Volume 12, Issue 45 Friday, October 28, 2011

PLUS:

These gals aren’t afraid to get dirty

Meet the -bees!

Swing Away!

GTMO’s softball 

season begins

She

Integrity First

Learn the origins of

 the Integritas Award
Cc

ommand

orner

The Wire | Page 2

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. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

delay with regard to security, accuracy, propriety and policy. 

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 the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Michelle Coghill : 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Spc. Kelly Gary

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Pfc. Justin Pierce

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Construction Electrician 2nd Class Ekene Warner, Yeomen Chief Nadean Storey, Steel 

Worker 2nd Class Rejuny Caswell, Builder 2nd Class Kacey Nyberg, and Equipment Operator 3rd 

Class Shannon Jefferson from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 23 show off their handpainted sign outside of the Seabee compound, Wednesday. The sign was formerly a bulldozer 

blade, a fitting representation for the battalion.

As I arrived here on the island a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help 

thinking of the sacrifice our Troopers and families are enduring for 

our great nation. Here on Guantanamo Bay, we are focused on a 

delicate but vital mission in securing our nation. We have been at war 

for more than 10 years and GTMO will mark its 10 year anniversary 

early next year. Much has changed since those initial days and all of 

us here today will witness more change during our tour. While the 

JTF has certainly developed over the years, the proficiency of our 

Troopers and employees remain at a high state. The professionalism 

of our force speaks well for the training, leadership and dedication 

of the different services.

As members of the military, we have a responsibility to follow 

the orders and instruction of our senior leaders. We all need to 

ensure Rear Adm. Woods’ priorities are a part of everything we do, 

throughout our professional and personal lives while here at GTMO. 

Mission First. As you all know, each of us contributes to our No Fail 

Mission. Every Trooper is important and we are counting on you 

to perform your job at 100 percent every day. Your fellow Troopers 

are counting on you as well. We are about to become busier in the 

next few weeks. Some of you will be tasked to perform different or 

additional jobs in support of the overall mission. Others will continue 

to perform their current responsibility. Regardless of what you will 

be doing, know that we’re counting on you.

As we approach the month of November and the holidays, we 

must also focus on keeping an eye on our battle buddy, wingman or 

shipmate. We need all hands to look for signs of stress, anxiety and 

clues that something just isn’t right. If something is wrong, there are 

places to get help. Fleet and Family Services have a satellite office 

at the Joint Task Force Trooper One Stop located in building 1451. 

The Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team have resources 

available in building 1587, located next to our JTF Chaplain in Camp 

Buckeley. It is always best to address the causes of stress by talking 

to your buddy, wingman or shipmate, your chain of command or the 

professionals who are here to help us. 

We don’t want our Troopers to get so distracted with stress that 

they start to participate in destructive behaviors. These actions bring 

discredit to our Troopers, the command and the U.S. military. When 

I say destructive behaviors, this includes discrimination of any kind, 

sexual assault, drug use and alcohol abuse. We can not tolerate 

destructive behaviors – they are what harms a team member and 

weakens our team.

The use of alcohol is a privilege here at JTF-GTMO. The 

responsible use of alcohol is paramount in our mission; therefore, 

we must ensure those Troopers under 21 years old are not provided 

alcohol and that those who choose to drink do so with moderation. 

Failure to drink responsibly may result in the revocation of that 

privilege. 

JTF-GTMO has an unique mission, staffed with the best 

professionals our nation has: servicemembers and military-employed 

civilians. While here, take the time to learn a new skill. Make the 

best use of your time while balancing what GTMO has to offer both 

professionally and on a personal level. 

Trooper to Trooper featuring

Command Sgt. Maj.

Daniel Borrero

Let’s focus on continuing our education. For me, this topic 

is special since I am back in the fight pursuing my master’s 

degree. What a bear it was getting started again. I had to go to an 

interview with a career counselor here on Guantanamo Bay. Then 

I had to gain admission to the college by sending in a resume, a 

letter stating why I want to continue my education and three letters 

of reference, all for the college’s evaluation. Next I had to get 

my EArmyU account activated and my Columbia College student 

accounts re-activated. If that was not enough to deter me, I had 

to order my books, which are still “on the barge.” All of that and 

I have an additional under-graduate class to complete since my 

master’s will not be in the same area of focus as my bachelor’s 

degree.

Now I bet you read all that and are saying, “Man, this college 

stuff is just too much work and I do not want to be hassled.” It was 

so tough, in fact, that I completed all the above tasks in just three 

days. My counselor at the school was awesome in processing the 

paperwork and coordinating everything from here with my home 

campus in Missouri. The EArmyU staff was very responsive and 

quickly got me back online and up and running within a day. So, 

it was just “too easy!”

Each service branch has a version of what the Army titles ACES 

(Army Continuing Education System); the Navy uses Navy College 

Program and the Air Force uses Air University. I encourage and 

implore all servicemembers to get “back to school.” If you look at 

the definition of a profession, you will find it involves prolonged 

training and a formal qualification. One could argue that perpetual 

learning is a key ingredient of being in our profession of arms. So 

going back to school helps reaffirm that we are all professionals 

in this business. 

As we all know, continuing our education also supports 

advancements in our military careers. There is one more added 

benefit to this endeavor, however – it helps when you leave the 

service. For those of us who are considering retirement or just 

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

Phones are not secure. 

Your cell phone is not secure. Neither is the phone on your desk or in your house. Phones are very 

susceptible to monitoring. Adversaries often use phone monitoring to gather information. We often forget that 

our phones aren’t safe to use when discussing sensitive information and we possibly subject our information 

to compromise. Remember this the next time you pick up your phone to make a call. Don’t talk about 

sensitive work issues or give your personal information over an unsecure phone line. Use OPSEC! 

Senior Enlisted Leader, 525th MP Battalion 

switching our military careers for civilian ones, education and 

experience play a key role in most job placements. 

The military provides us all a great opportunity through the 

use of tuition assistance, the G.I. Bill and Top Up programs that 

pay for our college education at little to no cost. So why not take 

advantage of this and set yourself up for success in the military 

as well as after your military careers? The number to the Navy 

College is x2227 or x3996, Columbia College is x75555. This could 

be the start to a long-lasting relationship which, in the end, will not 

only benefit you, but those close to you. 
News from the Bay: Halloween edition

Stories and reporting 

by Spc. Kelly Gary 

NEX celebrates 10th 

customer appreciation

Underwater carving 

with Reef Raiders

CYP Pumpkin Patch 

at GTMO Youth Center

The Navy Youth and Child Programs 

is hosting a pumpkin patch at the Youth 

Center this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 

a.m. The event is open to all ages and the 

entire Guantanamo Bay community. 

Free crafts, snacks and hayrides will be 

provided. Kenisha Stewart, librarian from 

the naval station library, will conduct story 

time at 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Karen Simon, CYP director, said everyone can leave with a free pumpkin.

“We did this last year for the first time 

in GTMO and everyone seemed to really 

enjoy it,” said Simon. “This way we bring 

a little bit of home to GTMO.”

