Volume 12, Issue 43 Friday, October 14, 2011

PLUS: GTMO gets German

Oktoberfest is a hit 

at the Windjammer

Fire Prevention Week

sweeps Guantanamo Bay

Heatin’ Up!

Degree bound

Columbia College 

registration in session
Cc

ommand

orner

The Wire | Page 2

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is produced by the JTF Public Affairs Office to 

inform and educate the Troopers of JTF Guantanamo through 

news, features, command guidance, sports and entertainment. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

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

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE 

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

Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Spc. Kelly Gary

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Pfc. Justin Pierce

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Charles Skinner puts out a controlled fire 

at the Naval Exchange as part of Naval Station Guantanamo’s Fire Prevention 

Week training evolutions. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist Kilho Park

I’m now starting my fourth month here with Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo – and continue to be amazed at how we are able to 

successfully function with the rotational forces that make up the JTF. 

It seems we are continuously bringing a new unit (or two) along with 

many new individuals. This kind of turnover is something most of 

us haven’t experienced before. 

Yet there are some advantages new faces bring, if we manage it 

properly. Every new arrival brings a fresh perspective – a perspective 

which is usually based on common sense (since the new person won’t 

likely have significant experience in the unique JTF GTMO mission). 

Common sense often highlights procedures which simply don’t meet 

the true need anymore. If we “old-timers” can’t explain why we’re 

doing things a certain way to the newcomers, then maybe there’s a 

better way. Out of a fresh set of eyes comes a simplification to our 

methods.

However, there are often good reasons WHY we perform 

procedures in a certain way. These reasons are usually spelled out 

clearly in some reference or some SOP. We should know these 

reasons - which means we need to do our homework - and actually 

read the SOPs and instructions. Too often, we rely solely on what 

we’ve been told without questioning the why. This apathy can set 

up the organization for failure. If we don’t understand WHY we 

are doing certain procedures, then our reliefs may change (or delete) 

those procedures – not realizing there was a good reason WHY those 

procedures were originally established.

We should all be encouraged to ask why things are done, or why 

things are done in a specific way. The odds are good that a reasonable 

justification does exist. That reason should be clearly documented 

somewhere – and that documentation should be an important 

part of your next turnover. If this is done, it can help prevent the 

common occurrence of new people making changes “just because.” 

We’ve all seen this in the past – and have probably criticized it. Yet, 

if the new people aren’t taught why things are being done and how 

those actions interact with other activities, then they may naturally 

feel a need to make changes – changes which could later prove to be 

counter-productive.

While you’re new, please start making your turnover list. Don’t 

just plan to explain to your relief what you do, but also explain why 

you’re doing it. If the why is not clearly documented somewhere, 

then make the effort to document it. This documentation is a 

vital basis for training our reliefs. We should all strive to leave the 

organization stronger than we found it – and properly training our 

reliefs is especially key here at JTF GTMO.
| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

Dumpster Diving 101

Dumpster diving is performed randomly at the JTF to see what information people might have let slip 

through and thrown away. Personal information is most commonly tossed out in the form of unwanted mail or 

envelopes with addresses, along with tidbits of work info. Schedules, calendar events and phone numbers 

jotted down on sticky-notes are also easy to forget. We have a 100% shred policy that needs to be followed 

for everyone’s protection. If your name or information is found in the trash you could be subject to UCMJ 

punishment. Don’t let a simple thing like trash get you in hot water, use OPSEC and shred all paper! 

Trooper to Trooper featuring

Chief Master Sgt.

Kirk Rhame

Recently, one of my non-commissioned officers asked me, 

“What does going above and beyond mean?” 

 I replied by defining what he asked – “going:” advance 

toward an objective; “above:” in or to a higher place; “beyond:”

in a degree or amount surpassing. To recognize what constitutes 

going above and beyond, it is necessary to understand the baseline 

performance expected of us all. To do that, we need to look at 

our core values.

Each service established a set of values to guide their members’ 

activity and decision-making. The Air Force core values are: 

Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. 

The Army has seven core values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless 

Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. The Navy and 

Marines value Honor, Courage and Commitment while the Coast 

Guard believes in Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty. Each 

of the services, through their core values, set a benchmark for the 

performance of their personnel. 

As a leader it is important to know and internalize the core 

values of your service. In doing so, you can set a threshold and 

establish a definition of going above and beyond. Yet knowing is 

only half the battle. Once you know how to go above and beyond, 

it’s time to take action. How do you do it? Volunteer your off-duty 

time to a program that benefits Troopers here at on Guantanamo 

Bay. Assist fellow Troopers in need. Work beyond the normal 

duty hours without being asked. The options are endless but it’s 

important to remember one thing: going above and beyond isn’t 

limited to your job performance. It’s about taking the extra step to 

do more than what’s expected from you, no matter the occasion. 

We should always encourage our Troopers to go above and 

beyond. However, for leaders, our role doesn’t end there. As 

leaders, we have to remember to recognize our Troopers when 

they rise to the occasion. We must make it our duty to highlight 

the accomplishments of our Troopers in any way we can – verbal 

congratulatory remarks, a certificate of appreciation or the 

award of a decoration. When we do recognize our outstanding 

performers, we should always strive to do it in front of their peers. 

The public acknowledgement of their outstanding performance 

builds Troopers’ self-confidence. It also serves as a moment to 

reinforce our service core values to our team and to demonstrate 

how they too can go above and beyond. Public recognition will 

not only build morale, it will also improve a unit’s performance.

When we understand our service core values, we understand 

what is expected of us as Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and 

Coast Guardsmen. I encourage you to look for opportunities to 

exceed those expectations and go above and beyond. Not only will 

you feel good about it, your teammates will too. 

Have a great GTMO day!

Chief Enlisted Manager, 

474th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

News from the Bay Stories and reporting by Spc. Kelly Gary

 and Pfc. Justin Pierce 

Youth cheerleading 

camp registration

New times for video 

news stories on roller

Eagle Scouts looking 

to come together 

Navy Birthday Ball at 

Windjammer Ballroom 

On Saturday, Guantanamo Bay’s Navy 

Ball Committee is hosting the 236th Navy 

Birthday Ball at the Windjammer Ballroom. 

Social hour is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 

6:30 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 6:45 

p.m.

“The Navy Ball is not just for high 

ranking personnel,” said Navy Career 

Counselor Chief Robert Pagtakhan, 

command career counselor for Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay. “It is open to all 

to commemorate the Navy’s birthday and 

why it was established.”

Tickets are $20 for E1 to E4, $25 for E5 

and E6, $30 for E7 to O3 and $35 for O4 

and above and civilians.

Uniform for the ball for active duty 

personnel will be dinner dress white. 

Joint Task Force and Naval Expeditionary 

Guard Battalion personnel are authorized 

to wear clean and pressed uniforms and 

civilian attire will be formal. All attendees 

will be given a commemorative glass and 

coin.

For more information, call Pagtakhan 

at x4812.

Register for MWR flag 

football league at gym

The Men & Women’s Fall Flag Football 

League begins Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. Registration deadline is Oct. 18 by 7 p.m. at Denich 

Gym.

A mandatory coaches meeting will be 

Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Denich Gym. 

“Not only do our patrons enjoy watching [football] on TV but they enjoy playing 

it,” said Alana Morrison, Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation sports coordinator. “Since 

we are not authorized to play tackle football, we provide flag football – the next 

best thing!”

Morrison explained the men’s league 

will be nine players on the field per team, 

whereas women’s teams will have seven.

She added if there are not at least three 

Marine Corps off-road 

tour now cancelled

The Joint Task Force Public Affairs 

broadcast team has changed the play times 

for their video news stories on the roller 

channel. “The Wire Update” will now play 

at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 6 p.m., and 

8 p.m. Pfc. Justin Pierce, broadcaster for 

JTF, said this change came about to better 

facilitate the schedules of the viewer 

audience.

“Instead of trying to catch a story 

while getting ready for work, the stories 

will play once the work day has begun.,” 

said Pierce. “Also, in the evenings, the 

later playing times will allow everyone a 

chance to get home and settled after their 

work day is over.”

Running these video news stories on the 

roller channel is still a new process. “The 

JTF broadcast team said they appreciate 

the support the community gives them 

and would love to hear feedback on their 

products and the scheduling of air times. 

For more information, contact Pierce 

at x3589.

Troop 435, Boy Scouts of America and the 

National Eagle Scout Association will gather 

to share stories with current scouts about how 

earning their Eagle badge has helped them 

and how scouting has impacted their lives.

The event is projected to be in January. The 

exact date, time and place will be announced 

when decided. Chris Hileman, coordinator 

for the event, urges those interested to not 

wait and get in contact with him as soon as 

possible. 

So far, Hileman has found 15 Eagle Scouts 

willing to get together to share stories and 

support the troop. 

You can go to the Boy Scouts web site and 

the National Eagle Scout Association web site 

http://nesa.org/history.html for more information on the award, the association and notable Eagles.

For more information, contact Hileman at 

x9831.

Navy Child and Youth Programs is 

seeking participants ages five through seven 

and eight to twelve to attend a cheerleading 

camp, scheduled to begin Oct. 24.

Registration is at the Youth Center from 

Oct. 3 to Oct. 21, Mondays to Fridays from 

2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Registration fee is $50. 

There are a total of ten slots available 

for the former age group and twenty for 

the latter. In addition, NCYP is looking for 

volunteer coaches. They said experience is 

appreciated but not a must. 

Practice time will be determined by the 

coaches. The camp will end Dec. 14. 

For more information, contact the 

Youth Center at x74658.

female teams registered, the league will move 

to open recreation which means females 

will be allowed to play on men’s teams under men’s rules. The exception is if a female scores, the team will be allotted more 

points. 

The league will last eight weeks with post 

season play.

“Playoffs are designed to allow all teams a 

post season game but allow for our top teams 

to move into a double elimination format, so 

we can really see who our top team is.” said 

Morrison.” Can you handle it? Because flag 

football is back!”

For more information, call Morrison at 

x2113.

The Marine Corps Security Force 

Company off-road tour scheduled for Oct. 

15 is cancelled.

For more information, contact Staff 

Sgt. Aaron Tucker at x2643.
trooper

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 20 years

Hobbies: snorkeling, 

collecting sea glass, studying

Pet peeves: not paying 

attention to detail

Next goal: bachelor’s degree

Advice to junior Troopers: 

“Make sure you keep copies 

of everything the military 

gives you.”

| News The Wire | Page 5

In the early nineties, Air Force Staff Sgt. 

Christopher Casteel was nineteen years old 

and fresh out of high school. Inspired by 

the Gulf War, he decided to join the Army. 

By the time he was done with training, 

however, the war had ended. Fortunately 

Casteel had found something he enjoyed so 

he stuck with it. 

After 18 years as an engineer in the 

Army, Casteel joined the Air Force National 

Guard after meeting and building a strong 

camaraderie with some Airmen during his 

first deployment, a Continental United 

States mission in San Diego for Operation 

Jump Start. 

Casteel, vehicle control officer and safety 

non-commissioned officer in charge for 

the 146th Expeditionary Civil Engineering 

Squadron, said being a part of a Guard 

unit brings an exceptionally larger array of 

abilities to the table on missions such as this 

one on Guantanamo Bay.

“On the reserve side, everybody has 

so many different skills they bring from the 

outside,” said Casteel. “So when you bring 

everyone together, you not only have their 

specialties from their military jobs, you also 

get the experience of their education and 

skills from the civilian side.”

Back in the states, Casteel is a health and 

safety inspector for a telecommunications 

company. Health and safety is not merely a 

job to Casteel – it is his passion and one he 

has brought with him to the island.

Chief Master Sgt. Kirk Rhame, chief 

master sergeant for the 146th ECES, said 

Casteel is taking the former safety program 

up to industrial standards, which is no simple 

task.

“That is his strongest point,” said 

Rhame. “Trying to keep everyone safe in the 

construction field.”

Casteel recently received his associate 

Boots on the Ground

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

“My gypsy costume is my favorite 

because my son always says, 

‘Mommy looks pretty’ when I wear 

it.”

Steel Worker

2nd Class

Rejuny Caswell

“Batman. He is just awesome.”

Sgt. 1st Class 

Antonio White

Marine Cpl.

Gerardo Aboytes

“Pharoah – I liked the robes and 

the head piece. Also, I liked being 

a figure of power.”

“When I wore a hanbok, a 

traditional Korean outfit. I felt 

like a princess.”

Air Force Master Sgt.

Carnita Farve

see FOCUS , pg. 19

focus

 Staff Sgt. 

 Christopher Casteel

Spc. Kelly Gary
Story by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Runners raise awareness for domestic abuse, violence

The Sports| Wire | Page 6

More than 300 runners from Joint Task 

Force and Naval Station Guantanamo and 

the local community participated in the 

End the Silence on Domestic Violence 5K 

Fun Run, sponsored by Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation and Fleet and Family Services 

Center, Saturday morning.

October is National Domestic Violence 

Awareness Month and the run, which began 

at Denich Gym and proceeded past the golf 

course and looped back, was just the first in 

a series of events on Guantanamo Bay.

Carol Leaphart, domestic abuse victim 

advocate for Guantanamo Bay, said these 

events are designed to encourage discussion 

and promote victim safety.

“All over the U.S., towns, cities and 

communities are coming together to bring 

greater awareness of violence in domestic 

relationships, teen dating ... Relational 

aggression of any kind will not be tolerated 

any more,” said Leaphart. “We are ending 

the silence on domestic violence.”

Leaphart said aggression is a sign of an 

uneven power struggle.

“The whole purpose is to control the 

other partner,” said Leaphart. “It’s an 

imbalance in the relationship that occurs 

when one demands total power and the 

other one is left powerless.”

Talking about domestic violence is 

critical to ending it, Leaphart emphasized.

“The key is letting people know they can 

report it and there is help,” she said. “There 

is no shame and it’s not their fault.”

Leaphart said she was impressed by the 

support from the community. 

“People from all aspects of the island 

have been represented in this event here 

today and it speaks to those who are 

still trapped in domestic violence,” said 

Leaphart. “It speaks to them that if all 

these people are willing to come out and 

walk for them, they can perhaps now make 

a phone call and seek help.”

Participant Navy Personnel Specialist 

3rd Class Thoran Evans said the run was 

difficult, but ultimately gratifying.

“It is part of my goal to run every 5k 

during my deployment here,” said Evans. 

“It’s part of my personal training to help 

get into Basic Underwater Demolition 

training because I want to be a Navy SEAL, 

so this should help.”

Evans said the run wasn’t as easy as 

he anticipated, but was proud of his 

placement.

“I wasn’t sure of how I was going to do 

today, but second place isn’t bad,” he said.

In addition to better awareness on an 

important social cause, running is also an 

efficient form of stress relief, said Army 

Sgt. Jennifer Fish, a Soldier with the 107th

Military Police Company.

“Running is a great get away from the 

stressors of work and everyday life,” said 

Fish. “It’s better than drinking and it 

doesn’t cloud your mind like alcohol.”

Participating in the event gives a voice 

to those who need to speak up, she said. 

“It’s important for all of us who came out 

here today to represent people who need to 

speak up, especially women out there, and 

to give them the voice to come forward,” 

said Fish. “People need to know there are 

others who are going to protect them and 

stand up with them and make sure that the 

abuse stops. It’s a terrible thing and no one 

should have to put up with it.”

Runners near the finish line Saturday morning at Denich Gym 

during MWR’s End the Silence on Domestic Violence 5K Fun 

Run. Participants wore purple ribbons to show their support and 

advocacy for domestic violence victims. 
Story by Spc. Kelly Gary | News

The Wire | Page 7

HIGHER

LEARNING

Some Troopers believe they do not have time for higher education during a 

deployment. However, there are many who, even with busy and unpredictable 

work schedules, manage to complete their classes and secure their degrees, 

exhibiting dedication and commitment for future employers.

Here on Guantanamo Bay, Columbia College offers military, civilians 

and contractors an opportunity to work toward a degree or simply better 

themselves through education, be it in math, science or art.

“We are an excellent resource for the base community,” said Mike 

Matheny, Columbia College director for the Guantanamo Bay campus. 

“Making progress on higher education goals is a fantastic way to be positive 

and productive while stationed here.”

Registration for classes is open until Oct. 28 and classes begin on Oct. 24. 

Matheny urges everyone who is interested to sign up now and get the process 

going.

“We offer three seat classes – music, algebra and Spanish,” Matheny said. 

“In addition, Columbia offers hundreds of online courses in all subjects as well 

as supports students in taking College-Level Examination Program exams and 

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests.”

Sgt. 1st Class Katherine White is striving for a degree in criminal justice. She 

started her schooling ten years ago and recently picked it back up. Now in her 

junior year, White is using her time here to complete four courses and recently 

registered for a fifth. 

“Better late than never!” she said.

White, a platoon sergeant and watch commander for the 525th Military 

Police Battalion, said not only will a degree help her as she advances 

to master sergeant and aid in getting a good job after retirement, 

it also offers a different pace while here.

“It keeps your mind stimulated and yourself occupied,” said 

White, “and it gives you a break from the deployment.”

The courses themselves are at no cost for active duty military 

members. A new fiscal year began Oct. 1, so a fresh allocation 

of tuition assistance is available. White firmly believes to ignore 

such an opportunity would be foolish. 

“I advise all Soldiers to take advantage of the free education” 

she said. “The Army pays for it; there is no reason not 

to get a degree.”

Books for the classes are at the student’s 

expense but most students offer their books 

for an extremely low price or for free, after 

their course is complete.

Matheny listed a variety of resources available 

to students, such as the office, a computer lab 

and classroom facilities. All of these provide an 

authentic college environment.

 see COLLEGE, page 19
The Wire

|Page 8

Feature |

Oh Captain, 

My Captain

Story by Army Pfc. Justin Pierce

Photos by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry With any career, participation is a 

sliding scale. Some people perform 

to what is accepted and others 

to what’s expected. Beyond this, few folks 

find themselves participating so actively, 

their performance can only be described 

as phenomenal. While many within Naval 

Station Guantanamo’s workforce provide 

exceptional service, only a select few measure 

up to the dedication Fire Captain Maurice 

Hinds displays. By no means is this to the 

detriment of anyone else – Hinds is simply 

that exceptional. 

Hinds’ history of exemplary service 

doesn’t start on Guantanamo Bay; it begins 

in his home country of Jamaica. Early on in 

his professional life, Hinds found himself 

driven to serve people. And that’s what he did, 

spending 10 years in the Jamaican military, first 

as an infantrymen and later a medic. It’s also 

what he still does, having recently celebrated 

11 years of service in the Guantanamo Bay 

Fire Department. The transition from soldier 

to fireman just made sense, says Hinds.

“For the most part, I was at a medical 

center and when I got here, part of being a 

firefighter, you also have to be an EMT,” 

describes Hinds. “So, that part just fit right in, 

and the remainder just fit like a glove.”

Hinds’ background in emergency medical 

care might have made his transition into 

firefighting more convenient, but as soon as I 

met him, I could tell something more than skill 

makes up this man. Hinds didn’t start a career 

as a firefighter just because it was a good fit. 

With a warm smile and a genuine concern for 

his men, he demonstrates the kind of leader 

we should all aspire to be. 

Kind-hearted barely scratches the surface 

of the captain’s demeanor. Watching him at 

work with his men paints a clear picture of 

their respect for Hinds. They look to him for 

Guantanamo Bay 

fire captain 

commits his life to 

helping others

(above) Firefighter 

Captain Maurice 

Hinds, assigned to the 

Leeward Fire Station 

Three at Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay, looks 

over the scene as his 

team conducts response 

and suppression 

exercises, Oct. 7.

(right) Hinds observes 

as two firefighters stow 

a hose after performing 

a routine monthly 

inspection.

(opposite page) Hinds 

gives crew members of 

Engine 32 a briefing on 

their performance.
| Feature The Wire | Page 9

superb leadership he is capable of 

providing. Whether going through 

the basic rigmarole of inspecting 

equipment or conducting training, 

Hinds is a dedicated, hard worker. 

His commitment to his men 

doesn’t end with the workday. His 

off-duty time highlights another 

facet of what makes Hinds an extraordinary 

leader. While everyone else is winding down 

from work, Hinds is gearing up for one of his 

many other duties. Whether working part-time 

at Air Sunshine as an office manager, heading 

the Firefighter’s Association or acting as a 

liaison between the Jamaican Employment 

Committee and Jamaica’s Ministry of Labor, 

Hinds constantly seeks out new ways to help 

those around him. It may sound like a lot of 

extra work, but for Hinds, this is his fun. 

“I just can’t sit back and do nothing,” he 

says. “This is my way of giving a contribution 

back. I have been so blessed, so I think I need 

to give back to the community.” 

Giving back is exactly what Hinds does. 

On Guantanamo Bay, he teaches CPR classes, 

plans the Firemen’s Ball and takes on countless 

other tasks to ease the lives of his men.

“I work with the greatest set of guys ever,” 

Hinds boasts. “When I go home to be with 

my family, I’m still thinking about the guys 

that I leave back here. So the motivation is just 

coming back and hanging out with the guys.” 

The fire captain sees his job for more than 

just the responsibilities it places upon him. He 

sees it as his surrogate family, and he cares for 

his men just as he does his two daughters back 

home in Jamaica. As a firefighter on the island, 

Hinds spends only a small amount of his time 

with his family. On average, he sees them once 

every six weeks. While these visits give Hinds 

some family time, he also uses them for work, 

setting up interviews and giving inspirational 

speeches to Jamaica’s youth. While Hinds 

admits being apart from his family is difficult, 

he also acknowledges that it’s a necessary evil. 

“When I just got here, it was extremely 

difficult.” Hinds concedes. “But over time, my 

wife and girls, because they are just the best 

family ever, they have grown to understand 

that Dad – and in the case of my wife, her 

husband – is just doing something that I have 

to do at this time.”

Despite the difficulties of 

being away from his family, Hinds 

perseveres. His job as a fire captain 

grants him an opportunity to serve 

his community, and helping others is 

something he holds a strong passion 

for. 

“My motivation is just love for my 

job.” he says. “This is family, this is home, this 

is where it’s at.” 

Hinds may exceed the standards because 

he loves his job, but his efforts haven’t gone 

unnoticed. A brief conversation with some of 

his crew was proof enough of this. Firefighter 

Benjamin Lemard had nothing but accolades 

for his selfless mentor.

“He’s a good leader, working with him on 

a regular basis he helps me to motivate myself 

and build up my esteem level.” commended 

Lemard. “He’s a good worker, a good captain 

and I love working with him.”

Hinds’ superiors have also noticed his 

dedication to duty. Later this year, he will 

be submitted for a Department of Defense 

firefighter award. And if his men had anything 

to say about it, you can bet Hinds would be 

receiving it. As it is, only time will tell, but 

one thing is certain: Fire Captain Hinds will 

continue to provide outstanding service to his 

men and our Guantanamo Bay community.

“My motivation is just love for 

my job. This is family, this is 

home, this is where it’s at.”
The Wire | Page 10 Page 8 News |

fire preven

In support of Fire Prevention 

Week, the Naval Station Guantanamo’s 

Fire Department held a variety of 

demonstrations and fire prevention 

exercises around Guantanamo Bay.

Despite the main event being postponed 

due to rain, the team proceeded to spread 

awareness through fire extinguisher training 

and handing out informational pamphlets 

and novelty items with awareness 

messages.

Fire Prevention Week was established to 

commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the 

tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more 

than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, 

destroyed more than 17,400 structures and 

burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire 

began on October 8, but continued into 

and did most of its damage on October 9, 

1871.

While the Great Chicago Fire is the 

most known blaze to start during this fiery 

two-day stretch, it wasn’t the largest. That 

distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the 

most devastating forest fire in American 

history. The fire, which also occurred 

on October 8th, 1871, roared through 

Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 

towns, killing 1,152 people and scorching 

1.2 million acres before it ended.

This year, Fire Prevention Week 

stretches from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15. Every 

year since 1957, Fire Prevention Week is 

observed with a new theme – this year’s 

theme is “Protect Your Family from 

Fire.” The United States, Canada, and all 

Department of Defense facilities across 

the globe observe Fire Prevention Week.

For more information, contact the fire 

department at x4178 or x4611.

Story and photo by Spc. Kelly Gary
| News The Wire | Page 11

ntion week
Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

see OKTOBERFEST, pg. 19

Try as it might, the weather was unable to stop Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation’s Oktoberfest celebration. Originally scheduled for 

Saturday night at the Tiki Bar, rain and wind forced MWR officials to 

reschedule for Sunday night at the Windjammer.

“It really was a last minute decision to reschedule it for Sunday,” 

explained Amiee Mac Donnell, MWR activities director. “We were 

really concerned about all the electrical equipment, the safety of the 

band and wanting people to come out.”

But the move presented Mac Donnell with another challenge — 

the band was scheduled to leave Sunday.

“The guys down at air ops really came through for us,” said 

Mac Donnell. “They moved some stuff around and were able to 

accommodate two flights leaving on Monday instead of Sunday.”

With that problem fixed, the celebration began in earnest at the 

Windjammer as throngs of Naval Station Guantanamo residents 

stood in long lines for the evening’s hottest souvenir – the Oktoberfest 

beer stein.

“We had 275 and they went quickly,” Mac Donnell said. “And 

clearly those waiting in line were waiting to get a stein – as soon as 

the steins were gone, the line went away.” 

Those elusive steins were filled to the brim with typical Oktoberfest 

libations and music for the evening was provided by the Floridabased Swinging Bavarians. Under the direction of Kapellmeister 

(bandleader) Bill Schoenfeldt, the band led the crowd through an 

array of traditional Bavarian tunes, along with some reinvented 

crowd favorites. The 27-year-old band is made up of family and 

close friends of Schoenfeldt, who’s performed this style of music 

for nearly 40 years.

Rain or Shine:

Despite rescheduling, Oktoberfest

brings crowds, dancing and plenty 

of beverages to the Windjammer. 
| Feature The Wire | Page 13

(left) Band members Krissy Schoenfeldt-Vavrek and 

Starr Vavrek perform a traditional slap-dance.

(top) The Florida-based Swinging Bavarians provided 

the musical soundtrack Sunday during Morale, 

Welfare and Recreations’ Oktoberfest celebration. 

The band played a mix of traditional Bavarian music 

as well as several more recent, chart-topping songs.

(bottom) Morale, Welfare and Recreation Activities 

Director Amiee Mac Donnell announces the winner of 

the Oktoberfest costume contest.
On The Deck

Inside the Jar

WASHINGTON – Master 

Chief Petty Officer of the 

Navy Rick D. West sends his 

236th Navy Birthday Message 

to the Fleet, Oct. 12:

“Shipmates and Navy 

families,

As we honor the birth of the 

United States Navy 236 years 

ago, I would like to express my 

deepest gratitude to all Sailors, 

civilians and family members 

for their service and dedication 

to our great Navy team.

Our traditional maritime 

requirements, counter-piracy 

efforts and the many nontraditional missions we have 

adopted in support of overseas 

contingency operations are 

making a difference every 

day.

On any given day, we have 

at least 150 ships and 25 

submarines underway, and let’s 

not forget about our Sailors 

who are boots on ground. 

That’s more than 40,000 

Sailors who are deployed, 

on station around the world 

executing our Navy’s core 

MCPON expresses 236th Navy birthday message

Marines ready to answer call for next natural disaster

The At Your Service | Wire | Page 14

capabilities of the maritime 

strategy.

From our beginning in 1775 

with just six frigates to our 

present-day highly diversified, 

modern Fleet with a total 

of 285 deployable ships and 

submarines, our Navy is the best 

it has ever been. Our Navy has 

remained steadfast and ready 

for 236 years, and we continue 

to be ready to answer every 

call our nation makes thanks 

to your outstanding dedication 

and selfless support.

I also want to say “thank 

you” and express my sincere 

appreciation to our Navy 

families for your continued 

love and support of your 

Sailor and our Navy. You are 

the cornerstone of a Sailor’s 

readiness and your role is vitally 

important. 

Please take a moment to 

remember the thousands of our 

Shipmates who are deployed 

around the world vigilantly 

standing the watch, and those 

who have gone before us in 

service to our great nation.

Happy birthday shipmates 

... you look pretty darn good to 

be 236 years old!

Lance Cpl. Neil Unzuete, Combat Logistics 

Regiment 17, begins the construction of a 

support unit that would help in earthquakes, 

hurricanes or other natural disasters, Oct. 7.

Story and photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo us to be knowledgeable in these little 

things,” said Sgt. Ryan Cheramie, a 

motor technician with CLR-17. “The fire 

department gave us some insights, so 

if there is a disaster and someone’s life 

needs to be saved, we actually have those 

techniques to support that.”

 The San Francisco Fire Department 

took the lead in training the Marines.

 “It is essential that Marines have a 

good, solid base of understanding of 

some of the techniques we’ve learned 

today,” said Sanchez. 

 “If there was ever a disaster relief in 

the United States, if we have a working 

relationship with [local first responders], 

we’d know exactly what they would need 

and how they operate,” said Sanchez.

 With the tsunamis in eastern Asia 

and Hurricane Katrina still fresh in many 

people’s minds, combined with relief 

efforts happening all over the world, the 

Marines said the training was a valuable 

opportunity.

 “I think the training was phenomenal,” 

said Sanchez. “Even though it was a 

crash course, and we just got a little 

segment of what they do, we walked 

away knowing these guys were giving all 

their effort to ensure that we learn what 

they were providing.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Marines serving 

with Combat Logistics Regiment 17 

took on an unorthodox exercise in San 

Francisco, Oct. 7, during Fleet Week. 

 The Marines bussed to the city’s 

Treasure Island and trained with local first 

responders in urban search and rescue as 

part of a continued focus on humanitarian 

disaster relief, which also provided a 

chance for the Marines to build working 

relationships with the emergency services 

of San Francisco.

 Marines and sailors were paired 

with members of the San Francisco 

Fire Department for the four-hour 

demonstration and practical application.

 “At any point and time, Marines may 

be called upon to provide some kind of 

disaster relief or humanitarian effort,” said 

Capt. Alexis Sanchez, the Headquarters 

and Service Company executive officer 

with CLR-17.

 In case of a major earthquake or 

hurricane, many of the local emergency 

offices may not be able to help. The 

Marines train to be ready if called upon 

to help the relief efforts of a natural 

disaster. 

 “Today’s objective was to train the 

Marines and sailors in case there is ever an 

earthquake or disaster in San Francisco,” 

said Assistant Deputy Chief Mark Kearney, 

director of Homeland Security Division, 

San Francisco Fire Department.

 Sanchez said the demonstration was 

very informative to many of the Marines 

and a vital tool for their tool kit. 

 “Our humanitarian support requires 

From Master Chief Petty Officer 

of the Navy Rick D. West
On the Wing

WASHINGTON – Decreasing the number of Soldiers who are 

medically unfit for deployment has become a major focus of the U.S. 

Army Medical Command.

Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, who heads 

MEDCOM and led off the discussion, said that since the drawdown, the 

Army has seen a growing population of medically “non-ready” Soldiers. 

Currently the Army’s mission readiness stands at just 85 percent according 

to one of the panelist, while the Guard and Reserve deployability level is 

much lower at 70 percent.

Schoomaker pointed out that the reserve-component number is 

actually up 30 percent from three years ago. Nonetheless, these numbers 

have brought concern, Schoomaker said, adding that having so many 

Soldiers unfit for duty is beginning to burden unit readiness. 

Schoomaker said with the loss of the Army temporary end strength, 

“We begin to see a growing number of medically non-ready Soldiers 

with a smaller population of Soldiers overall available for continued 

demand for deployment.”

Maj. Gen. Richard Stone, deputy surgeon general for mobilization, 

said the Army currently has as many as 40,000 active, Guard and Reserve 

Soldiers recovering from wounds or transitioning out of the military 

through Warrior Transition Units across the country. 

“It is clear that whatever end-strength increase that we’ve been given, 

we’ve used up in wounded, ill and injured and transitioning Soldiers 

through a cumbersome bureaucracy,” he said. “And we have continued 

to see escalating numbers of medically non-deployable Soldiers, with 

as much as 14 percent of the force unable to deploy when a brigade 

combat team moves forward. You began to understand the scope of the 

problem that we are faced with.”

Brig. Gen. Brian Lein, command surgeon at U.S. Forces Command, 

Fort Bragg, N.C., explained that over the past four years, the percentage 

of medical non-deployable Soldiers has remained steady at 35-38 

percent. 

Lein explained that non-deployable Soldiers fall into three profile 

categories: Those who have permanent profiles who are going to the 

Army wants more Soldiers back on deployable status

By Army Master Sgt. Doug Sample medical evaluation or physical evaluation board that are not complex 

enough to go into a Warrior Transition Unit. Those who are returning 

from deployment who have medical issues to be taken care of. And 

Soldiers who are available for deployment by Army regulation, but who 

have a medical condition that prohibits them from entering a combat 

theater. 

The general warned that if the non-deployable status remains at the 

current level, the Army would find it difficult to maintain unit-manning 

levels in the future. 

“If we don’t get our arms around the non-deployable population, 

and the biggest population is the medically non-deployable population, 

we’re going to have a significant problem manning our units to get them 

to go downrange,” he said. “The Soldier is the center of our formations, 

so if the Soldier is not ready to go, then the unit is not ready to go.” 

The good news is that the Army may have found a way to determine 

which Soldiers are prone to musculoskeletal injuries. Stone explained 

researchers are studying new ways of measuring, among other abilities, a 

Soldier’s agility, strength, arch, height, sprint and endurance. 

“You can actually predict, based on the upcoming mission, what the 

potential is for injury would be,” he said. “In about a five-day period 

you can test an entire brigade combat team and then predict for the 

commander their injury rate.”

Armed with that information, Stone said that he soon expects to see 

changes in everything from the way Soldiers train for deployment, to the 

types of boots they wear. Any of these improvements can lessen the 

impact of musculoskeletal injuries to Soldiers’ health and readiness. 

MEDCOM has already begun implementing a solution to some of 

medical readiness issues plaguing the Army. Schoomaker said a “top 

ten” campaign the command put together targets everything from 

good eating habits that emphasize less consumption of sugary drinks, 

to resiliency and comprehensive soldier fitness programs, and better 

medical recording keeping. 

“Our goal, as it has always been the goal of Army medicine, is to 

preserve the fighting strength, it is to return the maximum number of 

Soldiers to be available in a deployable force,” he said. “We feel this will 

be a successful campaign if all of us work in concert.”

Medical codes no longer prevent some deployments

By Jon Hanson

In The Trenches

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

“The use of MilPDS to source these 

individuals is relatively new,” said Wanda 

Davies, the deputy chief of scheduling 

division for AEF and Personnel Operations. 

“It is usually done by sourcing to the unit 

type code which requires the commander 

to select personnel from their unit to fill the 

AEF requirement.” 

The key is for those Airmen with 

medical DAV codes, and their supervisors, 

to understand they might be selected for 

stateside taskings and to be prepared, Davies 

said. These Airmen will either work in the 

602nd operations center or at one of the 

training detachments. This new selection 

process currently covers approximately 100 

requirements. 

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – 

Air Force officials have approved expanding 

the deployment opportunities for Airmen 

who typically had limited opportunities 

to deploy in support of air and space 

expeditionary force operations.

Last month, the 602nd Training Group 

Provisional at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., 

began accepting Airmen with restrictive 

deployment availability codes to fill openings 

in its operations center and at training 

detachments.

“The overarching intent is to support 2nd 

Air Force without reducing the Air Force’s 

ability to meet combatant commander 

requirements,” said Col. Henry Polczer, the 

director of AEF and Personnel Operations 

at the Air Force Personnel Center. “We will 

accomplish this by sourcing to a name those 

Airmen who would otherwise not be able to 

deploy.”

The 602nd provides support to Airmen 

attending Army combat skills training, 

combat Airman skills training and the basic 

combat convoy course, officials said. These 

courses provide Airmen specific training to 

prepare them for their deployment and meet 

the needs of the combatant commander. The 

AEF and Personnel Operations directorate 

will use the Military Personnel Data System 

to source those individuals with deployment 

availability codes which makes them normally 

unavailable for worldwide deployments. 
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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

A Dolphin Tale

(PG) 8 p.m.

Conan the 

Barbarian

(R) 10 p.m.

The Help

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Change-Up

(last showing)

(R) 10 p.m.

Rise of the Planet 

of the Apes

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Spy Kids: All the 

Time in the World

(PG) 8 p.m.

Fright Night

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Columbiana

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Our Idiot Brother

(R) 10 p.m. 

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

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

R

83 min.

The Help

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Conan the 

Barbarian

(R) 10 p.m.

Columbiana

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Our Idiot Brother

(R) 10 p.m.

Rise of the Planet 

of the Apes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Fright Night

(R) 8 p.m.

The Change-Up

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

A Dolphin Tale

(PG) 8 p.m.

30 Minutes or Less

(R) 8 p.m.

By all accounts, “30 Minutes or Less” 

shouldn’t work. Everything about the 

movie, from the chilling real-life story it is 

loosely based on, to the go-for-broke manic 

comedic performances, to the questionable 

political environment in today’s society, 

should land it at the bottom of the straightto-DVD pile where it would never have the 

chance to see the light of day.

Thankfully, someone was feeling risky, 

and the rest of us get to reap the benefits. 

The movie follows Nick (Jesse Eisenberg), 

a slacker pizza delivery guy who’s having 

a particularly bad day. Nick becomes a 

hostage (of sorts) when criminally stupid 

Dwayne (Danny McBride) decides to strap 

a bomb to Nick’s chest and forces him to 

rob a bank or he’s in pieces. Dwayne needs 

the money to hire a hitman to kill his father 

(Fred Ward) so he can inherit said father’s 

fortune. Dwayne and Nick are assisted in 

crime by their respective best bros, Travis 

(Nick Swardson) and Chet (Aziz Ansari). If 

none of this sounds particularly funny, it’s 

ok, you’re not alone. It shouldn’t be. But as 

the hijinks ensue, so does the hilarity. 

So why does this movie work so well? I 

chalk it up to the right cast plus the right 

director at the right time. Eisenberg got his 

start playing awkward, mumbling losers. It 

was only after his breakout performance 

in last year’s “The Social Network” that 

anyone realized the kid’s got range. With 

his glossy Oscar sheen still glowing, 

Eisenberg reteams with his “Zombieland” 

director and essentially plays the same 

type as before, only now he’s looser with 

much more confidence. (In-joke alert: Nick 

actually replies to a friend, “I don’t check 

Facebook.” Zing!)

While Eisenberg is the centerpiece, 

none of it would be possible without his 

tremendously talented costars. Ansari 

has been slowly moving up the comedy 

food chain with roles on TV’s “Scrubs” 

and “Parks and Recreation” and recently 

became a key player in many Judd Apatow 

flicks, so it should come as no surprise 

this funny little man is ready for some 

serious screen time of his own. Ansari has 

developed a delivery that is part deadpan, 

part surprise and always unexpected. He’s 

an unconventional choice here, to be sure, 

but that’s what makes Chet and Nick so 

perfectly paired.

The second bromance in “30 Minutes” 

is the relationship between Dwayne and 

Travis. I could sing Danny McBride’s 

praises all day. For me, he is as original 

and innovative as comedy has to offer 

right now. Even the sourest of comedians 

usually have a gooey center – not McBride. 

He offers no apologies nor empathy as 

see MOVIES, pg. 19
| News you can Use The Wire | Page 17

The United States and Saudi Arabia have 

pledged to pursue a “strong and unified” 

international response to the alleged plot 

by elements of the Iranian government 

to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to 

Washington.

The White House said U.S. President 

Barack Obama and Saudi King Abdullah 

spoke by telephone Wednesday and agreed 

that the plot represents a “flagrant violation” 

of international norms and vowed to hold 

“those responsible accountable for their 

actions.”

Iran has denied the allegations. The 

state-run IRNA news agency quoted Deputy 

Foreign Minister Ali Ahani Wednesday as 

calling the scenario “absurd” and urging 

Saudi Arabia to be wary of U.S. efforts to 

damage relations of countries in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 

called the thwarted scheme a “dangerous 

escalation” in Iran’s “long-standing use 

of political violence and sponsorship of 

Obama, Saudi King pledge ‘unified’ response to Iran bomb plot

Voice of America News Service terrorism.” She said the U.S. will work 

closely with its international partners “to 

increase Iran’s isolation and the pressure on 

its government.”

The tough response came a day after the 

U.S. Justice Department announced it had 

charged Manssor Arbabsiar, a naturalized U.S. 

citizen, and Gholam Shakuri, a member of 

an elite Iranian military unit, with conspiring 

to carry out a bomb attack on Saudi envoy 

Adel al-Jubeir.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said 

the plot was “conceived, sponsored and 

directed” from Iran.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said 

the plot involved top members of the Iranian 

Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, a group 

that operates outside of Iran. He called that 

finding “significant in and of itself,” and said 

Washington is taking “no options off the 

table” in its response to the alleged scheme.

Meanwhile, the U.S. designated the Iranian 

commercial airline Mahan Air a supporter 

of terrorist-related activities in Tehran. The 

finding prohibits U.S. citizens from engaging 

in commercial or financial transactions with

Mahan Air and freezes assets it may hold 

under U.S. jurisdiction.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called the 

alleged assassination attempt an “outrageous 

act.”

The U.S. State Department has issued a 

worldwide alert for American citizens about 

possible “anti-U.S. actions” following charges 

against the two Iranians. It said the scheme 

may indicate Iran’s government could be 

taking a “more aggressive focus” on terrorist 

activity.

U.S. officials say Arbabsiar unknowingly 

hired an informant of the U.S. Drug 

Enforcement Administration to carry out 

the plot, believing the informant had ties 

to Mexican drug cartels capable of killing 

the Saudi ambassador. They say Arbabsiar 

confessed to making a $100,000 down 

payment on the scheme with a price tag of 

$1.5 million.

Officials arrested Arbabsiar at New York’s 

John F. Kennedy International Airport on 

September 29, but Shakuri is still at large.

US Defense chief says 

painful changes coming

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says 

painful changes are coming to the U.S. military, 

as the Pentagon looks for ways to cut $450 

billion from its budget in the next 10 years. 

The Obama administration has called on 

the Pentagon to reduce spending that rose 

dramatically during wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 

over the past decade. 

Panetta told a Soldiers’ advocacy group in 

Washington Wednesday the future U.S. military 

will have to deal with the reality of being 

smaller.

“Tough decisions await us all,” he said.

He said the nation needs an army strong 

enough to deal with conventional threats.

“If an enemy does challenge us in a 

conventional land war, we need an army that 

can, as General George Patton used to say, ‘hold 

the enemy by the nose and kick them in the ass,’” 

said Panetta.

At the same time, he said the military must be 

smarter and more versatile to deal with terrorist 

threats that he says are not going away.

“Still, the reality is there are not a lot of 

countries out there building massive tank 

armies,” he said. “It is unlikely that we will be 

fighting Desert Storm in the future. Instead, 

I see both state and non-state actors arming 

with high-tech weaponry that is easier both to 

buy and to operate, weapons that frustrate our 

traditional advantage.”

The U.S. Army alone may reduce its force by 

nearly 50,000 in the next five years. 

Voice of America News Service

But U.S. Defense officials say no decisions 

have been made on where to cut. Secretary 

Panetta last month called in combat commanders 

to start discussing places where they believe 

reductions can be made.

A defense policy expert at the Center for 

Defense Information in Washington, Winslow 

Wheeler, believes the cuts could result in a 

corrective process that will eliminate what he 

says has been wasteful spending.

“After 9/11, for very understandable reasons, 

everybody in the political system in our country 

wanted to do everything they could to assist our 

armed forces,” said Wheeler. “But some of them 

fell over themselves in terms of trying to just 

throw money at the issue rather than selectively 

and smartly.”

Defense analyst Mackenzie Eaglen at the 

Heritage Foundation, a research organization, 

says cuts of $450 billion, even if they target 

wasteful projects, inevitably will result in the loss 

of essential capabilities.

“The challenge with the ‘there’s so much 

waste therefore you can cut defense’ argument 

is that defense cuts don’t work like that,” said 

Eaglen. “This isn’t a laser where we are taking 

out the fat that is marbled inside a piece of meat, 

for example. These tend to be salami-sliced, 

budget axe, across-the-board cuts that don’t 

have targeted focus.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta after speaking to the Association 

of the US Army in Washington, Wednesday. - photo by AP
Mind, Body & Soul

God is talking:

Are you listening?

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

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

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 18

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call x2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

A man tells a story 

of the day he was 

driving along a 

country road 

and realized he 

was lost. 

He stopped by a small 

farmhouse to ask for directions 

and saw an elderly woman 

sitting on the porch. An elderly 

man was working in the front 

yard whistling nonstop. The 

whistling was loud and clear 

but seemed to be aimless and 

purposeless. There was no 

tune, just whistling. 

When he walked up to the 

man, he said, “I see you’re fond 

of whistling.”

“Oh,” he said, “it’s second 

nature to me now.” 

Pointing to the porch, he 

explained the woman was his 

wife and they had been happily 

married for 38 years when she 

became blind. Coming as it 

did, so late in life, it was very 

frightening for her and she still 

Air Force Lt. Col Gary Bertsch

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Command Chaplain 

felt a deep-seated insecurity. 

The husband said, “I figured 

if I just keep whistling while 

I’m outside the house, she’ll 

have the security of knowing 

I’m still with her.”

I like this story as a parable 

of God’s presence with us. 

Sometimes it might seem God 

is distant, far removed or that 

we don’t have a sense of God’s 

presence. Like the woman 

in the story, there are times 

when we become blind. But 

we need to remember God’s 

promise to always be with us 

through anything, including 

deployments. We only need 

to listen to God’s whistling 

to us. It might be on the lips 

of a friend, loved one or coworker. It might be in whatever 

devotion time you have. It 

might be in worship or reading 

of scripture. It could even be 

in moments of silence. Don’t 

be afraid. God is present with 

us—even in a whistle!
| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

MOVIES cont. 

he barrels through some of the movie’s 

more distasteful scenes and you somehow 

get the sense that he’s just getting started. 

And with Swardson at his side, the two 

are an unstoppable duo of filth, greed and 

shameless humility. 

How does this movie work? I have 

no idea. But it does, at a breakneck pace 

that makes you forget the real-life, fatal 

consequences. As Nick lurches ever closer 

to that 30 minute deadline, the audience, 

too, is flung further and further into 

Dwayne’s twisted world. And, surprisingly, 

we kinda like it there. 

FOCUS cont. 

degree in occupational health and safety 

and is currently working toward his 

bachelor’s. Eventually, he wants to attain 

his master’s over the next few years.

“His military bearing is outstanding,” 

Rhame said. “And as far as work ethic, he 

goes above and beyond.”

When he isn’t trying to better the 

safety program or studying for his next 

exam, Casteel said he enjoys snorkeling 

and collecting sea glass for his family back 

home. 

Casteel’s military career certainly 

influenced his five children, two in 

particular – one is also an Airman and the 

other is in the Air Force Reserve Officer’s 

Training Corps program. Rhame said he 

sees only good things in Casteel’s future – 

a successful military and civilian career and 

a wonderful family.

“[Casteel] has helped out a lot of 

people,” said Rhame. “He is definitely 

making a positive impact.”

OKTOBERFEST cont. 

“The band really made the night,” said 

Mac Donnell. “They were very interactive 

and really got the crowd into things.”

One of the many attendees, Petty Officer 

3rd Class Rose Fox, echoed Mac Donnell’s 

sentiments. Fox said she’s attended one other 

Oktoberfest festival back in the states and 

the musicians here made all the difference.

“The band for this Oktoberfest was way 

better,” Fox said. “They seemed to be more 

involved with the crowd.” 

Fox added one of her favorite moments 

from the evening came when Schoenfeldt 

strategically changed the words to the song 

“Doe, A Deer,” from the musical, “The 

Sound of Music.”

“It was a lot of fun and I think the guys 

got a kick out of it,” she said.

As Schoenfeldt walked through the crowd 

inspiring raised steins and swaying crowds, 

his daughters, Krissy and Katrina, would later 

lead the room in multiple raucous renditions 

of the chicken dance — a crowd favorite — 

as the dance floor filled with young and old 

alike.

As part of the celebration, attendees were 

encouraged to dress in traditional Oktoberfest 

garb. Near the end of the evening, those 

who signed up stood in front of the stage as 

audience members chose the best costume 

as measured by applause. Taking the contest 

was Naval Station Guantanamo resident Kitty 

Welsh, who was rewarded a commemorative 

Oktoberfest T-shirt.

“I was pleasantly surprised we were able 

to fill the ballroom,” Mac Donnell said of 

the overwhelming success of the evening 

despite the rescheduling. “This is definitely 

something we’ll do again next year.”

White said the college takes the time to 

walk every student through each step. The 

office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday and Matheny insisted anyone 

who is interested should stop by and the 

personnel will go over what is needed.

“We have a supportive staff to answer 

questions and provide guidance on the 

process of discovering career and degree 

interests, college admissions and class 

registration,” he said.

In addition to helpful staff members, 

COLLEGE cont. 

Matheny added that all of the advisors 

support students as well and offer assistance 

in everything from the application process 

for tuition assistance and financial aid to 

degree selection and career exploration as 

well as placement testing.

White encourages all Troopers to take 

a look at their futures and expand their 

horizons.

“Education is the best way to selfimprove,” she emphasized. “Once you get 

registered, it is smooth sailing.”

A NEW BEGINNING

(From left to right) Rear Adm. David Woods, Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander; Air Force Maj. Patrick 

Shanahan, Base Emergency Engineering Force commander; Army Maj. Thomas Tuttle, project manager; Navy 

Capt. Thomas Karnowski, Director of Engineering; and Cmdr. Tamsen Reese, Public Affairs Officer, cut the 

ribbon during the opening ceremony of the Media Operations Center, Wednesday afternoon. The MOC recently 

underwent renovations, including the addition of two new buildings inside MaCalla Hanger to facilitate upcoming 

military commissions. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry
SPICING IT UP

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong samples authentic Mexican cuisine 

during the 525th Military Police Battalion’s Hispanic Heritage celebration at 

the Windjammer Ballroom, Wednesday.- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Kilho Park

UNIT SUCCESS

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander Rear Adm. David Woods and Marine 

Security and Safety Team Boston Senior Chief Petty Officer Steven Haig 

pose with the Integritas Award during the Senior Enlisted Leader meeting, 

Wednesday. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

LOOK OUT

Gate guards scan nearby Windmill Beach during routine checks 

Wednesday at Houston gate. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Kilho Park

TheJTF

HAVING A BALL

Hospital Corpsman J.E. Perjusa practices his half volley during soccer practice at Bulkeley Field, Wednesday. - photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park