focus on intercepting and analyzing foreign signals.
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Massive Antenna Fields: The site was known for its sprawling “elephant cage” Wullenweber antenna array, a massive circular structure used for direction finding and intercepting radio signals across vast distances.
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Multinational Collaboration: Personnel at Sabana Seca often worked alongside other U.S. military branches and allied intelligence services, fostering joint operations and information sharing.
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Hurricane Resilience: The base withstood numerous hurricanes, including Hugo (1989) and Georges (1998), maintaining vital communications operations even during disaster recovery efforts.
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Community Presence: The unit and its families were an integral part of the local Puerto Rican community, hosting cultural exchanges, charity events, and language programs.
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Decommissioning: MSF Co Sabana Seca began winding down operations after the Cold War, with the facility officially closing in 2003 as part of broader U.S. military realignments.
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Environmental Legacy: After closure, environmental restoration efforts addressed concerns about hazardous materials, leading to projects to return land to the local government and community use.
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Veterans' Stories: Many former MSF Co Sabana Seca personnel recall the unique camaraderie, high-security environment, and the sense of mission associated with working at one of the NSA’s most important overseas sites.