For more information, contact Simon 

at x2005. 

W.T. Sampson seniors 

put on haunted house

The Navy Exchange and Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation are hosting the 

10th Annual Customer Appreciation 

Weekend Friday through Sunday.

“The Customer Appreciation event 

started 10 years ago,” said Mark Good, 

NEX store manager. “It has evolved from 

a shoe clinic and sale into a full-blown 

weekend extravaganza.”

Here are the events you can look 

forward to.

• NEX sale Saturday and Sunday 

starting at 9 a.m.

• Vans skateboard demo at Cooper 

Field skate park at 4 p.m. Friday.

• Following skate demo -- live music 

performed by John Taglieri at the 

Tiki Bar at 9 p.m.

• 5K race at 7 a.m. Saturday starting 

in front of the NEX.

• Autograph session with Vans 

athletes in the NEX atrium at 10 

a.m. Saturday.

• Autograph session with chefs from 

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives at 2 

p.m. Saturday

• Humvee pull at 5 p.m. Saturday in 

front of NEX.

• Lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Sunday will be served with food 

provided by Diner, Drive-ins and 

Dives chefs.

 There will be over $12,000 worth of 

gift cards and prizes given away over the 

weekend and three grand prizes valued at 

$2,500 each.

For more information, contact Good at 

x74358.

Halloween costume 

party at O’Kelly’s pub

Morale, Welfare and Recreation, in 

conjunction with the Navy Exchange’s 

The W.T. Sampson senior class is 

hosting a haunted house in the old wine 

cellar behind the Downtown Lyceum, 

Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Donations will be accepted and 

proceeds will go to the seniors for their 

class trip. For more information, contact 

1st Sgt. Brian Stuckey at x8585. Liberty hosts zombie 

paintball tournament

Reef Raiders Dive Club is hosting the 

3rd Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving 

Contest, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

at Windmill Beach. 

All divers and snorkelers are welcome. 

Participants are asked to arrive between 

9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. with his or her own 

equipment. Pumpkins will be available at 

the beach for $5 if the participant does 

not bring their own. Judging will be at 11 

a.m., followed by a Boy Scouts of America 

cookout. Participants are encouraged to 

bring a side dish or dessert or their own 

meat or veggies to be cooked, if preferred. 

All donations will go to Boy Scout Troop 

435.

Sign up is at Ocean Enterprises Dive 

Shop or through underwaterpumpkin@

gmail.com.

For more information, contact Chris 

Hileman at x9831.

Guantanamo Bay Liberty is hosting a 

zombie paintball tournament, Saturday, at 

5:30 p.m. at the paintball range.

The event is for unaccompanied active 

duty servicemembers only at no cost.

Sign up in advance at Deer Point liberty 

center.

For more information, contact Jill 

Lynch at x2010.

Customer Appreciation Weekend is 

hosting a Halloween party at O’Kelly’s 

Pub, Saturday. 

John Taglieri will perform at 7 p.m. 

followed by Blessid Union of Souls at 9 

p.m. At approximately 10:30 p.m., prizes 

will be given out to the best individual and 

couple costumes. Winners must be present 

to receive prize.

For more information, contact Aimee 

Mac Donnell at x4882.

GTMO’s guide to a ghoulish weekend

The Wire | Page 4 News from the Bay |

trooper

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 2 years

Hobbies: watching movies, 

going to the beach

Pet peeves: dishonesty

Next goal: moving on to 

battalion level boards

Advice to junior Troopers: 

“Maintain professionalism at 

all times”

Her first time before a board, Pfc. Alaine 

Williamson, an S2 analyst for the 525th 

Military Police Battalion remembered 

being much more nervous, describing the 

experience as “scary as hell.”

“It was very nerve-racking,” she recalled. 

“The first time I felt like I couldn’t breath.”

Williamson practiced, studied and 

prepared for her next opportunity. When 

the time came, she said she could feel the 

difference. 

“The second time I was a lot more calm, 

I felt more confident,” she said. “(The 

experience) taught me a lot. I feel like I’m 

ready to go before a true promotion board 

now.”

Due to her demeanor and presence 

of mind, Williamson was named not only 

Soldier of the Month for the 525th, but also 

the Trooper of the Quarter for the joint 

task force. 1st Sgt. Jason Schofield, first 

sergeant for the 525th Headquarters and 

Headquarters Company, said she’s worked 

hard for the spot.

“She’s one of those go-getters,” he said. 

“She doesn’t settle for the standard, she 

pushes herself to go above and beyond of 

what’s required from her.”

Preparing for the boards was Williamson’s 

idea, one that impressed her first sergeant. 

“She was asking me, ‘Can I go to these 

boards, I want to go to these boards.’ She 

wasn’t waiting to be told to go out and do that 

stuff. And she’s done a phenomenal job.”

The military life is in Williamson’s blood. 

Both her parents spent time in the armed 

forces – her mother in the Navy, her father in 

both the Army and the Navy. Her brother was 

also in the Navy. As the lone servicemember 

in her family right now, she said she has no 

plans of ending her career anytime soon.

“I plan on staying in,” she shared. “I like 

the discipline and the structure. I’ve grown up 

a lot [since joining]. I just can’t imagine not 

being in the military.”

Williamson arrived on Guantanamo Bay 

in December. She had just completed her 

Advanced Individual Training and Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo was her first duty see FOCUS , pg. 19

Sgt. Meredith Vincent

focus

Army Pfc. 

Alaine Williamson

station. After a rough time in basic training, 

Williamson said she was doubting her career 

in the Army. But her time here on the island 

has changed all that.

“I’ve learned a lot from this place,” she 

| News The Wire | Page 5

Boots on the Ground

What is the worst Halloween candy?

“Candy corn, they taste gross.”

Operations Specialist 

2nd Class

Eddie Fort

“Black licorice. Nobody likes 

black licorice.”

Utilitiesman 

2nd Class

John Marine

Tech Sgt. 

Jamie Hedrick

“I don’t like candy corn. I would 

rather have chocolate.”

“The Peeps, they taste nasty 

with that marshmallow filling.”

Spc. 

John Dupree
Story and photo by Spc. Kelly Gary

MWR softball season swings into action

The Wire | Page 6 Sports|

Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s fall 

softball season has begun with games played 

each week at Cooper Field and Sports 

Complex.

Team wins and losses are already unveiling 

the stronger and weaker of the league. Alana 

Morrison, MWR sports coordinator, believes 

it is a fun sport for everyone to play.

“The great thing about this sport is no 

matter your age, gender or experience, you 

can have a good time and have a chance at 

winning,” she said. “This sport is a great 

opportunity to meet other [community 

members].”

Of all the leagues, softball attracts the 

most players. The number of participants 

has doubled since last season, with around 

300 participants playing for 14 teams, said 

Morrison. 

Dana Satore, catcher for team JDG, said 

she has played softball since she was eight 

years old.

“I love sports,” she said. “I played 

football and volleyball and now we are back 

at softball.”

Satore said not only does the league 

provide something to do, it also inspires 

teamwork and physical fitness.

“The camaraderie and team support is 

great,” she said. “The sport provides exercise 

and competition as well.”

Competition is already heating up; 

Morrison said the 525th Military Police 

Battalion’s team, the Vigilant Warriors, are 

looking to become this season’s champions, 

but Team MANAAF and the GTMO Latinos 

should not be discounted. As of Tuesday, 

the GTMO Latinos had four wins and one 

loss and the Vigilant Warriors, BEEF/474, 

and the Beantown All-Stars are undefeated 

with three wins.

“The competition is going to be fierce 

like every league,” Morrison said. “It 

will be interesting to see who takes this 

championship.”

Even though the challenge is part of the 

sport, in the end Morrison said she believes 

each person should have a good time.

“We hope that everyone who comes out 

and plays enjoys the league and just has fun,” 

Morrison exclaimed. 

While the number of players and teams 

has increased significantly, Morrison still 

urges everyone to recruit more participants 

and put together more teams.

“I always like to challenge the GTMO 

community to register more teams each 

league,” said Morrison. “More teams means 

more leagues and tournaments. MWR sports 

wants to see everyone at the next softball 

game!”

Base’s most popular sport boasts record participants, teams

Gary Scott, left center for team JDG, hits a pop fly 

during the team’s game against the Vigilant Warriors 

at Cooper Field and Sports Complex, Oct. 21. The 

Vigilant Warriors, made up of 525th Military Police 

Battalion Soldiers, are currently undefeated.

| News The Wire | Page 7

Story and photos by Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Pumpkin carving contest kicks off Halloween week

 see CARVING, page 19

Military members came 

together to show off their 

ghoulish side, Sunday, at 

Marine Hill and the Tierra Kay 

housing during Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation Liberty’s Evil 

Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Carvers of all experience 

levels plied their skills for the 

awards given to the top three 

spots, which were voted on by 

other unaccompanied active 

duty military personnel at the 

MWR locations.

Hospital Corpsman Chase 

Permenter came in first place, 

followed by Air Force Maj. Amy 

Oliver in second. Hospitalman 

Laney Smith rounded out the 

top three finishers. 

Jill Lynch, MWR Liberty 

manager, said the turn out was 

great for the inaugural event and 

hopes to make next year even 

more popular.

“Everybody had a great time 

and we had at least one person 

who had never carved a pumpkin 

in their life,” said Lynch. “So it 

is always a good thing to have a 

new pumpkin carver added to 

the world.”

Lynch acknowledged the 

climate on Guantanamo Bay lacks 

the traditional shift of seasons 

many Americans are used to 

and wanted to bring a reminder 

of home to servicemembers 

stationed or deployed here.

“We don’t really have much 

of a temperature change here,” 

she said. “Carving pumpkins 

is definitely an American fall 

tradition and I wanted to offer 

people a little taste of home.”

Lynch said the intent of any 

MWR event is to provide an oasis 

from the isolation of island life 

by providing a common baseline 

with which to form friendships.

“With a lot of activities we 

sponsor, I just hope people come 

out to participate and get the 

opportunity to make new friends 

and find other people to buddy 

up with and go do things,” she 

said.

For Master-at-Arms Seaman 

Christopher Marlink, carving a 

Lance Cpl. Tyler Truesdale 

(left), attached to Marine 

Corps Security Forces 

Company, steadies his 

pumpkin as Hospitalman 

Laney Smith, attached to U.S. 

Naval Hospital Guantanamo 

Bay, punches an access 

door on the bottom of their 

jack-o’-lantern at the Marine 

Hill Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation Liberty center, 

Sunday. Smith went on to 

finish in third place during 

MWR Liberty’s Evil Pumpkin 

Carving contest.
The Wire

| Page 8

Feature |

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

Illustration by Spc. Kelly Gary

|

FeatureThe Wire| Page 9

t the core of each of our 

beloved services’ values 

is integrity. Whether it be 

honor, courage, commitment or the litany 

of Army values – integrity is the string that 

binds them all together. 

Like so many words in the English 

language, the word integrity has its 

originations in Latin. Speaking at the 2000 

Joint Services Conference on Professional 

Ethics, former Marine Corps commandant 

Gen. Charles Krulak noted, “it refers 

to the putting on of armor, of building 

a completeness ... a wholeness ... a 

wholeness in character. How appropriate 

that the word integrity is a derivative of 

two words describing the character of a 

member of the profession of arms.”

Krulak explained during the height of 

the Roman Empire, at morning inspections, 

soldiers would strike their breastplate at the 

point where the armor covered the heart 

with their right fist. In order to protect the 

soldier from swords and arrows, armor 

had to be well constructed and cared for. 

Upon striking the protective covering, 

the legionnaire would shout “Integritas!” 

meaning “material wholeness, completeness 

and entirety.” Upon hearing the call and the 

distinct ring well-kept armor gave off, the 

inspecting officer would move on to the 

next soldier.

Integritas, along with the Latin word 

“integer,” meaning undiminished, complete, 

perfect, form the modern word integrity. 

It is upon this foundation members of 

the Joint Task Force Guantanamo senior 

enlisted leader community developed the 

Integritas Award.

“There is no other award like this in the 

JTF,” said JTF Command Master Chief 

Reynaldo Tiong.

Founded under former JTF Command 

Master Chief Scott Fleming, the Integritas 

Award recognizes an outstanding unit 

or section within the task force over the 

period of a month. 

In one of his last interviews with The 

Wire, Fleming noted he learned of the 

program while working at Camp Bucca in 

Iraq. Fleming said he saw first hand how 

the distinct trophy, a Roman Centurion’s 

helmet with the striking red plumage, 

was a source of pride for the receiving 

unit. It was a program he was anxious to 

launch with the hopes it would generate 

the same level of prestige it found in the 

halls of Camp Bucca. Following Fleming’s 

departure in June, the program lay dormant 

until reinvigorated by Tiong. 

Speaking to the senior enlisted 

community when he brought the program 

back, Tiong said it was important there be an 

award that spoke to the professionalism and 

integrity of the task force and recognized 

the sections that best exemplified those 

values. 

“This is an award that is voted and vetted 

solely by the senior enlisted community 

and then presented by the admiral,” Tiong 

explained. “This makes the Integritas 

Award unique and something all sections 

should strive for.”

In the nominating process, the senior 

enlisted member of a section sends up a 

citation to Tiong. In that write-up, the 

section must demonstrate in actions how 

their members went above and beyond 

the normal call of duty in supporting the 

JTF mission. Along with those words, 

nominated units can have no alcohol-related 

incidents during the month, there can be 

no pending non-judicial punishments, zero 

pending administrative actions and the 

command must adhere to the moral and 

ethical standards as set forth in JTF policy 

letters. 

But the responsibilities don’t end once 

the award is given. Receiving sections are 

charged with displaying the helmet in a 

place of pride and expected to provide 

security and sanctity while it’s in their care.

During the first senior enlisted 

meeting for the month of October, Tiong 

announced JTF-GTMO Maritime Security 

Detachment had unanimously won the 

award. Tiong said all the nominating packets 

were exceptionally strong and he was proud 

of the great work being accomplished by 

Troopers of the task force, but in the end, 

the Coast Guard unit prevailed.

In presenting the trophy, JTF 

Guantanamo Commander Rear Adm. 

David Woods congratulated Senior Chief 

Petty Officer Stephen Haig, the unit’s 

senior enlisted leader. 

“In actions and deeds you have show 

yourselves worthy of this first presentation 

of the Integritas trophy,” Woods said.

Currently, the helmet resides in the 

office and conference room of JTF-GTMO 

Maritime Security Detachment commander, 

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Keith Utley, a place 

of pride and distinction. That is, until the 

next presentation when sections around 

the JTF will strike their armor to prove 

their mettle and shout “Integritas!”

Integritas!

Steeped in pride and tradition, new monthly 

JTF award has honor bound roots. Story by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel a
The Wire | 

Page 10

Feature |

|

FeatureThe Wire | 

Page 11

Story and photos by Spc. Kelly Gary

 UEEN QB EES

The Wire sits 

down with 

the JTF’s 

five female 

Seabees to chat 

about respect, 

hard hats and 

working in a 

man’s world. 
The Wire | 

Page 12

Feature |

Their hardhats must fit over their tied-back hair. They know 

their tools and equipment. They exhibit strength and cando attitudes. They are modern day Rosie the Riveters. They 

are the female Seabees. 

While combat roles in the military are closed to women, pouring 

concrete, bulldozing structures and welding are duties open to 

females, yet still considered a man’s job. Throughout history, women 

have been working to show they have what it takes. 

Seabees have been building bases, paving thousands of miles 

of roadway and airstrips and accomplishing a wide variety of 

construction projects around the globe dating back to World War II. 

In 1972, after getting her cross rate approved, Camella Jones became 

the first enlisted female Seabee and paved the way for future ladies. 

In July when Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 23 from Fort 

Belvoir, Va., arrived on island, the crew was made up of 80 Sailors, 

only five of them female.

Even though there are only five females, their jobs and experiences 

cover a wide range of duties. While sharing the unique status of female 

Seabee, they also differ in several ways, including rate, expertise, 

background and stories. 

Builder 2nd Class Kacey Nyberg creates structures using different 

materials. The only blonde of the bunch, her sunny smile is a light 

contrast to her athletic build. She never planned on joining the military 

– one day she was watching television and less than two weeks later 

she was on her way to boot camp. Even though there were other 

services recruiting in the same area, the Navy office happened to be 

playing Linkin Park’s “Point of Authority” and thus she was sold. 

“It was a whim,” said Nyberg. “I saw a commercial on TV and left 

eight days later.”

When it came to picking a rate, she simply went along with the 

recruiter’s suggestion to be a builder. Nyberg already had dreams of 

building her own nightclub one day.

Four and a half years down the road and on her second 

deployment, Nyberg is the crew leader for the Windmill Beach head 

facilities project. She said not only does being female cause comrades 

to second guess her decisions, but she is also younger and one of the 

lowest-ranking on the crew. 

“It definitely takes a lot to initially earn respect,” said Nyberg. 

“Sometimes you have to do twice as much work to prove you are 

qualified.”

Despite the difficulty gaining deference, she said her current 

mission has been a positive experience. 

“Here in GTMO, I have the best crew that anybody could ask 

for,” Nyberg said. “They work hard and do their job and respect 

me.”

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Ekene Warner, with 13 years 

in the Navy, said she believes everyone should be treated by the way 

they act and how they carry out the mission. Yet, she too felt like she 

had to earn the respect of her leadership and peers.

“As a female going into any unit you have to prove yourself,” said 

Warner. “After you demonstrate you can do your job, you no longer 

have anything to prove.”

Warner’s leadership believes she has shown she is proficient. 

“CE2 Warner is not only our (detachment) Seabee Combat 

Warfare coordinator, but she is also the safety petty officer and no 

joke when it comes to business,” said Yeoman Chief Nadean Storey, 

administrative chief for NMBC23.

After six deployments, working around the world and eight of her 

years active duty, Warner believes she has found the key to a superior 

work ethic – a passion for your job.

“I love what I do,” she put simply. “We have a very unique 

camaraderie and I love working with my hands.”

“There are a lot of females on this mission,” said Steel Worker 

2nd Class Rejuny Caswell. “Often on missions there will be only two 

or three.”

Most people wouldn’t picture Caswell with her slender frame and 

wavy waist-length hair behind a welding helmet but she has had the 

hobby since high school. She agreed being devoted to what you do 

|

FeatureThe Wire | Page 13

(opposite page, from 

left) Steel Worker 2nd 

Class Rejuny Caswell, 

Equipment Operator 

3rd Class Shannon 

Jefferson, Electrician 

2nd Class Ekene 

Warner, Builder 2nd 

Class Kacey Nyberg 

and Yeomen Chief 

Nadean Storey flex their 

muscles at the Navy 

Mobile Construction 

Battalion 23 compound, 

Wednesday.

 (this page, clockwise 

from left) Nyberg poses 

inside the woodshop; 

Caswell clamps a 

welding wire by the steel 

workers shop; Warner 

strikes a pose; Jefferson 

shows off a bulldozer 

and Storey brings out 

paperwork to make sure 

her Sailors’ pay is in 

order. 

see SEEBEAS, pg. 19

important, and in her case that is an understatement.

“I love welding,” she said. “I could weld all day and be entirely 

content.”

Caswell’s dreams of joining the Marine Corps were postponed 

when she became pregnant with her first son. She opted to join the 

Navy instead and her dreams of joining the military were fulfilled. 

When she inquired if there was a job that would involve her passion 

for welding, steel worker was a perfect fit. Back home, Caswell runs 

a woodshop with her husband so in addition to having welding 

experience she also brings planning and directing skills to the table. 

Caswell said even though there may be a little different dynamic 

for females, the Bees are accepting of everyone.

“There are a few individuals who have issues when a female 

is put into a leadership position,” she continued. “Otherwise, my 
On The Deck

Inside the Jar

NEWPORT, R.I. – Chief 

of Naval Operations Adm. 

Jonathan W. Greenert closed the 

largest International Seapower 

Symposium in the annual 

gathering’s history at the U.S. 

Naval War College, Oct. 21.

Speaking to participants 

from 111 nations in attendance, 

Greenert reflected on the 

insights he received from regional 

discussions at the symposium 

– interoperability is the key to 

the success of global maritime 

operations; maritime security, 

including anti-piracy measures, 

can be enhanced by sharing 

technology and information; and 

assets devoted to an operation 

should match the mission 

requirements.

“It is clear that exercises 

and operations together build 

confidence, and clearly it builds 

trust,” said Greenert, highlighting 

the value of personnel exchanges 

between maritime forces and the 

need for standard concepts of 

operations.

Greenert focused on three 

takeaways from the symposium: 

economic interdependency, 

the importance of people to 

interoperability and the value of 

personal relationships.

“This interdependency and 

the changing demographics... 

[are going to] have a huge 

influence and importance in our 

maritime security in the future,” 

said Greenert. Global economies 

are truly interdependent with 

CNO speaks at 20th International Seapower Symposium

 US Marines lend gentle hand to orphanage

The At Your Service | Wire | Page 14

everything from production 

chains to cyber domains being 

connected. 

Additionally, he highlighted 

relationships and partnerships 

and how they can impact future 

operations.

“ M i l i t a r y - t o - m i l i t a r y 

interactions and relationships can 

have a great leverage particularly 

in a disaster,” he said. “Those 

personal relationships make all the 

difference.”

In closing, he reiterated 

the importance he places on 

developing cooperative efforts 

that can help share capabilities, 

technology, and approaches to 

working together.

The theme of this year’s 

symposium was “Security and

Prosperity through Maritime 

Partnerships.” As part of the 

event, three panel discussions led 

by international leaders focused 

on maritime security challenges, 

responsive partnerships, and 

evolving demands. 

First held in 1969, ISS has 

become the largest gathering 

of maritime leaders in history. 

ISS provides a forum for the 

world’s maritime leaders to 

discuss common maritime 

challenges and to promote 

international maritime security 

cooperation. The discussions 

offer opportunities for future 

regional and international 

collaboration in seeking 

solutions to global maritime 

challenges.

By Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines 

– U.S. Marines in support of 

3rd Marine Expeditionary 

Brigade visited the Gentle 

Hands Orphanage in Quezon 

City Oct. 21-23 as part of a 

community relations event 

during Amphibious Landing 

Exercise 2012. 

Gentle Hands, a Christian 

child and youth welfare 

agency, provides shelter 

and care to children ranging 

in ages from birth to high 

school. The orphanage is 

currently home to 50 people. 

“Hospitals will call me and 

ask, ‘Do you want this baby?’ 

and my answer is always yes,” 

said Charity Graff, the owner 

of Gentle Hands. “I know 

that when the hospital calls 

me, it means they have no 

where else to go.” 

Graff ’s mother started 

the orphanage in 1990 as 

a birthing clinic for those 

who could not afford proper 

medical care. Graff began 

working there in 2000 when 

she was approached with a 

malnourished baby. 

“Someone handed me the 

baby, and I went straight to 

the hospital,” she said. “They 

told me he couldn’t stay there 

because he was going to die. I 

was horrified, but I took him 

home. I fed him, and I cared 

for him. That boy is now in the 

third grade. He was adopted by 

an American family, and he is 

perfectly healthy.” 

During the first visit, 

Marines helped move rebar 

and bags of cement for the 

renovation of the orphanage, 

watched movies with the young 

children and played basketball 

with the older ones. 

The following day, they 

delivered food and medicine to 

the Malabon community, as well 

as sang, played basketball and 

spent time with the children. 

On the final day, Marines 

returned to the orphanage to 

spend some additional time 

with the children from the 

orphanage. 

“Events like this will build 

memories that last a lifetime,” 

said Navy Cmdr. Jack L. Caver, 

the 3rd Marine Expeditionary 

Brigade chaplain and native of 

East Alton, Ill. “It’s really nice 

to be able to give back to the 

community. We’re showing 

gratitude for the things they 

do for us.” 

Community relations 

projects like this one not only 

benefit the community, but 

also help Marines see how 

much they have to give. 

“Taking someone out of 

their comfort zone to see 

people who have so much 

less is truly humbling,” said 

Staff Sgt. Shawn M. Cottrel, 

a communications technician 

controller in support of 3rd 

MEB. “We, as Americans, 

sometimes forget how much 

we have, and it’s essential that 

we find time to give back.” 

By Lt. John Ripley

Coast to 

coast

MIAMI – The Coast Guard 

repatriated 52 Cuban migrants 

to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, 

Saturday.

The migrants were 

interdicted at sea during four 

separate cases since Oct. 12.

Two Cuban migrants were 

transferred to Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 

further processing, Monday.

“U.S. Coast Guard policy 

is to deter and respond to 

dangerous and illegal maritime 

migration by intercepting 

vessels pursuing perilous and 

illegal voyages,” said, Capt. 

Brendan McPherson, 7th 

Coast Guard District chief of 

enforcement.”We continue to 

maintain a robust presence of 

cutters and aircraft throughout 

the Caribbean to prevent 

illegal migration and migrant 

smuggling activities.” 

All migrants interdicted 

were provided with food, 

water, shelter and basic medical 

attention.

USCG returns 52 

migrants home

On the Wing

WASHINGTON – All U.S. servicemembers will leave Iraq by the end 

of the year, President Barack Obama announced Oct. 21.

About 40,000 U.S. servicemembers are in the country, and all will be 

“home for the holidays,” Obama said.

The president made the announcement after speaking with Iraqi 

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

“Today, I can report that as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq 

will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s 

war in Iraq will be over,” the president said. “The last American Soldiers 

will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of 

their success and knowing that the American people stand united in our 

support for our troops. That is how America’s military efforts in Iraq 

will end.”

The United States will maintain a close alliance with Iraq, the president 

said, and the withdrawal means the relationship between the countries 

will be just like that between the United States with any other country. 

Obama said it will be “an equal partnership based on mutual interests 

and mutual respect.”

Obama said he and Maliki agreed that a meeting of the Higher 

Coordinating Committee of the Strategic Framework Agreement will 

convene in the coming weeks, and that he invited the Iraqi leader to 

Washington to plan the future relationship.

“This will be a strong and enduring partnership, with our diplomats 

and civilian advisers in the lead; will help Iraqis strengthen institutions 

that are just, representative and accountable; will build new ties of trade 

and of commerce, culture and education, that unleash the potential of 

the Iraqi people; will partner with an Iraq that contributes to regional 

security and peace, just as we insist that other nations respect Iraq’s 

sovereignty,” Obama said.

The United States will offer to help Iraq train and equip its forces, just 

Obama: All U.S. troops out of Iraq by year’s end

By Jim Garamone

as the United States offers assistance to countries around the world.

“There will be some difficult days ahead for Iraq, and the United 

States will continue to have an interest in an Iraq that is stable, secure and 

self-reliant,” the president said. “Just as Iraqis have persevered through 

war, I’m confident that they can build a future worthy of their history as 

the cradle of civilization.”

The United States also is reducing the number of troops deployed 

to Afghanistan. He noted that when he took office in January 2009, 

more than 180,000 U.S. servicemembers were deployed to Iraq and 

Afghanistan. 

“By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half. And make 

no mistake: It will continue to go down,” the president said.

The president said the United States is moving forward from a 

position of strength. The war in Iraq will end in December. The number 

of Americans in Afghanistan will continue to go down. As these 

SecAF: Stay focused on readiness during challenging times

By Jenny Gordon

In The Trenches

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq 

during a secure video teleconference in the Situation Room of the White 

House, Oct. 21. 

includes ensuring wages and benefits packages 

are sustainable into the future. 

“We are committed to making sure that the 

United States continues to have the world’s 

finest Air Force for generations to come,” he 

continued. 

Balance will be important as well, whether 

across core functions, on readiness and 

modernization needs, or across active duty, 

Reserve, and Air National Guard components, 

Donley said. 

“In the Air Force, we have determined 

that balance is key to our resourcing strategy 

to accommodate the uncertainty in the fiscally 

challenged future we face,” Donley said. 

Although the Air Force of tomorrow will 

likely be smaller, Donley said expectations are 

that it will remain fully effective. This means 

that many installations will look and operate 

differently.

However, taking care of people and 

advancing Air Force capabilities, through 

programs like the Joint Strike Fighter, the 

KC-46A and the Long Range Strike family of 

systems, will remain priorities, Donley said.

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – Secretary 

of the Air Force Michael Donley toured the 

Robins Air Force Base and spoke to more than 

250 Airmen during an all call, Oct. 17-18.

Donley, currently in his fourth year as 

secretary, said it had been more than 20 years 

since his last visit. He complimented the strong 

community support enjoyed by the base and 

recognized the importance of the base to the 

nation. 

“This is a great mission, and it’s extremely 

important to the warfighter to have their 

equipment coming here for refurbishment and 

overhaul,” he said. “It has always been to me 

a remarkable process: these aging airframes 

come in, get completely torn down and leave 

here almost like new aircraft. Everything you 

do here is critical.”

While Airmen are doing outstanding work 

all across the Air Force, the service finds itself 

in extremely challenging times and faces a very 

complex security environment, Donley said. 

“Our Air Force is fully engaged today in 

four major lines of operation, with finishing 

the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. 

“We continue to fight against Al Qaeda and 

its global affiliates and are also supporting the 

NATO mission in Libya.”

Donley also discussed the budget constraints 

facing the nation and the potential effects of 

those on the Air Force.

“Our Air Force last year identified $33 

billion in efficiencies across the future year’s 

defense plan, which we were allowed to reinvest 

into the Air Force,” he noted. “But we know 

going forward that efficiencies alone will not be 

enough.”

Expected reductions in future defense 

spending are in line with what military leaders 

had anticipated, Donley said, and will extend 

roughly into the next 10 years. Although 

implementing the reductions will be tough, 

Donley said the savings are achievable. 

“To get these savings, we will need to accept 

greater risks in some areas,” he said. “We’re 

going to terminate some programs, streamline 

and delay others, and continue to drive efficiency 

in our operations.”

Donley said supporting service members 

and their families will remain job one, which 
29 30 31 32 33 34

The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

28

Call MWR at ext. 2010 for more information. Movie Hotline - call 4880.

Apollo 18

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Conan the 

Barbarian

(R) 10 p.m.

Contagion

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Fright Night

(last showing)

(R) 10 p.m.

The Help

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Our Idiot Brother

(R) 8 p.m.

The Dept

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Warrior

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Footloose

(PG-13) 10 p.m. 

fri. sat. sun. mon. tues. wed. thurs.

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

PG-13

113 min.

Contagion

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Fright Night

(last showing)

(R) 10 p.m.

Columbiana

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Warrior

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

The Help

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Shark Night

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Conan the Barbarian

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Footloose

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Our Idiot Brother

(R) 8 p.m.

I really wanted the reboot of 1984’s 

generational game-changer, “Footloose” to be 

bad. Horribly bad. Disgustingly bad. It’s been a 

while since anything on this page was rated less 

than three banana rats, so I wanted a movie bad 

enough to write a scathing review, complete 

with cruel comparisons, mean metaphors and 

enough snark to make a person wince.

It seems the joke was on me, because 

2011’s “Footloose” is surprisingly fresh, funny 

and, unfortunately, unworthy of all my pent up 

cinematic aggression. Fail.

The newer version actually does an 

admirable job of sticking to the former’s 

storyline, an impressive feat considering how 

much the world as changed since 1984. When 

Kevin Bacon so famously cut loose to Kenny 

Loggins, there were no iPods bursting with hit 

singles, no cellphones to confiscate in class and 

no Facebook for teenagers to post their every 

thought. Therefore, the most challenging task 

for filmmakers (beside recasting Bacon – more 

on that later) was merging the past with the 

present. 

They achieve this by taking the movie’s 

hero, Ren MacCormack, and transplanting him 

from Boston to Bomont, a sleepy, southern 

town that’s big on God but lacking in spirit. 

Still reeling from a car crash that killed four 

teenagers, the community seeks solace in local 

reverend Shaw Moore, who uses his sway with 

the city council to impose a strict curfew and, 

of course, ban all loud music.

Enter Ren. Rumors that “High School 

Musical” alum Zac Efron would be taking over 

the lead proved false. Thank the boot-scootin’ 

gods! Kenny Wormald makes his starring role 

debut with style, attitude and serious acting 

chops, helping to usher this remake from the 

bad idea pile to the how-did-they-pull-this-off 

pile. Wormald, whose previous credits include 

being Justin Timberlake’s backup dancer and 

the straight-to-DVD sequel “Center Stage: 

Turn It Up,” is an electrifying performer 

with depth, humor and a surprising relatable 

demeanor that makes you instinctively root for 

him, even when Ren is being a bit of a putz. 

However talented, he doesn’t carry the 

movie on his own. As his female lead, fiesty 

Julianne Hough plays Ariel, a daddy’s-littlegirl-gone-bad who quickly sets her sights on 

Ren. The couple has a natural chemistry but 

more importantly, Hough, also in her first 

starring role, doesn’t shy away from the rough 

and tumble scenes with either her bad boy ex 

or her holier than thou father (Quaid).

Almost stealing the entire show is newcomer 

Miles Teller as Ren’s loyal second banana, 

Willard. In a memorably hilarious montage, 

Ren attempts to show the awkward Willard 

how to get his groove on. While Hough is 

the beauty and Wormald is the talent, Teller 

is arguably the heart of the film. He brings a 

warmth and looseness to every scene and his 

chemistry with Wormald rivals that of Hough. 

Keep an eye on both these cats – they’re here 

to stay. 

Making a remake of a classic like 

“Footloose” is risky business. You pretty much 

dare the entire movie-going community to spit 

at you. That’s why this film is such a triumph. 

I wanted to hate it, I really did. But dang, if I 

didn’t like it enough for three banana rats!

| News you can Use The Wire | Page 17

The State Department said 

Tuesday U.S. and North Korean 

officials narrowed their differences on 

resuming Chinese-sponsored six-party 

negotiations on Pyongyang’s nuclear 

program in a two-day set of talks in 

Geneva. But, U.S. officials say there 

were no breakthroughs and that the 

process will take some time.

Officials are expressing cautious 

optimism about the results of the 

Geneva meetings, but say it could take 

months to find out if North Korea is 

willing to take the “concrete” steps 

needed to re-start the nuclear talks.

In the latest sign of an improved 

atmosphere between North Korea 

and other parties in the stalled six-way 

negotiations, senior U.S. and North 

Korean diplomats met behind closed 

doors for two days of meetings in 

Geneva.

U.S. special envoy for North Korea 

Stephen Bosworth said the sides 

narrowed some differences and that 

the tone was positive and generally 

constructive.

His North Korean counterpart, 

Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan 

sounded more upbeat, citing “big 

improvements” in some areas and 

saying remaining differences will be 

solved when the sides meet again.

Briefing reporters, State Department 

Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said 

there were no breakthroughs and that it 

might take some time to learn if North 

Korea is prepared to do what is needed 

to revive the six-party talks.

“We’ve narrowed the differences but 

there is quite a bit of work still to do,” 

she said. “I think you know where we 

have been on the six-party talks. First, 

that the north-south dialogue needs 

to continue and second that we need 

to see real concrete steps, concrete 

commitments by the North Koreans on 

their nuclear obligations.”

A senior U.S. official said the 

North Korean team was given detailed 

proposals to take back to the leadership 

in Pyongyang and that given its track 

record on such issues, it will probably 

be a matter of weeks if not months 

before a decision is made.

North Korea agreed in principle 

in 2005 to scrap its nuclear program 

including a presumed small stockpile 

of weapons in return for aid and 

diplomatic incentives from other 

members of the six-party talks-Japan, 

Russia, South Korea, the United States 

and host China.

US, North Korea ‘narrow 

differences’ in Geneva talks

Voice of America News Service

President Barack Obama announced 

Wednesday steps aimed at making it easier 

for U.S. college students to pay off their 

education loans. In announcing the actions, 

the president pointed to a new report detailing 

the continuing rise in the cost of higher 

education in the United States.

In his remarks at the University of Colorado 

at Denver, the president used a personal 

example and some humor to illustrate the 

pressures that sharply rising education costs 

place on Americans.

The president recalled the burden that he 

and his wife Michelle struggled with in paying 

off about $120,000 in student loans after they 

graduated from law school.

“We combined and got poorer together. 

We combined our liabilities not our assets. So 

we were paying more on our student loans 

than we paid on our mortgage each month,” 

he said.

Obama pointed to a new report from the 

College Board showing the average tuition 

at private colleges in the United States went 

up by more than 4 percent - 8.3 percent at 

four-year public colleges - during the past 

year. That’s faster than inflation and income 

growth.

One step the president announced will 

allow college graduates enrolled in an existing 

government program to pay back student 

loans at a maximum rate equal to 10 percent 

of their disposable income, rather than 15 

percent, and be eligible for debt forgiveness 

on their remaining debt in 20 years instead of 

25.

Another rule change would help students 

consolidate multiple loans into one federallybacked loan at a lower interest rate, allowing 

Obama announces changes to ease loan burdens

Voice of America News Service them to save more money. 

Obama said this will potentially help 

1.6 million students and graduates, provide 

students with more certainty, and help boost 

the economy.

“Because you will have some certainty, 

knowing that is only a certain percentage of 

your income that is going to pay off your 

student loans, that means you will be more 

confident and comfortable to buy a house 

or save for retirement. And that will give our 

economy a boost when it desperately needs 

it,” said the president.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said 

the changes will help students and graduates in 

the current difficult economic environment.

“These are changes that will make a big 

difference in the lives of college students as 

well as recent graduates, who are entering 

one of the toughest job markets in recent 

memory,” said Duncan.

But critics note that the changes will affect 

a fraction of those who have borrowed to pay 

for their education, will apply only to federal 

college loans, and that current borrowers 

would not be eligible for adjustments.

The changes are the third in a series of 

executive orders Obama is issuing that are 

designed to bypass opposition by Republicans 

in Congress to his economic and jobs 

proposals.

“I intend to do everything in my power 

right now to act on behalf of the American 

people - with or without Congress,” said 

Obama.

Earlier this week, Obama announced a 

plan to make it easier for Americans with 

federally-backed mortgages to refinance their 

home loans and save money, and another 

to encourage businesses to hire returning 

military veterans.

President Barack Obama outlines a plan to allow millions of student 

loan recipients to lower their payments and consolidate their loans to 

students and faculty at Auraria Events Center in Denver, Wednesday. 

– photo by AP
Mind, Body & Soul

Check yo’ self before you wreck yo’self:

Tips for staying injury free

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

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

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 18

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

Sunday 8 a.m. & 5 p.m.

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call x2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

Guantanamo’s sport-loving community 

has plenty of routes toward letting their 

inner athletes shine. Whether shooting the 

fade away, swinging for the stands, or even 

just ripping out some sick stunts in the skate 

park, safety is paramount. We all know the 

importance of wearing proper equipment as 

well as the aches and pains that can come 

when we don’t. While proper equipment 

helps prevent injury, it’s not the do all, end 

all. Injury prevention starts with your body. 

Knowing your abilities, training for your 

sport and being physically ready all play a 

part in ensuring you can handle the big hit 

when it comes your way.

Staying injury free starts out with 

understating your own abilities. Sun Tzu’s 

Art of War covers our first point nicely, “If 

you know neither yourself nor your enemy, 

you will always endanger yourself.” Our 

foe, injury, rears his ugly face in a host of 

different ways depending on the sport and 

your position. This versatile villain makes 

knowing your own abilities even more 

necessary. Taking an honest look at yourself 

can be a fairly humbling experience. In the 

end though, knowing what you’ve got to 

work with gives a baseline for improvement. 

So how do you go about assessing your 

abilities? Well, for the most part YOU don’t. 

Online guides often offer simple tests anyone 

can use, and these work fairly well. Here in 

Guantanamo, we have an additional asset for 

assessments. Several of the MWR fitness 

staff – Everton Hylton, for example – offer 

this service at no charge, and if you’ve ever 

seen Everton, it’s clear he knows what he’s 

talking about.

Pfc. Justin Pierce

see MIND, pg. 19

Abilities assessed, it’s time to start working 

on improvements. Every sport attacks your 

body in a different way, but with fall flag 

football kicking off; let’s look at some ways to 

keep yourself off the bench and on the field. 

That little brown ball usually finds itself right 

next to most injuries in football. I get it, it’s 

important to keep track of the thing – after 

all, they did name the sport after it – BUT 

keeping track of yourself and others is just 

as important. Despite the misleading name, 

there is not now, nor will there ever be, such a 

thing as non-contact football. Unsurprisingly, 

these candid moments where we reach out to 

our adversaries in such a rough manner are 

where most football injuries come from. That 

said, if you want to improve your chances 

of avoiding injury on the field get used to 

getting knocked down. Dive drills help a lot 

in this endeavor. If you practice falling down 

the right way, you’ll reduce the likelihood of 

doing it wrong and putting yourself out of 

the game. 

| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

CARVING cont. 

SEABEES cont. 

BODY cont. FOCUS cont. 

Training for your sport might 

make you more resilient, but if 

you don’t have your game face 

on when the whistle blows, 

it won’t mean squat. Physical 

readiness plays a major role in 

keeping you safe and it also 

ensures your best performance. 

It also starts well ahead of the 

play clock. If you have a game 

coming up, make sure you’re well 

rested. We all know how nice it is 

to stay out late with friends, but 

the night before a sporting event 

isn’t the night for catting around. 

Get to bed early so you’re ready 

to hit the field. Taking other 

precautions also helps increase 

your alertness, drinking water 

throughout the work day keeps 

you from cramping up on the 

field. 

Another way to keep the 

acknowledged. “When I first 

came here, I didn’t know a lot 

about being in the real Army. 

But I have great leadership and 

I’ve grown a lot.”

Williamson said it was that 

leadership that has made a 

positive impression on her and 

taught her more about what 

type of Soldier she wants to 

be. Very soon she will earn 

her E4 rank and pin on the 

specialist insignia. After that 

she looks forward to being a 

sergeant, and understands she 

must look to her role models in 

order to figure out what kind of 

noncommissioned officer she 

wants to be.

“In my section, my NCO 

will put our needs before his,” 

she said. “I think a good leader 

should always think about their 

Halloween pumpkin was a new 

life experience.

“I have never carved a 

pumpkin before and it was cool,” 

said Marlink. “It was fun and a 

lot easier than I was expecting.”

Marlink admitted he wasn’t 

really sure of what to do or 

where to begin, so he kept things 

simple.

cramps away is a good warm up. 

Showing up early doesn’t just 

keep your coach from pulling 

his hair out when he’s filling out 

the roster. It gives you a chance 

to reinforce all of these tips. 

Warming up offers a chance to 

self-check your abilities, practice 

your role on the field, and helps 

with transitioning from the daily 

grind into the night-lit battle. 

Staying injury free allows 

you to keep having fun with the 

sports you love the most. Beyond 

that, it also keeps you at the top 

of your game for the work week. 

Knowing your limits, training for 

your sport, and preparing ahead 

of time all contribute to the 

game you bring both on the field 

and at work. Do your part to stay 

injury free and you’ll excel on the 

field and at your job. 

Soldiers before they think about 

themselves.”

Schofield has no doubts 

about the young private first 

class. He believes her leadership 

skills will guide her through 

whatever comes next.

“She’ll be a shop supervisor 

soon enough,” he said 

confidently. “I see her mentoring 

and coaching and teaching her 

Soldiers to do the things that’s 

she done and showing the, what 

the standard is through her 

actions.”

With her time here coming 

to an end, Williamson will be 

saying goodbye to Guantanamo 

Bay and moving on to her next 

duty station. But the experiences 

she has gained here will follow 

her throughout her career and 

into the future. 

“Without much experience, 

I decided the best way would 

be to having a straight forward 

approach,” he said. “My plan 

was to use a stencil to help not 

only in the design phase, but also 

as a guide during cutting.

He acknowledged the 

weakness in the project was not 

having the stencil completely 

secured to the pumpkin and in 

doing so, the cutting guide wasn’t 

reliable.

“If I had it to do over again, 

I would have used more of the 

tools from the pumpkin carving 

kit,” said Marlink. “I really wish 

I had used the little ghost shaped 

cutter for outlining the stencils.”

As the heat bore down 

on contestants, judges and 

pumpkins alike, Marlink said he 

began worrying about the more 

experienced competition.

“I have only been here five 

days and didn’t know any one or 

what to expect,” he explained. “I 

was just hoping someone would 

be nice enough to give me a vote 

or two.”

experience has been the Bees actually embrace 

females.”

Feeling accepted is important to Caswell. 

She said it is an empowering feeling when one 

of the girls outdoes one of the guys. 

“There is nothing quite like seeing the ‘Holy 

#$@%, you can actually do the job better than 

me’ look on their face,” she laughed.

When she or another female’s abilities are 

questioned, Caswell said there is only one way 

to combat it. 

“You got to have a positive attitude,” she 

said. “You have to be confident and just do 

your job to the best of your ability.” 

Being 22 years old and an E4 doesn’t stop 

Equipment Operator 3rd Class Shannon 

Jefferson from taking initiative. With delicate 

features and a graceful way of carrying herself, 

it is hard to picture her behind a wrecking 

ball. Just the same, Jefferson has no qualms 

jumping into the driver’s seat. Yet, as an EO in 

a reserve unit, she hasn’t had much experience 

on machines. Coming to Guantanamo Bay on 

her first mission overseas, Jefferson had a lot 

more opportunity to explore her rate.

“I have learned many things on this 

deployment,” she said. “I have learned how 

to operate a lot of equipment I don’t get to 

at home.”

Jefferson says while this has been a great 

experience, she is glad to be in a reserve unit 

so she can get the best of both worlds.

“I love the fact I can be a part of the Navy 

and have a civilian job as well,” Jefferson said. 

“I get to acquire two skills at one time.”

Storey transferred to the Bees in 2004 to 

assist with the administrative department. 

Being the highest ranking of the females, she 

said she has seen things from many different 

perspectives. Most important in her book – 

teamwork.

“There is no such thing as doing it on your 

own,” said Storey. “Working on projects takes 

a joint effort.”

Storey said she is there for all the females 

and all the Bees. 

“I will be around a few more years to help 

those I can,” said Storey. “Because it’s not just 

about me but rather it’s about those who are 

coming up behind me.”

The women agree helping each other with 

the daily stresses as well as with issues back 

home is central to having a strong relationship. 

One of the leading obstacles for all of the 

women is leaving family. Storey said it is one 

of the most challenging aspects.

“I can deal with everyday issues but not 

being there for the parties, graduations or just 

being there when someone needs to talk can 

wear on me emotionally,” she said.

“Sticking together is important as female 

Bees,” said Caswell. “We are here to embrace 

and uplift each other.”

At the end of the day, the women of 

NMCB23 know they have come a long way 

together, even while their futures look as if 

they will be turning in many new and different 

directions. Whether it is to switch services, 

commission to officer, further her education 

or simply strengthen her skill set and move 

up the ranks, each woman has goals and 

dreams for the future. For now, however, they 

are determined to accomplish the mission at 

hand.

“There are always ups and downs,” 

concluded Caswell. “But overall I would have 

to say I truly enjoy the Navy and being a 

Seabee.”
GETTING A BITE

Staff Judge Advocate Tech. Sgt. Suzanne Northern, politely loads up her plate 

during lunch, Wednesday, at Seaside galley. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

STAYING SHARP

U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist 3rd Class Kyle Gorham 

inserts a hypodermic needle into the arm of Machinery Technician 3rd Class 

Michael Raymond as part of a monthly re-qualification exercise for administering 

intravenous fluids, Oct. 19. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

PUMPKIN HEAD

Air Force Maj. Amy Oliver, deputy director of public affairs, displays her jack-o’-

lantern at MWR’s Marine Hill Liberty center, Sunday. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu 

Perry

TheJTF

PINNING IT DOWN

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Gilbert Ramirez (right), a Sailor attached to the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, tosses his ball 

down the lane at Marblehead Lanes bowling alley, Wednesday night. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry