Volume 13, Issue 18 Friday, March 9, 2012

State of 

the JTF

Woods: ‘We’re doing well’ 

ALL the things

All the taxes, all the improvements,

all the Troopers of the Year, all the brackets
Start St. Patrick’s Day with the Lucky Clover Run through the Ridgeline. At 7 a.m., the 

run starts at Christmas Tree Hill, goes to the 

end of Ridgeline and back. That’s a total of 

4.4 miles. Register at Denich Gym by March 

14. The first 100 participants to register receive a T-shirt. 

For more information, call 2113.

Get a group of four together and enter 

into the Pot o’ Gold disc golf tournament by 

March 14. On March 17 from 2 to 4 p.m., 

teams will play 18 holes and prizes will be 

awarded to the top three teams. An additional 

prize will be given to the team wearing the 

most green. There is a registration fee of $6 

per person. For more information, call 2345.

Join MWR Liberty for a free fishing trip 

tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Bait will be provided, but you must bring your own fishing 

pole. This event is open to unaccompanied 

military members. The boat leaves at 6 p.m. 

so make sure to be at the Marina early.

For more information, call 2010.

Whether you have pinpoint accuracy or 

just like to play FOR FUN, come to Deer 

Point Liberty Center at 6 p.m. tonight for a 

dart tournament. Cricket is the game. 

For more information, call 2010.

Specialty care providers will be available 

for appointments at U.S. Naval Hospital 

Guantanamo in the upcoming months:

GI – March 

ENT – March/April

Audiology – April

Dermatology – April 

Podiatry – April 

Urology – April 

For a referral, NAVSTA personnel can 

schedule an appointment with Primary Care 

Clinic at 72110. JTF personnel can call 3394.

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Come to the Marine Hill Liberty Center 

for a event packed with fun and games starting at 3 p.m. tomorrow. There will be a gladiator joust, corn hole (beanbag toss), golf 

chux, sand volleyball, and basketball games. 

Free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies 

and beverages will be served. 

For more information, call 2010.

Golf cart rentals will be half price every 

Thursday in the month of March. $5 covers 

one person and $7.50 pays for two riders. 

Boat rentals will be 50 percent off every 

Monday this month. Prices vary based on the 

boat.For more information, call 2345.

Take a relaxing trip in a kayak from the 

Marina to Hospital Cay on the morning of 

March 17. At the destination you will be able 

to swim and jump off the pier. Sandwiches, 

chips and drinks will be provided. 

Kayaks are limited, so call 2010 by Mar. 

16 to reserve a spot.

Join MWR for a bike trip through some 

of Gitmo’s beautiful trails. The trip takes off 

from the Marina at 8 a.m. 

Call 2345 by 3 p.m. today to borrow a 

bike. If you have your own bike, call to put 

your name on the list of participants.

Discount recreation 

in March

INDEX

The Wire

March 9, 2012

APFT superstars

All the Boots on the Ground

The last tax story, I promise

All-Hands Call recap

Super Rec

Troopers of the Year

NCO induction

Movie review: Act of Valor

5

6

7

8

11

12

13

18

Night fishing

There will be a track meet at Cooper 

Field at 4 p.m. on March 24. Register for the 

meet by Mar. 16 at Denich Gym. The events 

include 100, 200, 400, 800 meter sprints, 100 

and 300 meter hurdles, 1500 and 3000 meter 

dash, 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. This 

meet is open to ages 16 and older. There are 

no age categories and there are separate heats 

for men and women. 

For more information, call 2113.

Go to Denich Gym and sign a team up 

for the indoor volleyball league on March 

16 from 2-4 p.m. The season starts March 

26. There are separate leagues for men and 

women. The league is open to anyone 16 

years and older.

For more information, call 2113.

Unleash your inner Forrest Gump and 

compete in the ping pong tournament at the 

Marine Hill Liberty Center tonight at 8 p.m.

For more information, call 2010.

Spring is time for tennis. Sign up for 

the round robin singles and doubles tennis 

league at Denich Gym by 5:30 p.m. on March 

22. The season starts Apr. 2. The league is 

open to anyone 16 years old and older. This 

is a participation league and all active participants will receive a T-shirt. 

For more information, call 2113.

Indoor volleyball league

GTMO track meet

Tennis league

Lucky Clover Run

Specialty care 

providers at USNH

Ping pong tournament

Darts tournament

Pot o’ Gold disc golf

Kayak trip

Mountain bike trip

Marine Hill Fun Day

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

Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Keith Simmons

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

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.

There are many books and articles 

that address how to manage stress. In 

fact, many of us in the military have 

attended (and will attend) lectures/

training on managing stress. But I don’t 

plan to offer advice on helping you learn 

to deal with your personal stress. Rather, 

I want to point out that your actions can 

affect the stress levels of those you work 

with. 

First I should admit that Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo can be perceived 

as a stressful work 

environment. We are 

under constant scrutiny. 

We receive criticism for 

doing too much for the 

detainees, and at the 

same time we receive 

criticism for not doing 

enough. And of course 

stress is inherent in 

the very nature of our 

rotational deployment 

in an isolated area – 

especially for those of 

us working outside of our traditional 

skill sets. I’d be dishonest if I tried 

telling you that your tour could not be 

viewed as stressful. But to keep things in 

perspective, many military jobs are much 

more stressful.

It’s how we handle stress that really 

matters. I believe there are benefits to 

operating under a reasonable level of 

stress. Working through stressful times 

and conditions can make us stronger. 

Ask yourself, “What are your three 

greatest achievements?” I predict your 

answers will reflect situations in which 

you overcame significant challenges. Your 

recollection of those accomplishments 

may not include an honest memory of the 

stress you faced, yet it’s likely that some 

level of stress prompted you to perform 

actions that were greater than you would 

have foreseen as possible. Stress can 

“motivate” progress and growth.

We should all realize that our actions 

have a huge impact on the stress levels 

of our team. Supervisors especially need 

to understand this. And they should 

appreciate that mission accomplishment 

sometimes requires the application of 

appropriate levels of stress. Holding 

people accountable and making 

them realize the importance of their 

responsibilities is vital, and naturally 

generates some level of stress. But there 

are smart ways and not-so-smart ways for 

supervisors to hold people accountable. 

What works for one person may not 

apply to others.

However, I want to end this article by 

highlighting ways that 

you can influence stress 

amongst the team in 

your work place. 

– Add some outsideinterest discussions 

during your breaks. 

Obviously, while you’re 

working you should 

be focused on your 

work. But during your 

breaks, talk with your 

peers about non-work 

issues. The upcoming 

NCAA basketball tournament is a 

great opportunity to have a “bracket 

competition” for fun. Even if you don’t 

follow the sport, you can often guess 

winners as well as the experts. Get all 

involved.

– Maintain a positive attitude. It’s 

amazing how one cheerful person can 

change the work environment. When 

bad things happen, learn from them, and 

move on. Don’t dwell on the past or on 

things beyond your control. 

– Communicate. If your co-workers 

know what you are doing, they may be 

able to help. Be a team and help each 

other.

We each have varying levels of 

tolerance for stress. Please pay attention 

to those on your team, and recognize 

that your actions or inactions do indeed 

impact the stress felt by all others on your 

team. Each of us is partially responsible. 

Realizing that you do make a difference 

will hopefully encourage the positive 

experience that many of us value most 

about our tours at Guantanamo Bay.

It’s how we 

handle stress that 

really matters. 

