Volume 12, Issue 17 Thursday, April 14, 2011

Season Served

GTMO’s most popular sport returns

JTF implements DADT 

repeal training

525th brings home 

New Mexico glory
The Wire | Page 2

Trooper to Trooper

featuring

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 1,000.

Trooper to Trooper |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson

Command Master Chief

Command Sgt. Maj.

Mark Porrett

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Lt. Col. Don Langley: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Raymond Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class 

Sally Hendricks: 3649

The Wire

Executive Editor

Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cossel: 3499

Assistant Editor

Spc. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Tross

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Ebalo

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Spc. Kelly Gary

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3499

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3499

DSN: 660-3499

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Anthony Tydingo spikes the ball as Salim Rahmanzai goes for the block during a volleyball scrimmage Tuesday night at 

Denich Gym. - photo by Army Sgt. Benjamin Cossel

Operations Sergeant Major, J3

Sgt. Maj.

Today I would like to talk about Troopers’ 

commitment in the day-to-day operations here 

at Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. Many 

will say it is no big deal to do our jobs day in 

and day out; but I beg to differ. Doing your 

job every day, all day takes a special kind of 

commitment. It takes dedicated commitment

of all Troopers to face the same grind each 

day. Some of our jobs here have excitement 

in them from time to time and some are the 

same old thing. But one thing always remains 

the same – the job must get done. Troopers 

are not always granted the choice of what they 

want to do; nevertheless they must do what 

they are told to do. I must say that I am very 

proud of the Troopers here at GTMO because 

they have that dedication I am talking about. 

I see everyday the commitment in their eyes 

and in their smiles. I see an important mission 

with a no-fail demand can have success. That 

success comes from our Troopers through 

their dedication everyday. From the lowestranking Trooper to the most senior-ranking 

Trooper, everybody works to do their best to 

make the mission happen.

What headlines we get here are focused on 

policy, rather than the efforts of those who 

serve. That is beyond our power to change. 

Still, everyone wants to be recognized for 

their effort. Many leaders have different views 

on recognizing Troopers. I believe everybody 

is entitled to recognition when they work hard 

to make the mission happen. It should not 

matter what rank they 

hold or who they know 

– it should be based on 

their merit. This type of 

commitment is called 

“commitment to doing 

what is right.”

All leaders need 

to remember a little 

recognition will go a long 

way to getting the job 

done. All leaders must 

remember if it were not 

for their Troopers who 

support them everyday, 

they would not have a 

job themselves. Way too 

often I hear someone 

say, “Well, they just did their job. Why should 

they get recognized?” Why shouldn’t they get 

recognized for doing that job?

 I also hear, “Well, they are just a lowerenlisted, their time will come later.” Why 

should they have to wait just because you did? 

We as leaders must remember it is our job and 

our duty to be committed to making things 

better and not make the same mistakes that 

were made at our expense. Commitment of 

leaders to their Troopers’ well-being should 

always be the uppermost important objective 

in our word and deeds. 

Leaders need to always understand and 

keep in front of them a commitment to 

selfless service. To serve everybody you are 

charge of before you serve yourself. Every 

time you do something that benefits yourself, 

ask the question “ Is this truly selfless service 

or is it self-serving to me only?” Are you 

taking care of Troopers, the needs of the 

Mission and the Country; or is it really only 

benefiting you? These are hard questions we 

must ask ourselves if we are truly leaders. This 

is the kind of Commitment that defines us as 

leaders and as a great nation of people. I am 

not saying it is easy. It is, in fact, very easy to 

stray from the path of commitment. We must 

stay the course and always remember to be 

committed to our Troopers and the mission. 

Harold Bodenschatz
| News You Can Use The Wire | Page 3

Obama Wants Defense Review, $400 Billion in Cuts

Voice of America News Service

The Pentagon says President Barack 

Obama’s desire to find $400 billion over the 

next 12 years in additional defense spending 

cuts will result in reductions in U.S. military 

capabilities. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert 

Gates is launching a comprehensive review to 

develop options for the president to consider. 

In his budget speech Wednesday, President 

Obama praised Secretary Gates for finding 

$400 billion in cuts based mainly on improved 

efficiency. Then he said he wants the same 

amount of cuts again.

“We need to not only eliminate waste and 

improve efficiency and effectiveness, but 

conduct a fundamental review of America’s 

missions, capabilities, and our role in a changing 

world. I intend to work with Secretary Gates 

and the Joint Chiefs on this review, and I will 

make specific decisions about spending after it’s 

complete.” Obama said.

In a fact sheet, the White House specified 

that the president wants to hold defense 

spending increases below the inflation level, 

and save $400 billion between now and 2023. 

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says 

the cuts would affect the defense department’s 

base budget, currently $553 billion per year. At 

the current spending rate that would be a cut of 

about 6 1/2 per cent per year. The cuts would 

not affect funding for the current wars. 

Still, Morrell says reductions of that 

magnitude will have a real impact on U.S. defense 

capabilities, and will be considered carefully 

during the review the president ordered.

“The secretary has been clear that 

further significant defense cuts can not be 

accomplished without reducing force structure 

and military capability. The comprehensive 

review of missions, capabilities and America’s 

role in the world will identify alternatives for 

the president’s consideration. The secretary 

believes this process must be about managing 

risk associated with future threats and national 

security challenges, and identifying missions 

that the country is willing to have the military 

forego.” Morrell said.

Morrell says Secretary Gates was not aware 

the president wanted the review until Tuesday, 

and is still putting together a plan with other 

senior officials. The secretary did not speak in 

public Wednesday, but at a news conference in 

February he urged members of congress not 

to make defense cuts based on fixed amounts, 

but rather only based on the strategic and 

operational realities of today’s world.

“Suggestions to cut defense by this or that 

large number have largely become exercises 

in simple math, divorced from serious 

considerations of capabilities, risk, and the level 

of resources needed to protect this country’s 

security and vital interests around the world,” 

Gates said.

The press secretary, Geoff Morrell, says the 

Pentagon’s review of threats and capabilities 

will not be finished in time to impact the 

coming debate over the budget for next year. 

Rather, he says, any strategy-based reductions 

will be part of the president’s budget proposal 

for 2013.

Final Haiti run-off election results delayed until Monday

Haitian officials say the final results of 

the country’s recent runoff elections will 

be announced next Monday, instead of this 

coming Saturday as originally planned.

A government source close to the matter 

tells the French news agency conditions have 

not been fulfilled to present the results on 

Saturday as scheduled. Word of the delay comes 

as President-elect Michel Martelly prepares to 

take office May 14, succeeding President Rene 

Preval.

Mr. Martelly was initially excluded from 

the disputed first round in November, until 

international observers reviewed those results 

and recommended he advance to the second 

round instead of the ruling party candidate, 

Jude Celestin. The observers cited fraud and 

irregularities in the first round of balloting. The 

second round took place March 20.

Meanwhile, the president-elect says his 

new government will be all-inclusive and 

that he plans to make his selections based on 

qualifications, not political affiliation. In an 

interview with VOA , Mr. Martelly also said he is 

deciding whom to pick as prime minister to help 

implement his vision for Haiti. The presidentelect says his goals include free tuition for all 

children nationwide, housing for people living 

in tent camps following last year’s earthquake, 

and strengthening the agricultural sector so 

Haiti can become more self-sufficient.

The president-elect was not clear on 

whether he planned to renew the mandate of 

the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission 

after its expiration this coming October. Prime 

Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and former U.S. 

Voice of America News Service President Bill Clinton co-chair the commission, 

which is overseeing assistance to the Caribbean 

nation following the January 2010 earthquake. 

The quake left more than 200,000 people 

dead.

The number of people still living in tent 

camps as a result of the quake has fallen by 

more than half to 680,000. A deadly cholera 

epidemic that started in Haiti last October 

appears to have stabilized. Millions of people, 

however, continue to rely on non-governmental 

organizations to meet their basic needs. Haiti’s 

justice system is dysfunctional, and the prison 

system is dangerously overcrowded.

Haiti is the Western Hemisphere’s poorest 

country.
News from the Bay

Servicemembers to be

paid in full tomorrow

Boots on the Ground

What motivates you?

“My country, my Corps, my 

family.”

Gunnery Sgt. 

Chet Smith

“A nice, relaxing 

evening hanging out at 

Hardhoagmer’s Place.”

Spc. Migdalia Torres Hospital Corpsman

Jay Patty

“The new opportunities God 

gives me each day.”

“My family.”

The impending government shutdown 

confused many over the weekend. Now that 

the threat is over, many servicemembers are 

asking themselves, “How am I getting paid?”

“DFAS will pay the military in full at the 

next regular payday – Friday, April 15,” said Lt. 

Cmdr. Will Parks, officer in charge, personal 

services detachment. “However, there will be 

two bank deposits for each member. Both 

deposits will go into member accounts on 

April 15.”

Parks explained that, facing the shutdown, 

DFAS ran the payday for the period of 

April 1 through 8. Interim leave and earning 

statements were generated for that time period. 

Over the weekend, the decision was made to 

run a second, semi-manual pay for the period 

of April 9 through the 15, as opposed to going 

back and re-booting the entire thing.

“The current military system is reliable but 

... somewhat inflexible,” said Parks. “DFAS 

programmers thought it very risky to start 

over.”

The semi-manual run will not automatically 

update the LES. Therefore, the mid-month 

LES will only show pay for April 1 - 8. The 

month-end LES, however, will be complete for 

the entire month.

The bottom line servicemembers should 

bear in mind is this: You are getting paid. Look 

Stories and reporting by Spc. Meredith Vincent 

and Mass Communiction Specialist 2nd Class Jason Tross

Religious Programs 

Specialist 3rd Class

Jeffery Lauber

Engineers hold first

base-wide Fun Day

Engineers from around Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo and Naval Station Guantanamo 

Bay traded their tools for sports and 

barbecue April 2 during the inaugural basewide Engineer Day. 

More than 50 Troopers from the Air Force 

Prime Base Engineering Emergency Force, 

Navy Seabees and Army engineers took an 

entire Friday to play volleyball, basketball, 

golf, go diving and finally regroup at the 

Marblehead Lanes Bowling Center. 

“It’s great to get everyone together – 

especially from the different branches,” said 

Tech Sgt. Chris Dallas, work order assignment 

manager for the BEEF. “We all work very 

hard and now we get to play hard together. 

This sort of thing breeds camaraderie and 

unity which helps us work together.”

Army Maj. Thomas Knott, of JTF 

Guantanamo engineering, spent the day 

behind the grill cooking steaks, bratwurst, 

burgers, hot dogs and baked beans – all 

seasoned with his personal marinade recipe. 

“Good things happen around a dinner 

table,” said Navy Capt. Thomas Karnowski, 

of JTF Guantanamo engineering. “I believe 

you sit at the table, break some bread and 

talk about things and pass on the word. It’s a 

great way to get things done.” 

Throughout the day, some people took 

to the bay for diving while others scattered 

around Naval Station Guantanamo to play 

their respective sports. 

“I played the heck out of some volleyball 

and bowled my first 188 – four strikes in 

a row,” exclaimed Army Staff Sgt. Tasha 

Cooper, a carpenter and mason with the 

525th Military Police Battalion and Engineer 

Day sports coordinator. 

“We’ve been planning for about 60 days 

now for this first... Engineer Day,” she said. 

“Everything went great. Hopefully they’ll do 

it again this time next year.”

for two LES’s. 

For more information, contact x4415

Marines host night run 

along northeast gate

Marine Corps Security Forces Company 

is sponsoring a Moonlight Run along the 

northeast gate April 22.

Check-in begins at 6 p.m. – departure 

from Marine Hill is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. 

Sign up at the Marine Hill Whitehouse, 

Monday – Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Cost of participation is $25. The first 15 to 

sign up will receive a free T-shirt.

For more information, contact Staff Sgt. 

Owen at x2344.

The Wire | Page 4 News from the Bay |
| Trooper Focus The Wire | Page 5

trooper

Spc. Kelly Gary

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 13 years

Hobbies: watching 

basketball and movies

Pet peeves: annoying 

people

Next goal: to make staff 

sergeant

Advice to junior 

Troopers: “Do the best 

you can do with any task 

you are given.” 

After serving 13 years in the military 

spread across active duty, inactive and 

active reserve, Sgt. Eric B. Ocampo, J3 

administrative noncommissioned officer, 

said he has learned a lot since swearing in 

more than a decade ago.

“When I was in high school I couldn’t 

see myself working in fast food,” said 

Ocampo. “I had more skills than that, so I 

joined the military.”

Since joining, Ocampo has attained 

two military occupational specialties. He is 

primarily shower/laundry, clothing repair 

specialist. For Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

Bay however, he employs his secondary 

skillsert- human resource specialist. He 

performs an array of administrative duties 

for J3, supporting operations and training.

“Sgt. Ocampo is a very mature young 

man,” said Sgt. Maj. Harold J. Bodenschatz, 

operational sergeant major for J3. “He does 

an outstanding job in supporting the J3 in 

taking on every task that he does.”

Administrative specialists are unsung 

heroes. They often do a great deal of behind 

the scenes missions that keep sections in 

order. 

“I wish people could really see how hard 

we work,” said Ocampo.

Ocampo’s leadership has noticed the 

effort he has put forth.

“He takes on every task with zeal,” said 

Bodenschatz. “He completes it in a timely 

manner or even ahead of schedule.”

Bodenschatz said he believes Ocampo 

exemplifies all of the Army Values but that 

personal courage is one of his strongest 

traits.

“He has the personal courage to always 

do the right thing,” Bodenschatz said. “I can 

always count on him to take care of business 

and it will be done the right way.”

When he is not taking care of business, 

Ocampo said he likes to watch movies and 

basketball.

“Hopefully I can get some tickets with my 

friends and go to the playoffs,” he said.

Yet, there doesn’t appear to be much 

extra time for Ocampo to watch basketball 

games. 

“He works very long hours but always has 

a smile on his face,” Bodenschatz said. “He 

is always there to assist anybody that needs 

help.”

Army Sgt. Eric Ocampo

focus

Story and photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Jason Tross

The Prime Base Engineer 

Emergency Force power 

production engineers with Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo packed 

up and sent off their last MEP012A generator April 8. 

This effectively hands over 

backup electrical power for 

Camp Justice to Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay Public 

Works Department and civilian 

contractors, Burns and Roe.

BEEF power production and 

electrical engineers see this as a 

bittersweet moment. The MEPBackup power responsibilities exchanged with bittersweet goodbye

012A units have been handed 

down from unit-to-unit at Camp 

Justice since its inception in 2005 

to provide emergency power 

during military commissions at 

the facility. 

“Today we are reluctantly 

sending off our last MEP12 electrical generator,” said 

Air Force Master Sgt. Frank 

Valls de Los Reyes, assistant 

noncommissioned officer in 

charge of power production. 

“Anytime you have something 

around for this long you take 

ownership and have a lot of work 

invested in it. It’s something to 

be proud of.”

Camp Justice was built with 

eight of these large-capacity 

generators as its initial backup 

power plan. The trailer-based 

unit weighs 12.5 tons and uses a 

V12 Cummins Diesel motor to 

pump out 750 kw of electricity. 

That is plenty of power, but too 

much weight for most standard 

vehicles.

Air Force Master Sgt. Lyn 

Jamison said the greatest 

challenge handing this unit over 

was simply getting it from Camp 

Justice to the Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay Port. see BEEF, page 19

“We had to plan an easy slope 

route and travel at a low speed 

with a police escort to make sure 

this thing didn’t get away from 

us,” said Jamison. “It’s not really 

a problem getting the generator 

rolling. It’s getting it to stop 

that’s such a risk.”

BEEF engineers borrowed 

a five-ton truck from U.S. Navy 

Seabees and used the old Naval 

Air Station Guantanamo Bay 

flight line to approach a more 

gradual slope down toward the 

docks where the unit will be 

 see FOCUS, page 19
The Wire | Page 6 Feature | 

Being away from loved ones is something 

every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and 

Coast Guardsmen understands when he or 

she takes the oath of enlistment. Only on 

deployment do servicemembers truly come 

to grips with the mental strength it takes to 

endure time away from family.

These emotions are familiar to Army 

Sgt. Nazario Castro, attached to the 124th

Military Police Company, Puerto Rico 

National Guard. Castro has been away 

from his wife and two sons for nearly six 

months.

 Aside from using Skype to talk to his 

family each night, Castro was elated to 

learn about Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s 

United Through Reading program.

United Through Reading records a 

deployed parent, aunt, uncle or sibling 

reading a storybook to a child back home. 

The disc and the book are then sent to 

the child so he or she can read along with 

their family member. This allows the child 

to make powerful connections and helps 

deployed personnel parent from afar. It 

also reassures the child mom or dad is safe 

and thinking of home while deployed.

“I had no idea that this was available. 

I heard some friends talking about it, and 

I thought what better way to surprise my 

boys,” Castro expressed.

A native of Puerto Rico, Castro said he’s 

a family man and wanted to find a book 

written in Spanish. Instead, he resorted to 

translating a Disney’s Peter Pan book from 

English to Spanish.

“My sons are learning both English and 

Spanish,” said Castro. “So this will be good 

for them to hear an English- written story 

translated for them. I can’t describe what 

their faces will look like seeing me, but I 

know they will be excited.”

Castro attended a Yellow Ribbon predeployment brief with his wife prior to 

deployment and said the program really 

helped prepare his family.

“My wife took charge and shared this 

Sesame Street pre-deployment book with 

our sons, which showed them that Elmo’s 

dad is also deployed and what to expect,” 

he said.

Not realizing his older son would take 

the book so literally, Castro was surprised 

at his son’s most recent request.

“He said, ‘Daddy, I want to meet Elmo’s 

father,’” laughed Castro. “So I had to tell 

him that Elmo’s father is on leave, because 

he thinks that Elmo’s father is my boss.” 

Although Castro’s son will not be 

meeting Elmo’s father, he will see his dad 

on video making voices and sound effects 

to the tune of a Disney classic- “Peter 

Pan.”

“We adults always try to explain life, 

but children just live everything with great 

imagination and passion,” said Castro. 

“Trying to describe or explain how my 

sons will feel with this storytelling is 

impossible.” 

Religious Programs Specialist 3rd

Class Jeffery Lauber, attached to JTF 

Guantanamo, said he finds joy in being a 

facilitator for the program by setting up 

and recording the readings.

Since Lauber arrived in October, 50 

videos have been recorded and delivered 

to families across the country. Lauber 

explained the recorded tape is made into a 

DVD and formatted to play in a computer 

or DVD player. Then the member mails 

the book and DVD to family members.

“It gives the family back home a chance 

to see their Trooper as often as they want,” 

Lauber shared. “I have heard from people 

who use this program, how their kids or 

grandkids watch the video on a nightly 

basis.”

 If you are interested in uniting with 

your family through reading contact Lauber 

at ext. 2305 to set up an appointment. 

Reading program links children with deployed family members

Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Army Sgt. Nazario Castro, reads a Peter Pan book to his two 

sons while being recorded as part of the United Through Reading 

program, at the Trooper Chapel on Guantanamo Bay, April 4. 
DADT repeal 

training begins

Story by Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cossel

Story and photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Jason Tross

 see POKER, page 19

 see DADT, page 16

| News The Wire | Page 7

Residents from around Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay turned 

out to participate in Morale 

Welfare and Recreation’s Poker 

Ride bicycle event Saturday.

More than 60 people grabbed 

bikes and rode to five different 

stops around the base during a 

two-hour span, taking a card at 

each stop. Riders then compiled 

their hand and met at the MWR 

Marina for the last two cards to 

flip and see who got luckiest. 

In the end Navy Personnel 

Specialist 1st Class Christina 

Reaves, Naval Station 

Guantanamo’s command career 

counselor, won with four sevens. 

She got to choose her prize 

from one of four beach cruiser 

bicycles and more than $1,000 in 

prizes from Camelback and the 

Navy Exchange. She came away 

with a new Camelback.

“I definitely didn’t expect 

to win this,” said Reaves, who 

rode alongside her eight-year-old 

daughter. “We rode our bikes 

around base this morning just to 

do something healthy together. 

She was with me through most 

of the ride before I had to drop 

her off at ballet. I think she 

would have made the whole 

thing with me [otherwise].”

MWR Marina Director Cory 

Geiger explained this poker ride 

was less about winning and more 

about having a good time.

“It literally doesn’t matter 

who finishes first,” said Geiger. 

“It’s a true game of chance all 

day. The nice part is that this is 

not a race. We just want to make 

Poker Ride offers unique fitness, family opportunities 

Longtime Rick’s Lounge DJ says goodbye

Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory” 

and Boyz II Men’s “End of the 

Road” were robustly belted out 

by a few of the regulars at Rick’s 

Lounge in honor of disc jockey 

Jeffrey Omar Campbell’s last 

karaoke night Wednesday.

After more than a year of 

moonlighting at Rick’s, Campbell, 

hazardous material inspector 

for Naval Station Guantanamo, 

said he needed to find more 

substantial employment to better 

help his family in Jamaica.

Many customers expressed 

sincere regret Campbell will 

no longer be there to create 

customized playlists or promote 

and facilitate karaoke on 

Wednesday and Saturday nights.

“[These nights] are a time 

when all the officers get to come 

in and let their hair down,” 

said Marine 1st Lt. Robert M. 

Collinsworth, Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo anti-terrorism 

officer.

JTF and Naval Station 

officers as well as civilians come 

to Rick’s to have a good time and 

Story and photo by Spc. Kelly Gary

Campbell is there to keep the 

tunes rolling.

“Jeffrey is the glue that 

holds everything together,” 

Collinsworth said. “He knows 

exactly when to put on the right 

song.” 

Throughout his time as the 

In December, Congress 

voted to repeal a 17-year policy 

of banning openly homosexual 

individuals from serving in the 

U.S. Armed Forces, commonly 

known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t 

Tell.” 

For the moment, the 

policy remains in effect. Since 

December, the Department 

of Defense has been charged 

with reviewing whether or 

how implementation of the 

repeal could impact military 

readiness, and with preparing 

the force for the change.

Defense Secretary Robert 

Gates said before the law 

is officially off-the-books, 

a military-wide education 

campaign will take place. Once 

the chiefs of the individual 

services have certified the 

training is complete, the 

Chairman of the Joint 

Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of 

Defense and the President 

must certify repeal of the 

law will not negatively impact 

combat readiness. Following 

such certification, there will 

be a 60-day waiting period 

after which gay and lesbian 

servicemembers will be 

allowed to serve openly.

In a Pentagon briefing 

room interview following 

President Obama signing the 

repeal legislation into law, 

Gates said the entire process 

could take up to a year but 

the Pentagon would not drag 

its feet on the implementation 

process. To that end, training 

has already begun at Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo.

“The key takeaway from this 

training is that all personnel 

are needed to accomplish the 

mission and that we must 

treat everyone with dignity 

and respect,” said Rear 

Admiral Jeffrey Harbeson, 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

commander. “We each come 

from different backgrounds, 

 see DJ, page 19

Senior Chief Petty Officer Robin Guy and 1st Sgt. Brian Stuckey 

receive their playing cards and information at the beginning of the 

Poker Run, Saturday morning.

Jeffrey Campbell joins in on the Cupid Shuffle Wednesday at 

Rick’s Lounge. He spent his last night as Rick’s disc jockey 

singing, dancing and entertaining the customers.
The Wire | Page 8 Sports |

For almost two weeks straight, 

the Denich Gym on Naval Station 

Guantanamo has been filled with hundreds 

of servicemembers, families and sports 

fans alike cheering on their favorite teams. 

But sports lovers haven’t been coming 

out three evenings a week to watch the 

volleyball championship series or even the 

playoffs, as the season just started.

“Volleyball is by far the most popular 

sports league here in Guantanamo,” said 

Alana Morrison, Morale Welfare and 

Recreation sports director. “If you come 

out on a Monday or Wednesday night 

to watch the games you’ll see why. The 

energy from the players on the court is 

great and the fans love it.”

MWR kicked off their Spring 2011 

Co-ed Indoor Volleyball League with 

four games scheduled back-to-back, 

April 4. More than 100 servicemembers 

from Joint Task Force and Naval Station 

Guantanamo joined up with families and 

players from the military community to 

form the 14 teams playing in the league. 

Dozens of Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, 

Airmen and Coastguardsmen play for 

their command teams as a way to build 

team work and camaraderie in their units 

outside of the workplace as well as to 

participate in friendly competition with 

other departments. 

“The games are intense, but not as 

physical as football or other sports,” said 

Morrison. “I think that’s another reason 

why volleyball has such a big following 

-- it’s a co-ed league so at all times there 

needs to be at least two females on the 

court. Believe me, the ball still gets hit 

very hard and fast.”

Fe Reyes, a member of one of the 

volleyball teams in the league, agrees.

“We always have fun and that counts 

more than the outcome of the match,” 

said Reyes. “But we all try our best out 

there on the court so it’s always nice to 

get the win.”

During the two-month regular season 

and month-long playoff tournament for 

the championship, teams are schedule to 

play each other at least once and offered a 

chance to forfeit a game or reschedule due 

to mission requirements.

“We understand many of the teams 

have players that might 

not be able to play for 

work reasons, so we 

try to adjust the game 

scheduled as needed for 

the teams as long as we 

have prior notification,” 

Morrison said. “We 

know the mission 

comes first and we fully 

support our teams.”

Morrison said her 

main goals for the league 

are good sportsmanship, 

safety and continuing to 

attract more fans.

“We want to foster a 

competitive, but healthy 

and fair environment 

for all our sports 

leagues and events,” she 

explained. “Come out 

and support your local 

volleyball players, and 

if you think you got 

game, sign up for the 

next league and serve it 

up.”

MWR serves up league volleyball

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Joe Ebalo
| Sports The Wire | Page 9

Opposite page: Gilbert Saenz and Tony Gul battle over the net during a volleyball 

scrimmage Tuesday evening. 

Top left: Katie Graske, captain and coach of the Legal team, sets up 

the ball. 

Bottom right: Zahi Abi Chaker tips the ball over the net as Brie Kreutzfeldt looks on. 

Top right: Salim Rahmanzai goes up for the block as Burch tips the ball over the net. 

Photos by Spc. Meredith Vincent
The Wire | Page 10 News |

Back in January, the Wire brought 

you the story of Guantanamo 

Bay’s Bataan Memorial Death 

March. More than 50 Soldiers 

with the 525th Military Police 

Batallion competed in a 15-mile ruck march 

for the opportunity to travel to White Sands, 

N.M., where those with the top five quickest 

times would then compete in the national 

Bataan March.

Those lucky five recently returned to 

Guantanamo Bay, after placing fourth out of 

23 in their category, with memories and an 

experience none of them will soon forget.

Brian Stuckey, first sergeant for the 193rd

MP Company, explained his motivations for 

putting his team together.

“One reason was to be physically fit,” he 

said. “And two, because there was a goal at 

the end of it, not just a PT test with pushups and sit-ups.”

There was, of course, a deeper meaning 

to the event, and Stuckey made sure his 

Soldiers never forgot it. For those who don’t 

know the story, it goes like this:

During World War II, on April 9, 1942, 

thousands of American and Filipino 

servicemembers were surrendered to 

Japanese forces. Through the miserably hot 

Philippine jungles, the prisoners marched 

for several days under deadly supervision. 

Those who fell, stopped, talked or tried to 

help another prisoner were executed. The 

incident is now one of legend in the United 

States Army. In 1989, the New Mexico State 

University began sponsoring the memorial 

march – the New Mexico National Guard’s 

200th Coast Artillery was among the prisoners 

at Bataan. 

Now in its twentieth year, the march 

inspires more than 6,000 people from all 

parts of the country to join. And, in an 

emotional whollop, it has become tradition 

for survivors of the original Bataan march to 

greet participants at the beginning and end 

of the race. 

“The reason we were there was the best 

experience,” said Stuckey. “Walking out ... 

and being able to shake the hands of the 

individuals who were actually in the Bataan 

March by gunpoint, forcibly, for hundreds 

of miles. That was the epitome of it – that 

made the whole march worthwhile.”

The history of the event hit the mark for 

his young Soldiers as well. 

“The day we went to register, we 

passed one of the vets and I immediately 

got emotional,” said Pfc. Tiffany Byers, 

who works in the S2 shop with the 525th

Headquarters and Headquarters Company. 

“I was so amazed at the will to live they had 

and the turmoil they survived. I was just 

thankful to be there and represent the vets 

who didn’t make it.”

The road to White Sands was not an easy 

one. After the qualifying march, Stuckey set 

about training his newly acquired team. For 

two and a half months, they trained three 

hours a day, Monday through Friday and 

every other Saturday. 

“We knew what we were getting into,” 

explained Stuckey. “We talked to people who 

had been there before, but just to physically 

get out and march with that weight on your 

back was the best training we could do ... 

and we probably should’ve done more of 

it.”

“1st Sgt. Stuckey did a really good job 

of training ... and preparing us,” said Pfc. 

Robert Carroll, a corrections specialist with 

the 193rd MP Company.

 “We knew we had to train hard to be 

competitive,” Byers said. “We were more 

than prepared, but once you get past mile 15 

or so, it was all about what we had inside that 

pushed us to the end.”

Aside from the physical training, Stuckey 

had to bring the group together as a team. 

Only two of the Soldiers knew each other 

before the qualifying march – now they were 

spending up to 20 hours a week together, and 

Stuckey knew to place in New Mexico, they 

would have to trust and rely on each other.

“We would try once a week to have team 

building time and get breakfast together,” 

said Stuckey. “[No one] really knew each 

other, but by the time we left, it was like, this 

is our family.”

“Our group had such a good dynamic,” 

explained Byers. “During training we were 

figuring each other out, but during the 

march, we were all on one page. It was all 

about the team.”

The 525th team in White Sands, N.M. After months of training, 

the team placed fourth out of 23 in their event. “It felt like all our 

hard work paid off,” said Byers, second from right. 

Stuckey leads his Soldiers down the road on 

their 26.2 mile journey.

Stuckey and Spires weigh their ruck sacks 

prior to the march. Depending on the 

category one was competing in, each bag 

had to weigh a certain amount.
| News The Wire | Page 11

“I thought God should 

be there, waiting for us.”

Soldiers from the 525th journey to New Mexico

Byers had a singular obstacle to overcome 

– of the five who left for New Mexico, she 

was the lone female. 

“Being the only female in the group was 

a lot of pressure,” she admitted. “I never 

wanted to be the weak female. I stayed strong 

and did what I had to do.”

Stuckey watched Byers perform and said 

she literally – and figuratively – pulled her 

own weight.

“[She] never faltered,” he said. “There 

was a goal, she set it in her mind and she 

did it.”

As part of his motivational strategy, 

Stuckey told his Troops to find that one thing 

that would take them to the finish line.

“Find something in your heart,” he told 

them from the beginning. “There’s got to be 

something that’s going to carry you over that 

edge, that’s going to keep you moving.”

For a few of his Soldiers, that inspiration 

came from the veterans who brought them 

to White Sands in the first place. 

“That’s all you can think about while 

you’re doing the ruck, is how those guys 

actually did it,” said Sgt. Axel Cardona, with 

the 296th MP company. “They didn’t have 

people giving them water or anything like 

that, and they did it for over 100 miles.”

“I kept trying to motivate myself with 

thoughts of the survivors,” agreed Carroll. 

“I just had to keep reminding myself of 

them.”

The group landed in New Mexico March 

22 and continued to train. The march itself 

was held on the March 27, with teams 

stepping out at 7 a.m. With an assortment of 

military, civilians, families and children, the 

group described the scene as chaotic. It was 

time to put all their training to the test.

“The altitude was ungodly compared to 

what we trained with here,” remembered 

Stuckey. “It averaged 4300 to 5300 above sea 

level. That was pretty overwhelming.”

The altitude combined with the wind to 

make the experience even more unpleasant. 

“We had on average 33 mile an hour 

winds,” continued Stuckey. “They said that 

was the worst they’ve ever had it.”

“The wind .. was pushing against us,” 

recalled Spc. Anthony Spires, a human 

Story by Spc. Meredith Vincent

Photos provided by the 525th “Vigilant Warriors” Bataan Memorial Death March Team

 see BATAAN, page 16

from left to right: Pfc. Robert Carroll, Pfc. Tiffany Byers, Spc. Anthony 

Spires and Sgt. Axel Cardona traveled to White Sands, N.M., March 

27, with 1st Sgt. Brian Stuckey to compete in the Bataan Memorial 

Death March. 
The At Your Service | Wire | Page 12

In The Trenches

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As part of a “rightshaping” of the force, the Army will adjust 

retention-control points for Soldiers this fall.

During his first appearance on Capitol Hill, 

March 30, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. 

Chandler III discussed the Army’s temporary 

end-strength initiative and ensuing force 

reductions before the House Appropriations 

Committee, defense subcommittee.

In July 2009, the Secretary of Defense 

authorized a temporary increase of up to 22,000 

Soldiers for the active Army. This temporary 

end-strength increase reduced stress and strain 

on the force by ensuring all deploying units were 

filled appropriately.

“One of the things we’ve taken in to account 

is, that in order to draw the Army down and 

reduce that temporary end-strength initiative, 

we’re going to have to do some right-shaping, or 

shaping of the force,” Chandler said.

The Army’s senior enlisted adviser 

told lawmakers the service had accelerated 

promotions to create the noncommissioned 

officer corps needed to serve as the backbone 

of a force that has expanded over the last 10 

years while prosecuting war on two fronts.

“We accelerated promotions and we were 

way ahead of our normal promotion rates,” 

Chandler said. “We’re now starting to see those 

slow down. Which is actually a good thing for us, 

because it helps us to better develop that leader 

Sgt. Maj. of Army says retention-control points to shape force

at their current grade instead of being put in a 

position where we have to accept some risk and 

move them ahead to be able to properly man 

the force.”

In the fall, Chandler told lawmakers, the 

Army would implement the force-shaping tools 

needed to help reduce the size of the Army by 

22,000 by the fall of 2013.

“We will actually introduce some retentioncontrol-point reductions for our NCOs to 

actually reduce the amount of time they can 

serve in the force,” Chandler said.

Retention control points specify how long a 

Soldier may stay in the Army at a particular rank 

before having to either leave the Army or get 

selected for promotion.

Chandler also said the Army would take 

initiatives similar to the Navy, to look at selective 

early-release boards.

“Some of our marginal achievers will be 

looked at and considered for separation from 

the service,” he explained.

Those efforts will help the Army “get the 

right Soldier at the right time promoted to be 

in the right job,” Chandler said. “We’re very 

interested in ensuring we do this in a deliberate 

and efficient and effective manner to take care of 

the Army’s requirements, but just as importantly 

(those) Soldier and family requirements.”

Lawmakers also asked Chandler about the 

Army’s use of mental-health providers, and of 

availability of mental-health care. Chandler told 

them he had used those programs himself.

C. Todd Lopez

Armed Forces Press Service

“I sit before you as a beneficiary of the 

Army’s behavioral-health program,” Chandler 

said. “I myself have had the last two years of 

behavioral health treatment and it has made a 

difference in my life and my wife, Jeanne, who 

is with me today.”

Chandler said the Army has benefited from 

an increase in mental-health providers.

“I believe without the increases we’ve had 

over the last several years, that we would be in 

much worse shape than we are now,” he said. 

Though the service faces a shortfall in providers, 

he said the Army is continuing to recruit.

“It has made a difference in my life and I 

know in Soldiers’ lives,” Chandler said.

Lawmakers also asked Chandler and other 

service senior-enlisted advisers at the hearing 

about how the services would be equipped to 

handle conflict on another front -- in Libya.

“We exist to fight and win our nation’s wars,” 

Chandler said. “We all know that where ever the 

nation calls us to go is where we are going to go 

and do the best we possibly can.”

Chandler said the Army’s force generation 

model, or ARFORGEN, is designed to handle 

the current demand, and that changes in demand 

for forces “is going to obviously cause the Army 

to have to reassess what it is doing and where we 

are sending Soldiers and the commitment of the 

Guard and Reserve as an operational fore.”

Nevertheless, he said, “I guarantee you that 

he Army will do everything the nation needs it 

to do.”

New physical training test to get at least 6-month trial phase

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pilot testing for 

the new Army Physical Readiness Test has only 

been conducted at Fort Jackson, S.C., where the 

Army Physical Fitness School is located.

This week, however, the new Army Physical 

Readiness Test, or APRT, will be given to a pilot 

unit at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Scheduled to 

take it with them was Maj. Gen. Richard Longo, 

deputy commanding general for initial military 

training at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine 

Command.

“I’m setting the standards for 52-year-olds,” 

Longo said with a smile after his sergeants 

performed a demonstration at the Pentagon, 

April 7. 

“A lot of people ask, ‘hey, what’s the standard, 

how many push-ups do I have to do?’ We have 

no idea at this stage,” Longo explained. “We’re 

going to be giving this test in pilot form to 10,000 

Soldiers between now and September -- all age 

groups, male and female, Active Component and 

Reserve Component, and Soldier-just-enteredthe-Army and Soldier-been-in-the-Army.”

Rob McIlvaine

Armed Forces Press Service

“We really need this data so we know what 

excellence looks like, what average looks like, 

and what not meeting the standard looks like,” 

Longo said.

The new test will still be given twice a year, 

according to current plans, and the new Army 

Combat Readiness Test -- run in battle gear with 

weapon -- may be used as a pre-deployment 

measurement tool for commanders.

Short duration does not necessarily equate to 

easy. Especially when performing push-ups for 

the Army’s new APRT.

“There’s a reason why we teach precision 

of movement,” said Frank Palkoska, director 

of U.S. Army Physical Fitness School at Fort 

Jackson, S.C.

“In the past, we didn’t enforce much precision 

and exercise prescription as we do today. There’s 

an important aspect of that we teach the correct 

motor pattern in a controlled environment so 

when Soldiers have to execute that same motor 

pattern in an uncontrolled environment that we 

call combat, they have a proper motor pattern 

to revert back to. This also helps us avoid injury, 

which has been a big problem for our Army in 

the past,” Palkoska said.

To illustrate the difference, Sgt. 1st Class 

Amanda Kokkonen, Advanced Individual 

Training Platoon Sergeant of the Year, told how 

she used to perform the PT test.

“During the two minutes of push-ups of 

the APFT we currently do, I do between 60 to 

70. Today, (at the Pentagon demo) I did about 

29 push-ups in one minute. It sounds like a big 

difference but for me, the biggest difference is 

the fact that I can’t move my hands and use 

different muscle groups. Also, not being 

able to take a break, or sag or bow my back 

definitely makes a big difference,” Kokkonen 

said..

Under the new test, the Soldier must place 

their hands in an anatomically correct position. 

This exhibits the maximum force by virtue of 

the hand placement, Palkoska said.

“We’re testing their ability for one-minute’s 

worth of muscular endurance and this becomes 

a true muscular endurance assessment. In the 

old APFT, the two minutes of push-ups wasn’t 

a true muscular endurance assessment because 

we allowed you to rest,” Pakoska said.
| At Your Service The Wire | Page 13

On The Deck

Chief Mass Communication Specialist 

Sonya Ansarov 

Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the 

Navy Public Affairs

MCPON Testifies before Senate on Sailors’ Quality of Life

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The master chief 

petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) testified for 

the first time before the Personnel Subcommittee 

of the Senate Armed Services Committee April 

13.

MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West, along with 

the other top enlisted leaders from the Marines, 

Army and Air Force, appeared before the committee to discuss the health of their forces, quality 

of life programs, family readiness, continuum of 

care, Reserve force, and family housing.

“Current operational demands and high operating tempo have placed added stress on the 

force,” said West. “Our many personnel and family readiness programs remain one of our Navy’s 

highest priorities.”

Navy’s Homeport Ashore program, bachelor 

and Navy family housing, childcare, and Continuum of Care were important issues that were 

brought up to the congressional subcommittee.

“One area that has had recent significant impact on quality of life for our families that I feel 

the need to highlight is the Continuing Resolution 

(CR) for Fiscal Year 2011,” said West.

West detailed for the committee how the 

spending restrictions under the CR resulted in 

considerable delays in permanent-change-of-station (PCS) orders and more than 20,000 sets of 

orders were deferred. He said under the CR, the 

Navy has not had sufficient manpower funding 

to allow for normal lead times for Sailors to receive PCS orders, and the result is the average lead 

times have been reduced from four to six months 

to two months or less.

“While relief is on the way, lingering effects 

of the CR will continue to place emotional and 

economic strain on our Sailors and their families as they attempt to sell homes, seek follow on 

employment for family members, enroll children 

in schools, and complete necessary screening 

and training requirements prior to transfer,” said 

West.

West continued to explain that though our 

leadership continues to be resourceful in mitigating the impact, the CR has affected funding for 

new construction and facility sustainment in barracks and base operating support.

West gave the committee a global snapshot of 

the Navy’s current operations with approximately 

60 percent of the Navy’s ships underway, 40 percent being on deployment worldwide, and more 

than 28,000 Sailors are on the ground and at sea 

in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Naval forces are providing direct support 

of ongoing operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 

executing counter-piracy missions off the coast 

of Africa, and continuing to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the people of 

Japan.

Greater demand on Navy forces has lead to 

longer deployments and shorter dwell, or turnaround times, which increases strain on Sailors, 

Navy civilians and their families, West explained. 

West said he firmly believes that how the Sailors 

sent to war, the families they leave behind and 

those wounded and retired shipmates are supported, truly defines us as a Navy and a nation.

“Despite these challenges, our leadership remains focused on providing support to our Sailors and their families to foster resiliency as well as 

family readiness,” said West.

In closing, West thanked the subcommittee 

for their steadfast support of our men and women in uniform.

The MCPON periodically testifies before 

Congress along with the senior enlisted leaders 

of the other services. This was his first appearance before the Senate Committee on Armed 

Services. 

Sources: Predator Drone may have killed Navy, Marine medics

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The military is 

investigating what appears to be the first case 

of American troops killed by a missile fired 

from a U.S. drone.

The investigation is looking into the deaths 

of a Marine and a Navy medic killed by a 

Hellfire missile fired from a Predator after 

they apparently were mistaken for insurgents 

in southern Afghanistan last week, two senior 

U.S. defense officials said Tuesday. The officials 

spoke on condition of anonymity because the 

investigation is ongoing.

Unmanned aircraft have proven to be 

powerful weapons in Afghanistan and Iraq 

and their use have expanded to new areas and 

operations each year of those conflicts. Some 

drones are used for surveillance and some, 

such as the drone in this case, are armed and 

have been used to hunt and kill militants.

Officials said this is the first case they know 

of in which a drone may have been involved 

in a friendly fire incident in which U.S. troops 

were killed, and they are trying to determine 

how it happened.

Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith of 

Arlington, Tex., and Seaman Benjamin D. 

Rast of Niles, Mich., were hit while moving 

toward other Marines who were under fire in 

Helmand province.

Military officials in Afghanistan declined to 

provide any details, saying only that it was a 

friendly fire incident. “A formal investigation 

will determine the circumstances that led to the 

incident,” the International Security Assistance 

Force said in a statement last week.

But reports from the field indicate that 

the Marines who were under attack mistook 

Smith and Rast for militants heading their way 

and called in a strike from a U.S. Air Force 

Predator, one official said.

Smith, 26, and Rast, 23, were with the 1st 

Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, a reserve 

unit in Houston.

Smith’s father, Jerry, said he didn’t want to 

place blame for what happened.

“Whoever that young man or woman was, 

they didn’t send that drone over there to kill 

my son or Doc Rast,” Jerry Smith told the Fort 

Worth Star-Telegram. “If it was a royal screw 

up, it was a royal screw up. Make corrections 

because I don’t want another family to have to 

go through this.”

He said “trying to put a bigger burden 

on that person who fired the missile is not 

something I would do.”

“I guarantee you if he was standing in front 

of me, he’d be asking for forgiveness, and I 

would give it to him,” Jerry Smith said.

The Marines have been in a fierce fight 

in the south, battling insurgents in key 

Taliban sanctuaries such as Sangin, a militant 

stronghold.

Currently, Air Force Predators and 

Reapers, the high-flying hunter-killer drones, 

are logging 48 of the 24-hour air patrols a 

day, moving toward a goal of 65 in 2013. 

The aircraft are prized for their intelligence 

gathering proficiency and ability to pinpoint 

targets, reducing the risk to U.S. pilots and 

other personnel.

Under pressure from Defense Secretary 

Robert Gates, the Air Force has dramatically 

increased the number of armed and unarmed 

drones in the war zones over the past three 

years.

Other military services have their own 

drones, ranging from the Army’s smaller 

shoulder-launched Ravens to the sophisticated, 

high-altitude Global Hawks, which are used 

for surveillance missions and do not carry 

weapons.
The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Commandant 

of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos 

announced the next Sergeant Major of the 

Marine Corps April 11.

Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, 1st Marine 

Division’s sergeant major, is set to take 

charge as the senior enlisted Marine in the 

Marine Corps. He’s scheduled to succeed 

Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the current Sergeant 

Major of the Marine Corps, during an 

appointment and relief ceremony, and 

Kent’s retirement ceremony held at Marine 

Barracks Washington June 9.

Barrett recently returned from a 

deployment to Helmand province, 

Afghanistan, where he served as Regional 

Command Southwest’s sergeant major.

Amos said Barrett is “the best of the 

best,” and will continue to serve the Corps 

as Amos’ senior enlisted advisor.

“Sgt. Maj. Barrett, through his long and 

distinguished service to our nation, has 

demonstrated that he is particularly wellsuited to serve as my senior enlisted advisor 

Commandant announces next Sergeant Major of Marines 

Inside the Jar

Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes

Headquarters Marine Corps 

through the challenges ahead,” said Amos.

Barrett enlisted as an infantryman in 

March 1981. In addition to Afghanistan, 

his combat deployments include serving in 

the Persian Gulf War as a sniper with 3rd 

Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and two 

tours in Iraq as battalion sergeant major of 

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

Kent has served as the Sergeant Major 

of the Marine Corps since April 25, 2007. 

He graduated recruit training March 1976 at 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, 

S.C. In his 35 years of service, Kent has led 

Marines in various billets to include senior 

drill instructor and battalion drill master at 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, 

chief drill instructor and first sergeant at 

Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School 

in Pensacola, Fla., and sergeant major of 

I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine 

Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

“My time on active duty is coming to an 

end, and I’m honored to pass the sword of 

office to Sgt. Maj. Barrett,” said Kent. “He 

is a true warrior and will continue the great 

legacy our Corps.”

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos announced Sgt. Maj. Micheal 

Barrett as his selection for the next Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. The relief 

and appointment ceremony and retirement of Kent is scheduled for June 9 at Marine 

Barracks Washington. – photo by Sgt. Ben J. Flores

First Marines, Soldiers graduate from new integrated ops training program 

Lance Cpl. William J. Jackson

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms 

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND 

COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE 

PALMS, Calif. — Senior enlisted and 

commissioned Marines, along with a handful 

of Army officers, filled a Marine Corps 

Tactics and Operations Group classroom for 

the very first integrated Ground Operations 

Chief Course and Tactical Marine Air 

Ground Task Force Integration Course 

graduation April 8.

In January, Gen. James F. Amos, the 

commandant of the Marine Corps, signed 

into effect the Operations & Tactics Training 

Program Marine Corps Order 3502.7 that 

requires operations chiefs and officers to 

become certified as operations and tactics 

instructors before assuming an operations 

leadership billet.

The newly-integrated course prepared 

the Class 2-11 ground combat element 

operations chiefs for operational planning, 

fire support planning and coordination and 

warfighting functions at the battalion and 

regimental level, said Master Gunnery Sgt. 

Dennis Stieber, chief instructor for the 

Ground Operations Chief Course, out of 

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Each class now incorporates non-infantry 

subject matter experts to craft a well-rounded 

operations chief, capable of taking charge 

of a ground combat element with a more 

sharpened skill set.

“[The Marines] will be comfortable 

with taking the lead. They should be able 

to emplace and displace the [Combat 

Operations Center], and they should be able 

to take the lead on training the COC battle 

staff,” said Steiber, before the graduation 

ceremony began.

Steiber said the training staff dismantled 

the old operations chief course and essentially 

built the new integrated course from scratch. 

“There’s more practical application than 

there is classroom time. They spend the 

majority of the seven weeks actually doing 

what they’re supposed to be doing,” added 

the Marathon, Wisc., native.

The first course, Class 2-11, integrated 

training officers and enlisted Marines, 

allowing them to work under similar 

conditions they will face while serving as 

part of a unit. Each gained the knowledge it 

will take to work together as ops chiefs and 

officers in their respective job.

“It was all valuable and pertinent training,” 

said Capt. Quinci D. Martin, about the two 

courses. “I’d recommend it for anyone.” 

Martin, a self-proclaimed “Navy brat” from 

the Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine 

Islands, will take charge as the supply officer 

for the 8th Communications Battalion at 

MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“I have been paying attention to this 

particular course,” said Brig. Gen. H. Stacy 

Clardy, III, the Combat Center’s commanding 

general. “It’s important to me personally, as 

a Marine, as the commanding general here, 

a former director of Expeditionary Warfare 

School, but more importantly it’s important 

to the Commandant of the Marine Corps 

and therefore imperative that this [course] 

goes well.”

 “We as Marines are war fighters. The 

wars we are fighting now have gotten more 

complicated, more complex,” said Clardy. 

“We need skilled operators who understand 

the complexities of the battlefield, who 

understand how training should be 

conducted in a sophisticated manner, and 

just as importantly, how to plan and execute 

operations.” 
| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

Changes to AF leave policy take effect

On the Wing

 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 

(AFNS) -- More than 150 

U.S. military personnel plus 

counterparts and civilian officials 

from Trinidad and Tobago, 

the United Kingdom, Canada, 

Guyana, and Suriname gathered 

here April 8 to participate in 

Fuerzas Alidas Humanitarias. 

The annual event is also called 

Allied Forces Humanitarian 

Exercise.

 FA HUM 2011 is conducted 

to enhance a nation’s response 

capabilities and interoperability 

with international military forces 

and humanitarian assistance 

agencies. This year’s two-week 

exercise simulates a catastrophic 

earthquake in Trinidad and 

Tobago, requiring outside 

aid. Officials said the exercise 

illustrates U.S. commitment to 

work with regional partners in 

ways that “strengthen friendships, 

bolster partner nation capacity, 

expands cooperation between 

nations and enhances regional 

 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force announced April 8 

several changes to Air Force Instruction 36-3003 on Military Leave. 

These include revised rules for determining the first and last day of 

chargeable leave, emergency leave requests, permissive temporary 

duty and educational leave of absence.

 The rule for determining the first and last day of chargeable leave 

was changed to align Air Force procedures with Department of 

Defense guidance, according to Lt. Col. Jodi Riley, Air Force Military 

Pay, Entitlements and Allowances Policy chief.

 The colonel explained that if a member is starting leave or signing 

up for space-available travel on a non-duty day, then the member is 

on leave and that day will be chargeable. If a member returns from 

leave on a non-duty day, that day will not be charged as leave.

 For example, if an Airman who works a typical Monday through 

Friday work week starts leave on Saturday, Saturday counts as the first 

day of leave, the colonel said. However, if the Airman starts leave 

during the work week and returns from leave on a Saturday, the last 

day of chargeable leave is Friday. In addition, if the Airman starts 

leave during the work week and returns from leave on a Sunday, the 

last day of chargeable leave is Saturday. If the Airman returns from 

leave on a Sunday or holiday, that day is not charged as leave.

 The change means the rules for determining the first and last day 

of chargeable leave have been reversed, Colonel Riley said.

 “There was nothing wrong with the way the Air Force implemented 

its leave policy,” the colonel noted. “The change was made so the Air 

Force is consistent with the DoD leave policy. There is no need to 

Airmen hone relief skills in Trinidad and Tobago 

correct anyone’s records.”

 Because LeaveWeb is not configured to automatically differentiate 

between the last day of leave and the last chargeable day of leave, 

Airmen and supervisors will be responsible to input the correct 

chargeable days into the program based on an Airman’s duty 

schedule.

 Air Force officials said Airmen and supervisors should carefully 

read Air Force Guidance Memorandum 2 to AFI 36-3003, Military 

Leave Program, paragraphs (i) through (m), before finalizing leave 

requests under the revised guidelines.

 Other leave policy changes include:

 -- Expanding the conditions under which a member may request 

emergency leave, to include when the member or someone in the 

member’s or spouse’s immediate family is admitted into an intensive 

care unit in critical condition due to a major illness or accident

 -- Clarification of ordinary leave start and end dates when leave 

is taken in conjunction with permissive temporary duty as well 

as clarification of circumstances under which commanders may 

authorize permissive TDY in conjunction with an adoption

 -- Members granted an educational leave of absence will now be 

charged leave for scheduled school breaks and extended holiday 

periods unless they return to duty with their units of assignment 

during the break.

 Airmen and supervisors with questions about changes in the leave 

policy may contact their servicing military personnel section or the 

total force service center at 800-525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.

stability.”

 “We’ve received great support 

from the host nation,” said Col. 

John Mansfield, the 60th Medical 

Group deputy commander at 

Travis Air Force Base, Calif. 

“The Trinidad military has been 

superb in meeting our needs. 

Our focus is to support the host 

nation.”

 Fifteen volunteers from the 

1st Engineer Battalion from 

the Trinidad military acted as 

patients for the first day of the 

exercise, with the emergency 

room team treating them within 

the first 20 minutes.

 “Once receiving life-saving 

medical care, patients are 

transferred to civilian hospitals,” 

Colonel Mansfield said. “The 

facility cannot hold many 

patients because it does not have 

the in-patient beds to do so. This 

is why partnerships with the host 

nations are so important.” 

 The purpose of a Health 

Response Team is to stabilize 

Lt. Col. Jerry Cline, Expeditionary 

Medical Support Health Response 

Team, gives oxygen to a mock patient 

at Cumuto Barracks April 8 as part 

of the Allied Forces Humanitarian 

Exercise/Fuerzas Aliadas. (U.S. Air 

Force photo / 2nd Lt Joel BanjoJohnson) 

Medical Operations Division 

at Headquarters, Air Combat 

Command. “We started planning 

about a year ago and have 

coordinated with the Trinidad 

army and air guard to ensure 

rapid transport of equipment.”

 The government of Trinidad is 

exercising to evaluate their ability 

to respond to a disaster, in order 

to increase their readiness.

patients, stop bleeding, stabilize 

limbs and work with the host 

nation to transfer patients to 

more long-term facilities.

 “We are working with the 

Ministry of Health in Trinidad, 

the Trinidad military, the U.S. 

Embassy assigned here and 

several other agencies,” said Lt. 

Col. Michael Bruhn, the deputy 

chief of the Expeditionary 
The At Your Service | Wire | Page 16

resources specialist with the 193rd. “It got 

so strong sometimes, I couldn’t even walk.”

Spires in particular was battling that day. 

In an unfortunate turn of events, he fell ill 

in the days before and was still recovering as 

they began the march. Stuckey said the young 

Soldier’s determination was a motivator for 

all.

“Spires didn’t eat for three days prior 

because he got sick,” Stuckey explained. “[He] 

was probably the reason we finished where 

we did. Because he kept on and didn’t let it 

affect him. That’s my motivation, seeing my 

guys push through stuff like that. Blood and 

guts – they spilled it all.”

In the middle of the 26.2 mile march was 

an uphill climb of about seven miles. It was at 

that point the team had to dig down deep and 

decide, individually, what they were capable 

of.

“I didn’t think it was going to end,” Spires 

remembered.

Cardona summed it up succinctly.

“Walking up that hill, I thought God 

should be up there, waiting for us.”

Doubting their reasons for volunteering 

during the march, as the team neared the end 

and realized they were almost home, everyone 

agreed it was worth it.

“Crossing the finish line made me see the 

bigger picture,” Byers said. “The march wasn’t 

about us – it was about the survivors, those 

who didn’t make it and the history [of the 

event.]”

Stuckey especially was proud of his group.

“I was happy we finished. That was truly 

the goal,” he said. “Underlying that, we 

wanted to do good. We wanted to represent 

the battalion. They had faith in us.”

Represent they did, with a fourth place 

finish.

“We went into it with high expectations,” 

Stuckey acknowledged. “The training really 

spoke for itself by [placing fourth.]”

Now back on Guantanamo Bay and 

recovered from their adventures, everyone 

agrees they would not hesitate to do it all 

again. Spires said he would run it as a civilian, 

while Cardona wants to take his son. And of 

course, the first sergeant is ready.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Stuckey 

exclaimed. “The gratification of finishing is 

cool, but to know why you did it, made it even 

better. What an experience!”

experiences, and perspectives but we have 

one common bond - we have all volunteered 

to defend our nation.

“This professional training began with 

our JTF leadership and first-line supervisors 

because we are the ones who set the example 

for implementation,” the Admiral continued. 

“It is also important to standardize the 

instruction among the leadership to ensure 

our training is consistent and understood by 

each of those individuals who will serve as 

the future trainers in the task force.”

While each service is responsible for 

carrying out their specific training program, 

they all follow a similar model. Broken down 

into three tiers, level 1 trains experts (e.g. 

chaplains, law enforcement, public affairs 

and others) likely to deal with issues related 

to the policy’s repeal. Tier 2 training provides 

senior leadership on both the officer and 

enlisted side awareness of specific impacts 

of the policy change and the expectations of 

command conduct. Finally, Tier 3 is geared 

for all military personnel, with a focus on 

emphasizing professional conduct and 

personal respect for all.

Training at all levels is mandatory and is 

being arranged through individual service 

channels.

 Navy personnel will be trained through a 

series of All-Hands meetings. Lt.j.g Lauryn 

Dempsey, the service representative, said the 

training sessions will be scheduled beginning 

in May, after the arrival of the new Joint 

Task Force Command Master Chief.

Air Force Lt. Col. Marvin Williams, 

JTF Guantanamo command chaplain, 

is coordinating that service’s training. 

Air Force personnel must complete an 

online training module via the Air Force’s 

Advanced Distributed Learning Service. 

Access to ADLS is available through the 

Air Force Portal. All Airmen are required 

to complete the training by Apr. 30. Section 

officers in charge will pass their team’s 

training certificates to Chaplain Williams. 

The chaplain said he hopes Airmen will 

take away from the training that leadership, 

professionalism, discipline and respect 

remain the top focus and a person’s sexual 

orientation remains a personal and private 

matter. 

Army personnel will have several 

opportunities to receive training, said Army 

Master Sgt. Alfonso Smith. Two sessions 

take place Apr. 22. The first, from 8-10 a.m., 

is for Army field grade officers and senior 

warrant officers. The second, from 1:30-

3:30 p.m., is for company grade officers and 

junior warrant officers.

Three additional sessions take place Apr. 

28. All E-1 to E-4s receive training from 

8-10 a.m. All E-5 to E-7s are scheduled for 

10 a.m. to noon. From 1:30-3:30 p.m. all 

E-8 and E-9s will receive the training.

“The bottom line here is respect,” Smith 

said. “Respect the Soldier’s privacy and 

keep in mind what they are here for – to 

accomplish the mission.”

One branch is already ‘mission complete’ 

regarding the initial training.

“There’s only five of us in the task force,” 

said Marine 1st Lt. Rob Collinsworth, who 

served as that branch’s point person.

Collinsworth said one of the key training 

messages was the Marine Corps would not 

change how they promote individuals.

“The Marine Corps has always been a 

meritocracy -- we only promote the best 

Marines,” Collinsworth said. “That won’t 

change regardless of a person’s sexual 

orientation.”

BATAAN cont. 

DADT cont. 

Coast Guard News Service

Coast to coast

Ten migrants repatriated 

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard 

Cutter Sawfish repatriated 10 Cuban migrants 

to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Wednesday.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter 

Valiant located a rustic vessel with six Cuban 

migrants aboard in the Straits of Florida 

Sunday. The crew of the cutter Kodiak 

Island was diverted and, once on scene, 

safely embarked the Cuban migrants.

Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., 

watchstanders received notification from a 

good Samaritan that they were on scene with 

a rustic vessel south of Florida Friday. The 

five Cuban migrants aboard the rustic vessel 

were brought aboard a Coast Guard Station 

Marathon smallboat and later transferred to 

the cutter Kodiak Island. 

One Cuban migrant is awaiting further 

disposition.

Coast Guard News Service

Cutter locates missing sailors

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard 

located two adult males this morning at 

approximately 4 a.m., who were reported 

overdue from a sailing trip, Tuesday.

The boaters and sailboat were located 

south of Catalina Island, Calif., in good 

condition and in no distress.

Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter, an 87-

foot patrol boat homeported in San Diego, 

escorted the boaters to Avalon Harbor on 

Catalina Island.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk 

helicopter, an 87-foot patrol boat, and C-130 

aircraft were involved in the nearly 11 hour 

search. Two Baywatch units and Dana Point 

Harbor Patrol also conducted mutliple search 

patterns.
| Mind, Body & Soul The Wire | Page 17

Hospital Corpsman Justin Atha, 

JSMART Psychiatric Technician

Mind, Body & Soul

Have you ever heard or 

said, “Only crazy people go 

to see psych?” This sentiment 

is not uncommon among 

servicemembers throughout 

the armed forces. I have heard 

this spoken many times, on 

many fronts, in many ways. 

This is what is called a stigma. 

Stigma was originally a 

word used to describe the 

brand or mark of a Greek 

slave. This conceptual symbol 

of negativity and separation 

is one that is constantly 

connected with psychology – 

the Stigma of Psych. People 

don’t want to be crazy and, 

what’s more, they don’t want 

other people to think they are 

crazy. They believe by talking 

to a psychiatric technician, 

psychologist or psychiatrist 

they will embody this label of 

crazy. Others even think they 

actually need to BE crazy to 

use these outlets. Crazy means 

different things to different 

people but is a negative term 

that should never be used in 

the mental health field. 

For Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo personnel, psych 

is the Joint Stress Mitigation 

and Restoration Team, a group 

Psych or

Psyched Out?

currently comprised of one 

psychologist, five psychiatric 

technicians and one general 

duty Navy corpsman. Contrary 

to popular belief, psych is not 

a looney group of diagnosers 

and shrinks. We are, in fact, 

professionals who take our job 

and our commitment to the 

well-being of Troopers very 

seriously. 

On so many occasions we 

downplay or altogether avoid 

and ignore anything suspected 

of being a psych problem. 

Pride, fear of ridicule and 

misunderstandings play into 

peoples’ uncertainty about 

JSMART. We often fear what 

we do not understand, but 

JSMART is a place you can go 

to talk about what is on your 

mind, away from your work 

space. 

Simply being in the military 

can be stressful, let alone being 

deployed. We work in a field 

where mission readiness is top 

priority and our conviction lies 

in the arms of “suck it up,” for 

the betterment of ourselves, 

our unit and our country. This 

approach, despite its attempts 

at nobility, can mask, contort 

or amplify many internal 

problems. Everyone feels the 

collateral pressure of these 

The Chaplain’s Religious 

Empowerment Development 

Operation provides a series 

of events to help military 

and Department of Defense 

employees and their families 

develop personal and spiritual 

resources in order to be more 

successful at meeting the 

unique challenges of military 

life. Several types of activities 

will be offered in May:

Pe r s o n a l G r ow t h 

Retreat:

Free meals and lodging on the 

Leeward side of the base are 

included. The event is geared 

to increase participant’s 

knowledge of themselves and 

others. A PGR is a great way 

to “defrag” from the stresses 

of daily life and reflect on 

the things that are really 

important. 

May 9-11 Single/

Unaccompanied Personal 

Growth Retreat: held on 

Leeward side. (Permissible 

TDY) (16 Slots) Monday 1 

p.m. to Wednesday 1 p.m.

Workshops:

Workshop activity is 

designed to help commands, 

work spaces, divisions or 

departments in developing 

an interdependent 

and cooperative spirit. 

Participants come away with 

a better understanding of 

themselves, appreciation 

of the differences between 

people, and more respect 

for personal dignity and 

diversity. The team building 

workshop is designed to 

enhance readiness and team 

cohesiveness.

May 12 and 13 Workshops: 

Two workshops each day – 8 

a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 

p.m. - held at the NAVSTA 

Main Chapel. Two types of 

workshops offered: Team 

Building and Myers Briggs.

MarriageRetreat/

Seminar:

The setting for this two-day 

retreat will be the Bayview. 

Activities are designed to 

increase a couple’s ability 

to understand one another 

better and communicate on 

a more intimate level. During 

the retreat breakfast, lunch, 

and dinner are all provided 

free of charge.

May 4-5 Couples Marriage 

Retreat/Seminar: (Permissible 

TDY) (18 Couples Slots) 

Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 

p.m. Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5 

p.m.

May 6-7 Couples Marriage 

Retreat/Seminar: (Permissible 

TDY) (18 Couple slots) 

Friday 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To register contact call 

Chaplain Holmes at ext. 2843 

or RP1 Credo at ext. 2359, no 

later than Apr. 28.

Chaplain’s program offers 

series of retreats, workshops

factors; no one is immune to 

stress. 

JSMART can help to 

identify, manage and relieve 

those problems, stressors 

or unknowns in a safe and 

confidential environment. 

If you know anyone who 

exhibits signs of depression 

or anxiety, talk to them about 

making a JSMART visit. If you 

begin to have feelings of anxiety 

or become overwhelmed don’t 

hesitate to call x3566 for more 

information. Thank you and 

have a JSMART day!
The Wire | Page 18 At the Movies |

Movie Review

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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

Gnomeo and Juliet

(G) 8 p.m.

Hall Pass

(R) 10 p.m.

I Am Number Four

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Roommate

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

*last showing*

Justin Beiber:

Never Say Never

(G) 8 p.m.

Unknown

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Diary of a 

Wimpy Kid

(PG) 8 p.m.

Diary of a Wimpy 

Kid

(PG) 8 p.m. 

Hall Pass

(R) 10 p.m.

The Eagle

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Sanctum

(R) 8 p.m.

*last showing*

Just Go With It

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Gnomeo and 

Juliet

(G) 8 p.m.

Big Momma’s: Like 

Father, Like Son

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

I Am Number Four

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Hop

(PG) 10 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Hop

(PG) 8 p.m.

Big Momma’s: Like 

Father, Like Son

(PG-13) 10 p.m

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

Recently, a few people commented that I 

rarely give a good review.

This is not that review. 

Eventually, when I’ve finally watched 

something worthy of three, four or even 

five (!!) banana rats, I will be happy to do so. 

However, there is no doubt “I Am Number 

Four” is probably the worst yet, so if you 

don’t enjoy reading a good-old fashioned 

beat down, I suggest you move on to the 

next page.

“I Am Number Four” is pointless, 

teeny-bopper drivel. Honestly, sometimes 

I can hang with teenager angst, if it’s done 

with wit and class. No need to worry about 

either in this humorless, painfully derivative 

offering directed by D.J. Caruso. The only 

redeeming quality about this entire flick is by 

the time you throw away your popcorn, you 

won’t remember anything about it – it’s that 

unremarkable.

Actually, the entire plot is simply a 

microwaved, rehashed version of yesterday’s 

leftovers. Hunky dude – in this case Alex 

Pettyfer – lands in random small town – in 

this case Paradise, Ohio – and begins making 

googly-eyes at sweet, artsy chick – in this 

case “Glee’s” Dianna Agron. Eventually 

we discover he has special powers and is 

an alien. This story was awesome when it 

was Superman and Lois Lane. It was barely 

tolerable when it was Edward and Bella. It 

has finally reached its expiration date. Too 

bad nobody told the cast. 

Pettyfer, a former model, should’ve stuck 

to what he was good at – standing around 

and being really, really, ridiculously goodlooking. Watching him try to emote is so 

painful, I’m sure I actually winced a couple 

of times. Unfortunately, the same can be 

said of his leading lady. Agron proves she 

is a one-trick pony. There is not one shred 

of difference between the movie’s Sarah and 

her alter ego as “Glee’s” Quinn. (That’s not 

entirely true – Quinn would never be caught 

in that awful beret.) 

Doing my best not to be a hater, I’m going 

to give it one banana rat. At one point there 

was a puppy. I’m a sucker for a cute puppy. 

About the MWR Movie Program

MWR offers the GTMO community 

recently released movies at the Downtown 

Lyceum and Camp Bulkeley Lyceum. The 

35mm movie program is administered by 

Navy Motion Picture Service (NMPS) 

which has been in existence since circa 

1919. NMPS manages the selection and 

shipping of films each installation receives 

and the dates authorized to play each movie 

based on license agreements held with the 

movie studio. The program is operated 

under BUPERSINST 1710.15A.

Spc. Meredith Vincent

PG-13

 109 min. 
| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

While Ocampo assists the J3, he also 

displays good leadership with fellow 

servicemembers, said Bodenschatz.

“He is a good NCO,” he said. “He helps 

mentor Soldiers he sees on a day-to-day 

basis.”

Ocampo said there are many different 

definitions for a leader but the ability to offer 

guidance is key.

“Being a leader does not necessarily mean 

knowing everything,” said Ocampo. “Yet, [a 

leader] should know enough so they can guide 

their subordinates along the right path.” 

The Prime Base Engineer Emergency 

Force power production engineers with Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo packed up and sent 

off their last MEP-012A generator April 8. 

This effectively hands over backup 

electrical power for Camp Justice to Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay Public Works 

Department and civilian contractors, Burns 

and Roe.

BEEF power production and electrical 

engineers see this as a bittersweet moment. 

The MEP-012A units have been handed 

down from unit-to-unit at Camp Justice since 

its inception in 2005 to provide emergency 

power during military commissions at the 

facility. 

“Today we are reluctantly sending off our 

last MEP-12 electrical generator,” said Air 

Force Master Sgt. Frank Valls de Los Reyes, 

assistant noncommissioned officer in charge 

of power production. “Anytime you have 

something around for this long you take 

ownership and have a lot of work invested in 

it. It’s something to be proud of.”

Camp Justice was built with eight of these 

large-capacity generators as its initial backup 

power plan. The trailer-based unit weighs 

12.5 tons and uses a V12 Cummins Diesel 

motor to pump out 750 kw of electricity. 

That is plenty of power, but too much weight 

for most standard vehicles.

Air Force Master Sgt. Lyn Jamison said 

the greatest challenge handing this unit over 

was simply getting it from Camp Justice to 

the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Port. 

“We had to plan an easy slope route and 

travel at a low speed with a police escort to 

sure we’re having fun and being extra 

safe.” 

Nearly 30 volunteers helped keep things 

both fun and safe by helping set up at the 

MWR Marina, manning card stops, providing 

water and acting as dealers for the riders.

“We had a ton of volunteers this time,” 

said Geiger. “JTF was great. I think 95 

percent of the volunteers came from that 

side of the house.”

For many participants, the MWR Poker 

Ride served as an opportunity to catch up 

with fellow Troopers and do something fun 

on a weekend. 

“This was a great way to get some good PT 

on a Saturday morning,” said Army Sgt. Joey 

Diaz of JTF Guantanamo’s Bravo Company 

1st 296. “We try to get out whenever we can 

to MWR events like this. Our work makes 

it tough so we take advantage whenever we 

can.” 

Other participants, like Reaves, felt the 

DJ, Campbell has played and 

experienced all kinds of new music.

“As a foreign national coming here 

I knew nothing about country or rock 

or pop,” said Campbell. “Back home in 

Jamaica I thought everyone in America 

listened to country music.” “Getting here 

I now know most people hate country 

music.” 

As well as learning more about music, 

Campbell made the effort to learn the 

customers and what music they listen to.

“I study each and every one of my 

customers who come into Rick’s,” said 

Jeffrey. “I can tell you what each customer 

likes.”

Campbell goes out of his way to make 

each newcomer comfortable and play what 

they want to hear.

“If you walk into Rick’s and it’s your 

first time I will know right away,” said 

Campbell. “I will go to you and I will ask 

how you are doing and what kinds of 

music do you like.” 

Once he learns what a person’s taste is 

he will not forget.

“If you come back in two months 

or three years, I will still remember,” he 

claimed.

Two men walked up to the table and 

Campbell instantly recognizes them. “This 

is Blue, he is an Elvis fan,” then turned to 

the other and added, “This guy here is an 

old school hip hop and old school rock kind 

of guy, like Ottis Redding’s “Dock on the 

Bay.”

Campbell described the music each 

person in the vicinity preferred to listen and 

sing to. 

“Jeffrey always has a great attitude,” 

said Army Col. George M. Bryan, Joint 

Visitors Bureau Director. “He is always 

willing to help, always trying to get people 

involved.” “He is like the JSMART (Joint 

Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team) of 

Rick’s.” 

Many people are nervous to sing but 

Campbell manages to ease them into it. 

“He will get up and sing when no one 

else will,” Bryan said. “That encourages 

people to want to come up.”

The departure was deeply felt by 

Campbell as well as by the patrons.

“I’m going to miss my customers like 

crazy,” Campbell said.” If I wanted to stay, 

not even management could get me out 

of here because these guys wouldn’t allow 

it.”

Campbell said while it is hard to move 

on it is also necessary. 

“It hurts to leave,” he said. “These guys 

really make me feel at home,” 

Various customers were sure it just 

wouldn’t be the same without Campbell 

keeping the beat and hope he will return 

in the future.

“After a night at Rick’s with Jeffrey your 

moral is up and you are ready for another 

day on JTF,” said Bryan.

“Jeffrey has always carried the party,” 

said Collinsworth. “I am really going to 

miss him.” 

event was more about spending family time 

to show her daughter how to live a healthy 

lifestyle. 

“If I’m making her stay healthy, I need to 

make sure I’m doing it too,” said Reaves. “I 

don’t want to be one of those parents who’s 

pushing their kids to be active while they sit 

at home watching TV. This was a great way 

to do that.”

Based on attendance and the smiles and 

laughter among riders and volunteers alike, 

Geiger felt the MWR Poker Ride was a 

popular success. 

“To get a turnout like we did – we’re 

definitely going to do something like this 

again,” said Gieger. “It takes about two 

months to plan and get everything in for 

safety and security. So we’ll probably start 

working on the next one Monday with five 

new locations and possibly a little bit longer. 

Maybe we’ll make it a two-and-a-half-hour 

ride and push it to maybe 15 miles with 

longer stops between.”

Ocampo said he is not sure what the future 

holds but his own path looks promising.

“I see him making staff sergeant here very 

shortly,” said Bodenschatz.

Ocampo said he hopes to make E-6 and 

then go from there.

“If I do retire in the military, hopefully I 

will be an E-7,” said Ocampo. 

Bodenschatz predicts Ocampo might just 

exceed his own expectations.

“He could become a sergeant major 

easily if he wants to stay in the military,” said 

Bodenschatz. “The sky is the limit for him.”

 DJ cont.

BEEF cont. POKER cont.

FOCUS cont.
JTF

The

MOON OVER GUANTANAMO

A recent full moon waxes over Guantanamo Bay’s historic lighthouse 

– photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Margavich

WATCHING FROM THE REAR VIEW

Machinist Mate 1st Class Christopher Coleman drives a 44-

passenger bus while Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Manoah Zurn 

supervises from the rear view mirror during a driving class on 

Naval Station Guantanamo, April 12. Both Sailors are assigned 

to the Joint Detention Group – photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand. 

A FOND FAREWELL

A crowd gathers at ferry landing Saturday to see off the latest group 

of island escapees. – photo by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand.

STAY OUT OF THE GUTTER

Engineers from around the base participated 

in Engineer Fun Day, April 8. - photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Tross