Volume 13, Issue 14 Friday, February 10, 2012

TOUCHDOWN!

February is Black History Month

The real thrift shop treasures: 

JTF Trooper volunteers

Punt, Pass & Kick,

cheerleaders rally fans
 The Wire | Page 2 Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Rear Adm. David Woods

Deputy Commander

Brig. Gen. James Lettko

Command Master Chief

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Michelle Coghill: 9927

Operations Officer

Army Maj. Jon Powers: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant: 3649

The Wire

Editor: Army 1st. Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Assistant Editor: Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Photojournalists

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Jon Dasbach

Mass Communication Spc. 3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

Commercial: 011-5399-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/wire/wire.html

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. It is 

produced by the JTF Public Affairs Office to inform and educate the Troopers 

of JTF Guantanamo through news, features, command guidance, sports 

and entertainment. This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication 

for the members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE are 

not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, 

the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force Guantanamo. It is printed 

by Defense Logistics Agency Document Services with a circulation of 1,300.

I had to laugh at the Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo commemoration of 

Groundhog Day, employing a banana 

rat as a substitute forecaster of spring 

weather. That’s something I’ll remember 

long after I leave here. When many of 

us think about Groundhog Day, we 

recall the movie starring Bill Murray, in 

which his character Phil Connors was 

cursed to keep reliving the same day 

over and over again. 

While the movie was 

entertaining, it also 

(hopefully) taught us 

a lesson or two.

Our Joint Task 

Force tour gives us 

the opportunity to 

take incremental steps 

toward achieving 

a goal – much like 

Phil Connors used 

each repeated day to 

take one more piano 

lesson. By the end of 

the movie, he was an 

accomplished piano 

player. He also learned 

to speak French and 

how to create ice sculptures. The skills 

he developed obviously took many days, 

and it was probably hard to notice much 

difference on a day-to-day basis. But the 

results of his determined persistence 

were impressive. Although we’re not 

stuck re-living Feb. 2 over and over again, 

we have the chance to improve ourselves 

during our Guantanamo tour.

We also have the ability to use each 

deployment as a learning experience. 

It’s interesting to observe the lessons 

that have been picked up by those with 

several deployments under their belts. 

As an example, I’ll highlight another 

February holiday: Valentine’s Day. Many 

in their first deployment are just now 

thinking about what to get for their 

sweetheart. They’ll order flowers at the 

last minute, or mail a card that will arrive 

late. But the experienced Trooper has 

been deployed during Valentine’s Day 

before (maybe many times). He or she 

probably planned ahead and left a card 

or gift hidden somewhere back home – 

or has arranged for a friend/neighbor to 

deliver a surprise. You can learn quite a 

few helpful hints from those who have 

made many deployments.

Getting back to the Groundhog Day 

movie lessons, I want to remind you of 

what Phil did in addition to improving 

himself. He helped 

other people. Of 

course, he didn’t start 

out helping other 

people. In his first 

several repeated days, 

he took advantage of 

his ability to apply 

his observations – 

all for his personal 

gain. He robbed 

an armored truck, 

seduced women, 

and generally acted 

selfishly. However, 

he soon learned that 

he has gained no 

real satisfaction from 

those pursuits. So 

he began helping people in the town: a 

homeless beggar, old ladies with a flat 

tire, a choking man in a restaurant, etc. 

Most are appreciative; he even repeatedly 

caught a little boy who never says 

“thanks.” 

We can learn from Phil’s example. 

Though we may start out being selfish, we 

eventually appreciate the value in helping 

others. And it’s easy to find others here at 

Guantanamo Bay who can benefit from 

your help. A friendly word to a fellow 

Trooper can do wonders. Simply having 

a conversation with someone could break 

their depression. 

So even though we’re not stuck in an 

endless loop of repeated days, we can 

still make efforts to improve ourselves 

and help other people. That was the key 

to Phil breaking his curse – and can also 

help us not feel like we’re waking up to 

the same song every morning.

Our Joint Task Force 

tour gives us the 

opportunity to take 

incremental steps 

toward achieving 

a goal – much like 

Phil Connors in 

‘Groundhog Day’ 

used each repeated 

day to take one more 

piano lesson.

Capt. Patrick Rabun

Chief of Staff, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: Coast Guard Lt. Andrew Phipps participated in the Punt, Pass & Kick competition prior to 

Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5. Afterward, the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders performed for Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo Troopers. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Cc

ommand

orner

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

The American Red Cross – GTMO will 

hold a First Aid/CPR training course on Feb. 

16 at 9 a.m. at the Red Cross building: CB 

1208. The $40 registration fee pays for all 

materials. Registration closes Feb. 15 at 3:30 

p.m. Class size is limited, so register now. To 

register, or for more information, call 2511 or 

email CoganowS@usa.redcross.org. 

Bring a friend to any Liberty Center on 

Feb. 17 and square off on the ping-pong 

table. The winner will receive a gift from Liberty MWR. 

For more information, call 2010.

The Navy Legal Services Office is ready 

to help Guantanamo residences through tax 

season. The naval station location will be 

open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon-Fri., and the 

JTF Trooper One Stop office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Mon.-Fri. Appointments are now available.

For more information, call 4692.

The Tiki Bar will host a Polynesian Luau 

Saturday. Events start at 5 p.m. with Luau 

games! Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the 

luau show begins at 8:30 p.m. featuring hula 

dancers, live music and a fire knife dancer. 

Seating is limited, so purchase tickets at the 

Bayview during normal business hours. 

For more information, call 75604.

The Black Heritage Organization will put 

on the Black & White Gala on Feb. 25 at the 

Windjammer. The event honors AfricanAmerican Women’s history and culture. The 

dress code is semi-formal, but military attire 

is acceptable. Tickets are $30 and will be 

available at the NEX atrium from 9 a.m. to 

12 p.m. for the next two weekends.

Are you looking for a chance to take the 

lead on your command’s physical training? 

Enroll in the Command Fitness Leader 

Certification Course. Register online by 

March 9 at the following address:

www.navyfitness.org/fitness/cfl_information 

The course runs from March 26 to March 

30. For more information, call 2157.

Golf cart rentals will be half price every Wednesday in the month of February. 

$5 covers one person and $7.50 covers two 

people. Boat rentals will be 25 percent off 

every Monday-Thursday this month. Prices 

vary based on the boat. For more information, call 2345.

Enjoy live entertainment at the Tiki Bar at 

7:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Enjoy music performed by Sounds Like Chicken, Trop Rock 

and more.

There is a new base telephone 

directory available. Email the Base 

Communications Office at BCO@

usnbgtmo.navy.mil or call 2500 to 

have it emailed to you.

Share your thoughts, words and feelings 

with the Guantanamo Bay community. The 

MWR Community Library is holding a 

Valentine’s Day poetry contest. From Feb. 

14-21 the library will accept submissions. A 

prize will be awarded for the winners of each 

group: 2nd-6th grade, 7th-12th grade and 

adults. The winners will also be published in 

the Guantanamo Bay Gazette. 

For more information, call 4700.

Not celebrating Valentine’s Day like 

everyone else? Come to the Marina at 5 p.m. 

on Feb. 14 for the Shot through the Heart 

dart tournament. If you bring a picture of an 

ex, put it on a board and throw darts at the 

creep. Snacks will be provided. 

For more information, call 2010. 

Stress Management

Feb. 13 2-4 p.m.

Job Search 

Feb. 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Savings and Investments

Feb. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Classes are located at the Fleet and Family 

Services Center conference room. For more 

information, call 4141.

The Marina will lend kayaks for free on 

Feb. 13. You or someone in your group must 

have a captain’s license. 

For more information, call 2345

INDEX

The Wire

February 10, 2012

IDP to be prorated

Student of the Game

Give me a G-T-M-O!

Black History Month

A day at the vet

(Treasures and) Trivia pursuit

Cartoon: Only at GTMO

Movie review: Hugo

Shot Through the 

Heart dart tournament

Polynesian-style luau

5

7

8

10

10

12

17

18

Command Fitness 

Leader cert course

NLSO tax assistance 

Upcoming FFSC classes

Learn first aid and CPR Black & White Gala

apparently it’s 

vintage week 

at The Wire...

Updated Guantanamo 

Bay telephone 

directory

Discount recreation 

in February

TGI... Wednesday!

Free kayak rentals

Ping-pong challenge

Library poetry contest
What is an indicator?

Indicators are small pieces of information that can be put together, like pieces of a puzzle, and can 

potentially compromise the bigger picture of an operation. Indicators may seem insignificant by 

themselves, but when many are gathered they can be very revealing. Indicators can range from noticing 

and keeping track of when lights switch on at night (which can indicate when someone is home), to keeping 

track of troop movements (to indicate that an operation is underway). Indicators can provide the adversary 

with critical information. Find out how indicators might be giving you away. Recognize and control your 

indicators. Be a hard target. OPSEC blocks indicators! OPSEC protects the mission!

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

 The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Trooper to Trooper

Master Sgt. Carnita Farve

Staff Judge Advocate Senior Enlisted Leader

pay it forward off!

It’s been a few months since 

you made the first payment 

on your holiday purchases, but 

chances are you’re still paying for 

them. Credit card bills are a potent reminder of the cost of the 

holiday season. In just the one 

week before Christmas, it’s estimated that Americans spent $44 

billion. Much of that last-minute 

shopping was done in a spending 

frenzy, without thinking about 

the cost of the gift – or the finance charges that will accrue 

until the bills are paid.

How will you deal with those 

bills that start arriving in your 

mailbox this week? Well, don’t 

just set them aside and let them 

pile up, hoping to keep the holiday glow alive. Late fees are very 

costly, and will result in even 

more interest charges. Open the 

bills, take a close look – and add 

up what you owe. 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo, like any other deployment, 

can afford Troopers a good opportunity to save money by cutting back on unnecessary purchases. It can also allow military 

members to utilize resources 

such as the Fleet and Family Services Center (FFSC) as a guide 

to maintaining good financial 

standing.

Here are three tips for dealing with your credit card bills 

promptly – even if you can’t pay 

the full balance.

Paydown plan

Beware of a deceptively small 

number – the minimum monthly 

payment. Yes, it keeps your credit 

in good standing if you pay only 

that amount, but it leaves such 

a huge balance that soon you’re 

paying interest not only on your 

purchases, but on the finance 

charges from previous months. 

And the way the minimums are 

calculated, it could take as long 

as 30 years to pay off your card 

if you make only the required 

minimum monthly payments!

Instead, take the current 

minimum payment, and double 

it – and pay that amount. Then 

write that number down on your 

checkbook or a Post-it on your 

computer screen – and keep paying that same amount – no matter what the next bill says. If you 

keep paying double the original 

minimum, and never charge another penny, your balance will be 

paid off in less than three years! 

This works, no matter what the 

size of your current balance.

Transfer balances

Another way to deal with the 

problem is to transfer the balance to another card. Just don’t 

fool yourself into thinking that 

by transferring your balance to 

another card you are making 

a dent in your obligation. But 

if you have a high interest rate 

card, you can save some money 

on finance charges – for a while 

– by transferring your balance. 

But read the fine print on 

each offer. When the grace period expires, the rate could jump 

dramatically. And you may have 

to pay a balance transfer fee in 

the month after you transfer – so 

ask about how much that could 

cost you. And of course, if your 

credit is already in trouble, no 

card issuer wants to deal with 

your balance.

Get help

Don’t be a sucker twice. This 

is the time of year when all kinds 

of ads and commercials appear 

offering to help you negotiate 

your credit card balances. These 

companies know that in the next 

few months consumers will be 

desperate.

One place you can turn to for 

reliable advice and help is the

 see TROOPER next page

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 5

DoD begins prorating 

imminent danger pay

Troops must keep 

track of their own 

qualifying duty days

WASHINGTON – Service 

members now will receive imminent danger pay only for days 

they actually spend in hazardous 

areas, Pentagon officials said 

Feb. 2.

The change, which took effect Feb. 1, was included in the 

2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which President 

Barack Obama signed into law 

Dec. 31.

“Members will see the prorated amount in their Feb. 15 pay 

records,” Pentagon spokesman 

Navy Capt. John Kirby said.

The act called for DOD to 

pay service members imminent 

danger pay only for the time they 

spend in areas that qualify for the 

pay. In the past, service members 

received $225 per month if they 

spent any time that month in an 

area where the pay was authorized. 

“This is a more targeted way 

of handling that pay,” Kirby 

said.

Now, service members will 

receive $7.50 a day for days spent 

in these areas. Personnel who 

travel to the designated areas for 

periods less than 30 days should 

keep track of the number of 

days they are in the area to verify 

that they are paid for the correct 

number of days, officials said.

The military services are 

working to waive or remit debts 

for members who may have 

been overpaid for January, officials said. The services can waive 

this “when there is no indication 

of fraud, fault, misrepresentation, or when members were 

unaware they were overpaid,” 

Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen 

Lainez said.

Proration is based on a 30-

day month, which translates into 

a rate of $7.50 per day. It does 

not matter if the month is 28 or 

31 days long, officials explained; 

if service members serve in affected areas for the complete 

month, they will receive the full 

rate of $225 per month.

The Defense Department 

defines imminent danger pay areas as places where members are 

subject to the threat of physical 

harm or imminent danger because of civil insurrection, civil 

war, terrorism or wartime conditions.

Service members who come 

under fire, regardless of location, will receive the full monthly 

hostile-fire pay amount of $225.

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

On Feb. 13, 1906, retiring Army Chief 

of Staff Lt. Gen. Adna Chaffee, veteran 

of the United States Civil War, Indian 

Wars, Spanish-American War, and the 

Boxer Rebellion in China, dedicated the 

McCalla Hill Battle Monument. 

The monument features a bronze 

plaque dedicated to the U.S. Marines of 

the First Marine Battalion, who fought 

and died on McCalla Hill and at the Battle of Cuzco Wells in June 1898. The cannon atop the McCalla Hill monument 

is a bronze muzzle-loading 24-pound 

French siege gun, manufactured by 

Swiss gunmaker Jean Martiz on March 

23, 1748, in Douai, France. This cannon 

was a gift to the United States from the 

government of Cuba after the SpanishAmerican War, and was brought to 

Guantanamo Bay from Santiago de 

Cuba by the U.S. Navy to be used specifically for the monument. The monument was created by Captain Edward 

Schultz, US Army Corps of Engineers, 

who was in charge of defense construction at Guantanamo Bay in 1906.

This week in Guantanamo Bay History

–courtesy Sgt. 1st Class Michael Shimer

Consumption of alcohol is a privilege 

at Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

Don’t abuse it!

Consequences include:

– Revocation of unit’s drinking privileges

– Loss of base driving privileges

– Accident, injury, or death

– UCMJ action Restriction, confinement

Separation or discharge

Loss of pay, reduction in rank, loss of 

promotion recommendation

Always remember:

– Take care of your buddies

– Use a designated driver

– Underage drinking is prohibited in all 

circumstances

– Abstinence from alcohol is a responsible option

– HALT: don’t drink if you’re Hungry, Angry, 

Lonely, or Tired

TROOPER cont. 

FFSC. Their financial personnel 

can help you make a budget and 

set up a plan to eliminate your 

credit card debt.

You can make an appointment 

for a personal visit, or discuss 

your situation over the phone. 

The counseling is free. And if 

you just talk to them about the 

best way to handle your situation, 

there is no record of the counseling on your credit report.

If you are truly buried in debt, 

they will help you by establishing 

a debt repayment program. This 

does not go on your credit report – but can help you to a fresh 

start. 

Credit card debt is a problem 

that grows like an untreated disease, if you don’t pay attention. 

Despite bankruptcies and chargeoffs in recent years, Americans 

still have nearly $1 trillion in 

outstanding credit card balances. You can complain about the 

banks and card issuers making so 

much money collecting all that 

interest and fees. But the best 

way to get back at them is to use 

their money for a month – and 

then pay your balance in full. 

Ask yourself: is it really worth 

it to charge that $10 stuffed iguana if it’ll end up costing $20 or 

more later?
 The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 2 years

Hobbies: Guitar, CrossFit, fishing

The boss says: “Burrows is dedicated to the 

mission. He has picked up a great deal in his 

time here and I am pleasantly surprised at his 

career progression.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Enjoy yourself and enjoy time with friends!”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Junior Trooper of the Quarter 

Hospital Corpsman Travis Burrows 

stays motivated by setting goals and 

working hard.

“I am an individual augmentee, 

from Naval Hospital Pensacola, 

Florida,” said Burrows. “I was 

working MEDSURGE and working 

with veterans. Supply here has given 

me a small challenge. It is an entirely 

different system from what I am used 

to, but I know and understand it will 

help me develop as a Corpsman to 

learn the logistics behind the work.”

Chief Hospital Corpsman Richard 

Laxa, Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s 

Joint Medical Group Supply Leading 

Chief Petty Officer and Burrows’ 

supervisor agrees. He said Burrows is 

persistent in learning the joint logistics 

systems and has helped build JMG’s 

relationship with J-4 and Naval Station 

Guantanamo Naval Hospital.

 “He is a rated corpsman: a person 

who is working out of his trade,” Laxa 

said, “But he always makes new strides 

and works for the success of our 

division.”

Burrows said he looks to Laxa and 

his chain of command for support and 

inspiration in his primary duties. He 

said they are a valuable resource in his 

career progression.

“I love working with Chief,” 

Burrows said. “He is a good leader and 

he takes care of me.”

Outside work, Burrows 

spends his time running, 

training and swimming. 

He said he has a core 

group of good friends 

who keep him motivated 

professionally with his job 

and personally with his 

training.

“I enjoy networking, 

meeting people and making 

new friends,” Burrows said. “I 

believe friends are a critical part 

of every mission here. Friends are 

what keep you going.”

Laxa said Burrows is 

instrumental in JMG supply. 

He said Burrows has been a big 

help, trying to find ways to work 

through circumstantial supply 

constraints and keep the mission 

going.

“Burrows has a lot of 

responsibility,” Laxa said. “We order 

a lot of special items, depending on 

our patients’ situations. We also have 

logistical complications sometimes, 

due to our location. Burrows has 

been learning different ways for us to 

overcome regional supply obstacles 

and has been a real help for all of us. 

Burrows has accomplished a lot in his 

time here. He is a hard worker and 

I believe this assignment has opened 

his eyes to his military professional 

future.”

Which celebrity would you want as your Valentine?

“Jessica Alba.” 

Petty Officer 3rd Class

 Stephen Bolinski 

“Jennifer Aniston.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Christian Yambao

“Kim Kardashian.”

Spc.

 Jamal Varnerg

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

“Ildris Elba.”

Spc. 

Sheriella Nixon

If you fail to secure your wireless connection, 

anyone with a wireless-enabled device can hop a 

free ride on your Internet. Failure to secure your 

wireless network could potentially open your 

Internet connection to a surprising number of users. 

Some problems include:

-Bandwidth shortages: ‘Piggybacking’ users can eat 

up your bandwidth and slow down your connection. 

-Abuse by malicious users: Users piggybacking on 

your Internet connection might engage in illegal 

activities that will be traced to you. 

-Monitoring of your activity: Malicious users may 

be able to monitor your Internet activity and steal 

passwords and other sensitive information. 

-Direct attack on your computer: Malicious users 

may be able to access files on your computer, 

install spyware and other malicious programs, or 

take control of your computer.

| Student of the Game The Wire | Page 7

The National Football League 

unveiled its new money grab

way to reveal the regular season 

award winners. NFL Honors 

was the inaugural ceremony 

that brought the league’s biggest 

players together to receive the 

most prestigious annual awards.

Carolina Panthers quarterback 

Cam Newton won Offensive 

Rookie of the Year, Denver 

Broncos defensive end Von 

Miller took the Defensive 

Rookie of the Year. Breaking 

Dan Marino’s 27-year-old 

passing yards record earned 

New Orleans Saints quarterback 

Drew Brees the Offensive Player 

of the Year. Baltimore Ravens 

linebacker Terrell Suggs joined 

his teammates Ed Reed and Ray 

Lewis as Defensive Player of the 

Year recipients.

Detroit Lions quarterback 

Matthew Stafford was the 

Comeback Player of the Year 

after injuring his shoulder last 

season. Jim Harbaugh coached 

the San Francisco 49ers from 

an 8-8 season to being one drive 

away from the Super Bowl, 

earning him Coach of the Year 

honors. Tim Tebow’s last minute 

heroics made him a shoo-in for 

the Never Say Never Award.

But, the biggest award of the 

evening, the Most Valuable Player 

award, went to Green Bay Packers 

quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He 

led his team to a 15-1 regular 

season with no defensive help. 

Rodgers threw 45 touchdowns 

and only six interceptions. That 

gave him a 122.5 passer rating 

which is the best single season 

passer rating in NFL history.

Those are impressive stats 

and numbers never lie, but 

they can be wrong. Matt Flynn 

tainted Rodgers’ MVP bid when 

he started the last game of 

the season for the Packers and 

racked up 480 passing yards and 

six touchdown passes. If the 

backup can get the same kind of 

numbers, maybe Rodgers isn’t as 

valuable as you think.

If not Rodgers, then whom? 

I’ve got two peculiar options.

Tim Tebow

I know it may seem like I’m 

still on the bandwagon, but if 

you think about the actual value 

he brought to his organization it 

might look different. The Broncs 

started the season with Kyle 

Orton and a 1-4 record. Tebow 

took the reins and turned every 

Sunday into must-see action. 

He captivated the fans and put 

people in the stands of the Mile 

High stadium. More fans mean 

more money. More money means 

more value.

Tebow’s worth reaches 

off the field, too. His No. 15 

jerseys sold out like the Black 

Eyed Peas. In fact, when Tebow 

became the starter, the team 

made the orange jersey their 

new home jersey. Fans kept up

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews 

S t uden t of th e G a m e

NFL

re: 

information 

assurance

Honors

 see NFL next page

Not just the obvious choice: Tim Tebow brought more then just his talents as a 

quarterback to his organization. His performance attracted more fans and his No. 15 

jersey sold out. –NFL photo
ve me a G!

a T!

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

motivate the team and 

use their energy and enthusiasm 

to boost morale. They flew down 

to Guantanamo Bay on a C-12. No, it’s 

not a reference to your new supervisors: 

they’re the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders.

The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders arrived 

just in time to pep up Troopers and Guantanamo 

Bay community for Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5. 

The cheerleaders started the day by teaching 

cheers and signing autographs at Cooper Field. After 

the cheers, Morale Welfare & Recreation held a small 

football-focused sports competition that included 

punting and passing. 

Coast Guard Lt. Andrew Phipps of the Maritime 

Safety and Security Team – San Diego was one of the 

competitors in the contest, and placed second overall. 

“It was fun, there was a lot of friendly competition,” 

said Phipps. “(MSST Petty Officer 1st Class) Travis Gray 

came out to support me and hold the ball, but he ended up 

winning it, so I have to give a shout out to him.” 

The cheerleaders then sauntered to O’Kelly’s Irish Pub 

for a meet and greet and a pregame performance. 

“This is my first year as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader 

and it’s my first military tour, so it’s so amazing to come 

down here and meet the troops,” said Lara Ryans. 

This was the squad’s second invitation to Guantanamo 

Bay, but a first for the cheerleaders who were selected to 

travel to the base. 

Jamie Quadrozzi, the Dolphins’ entertainment and 

event coordinator, explained that the cheerleaders 

have done tours for military in the past but they’ve 

never toured the same installation back to back. 

“This is the first time we’ve done a military tour 

and have been invited right back the next year,” 

said Quadrozzi. “It speaks volumes for what 

the 

girls did last 

year and hopefully 

we did a good enough job 

to be invited back next year.” 

It’s a special privilege for the 

girls who were chosen.

“We hand-select the girls who get to 

travel,” said Quedrozzi. “There are 39 girls 

on the team and many will never get to travel, 

so they’re all very excited to be here.” 

Some of the cheerleaders, like Nicki Boston, 

had a special connection to the island. Boston’s 

brother was stationed at Guantanamo Bay with the 

Navy. 

“My brother was just based here last year, so to have 

this experience, to see what the troops go through and to 

hear it about it from my brother makes this a truly special 

experience for me,” said Boston.

Although the Super Bowl was between the Giants and 

Patriots, many Dolphins fans showed up to support the 

cheerleaders. One such fan was Joint Detention Group Spc. 

Justin Collins, who missed the cheerleaders last year. 

“It’s a great thing to see them down here having fun with 

everyone while we watch the Super Bowl,” said Collins. 

“They were down here last year for Super Bowl Sunday and 

I missed them by two days, so it feels good that I get to see 

them two days before I leave.” 

The Super Bowl ended with a Giants victory and the 

community enjoyed the company of the Miami Dolphin 

cheerleaders during the game. But it was a win-win 

experience for the cheerleaders and Guantanamo Bay. 

 “We’ve been told everywhere we go ‘thank you 

for coming, it does so much for our morale,’” said 

Quadrozzi. “But what they don’t understand is that 

it does so much for us too. We learn so much and 

meet amazing people who are volunteering time 

and risking their lives to keep us safe. It works 

so well both ways.” 

 

They

Feature | The Wire | Page 8

GTMO!

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Above: Lt. Andrew Phipps kicked a field goal with Petty Officer 1st Class Travis 

Gray holding the ball during the punt, pass and kick competition Feb. 5. 

Right: The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders performed at O’Kelly’s Irish Pub before 

the Super Bowl Feb. 5. –photos by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

 Give me an M!

Give me

 Give me an O!

What does 

that spell?

Gi

with the move by making that jersey one of the NFL’s hottest 

selling jerseys. After orange become the new color, all kinds of 

orange gear had to be purchased. All that extra income from a 

kid that has an $11.25 million contract sounds more valuable 

than a guy puppeteering the most offensive weapons in the 

league.

Peyton Manning

I know. I know. He hasn’t suited up since his loss to the Jets 

in the AFC Wild Card Game in the 2010 season, but what did 

the Indianapolis Colts do without their commander in chief this 

season? They went 2-14 and were the 30th ranked offense in 

the league. In 2010, Manning’s last time in uniform, the Colts 

went 10-6, were the fourth best offense in the NFL and went 

to the playoffs.

Ticket sales, not just wins, plummeted without 18 in the 

pocket. Home attendance fell by 2,147 seats per game. Fewer 

butts in the seats mean less game day revenue. Not only will 

concessions take a major hit, but ticket prices had to drastically 

drop to get people to come watch a team that started 0-13 and 

finished the season with a third string quarterback.

Peyton proved that he, alone, is worth eight victories, franchise stability and thousands of fans. Aaron Rodgers proved he 

can win games and throw touchdowns against defenses so easy 

to beat a caveman do it.

Some people say the MVP goes to the best player on the best 

team. Others say it belongs to the person who does the most 

for the team, win or lose. I think players can prove their value to 

a club in more ways than stats and on-field performance. Tim 

Tebow and Peyton Manning were valuable assets to their organizations. I would say they were more important to their teams 

than 2011 MVP Aaron Rodgers was to the Packers. But sports 

writers didn’t think either one was deserving of NFL Honors.

NFL cont. 

Peyton Manning led the Colts to a 10-6 season and was the fourth best 

offense in the NFL in 2010, the last time he suited up. –NFL photo
 The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

1770

Crispus Attucks

On March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks 

and several other patriots from Boston 

protested the British curbing of civil 

liberties in their Massachusetts colony.

1775-1783

American Revolution

Thousands of black soldiers, both slave as 

well as free, from all 13 colonies fought in the 

Continental Army during America’s war for 

independence from Great Britain. Many also 

served in state militias.

1812-1815

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, black soldiers

served in both integrated regiments 

as well as in all-black regiments. Many 

black soldiers served with courage and 

distinction, both on land and at sea. 

1814

Men of Color

Many black soldiers fought in the Battle of New 

Orleans. Slaves, as well as free black soldiers, 

constructed forts around the city in preparation 

for the impending British invasion. Also, blacks 

comprised the majority of two battalions and 

three companies, collectively referred to as Free 

Men of Color, as well as serving in integrated 

Louisiana militia units.

1861-1865

Civil War

When Union troops invaded Confederate

states, thousands of black slaves flocked to 

Union camps for a chance to fight. Many 

of these men were unofficially allowed to 

enlist in the Union Army. After President 

Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on 

Jan. 1, 1863, black soldiers were officially 

allowed to participate in the war.

1863

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, best known

as a black orator and abolitionist, 

helped to establish the all-black 

54th Massachusetts Regiment of 

the Union Army. On Aug. 13, 

1863, Douglas was directed by the 

Secretary of War to travel from 

his hometown of Rochester, N.Y., 

to Vicksburg, Miss., “to assist in 

recruiting colored troops.”

1866-1891

Indian Campaigns

After the Civil War, settlers moved westward in increasing 

numbers. When fighting broke out with Indians, the Army 

was often called in to quell the uprisings.

In 1866, Congress authorized the formation of regiments 

of black soldiers: the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments 

and the 24th, 25th, 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st Infantry 

Regiments to deploy in the West to fight the Indians. The 

infantry regiments were later consolidated into the 24th 

and 25th Infantry Regiments.

1866-1891

Buffalo Soldiers

Black soldiers fought so bravely and ferociously during a 

battle with Cheyenne warriors in 1867, that the Cheyenne 

nicknamed them “Wild Buffalo.”

Over time, the term “Buffalo Soldiers” was used for 

all black soldiers who served during the Indian wars. 

Between battles, the “Buffalo Soldiers” built roads and 

telegraph lines, escorted supply trains and guarded stage- coach and mail routes. 

In 1868, Cathay Williams became the first black female 

Buffalo Soldier - she disguised herself as a male.

Henry O. Flipper was the fifth African-American to be 

accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 

N.Y., and in 1877 became the first African-American to 

graduate from the academy. He was the first AfricanAmerican to be commissioned in the Army, or any other 

branch of the U.S. military. He also became the first 

African-American officer to command African-American 

soldiers in the Army when he assumed command of 

Troop A, 10th Calvary Regiment, also known as the 

Buffalo Soldiers, at Fort Sill, Okla. Before Flipper took 

command, all African-American units were commanded 

by white officers.

1898

Spanish-American War

Black soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments 

and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments fought in the 

Spanish-American War. The four regiments comprised 12 

percent of the total force during the invasion of Cuba.

Many of these soldiers were veterans of the Indian Wars 

and some were Civil War veterans. Another 2,000 served 

in the Navy - they comprised 7.6 percent of all sailors.

Black History Month

Moments in Time

continued next page

Safeguarding the health of GTMO’s critters

Upon entering the operating room, immediate 

feelings of sterility and coolness in the cramped 

surroundings engulf your senses. It smells 

clean, if not a touch stifling. The big overhead 

lights project a spotlight on the patient and the 

anesthesia monitor/EKG machine methodically 

mirrors the patient’s heart beat with loud beeps. 

Country music plays in the background. The 

necessary surgical accoutrements lying on a silver 

platter in sterile cloth. “Nermal,” a pet cat, is 

having a mast cell tumor removed from his neck 

and back.

“Staff sergeant, hand me a 3cc syringe please. 

I’m going to poke some more holes in this 

[fenestrated] catheter and we’re gonna place it 

in the wound bed. We’ll then be able to infuse a 

local anesthetic over the next 48-72 hours.”

“Right away, sir.”

On an island base with more than 5,000 

personnel, including Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, 

Marine Corps Security Forces Company and all 

the contracting companies, the Guantanamo 

Veterinary Treatment Facility (GTMO VTF) 

is the only veterinary clinic. It serves military 

working animals, pets for all personnel living on 

base and works with feral and indigenous wildlife 

like iguanas, banana rats, cats, snakes and birds.

GTMO VTF, staffed by four personnel, is led 

by Capt. Miriam Lovell, U.S. Army Veterinary 

Corps. She is the resident in-house veterinarian 

for the base. The non-commissioned officer in 

charge is Staff Sgt. Jamie Jackson and the Animal 

Care Technician is Spc. Kerstin Mundy. Cari 

Beltran is the receptionist and manages the day 

to day pet appointments. On certain occasions, 

GTMO VTF receives visiting surgeons like Maj. 

Todd Thomas, U.S. Army Veterinary Corps 

(Diplomate, American College of Veterinary 

Surgeons) to backfill when Lovell is off island.

GTMO VTF is never at a shortage of work, 

with daily appointments, training and emergency 

visits. In the last year they also accomplished 

close to 150 surgical procedures. 

On the day that I came in to observe there 

were three operations, one emergency case 

and one follow up appointment. Both Thomas 

and Lovell had a week of overlap and had the 

opportunity to work on pets together.

“It’s always a great opportunity to come down 

here, see the facilities, see what the case load was 

like and work with this hard working crew,” said 

Thomas. “It’s the training aspect as well, so I’m 

glad Capt. Lovell and I got to work on some 

advanced surgical procedures together,” he said.

Being the only game in town, Lovell has 

become very familiar with all the animals on 

base. 

“I get to know all my client animals. It’s like 

being in a small town where you’ve been the vet 

for so many years,” said Lovell, who owns two 

yellow Labrador retrievers herself. “Even when I 

go to the grocery store and get consults there, or 

answer questions on the ferry coming back from 

leave. That’s what I love about being here.”

As the final sutures were being stitched into 

Nermal, there was a momentary pause from 

everyone in the OR, including myself, with all 

eyes on him. He looked good, comfortable and 

minus a patch of fur, still in deep sleep. Thomas 

had the final call, “That’s it, he’s good. Great job 

everybody.”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Capt. Miriam Lovell and Maj. Todd Thomas (right) removed 

a mast cell tumor from Nermal’s neck and back. 

–photos by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

The base’s sole veterinary clinic, Guantanamo Veterinary Treatment Facility 

(GTMO VTF) serves military working animals, pets, and feral and indigenous 

wildlife. Nermal the cat is suspicious nonetheless. 
 The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

1917-1918

World War I

In 1917, the United States entered World War I. Despite

knowing that freedom to serve their country did not in 

itself guarantee full participation in American society, 

thousands of black Americans answered the call to duty 

through service in the Army.

The Army operated under a policy of racial segregation 

and blacks were commonly relegated to supply and labor 

jobs. There were, however, active black combat units that 

made notable contributions.

1941-1945

World War II

In World War II, the U.S. war effort was

determined to defeat fascism and to 

defend freedom. For black Americans, 

freedom in its fullest form was an ideal 

that was desired not only abroad, but on 

the homefront as well. Even though in the 

U.S., many blacks were treated as secondclass citizens, black soldiers still served 

unyieldingly for their country.

1941

Tuskegee Airmen

On July 19, 1941, the U.S. Army Air Corps began training black pilots. 

The 926 members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen (comprised initially 

of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and later the 332nd Fighter Group) 

were trained for combat in World War II at the Tuskegee Institute 

in Alabama. Known for their red-tailed P-51 Mustang fighters, the 

Tuskegee Airmen never lost an escorted plane to the enemy during 

the course of World War II, during which they carried out hundreds 

of escort missions.

1950-1953

Korean War

New opportunities began to emerge for black soldiers while 

serving in the Korean War. In October 1951, the all-black 

24th Infantry Regiment, which had served during the SpanishAmerican War, World War I, World War II and the beginning 

of the Korean War, was disbanded. This eliminated the last 

lingering formal practice of segregation in the Army. Black 

soldiers now served in all combat service elements and were 

involved in all major combat operations, including the advance 

of United Nations Forces to the Chinese border.

By Army 1st Lt. Amelia Thatcher and Troopers!

April Anderson, a Marine Corps spouse, 

departs soon for Camp Lejeune, N.C. In her 

two years as Treasures and Trivia’s manager, 

Anderson has completely overhauled the 

store.

“We put all the clothing in order by size, 

organized everything, cleaned out everything, 

and discarded everything which wasn’t suitable 

to sell,” she said.

Prior to her arrival, the thrift shop operated 

on a part time only basis. There was no 

volunteer program either.

“Now we have too many volunteers to 

count!” Anderson said.

Under her leadership, the thrift store has 

come to support many Guantanamo Bay 

organizations. In addition to being the main 

fundraiser for the Spouses’ Club, Treasures and 

Trivia proceeds go toward scholarships, Boy 

Scouts and Girl Scouts, and other organizations 

as determined by the board’s vote.

“Over the last two years, everyone involved 

in the shop have set it up for success,” Anderson 

said. “It’s been really nice to get to know 

everyone through the store, and I will really, 

really miss my customers and volunteers.”

Best of luck, April!

–photo courtesy Jo Gallagher

GTMO 

PICKERS

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

1959-1973

Vietnam War

The 1960s marked a transformation of the 

realities of discrimination and political equal- ity for blacks with the passing of the Civil 

Rights and Voting Rights Act (1964 and 1965, 

respectively). The 1960s also marked the full 

engagement of the United States in the war in 

Vietnam. In support of this campaign, black 

soldiers continued the tradition of serving the 

Army with distinction.

1979

Army Brig. Gen. Hazel W. Johnson-Brown

Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown became 

the first black female general officer and the first 

black Chief of the Army Nurse Corps.

1990-1991

Persian Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War devel- oped out of the Iraqi invasion 

of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. 

The international armed in- tervention followed in January 

1991. Black soldiers - making 

up about 22 percent of the 

total Army - followed a rich 

tradition of honorably serving 

in the U.S. Forces.

2001-2008

Global War on Terror

Since the Armed Forces were integrated in 1948, the Army has 

been committed to racial diversity and equal opportunity to all 

soldiers. In the past several years, the Army has become even more 

proactive to recruit and train a diverse force since the terrorist at- tacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2003, there were approximately 254,000 

blacks serving the Army as an Active-Duty, Reserves or National 

Guard soldier, or as an Army Civilian, according to the U.S. Office 

of Army Demographics. This was 20.3 percent of the total Army. 

In the general U.S. population, 12.7 percent of 18 to 55-year-olds 

are black. 

2009-Present

Present Day

As of 2008, black soldiers made up 19.8% of the active 

duty Army, 13.3% of the National Guard and 22.1% of 

the Army Reserve. Blacks serve in the Army, therefore, at a 

higher proportion than their representation in the general 

U.S. population.

On Jan. 29, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th 

president of the United States. As president, Obama also is 

commander in chief of all U.S. forces.

A history of service

continues into the future

Tucked in between Air Sunshine and the 

furniture store, before the Cuban Club and 

just past the bustling library Wi-Fi hotspot, 

one can find a trove of unique goodies for 

sale. Treasures and Trivia, Guantanamo Bay’s 

thrift store, is not only a source of “new” 

and different clothing items, but can also be 

a getaway for Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

Troopers.

“Since we got JTF involved, the volunteer 

program got so much better,” Treasures and 

Trivia committee chairwoman Jo Gallagher 

said. “Since we added them, we can do so 

much more.”

Many Joint Task Force commands require 

their Troopers to participate in a volunteer 

program here at Guantanamo Bay, and one 

of former manager April Anderson’s first 

actions was to have the thrift shop added to 

the list of approved organizations.

“Commands say they have to,” Anderson 

said. “We keep track of their hours and it 

goes in their file. Thirty hours of volunteer 

service seems to be the recommendation.” 

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Arbelaez 

of the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion 

arrived on time for his volunteer shift, which 

he is all too happy to do for a few hours a 

week.

“Our work schedules are such that we 

can’t get to all the MWR events,” Arbelaez 

said. 

After clocking in on the volunteer board, 

Arbelaez went straight to a shopping cart filled 

with clothes and started sorting. Donations 

mostly consist of clothing, and Gallagher 

added that items such as housewares sell 

quickly.

“He knows what to do,” Anderson said. 

“We love, love, love our volunteers. They 

really get into this. And if we don’t have 

a job for them to do right away, we’ll find 

something!”

Anderson estimated that 80 percent of 

the thrift shop’s volunteers are Joint Task 

Force Troopers. They typically sort, clean, 

restock, and organize three or four hours 

per week, and thanks to them, the shop can 

remain open more than part time. 

 “I’ve been volunteering since December,” 

Arbelaez said. “It’s a great way to give back 

to the community.”

Treasures and Trivia provides more than 

just an alternative to the Navy Exchange to 

look for clothes and discount items. A small 

selection of military uniforms is available, 

as operations security guidelines strongly 

discourage Troopers from simply discarding 

them.

“We don’t want military items thrown 

out,” Anderson said. “We have a locked room 

in the back and only sell them to someone 

with an active duty ID.” 

The staff emphasized the variety of items 

available to Troopers and Guantanamo Bay 

residents.

“We rotate our stock all the time. When 

people PCS, they clean out! Some stuff 

is new with tags!” Anderson said as her 

replacement, Heather Baugh, held up a pair 

of brand-new olive green kids’ Dockers.

Treasures and Trivia is open 10 a.m. to 2 

p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 

and $5 bag sale Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 

p.m. Take more than one look – you never 

know what you’ll find!

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime Arbelaez volunteers at 

the Treasures and Trivia thrift shop after his regular 

work hours. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa
 The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

In th e f ight

Marines take gold in 2012 Armed 

Forces Boxing Championship

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Marine Corps team 

won the 2012 Armed Forces Boxing Championship Feb. 3, ending the Army’s 20-year 

winning streak. 

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. hosted the Armed Forces Sports event 

this year.

In the final bout of the night, Marine Sgt. 

DeJesus Gardner taking gold against Army 

Sgt. Marvin Carey became the crux between 

Marine Corps victory and a tie with Army.

Gardner’s left eye swelled closed early in 

the fight, but the audience went wild when 

the ringside doctor allowed the fight to continue.

The crowd’s fervor escalated into a frenzy in the third round as Gardner and Carey 

smashed blows into each other, trading the 

point lead back and forth, but in the final 20 

seconds of the fight, Gardner edged his way 

to a 14-13 win.

“I told my daughter that daddy would 

bring her a gold medal, and daddy don’t 

break no promises,” said Gardner.

Gardner won gold in the 201 lb.-plus 

weight class and secured the Marine’s gold 

for the team award, but each Marine Corps 

victory was essential.

In a rematch from 2011’s Championships, Marine Cpl. Tommy Roque redeemed 

himself against Army Sgt. Toribio Ramirez, 

pummeling his way to a win 35-19.

Roque represents the Marine Corps boxing team in the 132 lb. weight class.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Steele won by referee stopped contest a minute into the second 

round, battering Navy Petty Officer 2nd 

Class Carlos Moore, who lost his footing 

and rolled his ankle early in the fight.

Steele fights in the 152lb. weight class.

National Champion and 2011 Armed 

Forces Boxing Gold Medalist Marine Sgt. 

Jamel Herring defended his title against Senior Airman Adam Hassan, breezing to a 

19-5 victory in the 141lb. weight class.

“The team medal means more to me 

than any individual medal,” said Herring. 

“I’m just happy to be a part of the team that 

made history tonight.”

Two Marine boxers took silver medals.

Lance Cpl. Felix Magallanez lost by retirement when his coach ended the fight in 

the second round after he took a devastating 

body blow from Army Pvt. Marquis Moore 

and couldn’t recover.

Magallanez fights for the Marine Corps 

in the 165 lb. weight class, dropping down 

from last year’s championship where he 

fought at 178 lbs.

In this year’s 178 lb. weight class, Lance 

Cpl. James Morrow got crushed with punishing barrages from Army Spc. Steven Nelson, losing out 20-2.

Gold medalists in the Armed Forces 

Championship now prepare to fight in the 

USA Boxing Nationals, a critical qualifier for 

2012 Olympic hopefuls and qualify to compete in the Conseil International du Sport 

Militaire’s (CISM) World Military Games.

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Elliot Fabrizio

Marine Corps Headquarters

ARLINGTON, Va. – President Barack 

Obama today continued his commitment to 

improving employment among veterans by 

introducing an initiative to hire them as the 

country’s first responders.

“In my State of the Union address, I 

proposed a new initiative called the Veterans Jobs Corps to put veterans back to work 

protecting and rebuilding America,” he said. 

“And today, we’re laying out the details of 

this proposal.”

Speaking at a fire station here to veterans, 

firefighters, police officers and national park 

employees, Obama shared the venue’s significance before his remarks.

“This is a fire station that holds some 

special significance for our country,” he explained. “On September 11th, the firefighters of this house were among the first to respond to the attack on the Pentagon.

“You guys answered this nation’s call during its hour of need,” Obama added. “And in 

the years that followed, as Americans went to 

war, some of you answered that call, as well.”

The president encouraged the hiring of 

veterans to replenish the ranks of the nation’s first responders.

“First, we want to help communities hire 

more veterans as cops and firefighters,” he 

said. “Over the past few years, tight budgets 

have forced a lot of states, a lot of local communities, to lay off a lot of first responders.”

The country already has made progress in 

veterans’ employment, Obama said.

“Already, we’ve helped 600,000 veterans 

and their family members go back to school 

on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill,” he said. “We’ve 

hired over 120,000 veterans to serve in the 

federal government [and] we’ve made it easier for veterans to access all sorts of employment services.”

When he first became president, Obama 

said, one of his first actions was to ensure 

state and local governments received assistance through the Recovery Act to avoid laying off first responders.

“Thousands of firefighter jobs were 

saved because of the actions we took,” he 

noted. “But budgets are still tight, and that’s 

a problem we need to fix. Jobs that protect 

our families and our communities shouldn’t 

be the first on the chopping block. They 

should be one of our highest priorities as a 

nation.”

Obama emphasized he wants to restore 

local communities and national parks, noting 

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s presence. 

The Department of the Interior manages 

and sustains the country’s lands, water, wildlife, and energy resources, among its other 

responsibilities.

“He needs some help,” Obama said of 

Salazar. “And our veterans are highly qualified to help him. They’ve already risked their 

lives defending America. They should have 

the opportunity to rebuild America. We’ve 

got roads and bridges in and around our 

national parks in need of repair. Let’s fix 

them.”

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said in a conference call with reporters 

yesterday that the new three-part Veterans 

Job Corps initiative “will ensure our veterans 

don’t have to fight for jobs once they come 

home.”

Veterans Job Corps program to hire out vets first

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

Missi on f i r st

 see JOBS page 16

O n T h e w i n g

on th e DE C K

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama 

has nominated Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger to the rank of general, and as commander 

of Air Force Materiel Command at WrightPatterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced today.

The promotion would make Wolfenbarger 

the Air Force’s first female four-star general.

“The secretary strongly supports the president’s nomination, and he believes that General Wolfenbarger is an outstanding Air Force 

officer,” Pentagon Press Secretary George 

Little said today. “The fact that she would be 

the first woman to wear a fourth star in the 

Air Force, if confirmed, is a testament to her 

skills, experience and dedication.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Wolfenbarger 

would become the military’s second female 

officer to receive four stars behind Army 

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, commander of 

Army Materiel Command, who was promoted to general in 2008.

As the military deputy in the Office of 

the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for 

Acquisition in the Pentagon, Wolfenbarger 

is responsible for research and development, 

test, production, and modernization of Air 

Force programs worth more than $40 billion 

annually.

A 1980 Air Force Academy graduate, 

Wolfenbarger began her career in acquisitions as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, 

Fla. She has held a variety of assignments at 

headquarters Electronic Security Command 

and Air Force Systems Command.

Wolfenbarger has had oversight of the 

F-22 program at Wright-Patterson and in the 

Pentagon, and was program director for the 

B-2 aeronautical systems at Wright-Patterson. 

She commanded the Aeronautical Systems 

Center’s C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing.

Wolfenbarger was director of the Air 

Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at 

the Pentagon, then served as director of the 

Headquarters AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate at Wright-Patterson. 

She was the vice commander of Air Force 

Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson before taking her current position.

Wolfenbarger holds master’s degrees in 

aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in 

national resource strategy from the National 

Defense University.

Obama nominee could be Air 

Force’s first female general

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, if confirmed by the 

Senate, will be the first female four-star general to 

serve in the Air Force. Wolfenbarger is the commander 

of Air Force Materiel Command. –AFMC photo

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A USS California culinary specialist is honing his craft with 

the help of a five-star chef.

During a week-long culinary understudy 

opportunity that began Feb. 4 at the Crowne 

Plaza Hotel here, Navy Seaman Apprentice 

Justin Cramer of Moore, Okla., reflected on 

this opportunity to expand on his skills and 

how the training – provided by the Santa 

Barbara Navy League – will benefit his submarine’s crew.

“This opportunity presents overwhelming joy to me,” he said. “I was speechless 

when I found out, and for me, it was an 

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I never imagined I would participate in something like 

this when I joined the U.S. Navy.”

Patricia Westberg, vice president of Santa 

Barbara Navy League, said the young chef 

will learn techniques that will benefit not only 

Cramer, but also the USS California’s crew.

“He will be able to create a West Coast 

climate on board the boat through menu 

planning and selections, so the crew will 

have a taste of our great state several times a 

month,” she said.

Executive Chef Luis Martinez will teach 

Cramer a variety of cooking-related skill 

sets, such as culinary arts and advanced food 

preparation.

“For the next three years, I will have the 

opportunity to apply what I learned in Santa 

Barbara, bringing back valuable skills to benefit myself and my boat,” Cramer said.

Cramer joined the Navy at age 23 in January 2011. He said he chose the culinary specialist rating from years of experience watching his parents enjoy the art of cooking.

“We have had a generation of five-star 

cooks in our family; it made sense for me to 

come into the U.S. Navy as a culinary specialist,” he said.

Navy Lt. Angus McCallum, the USS 

California’s supply officer, noted that with 

the USS California homeported in Groton, 

Conn., Cramer’s opportunity is a way to unite 

the Virginia-class nuclear submarine and the 

state for which it is named.

“Seaman Cramer is going to be the 

bridge between the recently commissioned 

California and the Santa Barbara community,” McCallum said. “With so much of the 

country between the boat and the city, this 

first opportunity forms a tangible bond between California and [the submarine’s] home 

state.”

McCallum added that Cramer is a valuable 

asset to the USS California team. Despite being the boat’s most junior culinary specialist, 

he said, Cramer was chosen to participate 

in the understudy opportunity based on his 

stellar performance since arriving aboard the 

Navy’s newest attack submarine.

“After being on board for one month, 

Cramer qualified in all culinary specialist 

watch stations, which led to the selection as 

the culinary specialist of the fourth quarter 

in 2011,” McCallum added.

Sailor learns from five-star executive chef

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg

Submarine Group 2
By Bob Reinert

USAG–Natick Public Affairs

 The Wire | Page 16 Around the World |

NATICK, Mass. – Maybe it looks like a camouflage money belt on steroids, but it could 

save Soldiers’ lives.

The new Individual First Aid Kit, or 

IFAK, being developed at the Natick Soldier 

Systems Center eventually will be carried by 

every Soldier in a combat environment.

“We designed it literally about three or 

four months ago,” said Rich Landry, individual equipment designer with the Load 

Carriage Prototype Lab, Product Manager 

Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, 

at NSSC. “The medical community said, 

‘Awesome idea. Let’s move out with it.’ Overwhelmingly, they thought this was a huge improvement over the current IFAK.”

As Landry pointed out, the current IFAK, 

developed rapidly in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom to fulfill a critical need, 

has proved rather unwieldy.

“This thing is just kind of a brick on your 

side that gets in the way of everything,” said 

Landry of the current bulky IFAK, which 

was built into an existing Squad Automatic 

Weapon ammo pouch. “It was very, very 

quick, because they needed them right away.”

More thought has gone into the new 

IFAK, a streamlined, two-piece system that 

features a pouch with an insert that slides out 

to allow easy access to medical equipment 

from either side.

“It supports all the critical items to the 

individual Soldier’s medical needs,” Landry 

said. “The beauty of this system, compared 

to the old one, is that it allows the Soldier to 

place it on (his or her) body in a spot where 

it can be easily accessible, which is the critical 

piece, but also not get in the way of other 

important tactical pieces of equipment.”

Landry said 30 new IFAKs recently underwent evaluation at Fort Polk, La., where 

a platoon of Soldiers carried them through a 

training rotation. The early feedback has been 

positive, he added.

“We’re very sure this is the direction the 

Individual First Aid Kit is going to go, hopefully, for all services, but you never know,” 

Landry said. “That would be icing on the 

cake.”

The new IFAK carries even more medical gear than the first version, including two 

Combat Application Tourniquets. Still, its 

lower profile allows a Soldier to wear it comfortably in the small of his or her back under the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying 

Equipment, or MOLLE, Large or Medium 

backpack.

“And that’s critical for us, because the big 

picture in load carriage is the backpack piece,” 

Landry said. “That’s where a large percentage 

of the load and bulk comes from. And it’s 

critical that we still have to be able to carry 

that.

“All you do is reach back and pull (the 

IFAK) out, and it doesn’t matter what side 

you pull it out from,” Landry said. “So if this 

hand is injured, you can reach behind with 

this (hand) and pull it out, or your buddy can 

get to it.”

Such innovation is Landry’s calling card at 

Natick. A former Pathfinder with the 82nd 

Airborne Division, he began tinkering with 

outdoor equipment at a young age.

“My sister taught me how to sew,” Landry 

recalled. “Every backpack I got, every piece 

of equipment I got, was modified in some 

way, shape or form. That’s just how my brain 

works. Nothing can be left alone. Nothing’s 

perfect in my mind, as far as outdoor equipment, and that’s a curse.”

It’s also been a blessing for Soldiers, who 

have worn equipment all around the world 

that Landry developed in his lab.

“The ability to know what they need, as 

opposed to what they want, is a little bit different,” Landry said. “That’s just what I do. 

It’s what I love. I’m in a perfect place to do 

that.” 

New first aid kit 

under development

Shinseki called on employers to “enlist 

veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation.”

The nation owes those who volunteered 

to serve in uniform after 9/11 “a debt of 

gratitude,” Shinseki said, “and we must ensure that veterans who come home from 

Afghanistan and Iraq get the opportunities 

they deserve.”

Obama lauded veterans for their resolve 

and “unparalleled skills and experience.”

“They’ve saved lives in some of the 

toughest conditions imaginable,” he said. 

“They’ve managed convoys and moved 

tons of equipment over dangerous terrain. 

They’ve tracked millions of dollars of military assets.

“They’ve handled pieces of equipment 

that are worth tens of millions of dollars,” 

he added. “They do incredible work. Nobody is more skilled, more precise, more 

diligent, more disciplined.”

Obama noted these are “challenging” 

times for America, but “we’ve faced challenging times before.”

“On the grounds here you’ve got a stone 

from the Pentagon and a beam from the 

World Trade Center,” he said. “And that reminds us of our resolve as a people.

“They remind us that when we come together as one people and as one community, 

one nation, then we prevail,” Obama continued. “That’s who we are.”

America exists because of values and 

teamwork -- generations of Americans 

working together to build it, the president 

said.

“This is a nation where, out of many, 

we come together as one,” Obama said. 

“Those are the values that every veteran understands.”

JOBS cont. 

Military kids 

can apply for 

scholarships

By Elaine Sanchez

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – The deadline is swiftly 

approaching for the Fisher House Foundation’s 2012 Scholarships for Military Children Program, conducted at military commissaries worldwide.

Applications must be completed and delivered – not postmarked, but delivered – to 

a commissary by close of business Feb. 24, 

according to an agency release. People can 

pick up applications at their local commissary or download it from the scholarship 

program’s website.

A minimum of one $1,500 scholarship 

will be awarded at every commissary location where applications are received. The 

Defense Commissary Agency operates nearly 250 commissaries on military installations 

around the world, according to its website.

The program is open to currently enrolled or college-bound children of active 

duty, reserve or retired military commissary 

customers.

The scholarships are primarily funded 

through the manufacturers and suppliers 

whose products are sold at military commissaries, according to the program’s website. The scholarship provides for payment 

of tuition, books, lab fees and other related 

expenses.

Only at GTMO by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Mind, 

Body

& Spirit

by Hospitalman 3rd Class 

Dominique Cannon

JSMART

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

“Mens sana in corpore sano” is Latin 

for “a sound mind in a sound body.” Most 

people at some point have heard the phrase 

in some form or another but rarely is it 

understood. How well you take care of your 

body directly influences a number of mental 

processes. Such activities as adequate sleep, 

exercise and a proper diet all contribute to 

an improved attitude, higher morale and 

decreased stress. However, if you deprive 

yourself of these basic needs, your mental 

health and emotions take the hit.

Health magazines and news articles 

are often full of information about the 

immediate and long term benefits of 

physical exercise to your body. Few people 

are aware, however, that physical exercise can 

also benefit your mental clarity and health. 

In the short-term, physical exercise releases 

a number of chemicals in the brain called 

endorphins. In addition to providing you that 

natural extra “kick” in your physical training, 

endorphins also act as mood regulators. That 

intoxicating calm which washes over you after 

a hard workout is the result of your brain 

being saturated with endorphins. And avid 

long-distance runners would be quick to tell 

you that their endorphin-induced “runner’s 

high” is what allowed them to push through 

that last, long stretch. As far as the longterm benefits to your mental health, research 

suggests that regular exercise is associated 

with good cognitive function as you age. 

The stress-relieving benefits of physical 

exercise can also alleviate the symptoms of 

depression. This is because in addition to 

mood regulation, endorphins act as a natural 

antidepressant.

A well balanced and nutritious diet also 

has its benefits to mental wellness. Eating 

right provides the brain with the necessary 

fuel to work at its peak performance. A 

nutritious meal gives the brain the energy to 

take on new challenges, handle stress, and 

make sound decisions. It also gives the brain 

the building blocks it needs to heal itself and 

receive more information. However, given 

the relative diversity of what we can eat and 

drink here in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, our 

diets are too often overlooked. Even if we 

exercise regularly and practice otherwise 

healthy habits, we can easily deprive ourselves 

by consuming junk food.

To further improve our mood and mental 

health, achieving an adequate amount of 

sleep is crucial. Most people understand the 

benefits a good night’s sleep has on mood, so 

it shouldn’t come as a surprise that without 

it, our emotions go haywire. Lack of sleep 

not only causes an increase in irritability and 

pessimism, but also affects memory, attention 

span, and impairs the executive functions 

of the brain which control good judgment, 

decision making, and risk assessment. 

Though sleep remains an intensely studied 

subject among scientists and doctors across 

the world, many of its functions remain a 

medical mystery to this day. What is certain, 

however, is that an appropriate amount of 

sleep (6-8 hours on average for an adult) 

contributes significantly to improvement in 

mental functioning.

In the stressful Joint Task Force 

environment, it is easy for us to fall victim to 

unhealthy habits, from drinking too heavily 

to living a sedentary lifestyle. By providing 

our bodies a healthy diet, an active exercise 

routine, and as much quality sleep as our 

schedules can permit, we not only reap the 

physical benefits, but our overall mental 

health improves as well. 

Healthy body, healthy mind
 The Wire | Page 18 Movie Review |

At the end of January, the nominees 

for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were 

announced. Leading the pack with 11 

nominations is Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” 

(2011), a film that was met with universal 

critical acclaim. Unfortunately for the 

people behind “Hugo” the movie’s box 

office returns were disappointing. The 

film grossed just $90 million, which is far 

less than the film’s $150 million budget. 

Perhaps on Oscar night all will be forgiven 

and there will be a renewed interest in the 

picture.

On the surface, “Hugo” appears to be 

a departure from what movie goers expect 

from director Martin Scorsese. Over the 

last 30 years he has made a reputation and a 

Hollywood career out of gritty hard edged 

crime dramas, many focusing on the mafia. 

Don’t be deceived. Scorsese has been known 

to make lovely artistic dramas as well. Even 

now it’s hard to think that the man who 

brought us the likes of “The Departed” 

(2006) and “GoodFellas” (1990) is also the 

same guy who brought us the 19th century 

period piece high society film “The Age of 

Innocence” (1993) or “Kundun” (1997), a 

film about the Dalai Lama.

To watch “Hugo,” it is apparent the 

movie was a passion project for Scorsese. 

He’s a celebrated filmmaker and “Hugo” 

is celebration of the movies. More 

importantly, it is about dreamers and the 

dreams they dream. Who better than 

Scorsese to bring this story to you?

The movie opens in the winter of 

1930s Paris. Young Hugo Cabret (Asa 

Butterfield) is an orphan living in the Gare 

Montparnasse train station. He was the 

ward of his uncle (Ray Winstone) after his 

father (Jude Law) passed away in a museum 

fire. Now the uncle has been missing for 

several months, leaving no one to wind the 

clocks in the great station, save for Hugo. 

He performs his duties daily without fail.

Before Hugo’s father passed away, 

the father and son had started restoring 

a dilapidated automaton, which is a 

mysterious mechanical man that supposedly 

writes a special message with a pen. Hugo 

is determined to bring the mechanical 

man back to life, if only to write Hugo a 

message which he believes will be from his 

late father. 

Everything is a challenge for Hugo. 

To make ends meet, Hugo steals food 

to survive and mechanical parts for his 

machine restoration. He is careful not to 

get caught by the train station watchman, 

the inspector Gustav (Sasha Baron Cohen) 

who is ever vigil and quite experienced in 

sending orphans into group homes. The 

most prominent figure Hugo encounters 

at the train station is the toy store owner 

Georges (Sir Ben Kingsley). Hugo 

regularly lifts items from his store until 

one day Georges finally catches him. In 

a heartbreaking turn of events, Hugo’s 

dream of restoring the automaton comes 

to a bitter end.

Hugo has been on his own for so long, 

he’s not too sure how to take the prospect 

of making a new friend in Georges 

goddaughter Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz). 

She has a lively imagination and a love of 

books. Hugo loves to hear about the stories 

she reads and he in turn shares with her 

one of his loves he used to enjoy with his 

late father: the cinema. The movies Hugo 

and his father loved best were the ones rich 

in imagination where the possibilities of 

the screen seemed boundless. In fact, one 

character in “Hugo” describes the movies 

as a place where a person could see the 

dreams from their sleep on the screen. 

It is pleasant to watch Hugo and 

Isabelle talk about dreams as if they are 

an elixir of life. Leave it to true dreamers 

to see them as such. These are smart kids 

dealing with the circumstances in their 

lives on their own terms. You generally 

don’t see kids in the movies with this 

much passion about what makes them tick. 

It has been suggested that “Hugo” is 

Martin Scorsese’s autobiography. He has 

been consistently a powerful filmmaker 

with precise clear vision. “Hugo” talks 

about the human drive for visions and 

imagination. It asks viewers what inspires 

them and what encourages them to carry 

on with their daily lives. 

Sometimes people lose their dreams. 

When that happens, everything they’ve 

done previous to that can be lost. “Hugo” 

also shows us this loss and what it is to 

reach redemption and become reinvested 

once again. 

“Hugo” easily boasts the best looking 

visuals used to re-create the past, giving 

everything a recognizable, yet unearthly 

quality. The best way to describe it is it 

looks gritty and feels like something out 

of a storybook at the same time. All the 

buildings, machinery, sets and costuming 

are created in top form. 

There are a lot of really brilliant 

metaphors in “Hugo” that hint about ideas, 

hopes and dreams. I believe that more than 

one viewing of this picture can take people 

to different places with each viewing. That’s 

an unusual thing to say about a family geared 

feature. But then, “Hugo” isn’t just any 

feature. How many features do you know 

that challenge us to look at ourselves, no 

matter what our circumstances are, daring 

us to keep on dreaming? “Hugo” does 

just that. The film honors the wonder of 

the movies and encourages us to celebrate 

dreaming.

Hugo

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Movie Review

R

128 min.

Below: Could Hugo 

be looking for director 

Martin Scorsese’s next 

Academy Award (or 11)? GTMO Quick Reference 

Bayview Club – 75604

 Wed.-Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sun. & Holidays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bowling Center – 2118

Mon.-Fri. 6-11 p.m.

 Fri. 6 p.m.-12 a.m

Sat. 1 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sun. & Holidays 1-11 p.m.

Caribbean Coffee – 77859

Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Sun. 1-10 p.m.

KFC and A&W Express – 75653

Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Jerk House – 2535

Sun.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. 

MWR Liberty Centers – 2010 

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

Sun. 9 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sat. & Holidays 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

Cuban Club – 75962

(Call ahead!)

Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Library – 4700

Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Sun. & Holidays 12-9 p.m.

Pizza Hut – 77995

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sat. & Sun. 12-9 p.m.

Windjammer Club - 77252

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Windjammer Cafe

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sat. 5-10 p.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Windjammer Sports Bar

Mon.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Safe Ride - 84781

| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

GTMO Religious Services

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

Daily Catholic

Tues.-Fri. 5:30 p.m.

 Mass

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m. 

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m. 

Ash Wednesday worship Feb. 22

Main Chapel

12 p.m. – Ecumenical 5:30 p.m. – Holy Mass worship

7 p.m. – Protestant worship with Communion Each service will include 

imposition of ashes.

For other services,

contact the NAVSTA 

Chaplain’s Office at 2323.

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

For more information, 

contact the JTF Chaplain’s 

Office at 2305.

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 11

Call the movie hotline at 4880 or see https://intranet/movies.html for more information.

10 12 13 14 15 16

Mission: 

Impossible

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Sherlock 

Holmes

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

The Muppets 

(last showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Due to technical 

difficulties, only one 

film will be shown.

Sherlock 

Holmes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Due to technical 

difficulties, only one 

film will be shown.

The Sitter

(R) 7 p.m.

Mission: 

Impossible

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Arthur 

Christmas (last 

showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

The Muppets 

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

The Sitter

(R) 8 p.m.

Adventures of 

Tintin

(PG) 7 p.m.

Hugo

(PG) 7 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Adventures of 

Tintin

(PG) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley
Above: Petty Officer 2nd Class Leroy Smith (center) 

made empanadas Tuesday at the February Cooking 

from Around the World class. Morale Welfare & 

Recreation’s cooking series encourages Troopers to 

sample new culture. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Below: Veterinarian Maj. Todd Thomas of 

Guantanamo Veterinary Treatment Facility 

(GTMO VTF) scrubbed up before operating 

on Nermal, a pet cat. He’s a good man, and 

thorough. –photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

TheJTF

Background: Senior Chief Petty Officer 

Robin Guy, the J2 senior enlisted leader, 

reenlisted in the shadow of the Windward 

Point Lighthouse Feb. 3. –photo by Mass 

Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park