Working through 

stressful times and 

conditions can 

make us stronger.

Capt. Patrick Rabun

Chief of Staff, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander Rear Adm. David Woods recently addressed the 

entire JTF workforce in a series of All-Hands Calls. –photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Cc

ommand

orner
ALCON

Mandatory annual 

training for JTF staff

Subject: Annual alcohol and 

substance abuse training

Date: March 13

Time: 1st session: 9–11 a.m.

2nd session: 1–3 p.m.

Location: JTF Trooper Chapel

Substance Abuse Training is an annual mandatory 

requirement in accordance 

with AR 600-85 for all JTF, 

HQ Staff. Training will consist of two sessions to accommodate the daily operations of the staff. It is 

recommended that Directors 

and Senior Enlisted Leaders 

schedule half their staff for 

the morning session and the 

remainder for the afternoon 

session. A sign-in roster will 

be provided to ensure each 

attendee is properly credited 

for this mandatory requirement. For more information, 

call 9913.

| Command Information The Wire | Page 5

Email is an integral part of our 

daily communication.

Treat any email from someone you don’t recognize

with caution. Don’t open email attachments from 

people you don’t know. Spammers often use personalsounding subject lines like “Your money is wait- ing,” “Your loan was approved,” or “Here’s the memo 

you requested.” Never send credit card information 

or other personal details through email, and beware 

of emails claiming they’re from well-known companies 

asking for such information. No reputable company 

would solicit information from a customer unless 

you’re the one initiating the transaction. Never 

click the “Unsubscribe” link in a spam email. All 

this does is indicate to the spammer that your email 

address is active, and will likely result in even 

more spam.

re: 

information 

assurance

Super Troopers

Congratulations to the Joint Task

Force Guantanamo Troopers 

who scored 270 or better on the 

Feb. 24 Army Physical Fitness Test!

SSG Gonzalez

CPT Rosa-Ramos

MAJ Powers

SSG Cheatham

SPC Ladrillero

CPT May

CPT Barnes

LTC Golden

SFC Grant

MAJ Raga

CW2 Mathisen

photo courtesy Sgt. 1st Class Michael Shimer

Cyber criminals want your information!

Don’t give it to them! Make sure you safeguard your passwords. Don’t use the same 

passwords or login names for multiple web sites. Don’t use obvious passwords like names 

of pets or children. Do not use birthdays or social security numbers as passwords either. 

Make unique and strong passwords for all your online accounts. Don’t make it easy for 

cyber criminals to access your accounts or personal information! Don’t let thieves steal 

your information. Use OPSEC!

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. 1st Class Juanita jackson

NCOIC, Behavioral Science Consultation Team

back to basics

As leaders, the impression we 

set for our young Warriors and 

Troopers is very important. As 

experienced leaders, we know 

that the young mind of a new 

Trooper is the easiest to mold 

and train. Discipline is the strongest trait you can pass on to a 

young Trooper as soon as they 

hit the ground. It is our mission to instill the core of what 

we represent as a nation and as 

a combined fighting force. We 

take from the old and the new to 

create a better Trooper for today 

than yesterday. 

As noncommissioned officers 

are being created faster in the 

military, we tend to forget the 

basics that make junior Troopers want to be senior NCOs. 

There is nothing I would have 

my junior Warrior or Trooper 

do that I myself could not or 

would not do. It is important 

for a young warrior to see that 

his or her leader can lead from 

the front. Junior Troopers learn 

early to obey direct orders, to be 

disciplined and display respect to 

seniors. 

We want Troopers to always 

give 100%, work as a team, take 

initiative to set themselves apart 

from others and maintain professionalism at all times. Take pride 

in all that you do! These are only 

a few of the many traits we try 

to instill in young Warriors and 

Troopers.

It appears that we have come 

into a generation of “Do as I 

say, not as I do.” We should ask 

ourselves as leaders, “What message does that send to my young 

Troopers?” Don’t lead them to 

believe that their leaders lack 

integrity. Warriors and Troopers 

often resemble their leaders and 

their leadership style. There is 

nothing more positive or rewarding than for a leader to watch 

his or her Junior Warriors and 

Troopers grow to be outstanding 

NCOs. Respect is not given. It is 

earned. Respect in itself carries a 

lot of weight. It pushes everyone 

to go above and beyond the call 

of duty. It motivates Troopers 

to obey and implement orders 

in the absence of supervisors. 

They will do what’s right even 

when you as their leaders are not 

watching. 

Warriors and Troopers like 

to know that their leadership 

cares about them. This does not 

mean you need to be their friend, 

drinking buddy or absent leader. 

As a firm but fair leader you will 

instill what is right across the 

board. In doing so, subordinates 

will trust in their leadership to do 

what is right. You take care of 

them, and they will always take 

care of the mission. I believe it 

is not the junior Troopers who 

need to get back to the basics 

but it is us as Leaders who truly 

need to “Get Back To the Basics,” from the top down. What 

we as leaders of today, learned as 

juniors can only be seen through 

us. Our teachers trusted us to 

pass the outstanding leadership 

that was provided to us down to 

our Warriors and Troopers. Let’s 

not cheat them! There is not a 

day that goes by that I don’t try 

to learn something new from a 

Warrior or Trooper. But every 

time I get one assigned to me, or 

meet a new Trooper, I go back 

to the basics.
The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 7 years

Hobbies: Going to church, basketball, football, 

watching UFC events, playing Xbox 360

The boss says: “He’s got a great attitude and a great sense of humor. He is definitely a great 

caregiver through and through. In his personal 

life he is very spiritually centered and that’s what 

allows him to exude such positive energy.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “When you are off 

work enjoy your leisure time; don’t take your 

work home with you.”

By Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant

The Wire had a chat this week 

with Hospitalman 3rd Class 

Leotis Dixon. Dixon works as 

part of the Joint Stress Mitigation 

& Restoration Team (JSMART) 

now located directly behind the 

new Chaplain office and next to 

the Camp America Post Office. 

If you go into the JSMART 

office and Dixon greets you, he’s 

more than happy to help you.

“If all you want is a stress ball, 

I’ll give you that,” Dixon said. “If 

you just want to talk for a few 

minutes or an hour or more, I’ll 

listen. And if you are just looking 

for some advice, I’ll give you 

that too... Whatever it takes to 

make your day better, I’m there.”

If Dixon isn’t in the office, you 

may run into him making the rounds 

of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

“I like to go out to the camps 

and talk to people before they have 

to come into the office,” Dixon 

explained. “Going to people’s 

workplaces allows me to see their 

work environment and understand 

how that may affect their stress levels, 

and so I can get them better help.”

“I call myself the mobile morale 

team,” said Dixon. “I try to improve 

morale wherever I go. I’m doing 

what I can to make someone’s 

day easier. You never know how 

what you say or do affects people’s 

lives. Do what you can to 

be kind and courteous.”

Dixon lives these 

values, according to Sgt. 

1st Class Juanita Jackson, 

the noncommissioned 

officer in charge of 

the Behavioral Science 

Consultation Team (BSCT).

“HM3 Dixon is one 

of the most positive and 

motivating juniors I have met in 

my 23 years of service,” Dixon 

said. “He goes out of his way to 

assist people, even on his off time.”

A short time ago Dixon had 

learned that Jackson had to move 

her entire office from one location 

to another. He also found out 

that Jackson was packing up 

and moving all by herself, so on 

his day off he found her and 

helped with the entire move.

“It is not because of his job 

at JSMART which explains his 

actions and respect for others,” 

said Jackson. “It is who he is as 

a person. We all can learn from 

this Sailor, who exemplifies 

honor as he serves his country.”

Dixon’s attitude and work ethic 

are also a source of encouragement to his superiors as well.

What is the most important thing you learned at the All-Hands Calls?

“It was a good way for us to 

sit down with the admiral. 

It was interesting to learn 

about the feedback about 

the command climate.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Ben Thibodeau

Regarding the command 

climate survey: “I like that 

he emphasized that in 

order for change to occur, 

you need to participate.”

Senior Master Sgt. 

Dwight Brown

“The admiral really cares 

about safety of the base. 

World issues really affect 

every mission.”

Petty Officer 1st Class 

Keyara Thompson

“Detainees are not 

prisoners; they are being 

held until they are tried for 

alleged crimes and either 

convicted or released.”

Staff Sgt. 

Justin Miller

 see FOCUS next page

| News The Wire | Page 7

“The admiral cares about 

the Troopers and how 

they are affected by the 

mission.”

Staff Sgt. 

Lehi Jorgensen

“The most interesting thing 

I learned was why the 

detainees are here.”

Petty Officer 3rd Class 

Michael Amsterdam

“I like how the admiral 

took the time to meet 

with us to talk about 

Guantanamo events.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Matthew Garrison

All Hands, All Boots on the Ground

If you do a web search for “free tax preparation,” you will get a generous list of companies. Many are the same ones that show up 

on the Internal Revenue Service site under 

the Free File Alliance program. But these 

no-cost sites have a price if you have to file a 

state income tax return. There is a solution: 

www.militaryonesource.mil.

By using the Military OneSource program, 

you can complete, save and file your 2011 

federal and up to three state returns online 

for free with the H&R Block At Home tool. 

There is the additional benefit of no-cost 

personal and financial support consultation 

with a Military OneSource tax consultant.

The H&R Block At Home online tax service is open to active-duty service members 

of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air 

Force. National Guard and members of the 

Reserve branches can take advantage of this 

Military OneSource benefit, regardless of 

activation status, to include members of the 

Coast Guard Reserve activated as part of the 

Department of the Navy under Title 10 authority.

If you are of the correct status, this 

means a spouse, dependent child or a family 

member who is taking care of the affairs of a 

service member, and are in DEERS, can use 

H&R Block At Home online tax filing.

There is one caveat: since the organization falls under the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard 

personnel, spouses and dependent children 

are not eligible for this service. USCG members should visit www.uscg.mil for tax assistance information.

The first thing is register on the militaryonesource.mil site, your personal user ID and 

password will allow the secure access to the 

H&R Block At Home web page. Just like any 

other online tax prep website you can save, 

close, and return as needed.

The online version is very similar to the 

software many use on their home computers to file. The software guides you through 

filling in the information you received from 

employers, banks, and for homeowners, your 

mortgage holder. 

For more complicated returns you will 

need to have information on investment income, alimony, Social Security benefit payments, student loan interest, charitable donations, and medical and dental expenses.

This online version will allow you to 

import your 2010 tax information if you 

prepared your taxes with H&R Block Basic 

Online or H&R Block At Home versions or 

TurboTax software. The Military OneSource 

free software even imports previous tax returns completed at an H&R Block office.

For married Troopers, either you or your 

spouse can create the Military OneSource account, and then share the log-in information 

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Save trees! Get a faster refund!

Quick and free services for military members

MONEY MATTERS

Money really does matter, 

especially to the IRS in April: this is 

the conclusion of a three-part series 

on how to file your taxes while at 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

“Besides training briefs, one of his fortes 

is the JSMART radio show he participates 

in on 103.1, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” 

said Navy Lt. Erin Graham, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and officer in charge of 

JSMART. 

“He’s a very hard working, dedicated 

sailor,” Graham added. “He steps up to 

many different roles here. He does everything from intakes and running the front 

desk to outreach rounds.”

“I like the outpatient setting because it’s 

more interactive,” said Dixon. “You’re empowering someone rather than just giving 

them medications. The things they learn 

here can be shared with other people they 

meet later on so it keeps helping.”

“It’s good sometimes to know you’ve 

made a difference,” Dixon said “If someone comes back to give an update on how 

they are doing, it’s really encouraging.”

FOCUS cont. 

 see TAXES page 8

“Be responsible for your 

actions and watch out for 

your wingman.”

Staff Sgt.

Shawn Blair
| Feature The Wire | Page 9

“I learned what the 

statistics were and how 

they affect all of us.”

Petty Officer 1st Class 

Andrew Soristos

“When people asked 

questions at the end, he 

gave straightforward 

answers.”

Chief Petty Officer

Robert Hicks

All Hands, All Boots on the Ground

Right: Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander Rear Adm. David Woods focused 

on current events and the results of the recent Command Climate Survey. The 

All-Hands Calls, which took place the same week as the Majid Khan commissions 

hearing, concluded with questions from Troopers varying from bus stops to the 

leave policy. –photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

“Remember: we aren’t 

invincible, so we have to 

act responsibly.”

Tech. Sgt. 

Avis Bennett

“(The admiral) helped us to 

understand why detainees 

get the activities they do.”

Staff Sgt. Garrett 

McMillian

oopers

as a tool for leaders.

The survey highlighted that the 

vast majority of Troopers agreed 

that not only would somebody 

notice if they were having a 

problem but, they felt that 

their chain of command would 

support them.

“We are taking care of each 

other,” noted Woods as he spoke 

of the work of the Chaplains and 

JSMART (Joint Stress Mitigation 

and Restoration Team) staff to 

support Troopers.

W o o d s 

discussed how 

i n a p p r o p r i a t e 

behavior or habits 

can get in the way 

of advancement 

in the profession 

of military service, 

or even keep you 

from continuing 

your career.

 “Three things 

to do in your 

career: perform, prepare for 

promotion and don’t get into 

trouble,” Woods said. “We 

need to change our culture to 

reinforce these three things.” 

Overall, the commander feels 

the quality of life is fairly well 

balanced, and reminded Troopers 

that this is a deployment. 

“When you drive over 

the hill (to JTF) you’re 

every bit as deployed as 

any other theater,” he said.

During the question and 

answer portion of each All 

Hands Call, Woods responded 

to Troopers’ concerns, such 

as installing grip strips to the 

bridges around Cooper Field. 

Responses to 

other questions, 

if not answered 

right away, will 

be announced 

soon in an allhands email.

Woods asked 

for civilians 

and Troopers 

to remain 

p r o f e s s i o n a l 

and follow the 

SOPs (standard 

operating procedures) 

to keep things “calm, 

steady, and predictable.” 

“We’re doing well,” Woods 

concluded. “I am honored and 

proud to serve with each of you.”

“Three things to 

do in your career: 

perform, prepare 

for promotion 

and don’t get in 

trouble.”

– Rear Adm. 

David Woods

The W Feature | ire | Page 8

All-Hands Calls, continued

“It’s cool that he showed 

actual budget numbers for 

different things and how 

we helped to save money in 

those areas.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Rochelle Andrews

“I’m glad he talked 

about the questions in 

the Command Climate 

Survey that captured the 

communication concerns 

of the Troopers here.”

Spc.

Anissha Diggs

“It was good to see that 

the admiral cares enough 

to explain a decision he 

makes to the Troopers so 

they understand why a 

decision was made.”

Sgt. 1st Class 

Antonio White

“I liked knowing that a 96 

hour pass is available for 

those who might need it, 

even if they are only here 

for just 9 months.”

Petty Officer 1st Class

Claudette Douglas

Calling All Tr

Over five days in locations 

from the Trooper Chapel to the 

Windjammer Ballroom, Rear 

Adm. David Woods, commander 

of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo 

addressed every Trooper on the 

team. It was an opportunity to 

talk about current events, the 

recent command climate survey, 

how to stay connected with 

loved ones, and how to remain 

successful in a mission where 

failure is not an option.

The All-Hands Calls started 

with the admiral’s words of 

gratitude to everyone who worked 

on the military commissions 

that week. Woods described 

conviction of high value detainee 

Majid Khan as “monumental,” 

and briefly explained the account 

of a victim from the Marriott 

Hotel bombing in Jakarta who 

attended the proceedings to tell 

her story. 

“It reminds you that there 

are real victims out there,” said 

Woods.

He also made clear the 

distinctions between law of war 

detention and incarceration and 

how these statuses affect the 171 

detainees here, and how removal 

from the battlefield is different 

from punishment for a crime.

Woods explained that very 

few people who get detained go 

to trial. There are approximately 

35 detainees who could face 

charges. Typically, conflicts 

end before detainees are tried 

or released. 

Guantanamo is 

unique in going 

through the military 

c o m m i s s i o n 

process while the 

conflict is ongoing.

M e n t a l 

engagement with 

television, books 

and classes along 

with physical 

activity, encourages 

detainees to 

follow the rules and reduces 

incidents against the guard force. 

According to Woods, detainees 

determine where they reside 

in the camps based on their 

compliance with the rules of 

detention. 

In addition to the larger issues 

in and around the JTF, Woods 

discussed Troopers’ quality of 

life. He believes social media 

plays a key role in completing the 

connections that everyone needs. 

Mentioning the importance of 

staying in contact with friends 

and family, Woods pointed 

to the success of the Morale 

Call Program and increased 

availability of Red Cross phone 

cards. 

Woods knows firsthand how 

important the connection to 

home is, mentioning that he 

used the Internet 

to stay connected 

with family while 

serving in Iraq. 

However, there 

is need to limit 

the use of certain 

web sites, because 

of the effect on 

bandwidth.

“Thanks for not 

uploading material 

to YouTube!” 

Woods joked.

Woods then shared the 

results of the recent command 

climate survey, in which more 

than one-third of the workforce 

participated. Holding up a 

three-inch binder marked “For 

Commander’s Eyes Only,” he 

said, “But if I’m the only one 

who knows what the climate is, 

how can we make it better?”

The results showed the Joint 

Task Force scored at or above 

average compared with the 

Department of Defense and all 

services in all categories of the 

standard survey.

“We can always improve,” 

said Woods, who sees the survey

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

in order to complete information needed or sign the returns 

when completed.

The software allows you 

to print out the completed returns, but if you want your refund quick, e-filing is the way to 

go. The IRS reported that last 

year 80 percent of all taxpayers 

e-filed.

To e-file your tax returns, 

there are multiple options available to you. If you have your 

IRS PIN from last year, go 

ahead and use it this year. Or 

enter your 2010 Adjusted Gross 

Income (AGI) from your 2010 

return. If you need a new pin or 

never received one before, visit 

the IRS website to request one.

Military OneSource offers a 

secure, simple and quick solution for filing your taxes while 

at Guantanamo Bay. They also 

provide toll-free tax return 

preparation support by calling 

1-800-342-9647. The tax consultants are available every day 

from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern 

Standard Time. 

TAXES cont. 

Command 

Climate Survey: 

JTF Guantanamo 

scored at or 

above average 

as compared 

with DoD in all 

categories.
The Wire | Page 10 Feature | The Wire | Page 11

U.S. naval aviation had a great moment in history 

here at Guantanamo Bay on March 10, 1913. On that 

day a pioneer of naval aviation, Lt. John Henry Towers, and fellow aviator Ens. G. D. C. Chevalier, flew a 

Curtiss flying boat from Guantanamo Bay to Santiago 

de Cuba in 46 minutes, returning to Guantanamo Bay 

the next day.

Lt. Towers was a 1906 graduate of the Naval Academy and qualified as a pilot in August 1911, flying the 

Navy’s first airplane, a Curtiss A-1 flying boat. Early in 

his career as a pilot Towers set distance records flying the 

Curtiss seaplane and in the fall of 1912 he established 

the Navy’s first aviation unit at Annapolis, Maryland. 

Towers was conducting tests to spot submerged submarines in late 1912 flying over the Chesapeake Bay, and 

in the spring of 1913 he continued those tests during 

fleet training at Guantanamo Bay. He also investigated 

the potential for Navy aerial reconnaissance, bombing, 

photography, and communications. In 1914, Towers 

took part in activating the first Naval Air Station at Pensacola and led the air unit’s first action in the Mexican 

crises. Towers went on to serve through World Wars 

I and II and retire as Commander in Chief of Pacific 

Command.

From his early years as a pioneer naval aviator flying Curtiss seaplanes, to his leadership as the top naval 

aviator during World War II, Admiral Towers was a remarkable man who had rather humble beginnings here 

at Guantanamo Bay – 99 years ago.

By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Shimer

This Week in 

Guantanamo Bay History The Journey of the

Curtiss Flying Boat

| Feature

Quality of life will soon improve for both detainees and the 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

guard force. The new “Super 

Rec” recreation yard will be accessible to all detainees who reside in 

Camp 6. 

Built with the intent of encouraging physical activity and lessening the amount of risk to move 

detainees to outdoor recreation, 

Super Rec covers 28,500 square 

feet and is about half the size of a 

football field. 

When detainees resided in the 

communal areas of Camp Delta 

prior to 2006, they had access to 

the “Central Recreation” yard. 

When the decision was made for 

efficiency and cost savings to move 

the majority of the 171 remaining 

detainees to the climate-controlled 

and more secure facilities in Camp 

6, it was not initially built for communal living, and did not have a 

large recreation yard.

More than 80 percent of Guantanamo detainees reside in Camp 

6’s communal living setup, and 

all have 24-hour access to indoor 

recreation. The improved outdoor 

facility will be available to all on a 

rotating schedule by block. 

Fenced walkways from the 

camp building to the yard have 

several electronic locking gates to 

selectively control the movement 

of detainees from eight different 

cell blocks, reducing escort guard 

requirements. The field, path, and 

fenced walkways will have full security lights.

The existing guard force will 

receive three climate-controlled 

guard towers overlooking the new 

recreation yard and walkways.

Detainees will have to follow 

the same rules for the new recreation yard, but will have more 

area to participate in recreational 

activities like soccer, walking and 

running. 

“It’s an example of trying to 

move forward in accordance with 

what the Walsh Report recommended for long-term detention 

and improving the conditions of 

detention,” Woods explained, referencing the 2009 White Houseordered review of the camps’ facilities. 

The report found Guantanamo’s detention camps to be in 

compliance with Articles 3 and 

94 of the Geneva Conventions, 

which address humane treatment 

of prisoners of war and civilians, 

respectively. The report stated 

“that detainees are encouraged to 

participate in intellectual, educational, and recreational pursuits, 

as well as sports and games. In 

addition, all possible facilities and 

equipment are to be provided for 

this purpose, including sufficient 

space for outdoor exercise and 

sports. Detainees in a disciplinary 

status are to be allowed to exercise 

and stay in the open air at least 

two hours daily.”

Super Rec is expected to open 

later this spring.

A super improvement

By Army 1st Lt. Amelia Thatcher

The “Super Rec” yard at Camp 6, scheduled to open later this spring, 

encourages detainees to participate in physical activities. The guard force 

will benefit from improved guard tower structures and enhanced security.

–photos by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park
The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

Congratulations to 

Sgt. Tracy Jackson, 

HHC, 525th 

Military Police 

Battalion and Sgt. 

1st Class Brad 

Alexander, 189th 

Military Police 

Company, 525th 

MP Battalion!

Top left: Sgt. Tracy Jackson was awarded Junior Trooper 

of the Year. Her accomplishments include performance 

excellence in her military occupational specialty, consistent 

295+ scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test, several 

hundred hours of Army Correspondence Courses, and 

volunteer service to the Guantanamo Bay community.

Top right: Sgt. 1st Class Brad Alexander was awarded 

Senior Trooper of the Year. His accomplishments include 

selection for platoon sergeant and numerous additional 

duties, mentorship of junior Soldiers, and volunteer service 

to the Guantanamo Bay community.

Troopers 

of the 

Year

Congratulations

to the

525th 

Military 

Police 

Battalion

NCO

Inductees

HHC

SGT Heather Blackwell 

SGT Barbara Grgurich

SGT Alex Hall

107th MP CO

SGT Erica Gilbert

189th MP Co

SGT Sonji Brown

SGT Mark Linder

SGT Timothy Royal

SGT Brian Spiller

SGT Nathaniel Turskey

SGT Brandan Walker

193rd MP CO

SGT Matthew Baker

SGT Adam Corral

SGT Patrick Coy

SGT Vincent Delaney

SGT Amber Minear

SGT Henry Rockwood

SGT Scott Shank

SGT Davon Watkins

SGT Sherry Watkins

SGT Christina Ware

314th MP Co

SGT Ricky Abitu Jr

SGT Holly Hiza

SGT Michael Martinez

SGT Joseph Nino

SGT Damon Vongphachanh

SGT Wesley Gunn

SGT Bradley Wagner

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

The quality of the 

Noncommissioned Officer 

Corps will be put to the 

test as the military reduces 

its force. The Soldiers of 

the 525th Military Police 

Battalion focused on this 

during the NCO induction 

ceremony held March 2. 

Army South Command 

Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Cervantes 

attended the ceremony and 

spoke to the junior NCOs.

“You have to be 

conscious that the 

responsibility you are 

taking right now as a 

NCO is not something 

to be taken lightly,” said 

Cervantes. “America, 

parents, spouses and 

children have entrusted 

you to take care of their 

Soldiers.” 

The 525th MP Bn. 

followed a longstanding 

Army tradition of inducting 

junior NCOs (newly 

promoted Sergeants) into 

the NCO Corps by holding 

this ceremony. 

The tradition of the 

induction ceremony into 

the Noncommissioned 

Officer Corps is a tool that 

senior NCOs can use to 

instill the significance of 

being a leader in Junior 

NCOs. For the recently 

promoted Sgt. Matthew 

Baker this experience has 

been a highlight of his 

career so far.

“It a great feeling to go 

along with Army tradition,” 

said Baker “I’ve always 

been a fan of knowing the 

different traditions like the 

Army Ball, the MP Ball, 

and this induction. Being 

inducted is a big thing, 

every word that Sgt. Maj. 

Cervantes said means a lot 

to me.”

The Army stresses the 

value of the NCO with 

the simple phrase: “The 

Backbone of the Army.” 

 “I’ve heard before 

from my platoon sergeant 

and my first sergeant that 

the E-5 is the hardest 

working job in the Army,” 

said Baker. “You have 

Soldiers below you and 

you’re directly involved 

with them.” 

Baker explained that his 

senior leadership has been 

a big influence on him and 

the way he leads young 

Soldiers. 

“I want someone to 

look up to me the way I 

look up to my leadership,” 

said Baker. “I want to be 

an NCO. I like coming 

in early and leaving late, 

doing PT when I don’t 

want to and it’s all because 

of the Soldiers.”

With four Soldiers 

reporting to him, Baker has 

already started becoming 

an effective leader and 

NCO. 

“I like being able to 

shape young Soldiers,” 

said Baker. “The standard 

is the standard and I’m 

going to teach them that 

and guide them in the right 

place so that one day they 

can replace me.” 

The 525th Military Police 

Battalion inducted its 

newest members of the 

Noncommissioned Officer 

Corps March 2. Army South 

Command Sgt. Maj Gabriel 

Cervantes (below) addressed 

the young NCOs on their 

accomplishments. –photos 

by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa
ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 500 National Guard members are supporting civilian authorities in five states after the second 

night of devastating tornadoes in the Midwest and the South.

More than 350 Indiana National Guard 

troops started providing search and rescue, 

debris removal, traffic control and presence 

patrols within hours of a tornado strike in 

the southern part of the state, according to 

National Guard Bureau officials and Army 

Maj. Shawn Gardner, state public affairs officer.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the 

individuals in southern Indiana who have 

suffered this tragic loss,” Gardner said. “The 

Indiana National Guard stands ready to help 

and assist in whatever manner they may need 

to help them recover from this tragedy.”

At least 10 states were affected by tornadoes that struck Feb. 29 and March 1. National Guard troops were on the ground or 

being called to support civilian authorities in 

Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and 

West Virginia.

In Indiana, Gardner credited the rapid 

response to state leaders and strong relationships between the National Guard and civilian authorities long before up to 16 tornadoes hit, killing at least 13 people, injuring 

others and destroying the town of Maryville, 

home to 2,166 people.

“The Indiana Department of Homeland 

Security and the National Guard have a tight 

working relationship with great leadership 

who stand ready to respond to any natural 

or manmade disaster that may happen within 

the state of Indiana,” Gardner said.

Indiana Guard members also were helping Emergency Medical Service personnel 

evacuate patients and deliver critically needed medication and providing aviation support, among other missions, Guard Bureau 

officials reported.

More than 100 Guard members are on 

duty in Missouri, hit by tornadoes Feb. 29 

and March 1. The Missouri National Guard 

has focused its continued efforts in Taney 

County, around Branson in southwestern 

Missouri.

“We are here to assist the local police 

department [and] fire department with ... 

debris removal, presence patrols, security to 

prevent looting and any other assistance that 

the city would need from us,” said Army Col. 

Gregory Mason, Missouri’s assistant adjutant 

general.

“We’re glad to be able to help people, said 

Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri’s 

adjutant general. “Our motto – as the governor says – is to help good people through 

bad times. With 11,600 airmen and soldiers, 

there’s no skill set on the civilian side that 

you can’t find somewhere in the Missouri 

National Guard. That makes it very valuable when we come in, because if there is 

a specific mission or specific skill set that is 

required, we can usually find someone in the 

Guard to bring in for that.”

The Army Guard’s 35th Engineer Brigade 

out of Fort Leonard Wood is overseeing the 

response effort in Missouri.

“We get the mission done,” Danner said. 

“When lives are at stake, the governor is insistent: He has a four-point plan where he 

talks about, ‘You’ve got to come in, and 

first thing is safety and security, rescue, and 

then recovery -- and then your after-action 

reports to improve what you’ve done.’ Governor Nixon is very insistent that we use a 

methodical process to ensure that our mission is successful every time. That’s what has 

worked for the Guard.

“It’s important that we let the citizens 

know we are here to assist the local law enforcement, city police and the county – who 

have done a tremendous job in ensuring the 

safety of the citizens here, but also the security of their valuables until they’re able to 

retrieve them,” he added.

In Kentucky, about 80 Guard members 

are assisting local authorities with medical 

support, security and traffic control.

“The Guard being here means safety,” 

said Hodgenville, Ky., Mayor Terry L. Cruse, 

whose community was hit hard Feb. 29. 

“These people have lost a lot, and to have 

the security the soldiers provide, it’s one less 

thing they have to worry about.”

In West Virginia, about 20 Guard members were assisting with debris removal after 

severe weather affected 10 counties Feb. 28, 

bringing heavy rains that caused flash-flooding.

After up to 16 tornadoes struck Alabama 

yesterday – including a near-direct hit on a 

state prison – the Alabama National Guard 

is mobilizing, Guard Bureau officials said.

The Missouri National Guard’s Army Pfc. 

Collin Chenoweth said being in the National 

Guard gives him a chance to help – a chance 

that most citizens don’t have. “A lot of people want to help and can’t,” he said. “Being in 

the Guard gives me the opportunity.”

at the rea d y

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill

and Tech Sgt. John Orrell

National Guard Bureau

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

National Guard responds 

to tornado destruction

Army 2nd Lt. Sean Jones (center) met with local authorities in LaRue County, Ky., March 1. Jones coordinated 

the Kentucky National Guard mission following the tornado which struck the community of Hodgenville on 

Feb 29. –U.S. Army photo

NATICK, Mass. – Long hailed as windows 

to the soul, the eyes also might provide insight for researchers at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 

or USARIEM, who are evaluating and working to improve methods for detecting traumatic brain injuries, or TBI, in Soldiers while 

they are still deployed.

“The ultimate goal is to provide the most 

accurate and efficient tools and techniques 

for determining Soldier performance and 

readiness,” said Dr. Kristin Heaton, a neuropsychologist at USARIEM.

The EYE-Tracking Rapid Attention 

Computation, or EYE-TRAC, device being 

developed by Sync Think, Inc., of Boston, 

could provide a new tool in that quest. The 

portable device, which includes hooded 

goggles worn by the patient and a hand-held 

peripheral that displays results, tracks eye 

movements with two high-speed cameras 

as the patient follows a moving target on a 

screen.

“It’s a relatively simple test, but the device uses complex algorithms to quantify 

how well a subject can follow, and synchronize with, the target,” said Kevin Coppersmith, Sync Think CEO. “We’re measuring 

attention performance, a subject’s focus. 

We believe eye-movement control provides 

a window to the brain and can be a reliable 

indicator of brain health.”

According to Coppersmith, desktop eyetracking devices have been available for a 

decade, but EYE-TRAC would bring the 

technology closer to deployed Soldiers who 

suffer blast injuries.

“It’s a combat-readiness tool,” Coppersmith explained. “We’re careful not to use the 

term ‘diagnostic,’ because a diagnosis tends 

to include other testing and patient history, 

but we have found significant differences in 

eye-movement behavior in those with injury 

relative to those who are healthy.”

How big a role EYE-TRAC will play in 

the future of TBI detection in Soldiers remains to be seen. 

“This is one tool out of many that we’re 

evaluating,” Heaton said. “The closer that 

we can get to where Soldiers are and where 

they may be working and injured, the more 

quickly we’re able to get them appropriate 

treatment after injury.”

on the g ro u n d

The Wire | Page 14 For Science! |

I n the f i g ht

Precision rocket 

artillery changes 

the battlefield

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan – There was enough 

explosive material to construct hundreds 

of improvised explosive devices. Marines 

from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment 

lacked the power to destroy the huge IED 

cache. They called for fire, and eight rockets landed within seconds of being fired. 

According to the after action report from 

the artillery platoon, all rounds impacted 

on target, the site was destroyed, and there 

was no collateral damage.

The artillery battery fired precision, 

GPS-guided rockets from a fast, and accurate fire system called the High Mobility 

Artillery Rocket System, said 1st Lt. William 

Prom, the fire direction officer with 3rd 

Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th 

Marine Regiment. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System enables the Marines to 

take out enemies within minutes and strike 

within feet of a target, every time.

The HIMARS is composed of the M142, 

a five-ton chassis vehicle with a launcher 

pod of six rockets loaded into the bed, said 

Cpl. Abbas Alhmedi, a launcher chief with 

3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th 

Marines. When the Marines receive a call 

for fire, the trucks roll out within seconds 

and position themselves in the direction of 

the target. Through strict communication 

with the fire direction center, a launcher 

crew of three Marines inputs the grid coordinates of the target and launches rockets 

on command. 

“When I launch that rocket, my heart 

is beating quickly,” explained Alhmedi, 

a 24-year-old native of Chicago. “As the 

chief of a launcher, I have to verify that 

this rocket is gonna hit the right target. 

My heart is always racing when it’s going 

downrange and I get the excitement, the 

nervousness, the butterflies... it’s all going 

through my mind.”

After the launch, the rocket often lands 

sooner than 30 seconds. Alhmedi said he 

receives a report verifying a successful 

launch, giving him a sense of relief and 

satisfaction.

 “When I confirm a successful mission, 

it’s a great feeling knowing that if it wasn’t 

for me, something could have happened to 

my fellow Marines,” added Alhemdi.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket 

System rockets are able to launch within 

minutes and in poor weather, an advantage 

over close air support, said Staff Sgt. Andrew N. Heath, the operations chief with 

3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th 

Marines. 

 “When you’re having bullets slung at 

you, a couple of minutes seems like an 

eternity,” explained Heath.

Heath said the rockets allow artillery 

to quickly support Marines who are under 

fire and give them confidence when they 

patrol.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System outranges traditional artillery by up to 

three times, allowing smaller units to cover a larger area. In previous deployments 

without HIMARS, it was common to send 

an entire artillery battalion, composed of 

several smaller batteries, to cover a large 

area of operations, said 1st. Lt. Tom V. 

Worthington, the 3rd Platoon commander 

with Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marines. 

With HIMARS, a single battery is able to 

cover the entire battle space for the partnered forces in Helmand province.

“It’s a big game changer,” said Staff Sgt. 

James D. Sanders, the 3rd Platoon sergeant 

with Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marines. 

“It can take out targets unthinkable by traditional artillery.”

One HIMARS rocket can destroy a target which previously required four rounds, 

added Sanders, a 26-year-old native of 

Wichita, Kan. It has allowed the artillery 

element to support more units and more 

operations than before.

“Knowing that I can support the Marines on the ground through thick and thin, 

through firefights, through indirect fire, 

through IED emplacers... knowing that 

we’re saving lives is a good feeling,” said 

Alhmedi. “It’s what we’re meant to do.” 

By Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

1st Marine Division

Eyes could 

provide windows 

to TBI research

By Bob Reinert

USAG–Natick Public Affairs
Have you ever felt like life has 

dealt you a bad hand or that you 

were stuck in situation that seemed 

like weeds surrounded you at every 

angle? Perhaps your job isn’t just 

quite what you thought it would be. 

Maybe this is your first or even your 

tenth assignment and you’ve thought, 

really, Guantanamo Bay? Or you have 

a roommate/housemate situation that 

just seems less than ideal. What about that 

co-worker who is so hard to get along with? 

There are so many things that surround us 

that could potentially steer us towards a 

negative path. Yet, most of us have heard 

the saying: “Bloom where you are planted.” 

That quote is credited by some to come from 

the Bishop of Geneva, Saint Francis de Sales 

(1567-1622). 

I’m reminded of a story that Joel Osteen 

shares in his book, “Every Day a Friday.” He 

recalls, “I was walking through the woods 

awhile back and came to this big open area 

full of large, tall weeds. For acres and acres, 

as far as I could see, there were these dead, 

dried-up brown, ugly weeds. As I walked 

through the open field, about a hundred 

yards in, I saw this beautiful flower. It was 

so bright, so colorful, so refreshing. It had 

bloomed right there in the middle of acres 

and acres of old, ugly, dried-up weeds. And I 

thought, ‘Really, that’s what God wants us to 

do. Just bloom where you’re planted.’” 

Just like flowers, humans can bloom 

and thrive in variety of circumstances and 

situations. In our lives, there are challenges 

and triumphs. The question is, how do we 

live an abundant life and blossom when 

the weeds seem to crowd out life’s positive 

aspects? 

First, it is really about attitude. Even in the 

middle of chaos or stress, put a smile on your 

face. Convince yourself that “my attitude 

will determine my altitude.” Sometimes, in 

order to have a positive attitude we need to 

surround ourselves with people have that 

mentality. It’s so easy to go negative, but 

don’t. Stay focused on the positive aspects 

of your life.

Second, realize that God has you 

in a certain place (i.e. job, relationship, 

career, etc.) for a reason and that 

gratitude can help in the blooming 

process. One of my favorite passages 

of scripture says, “the steps of a good 

man (or woman) are ordered by the 

Lord.” (Psalsm 37:23) I find this to 

mean that your assignment to Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo in not an accident. 

God has a special plan for you! 

Third, there is a reason and a time for 

everything. There’s an exciting story in the 

Old Testament about how timing is indeed 

everything. Take time to read the story of 

Esther and how God worked things out as 

she realized there is a reason and season for 

the events in our lives. Here’s a portion of 

that story: “And who knows but that you 

have come to royal position for such a time 

as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Finally, take time to enjoy where you are. 

Hopefully one day you’ll be able to look back 

and literally thank God for your colleagues, 

roommate(s), the rocky beaches, the one and 

only McDonald’s, outdoor movie theaters, 

iguanas and banana rats. Guantanamo may 

very well be your opportunity to bloom 

where you are planted. 

Your assignment to Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo is not an 

accident. There is a reason 

and a time for everything!

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Bloom where you are planted

Mind, 

Body

& Spirit

by Chaplain

Lt. Col. Alan Chouest

JTF Deputy Command Chaplain

Hey Sergeant, our sponsor 

just dropped off our 

‘Welcome to Gitmo Survival Kit!’

Hmm... patrol caps, 

reflective belts, oh, and 

the Gitmo Cologne we 

keep hearing about...

IT’S BUG SPRAY!!

REDEPLOYED... 

TO GTMO BY CAPT. RICHARD DENMAN

It’s that time of the year. What time is it, 

you ask? It’s alliteration time! This weekend 

is Selection Sunday which unveils teams 

participating in March Madness. Sixty-eight 

college basketball programs will be on the 

grand stage. Round one will spur Cinderella 

stories (that’s alliterative enough). The Sweet 

Sixteen will give birth to bracket busters. 

Dreams are deferred in the Elite Eight. The 

pressure is palpable when teams face-off in 

the Final Four. And magic is made in the 

national championship game.

But who cares about basketball? The 

winners of these games take a backseat to 

consequences of the outcome. This time 

of year is about brackets and bets. The FBI 

estimates this tournament generates at least 

$2.6 billion in illegal revenue. There are also 

outlandish promises and wagers between 

friends and co-workers based on the success, 

or lack thereof, of alma maters.

Lucky for me, Rutgers never makes the 

men’s tournament, so I don’t have to pledge 

to change my Facebook profile picture to to 

a shot of me decked out in St. John’s gear 

in the event of a poor performance. I have 

never done March Madness brackets. That 

surprises people who know how much of a 

sports nut I am, but there is so much about 

the culture of brackets that turns me off to 

the yearly communal competion:

Don’t be That Guy

You know That Guy who doesn’t know 

anything about sports but is the person who 

relishes March Madness the most? That Guy 

sucks. That Guy has strategy, formulas and 

history behind his picks, but can’t tell you 

the mascot of the team he chose to win it 

all. That Guy turns in two or three brackets 

because the margin of error on his formula 

is too large to comfort. That Guy turns in 

an upsets bracket, an expected bracket and a 

calculated bracket. That Guy doesn’t watch 

the games because he doesn’t understand 

why men in suits are always yelling at those 

poor kids. That Guy talks about his bracket 

all day long but when the game is brought 

up, he slides back to his desk.

Workplace relationships

You can work with everyone around you, 

but you don’t have to like them. However, 

since we are all involved in this office pool, 

there is a common bond for people you don’t 

like to walk up on you and start chatting away. 

That Guy joins office pools for that exact 

reason. That’s why I use the copy machine 

that’s far away during March. I don’t want to 

talk to That Guy, whose desk is next to the 

close copier.

I hate being wrong

Every time I make an incorrect pick, I’ll 

take that as me not knowing sports well 

enough to make the right call. I know games 

don’t always turn out how rankings and 

conventional wisdom suggests – heck, that’s 

the beauty of the tournament – but I still 

feel like I should have been smart enough 

to predict that Stephen Curry would go nuts 

and lead an unheralded Davidson squad to 

three straight upset wins against perennial 

contenders. I should have known that Brad 

Stevens, head coach of the Butler Bulldogs 

who looks like an over-exuberant equipment 

manager sitting in a coaches chair, would take 

a team of nobodies and one draftable player 

(Shelvin Mack, Washington Wizards, second 

round) to the NCAA finals. Who wouldn’t 

see that coming?

I hate losing

We’ve all heard the story: someone’s wife, 

who made her picks according to where 

she would prefer to live, stormed her way 

through everyone’s brackets on her way to 

a flawless victory. The worst part is that she 

won the final game by choosing University 

of Connecticut to win because she hears 

Boston in the spring time is gorgeous. Yes, 

I know Boston is in Massachusetts, but she 

doesn’t and that’s why it’s so annoying.

Or worse, That Guy wins and you hear 

about it forever. For months he’ll talk about 

about how he knew the powerhouse would 

fall in the Sweet Sixteen. Something told him 

University of North Carolina would contend 

and how he wracked his brain to choose the 

winner of the championship game. Even 

worse, any time an office pool comes up, 

he’ll say, “You know I’m going to win it this 

time – just like I won it in 1993. I’m telling 

you, I can feel it.”

I’m doing my first bracket this March. 

Get a bracket from the gym and submit it by 

Tuesday to the gym to join the MWR pool. 

All of my picks will be based on my friends 

who went to or live near the schools. If I have 

a friend on both sides, I’ll decide by picking 

which friend I like more. I’m not going to 

dedicate basketball knowledge to this pool 

if I’m going to get beat by my boss’s wife. 

Boston is not in Connecticut!

The Wire | Page 16 Student of the Game |

[Mitigating March 

Madness]

See what I did 

[there]?

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

[ST UD ENT O F THE G AME]

Freshman sensation, 

forward Anthony Davis 

looks to continue the 

dominance of the No. 1 

ranked Kentucky Wildcats by leading them deep 

into the NCAA tournament. –Getty photo
| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

GTMO Religious 

Services

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

Daily Catholic Mass

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

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. 

 Islamic Service

Friday 1 p.m. 

Room C

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m. 

Room A

Protestant Communion

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

Intense Spiritual 

Fitness Power Lunch!

Study the Book of 

Romans with 

Chaplain Chouest

Thursday 11-11:30 a.m.

JTF Chaplain’s Office

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

For other services, contact the NAVSTA 

Chaplain’s Office at 2323.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 10

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

9 11 12 13 14 15

We Bought 

a Zoo (last 

showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Act of Valor

(R) 9 p.m.

The Lorax 

(NEW)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening 

(NEW)

(R) 9 p.m.

The Lorax 

(NEW)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening 

(NEW)

(R) 10 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Contraband

(R) 10 p.m.

Safe House

(R) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

& Incredibly 

Close

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Darkest Hour

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

War Horse (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

War Horse (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

We Bought 

a Zoo (last 

showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Contraband

(R) 8 p.m.

The Devil 

Inside

(R) 8 p.m.

Act of Valor

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

For more information, contact the JTF 

Chaplain’s Office at 2305

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

Due to Daylight Savings Time, Downtown Lyceum 

showtimes will change to 8 p.m. beginning March 11.

The Wire | Page 18

Apparently, I’m recognizable as the 

guy who writes the film reviews for “The 

Wire.” I was sighted during a screening 

of “Act of Valor” when the end credits 

rolled. One guy leaving walked by me and 

said “That’s a good-*** movie. You better 

write a good review. Four banana rats!” He 

then disappeared and I started to put into 

perspective the movie I had just seen.

“Act of Valor” is a film that had an 

uncommon genesis. Originally, the film’s 

directors, Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh, had 

intended to make a recruitment film for the 

U.S. Navy SEALs program. The filmmakers 

were embedded with real U.S. Navy SEALs 

for research. It was decided that actors could 

not accurately portray a SEAL for the movie 

they wanted to make, so actual SEALs were 

employed to be in the picture. These real-life 

service members in this film do not reveal 

their full names in the credits and still remain 

anonymous. 

“Act of Valor” follows the heroic acts 

of a group of highly skilled and extremely 

versatile SEALs in two storylines. The first 

story focuses on the liberation of a captured 

CIA operative. The second story centers on 

drug cartels planning to sneak terrorists into 

the U.S. through tunnels in Mexico. 

The actions of the SEALs are narrated in 

past tense by a man known only as “Chief 

Dave.” We meet a majority of the SEAL 

team at a beach campfire get together. This 

sequence is the closest you’ll get to any real 

human backstory on any of the SEALs. We 

get a sense of bonding and camaraderie and 

we genuinely believe the group can function 

as a well oiled machine. We also learn the 

lieutenant in charge of this group is an 

expectant father. These scenes are no doubt 

present to humanize the characters, though 

these scenes do feel a little contrived. 

“Act of Valor” is primarily a 

straightforward action picture. What works 

best are the scenes of the SEAL team 

engaging in covert operations and combat. 

These parts, which are bountiful, are 

meticulously thought out and well executed. 

You see these professionals track down the 

bad guys and see them strategically position 

their team before carrying out their mission. 

Case in point: There is a scene where a sniper 

in the trees coordinates his next move with 

the pair of hands which rise up from the river 

behind a baddie on the pier. Without giving 

the entire scene away, that sequence was one 

of absolute brilliance. 

Principal photography for “Act of Valor” 

took place in Cambodia, Mexico, Puerto 

Rico, Florida, San Diego and Mississippi. All 

of these locations underscore the SEALs 

global presence and the quick response 

capabilities. “Act of Valor” easily has the best 

photography in a military themed movie since 

“Apocalypse Now” (1979). Woodland scenes 

are lush and the scenes where the sunset was 

reflected on the water are nicely done. If 

anyone ever assembled a collection of stills 

from this movie, they would have the basis 

for a striking coffee table book.

All this aside, is “Act of Valor” any good? 

Well, I have to be honest. This movie was 

originally going to be a recruiting tool for 

the military and it shows. Patriotism and 

adherence to a credo of honor are heavy in 

this film. These are not faults by any means. 

However, these factors are about all you are 

going to get from this feature. If you are 

hoping to get a movie that is engaging as a 

thriller with deep characters and plot twists, 

this isn’t that movie.

There’s a scene where the bearded 

senior chief petty officer interrogates an 

apprehended drug lord who’s aiding in 

the terrorist effort. You see the two men 

work off of each other’s dialog. There’s no 

backstory on either men. I’m sure the senior 

chief is one tough hombre and is a force to be 

reckoned with. Without a background story 

to make this guy a more formidable presence, 

his scene is all about defensive posturing. It’s 

a missed opportunity to make the scene far 

more intense and meaningful.

Many action sequences in “Act of Valor” 

reminded me of the first-person shooter 

perspective common in video games. Several 

scenes are framed with the stationary end 

of a machine gun going back and forth 

taking out the bad guys. You see the gun’s 

magazine replaced and the gunfire resume 

all in a continuous shot (pun). Whenever 

a character is introduced, you get a digital 

schematic on the screen that reads with their 

rank, last name, number of combat tours 

served and the commands they were attached 

to. Likewise, when a ship is presented, you 

get a tactical read of the ship’s name and its 

longitude and latitude. After I saw the movie, 

I learned the film’s trailer was shown on a 

video game website for “Battlefield 3” with 

free downloadable I.D. tags for the game. I 

think I see the film’s marketing strategy here. 

I suspect “Act of Valor” will be popular 

with the right audience. The movie will 

certainly be a conversation piece about the 

SEALs. Their hard efforts and sacrifices are 

not in dispute here. “Act of Valor” showcases 

SEALs very positively and there are great 

production values throughout. Apart from 

that, the onscreen story lacks any real human 

interest, which hinders one from being really 

drawn in. If the filmmakers had infused more 

heart into movie, you would have had more 

than an extended pro-SEAL mockudrama. 

Though this film is a little flat as an actual 

“movie-movie,” I am convinced it will 

generate SEAL awareness and keep people 

talking. That’s the best it can do. I’m sure that 

will be okay with the guy proclaiming “That’s 

a good-*** movie. You better write a good 

review. Four banana rats!” After all, he knows 

what he likes. 

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

ACT of VALOR

Movie Review R

101 min.

Movie Review |
Background: More than 250 participants in the 

W.T. Sampson Elementary School Northeast 

Gate One Mile Fun Run met at the finish line 

Matrch 2 at the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo 

Bay/Cuban border.

Below: Following the fun run’s theme, Marine 

Corps Security Forces Company (MCSFCO) 

commander Maj. Winston Tierney kicked off 

the event dressed as The Grinch Who Stole 

Christmas. 

–photos by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd 

Class Kilho Park

TheJTF Above: Geoff Liebman of Rhythm Extreme 

stomped into Downtown Lyceum March 3, 

filling the night air with the harmonious sounds 

of metal and plastic garbage cans. The troupe 

of eight percussionists and dancers used found 

objects and the stage to create the beat.

–photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven