Volume 12, Issue 28 Thursday, June 30, 2011

Saving Abel 

thanks Troopers

(from the bottom of their hearts)

The very first 

5 banana rat movie!

Upcoming improvements

to housing facilities
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 1,200.

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 Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Raymond Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor

Spc. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Ebalo

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Spc. Kelly Gary

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

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: Jared Weeks, lead singer for the rock band Saving Abel, performs at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Downtown Lyceum, 

Friday. -photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

Senior Enlisted Leader, J2

Senior Chief Petty Officer 

Robin Guy

Since I have been on Guantanamo Bay, people ask why I focus so 

much time and effort on physical training. My answer is usually simple: 

I love to eat junk food but don’t want to gain weight! Of course, 

there are many more answers to that question. Let’s start with the fact 

that every Trooper is required by their service instruction/regulation 

to spend time every week working out. PT is a basic skill that each 

branch of the military requires in order to continue military service. 

PT provides mental and physical health benefits that last a lifetime. 

Also, PT on GTMO can be a great social event.

Military servicemembers PT in boot camp as a way to develop 

discipline and bonding. Someone who consistently trains will develop 

the commitment and discipline that pushes him or her to get out and 

train, no matter what else is going on. We continue to require PT as we 

move forward in the military in an effort to ensure we are prepared for 

real world military situations. We must meet the basic PT requirements 

that will help keep us all alive in combat or risk becoming combat 

ineffective and sent home. 

Many resources show regular exercise and physical activity are 

extremely important and beneficial for long-term health and wellbeing. Below is a list with some of the health benefits of exercise and 

physical activity as focused on in the report, “Physical Activity and 

Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.”

- Reduce the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol

- Reduce the risk of heart disease, developing cancers, diabetes and 

premature death

- Reduce or maintain body weight/body fat

- Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones and joints

- Reduce depression and anxiety, improving psychological wellbeing

- Enhanced work, recreation and sport performance 

On any given day here, you will notice people out running, 

walking, biking or swimming. You can find people at the gym or in 

the ocean snorkeling and diving. MWR sponsors events encouraging 

military members and families to get out and join in the fun of sports 

activities. The MWR events provide something for everyone – if you 

are interested in team sports they have softball, football and soccer 

leagues, to name a few. If you are more interested in individual events, 

they also sponsor monthly races, bike rides or hikes for runners and 

walkers. The weather and environment make it easy to get out and 

make new friends while exercising. 

I understand everyone has different abilities and expectations when 

it comes to physical training, but every military member should set a 

goal to meet some type of PT standard. As you reach your goal, it will 

give you a sense of accomplishment, confidence and pride. Meeting 

one goal will help you move forward to setting and reaching new goals 

for yourself in other aspects of your life. PT can be a rewarding part 

of your life. I hope to see you all at the next MWR sponsored 5K! 

Voice of America News

The Taliban assault on the Inter-Continental 

Hotel in Kabul, which left 11 civilians and 

police dead in addition to the attackers, comes 

as NATO forces are beginning a process of 

handing over security to local authorities. 

Afghan officials say despite the attack, that 

handover will continue.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the 

attack in the nation’s capital will not deter 

Afghanistan’s forces from taking over their 

security role as planned.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the 

highly coordinated attack on the landmark 

Inter-Continental Hotel in an apparent attempt 

to show they are still able to carry out such 

assaults - despite months of heavy attacks by 

NATO and Afghan forces.

Afghan National Security Directorate 

spokesman Luftullah Mashal says the 

insurgents may have taken advantage of a 

gap in security caused by renovations to the 

hotel.

The Inter-Continental, built on a hill 

overlooking Kabul in the 1960s, was once the 

premier hotel in the Afghan capital - hosting 

conferences and many foreigners. Visitors 

must cross through several checkpoints 

along a winding road to reach the hotel.

“There was a loophole in the security, 

definitely. Investigation will definitely 

take place. There was reconstruction and 

renovation work also going on in a part of 

the hotel,” said Marshal. “The insurgents 

are using every means to infiltrate into tight 

security areas.”

Initial reports indicate that a small group 

of heavily armed men stormed into the 

hotel late Tuesday with automatic weapons, 

grenade launchers and suicide belts. The 

| News you can Use The Wire | Page 3

Kabul hotel attack will not affect security transition

to discuss Afghan preparations for the 

international troop withdrawal.

Security control of seven areas in 

Afghanistan are set to be handed over to 

Afghan forces next month, with all foreign 

combat troops expected to leave Afghanistan 

by the end of 2014.

Smoke and flames light up the night 

from a blaze at the Intercontinental 

hotel after an attack on the hotel by 

Taliban fighters and a response by 

Afghan security forces backed by 

NATO helicopters in Kabul, June 29. 

- photo by AFP.

President Obama has defended 

U.S. involvement in Libya, saying the 

international operation has protected 

thousands of people in the North 

African country.

Obama said he did not violate the 

War Powers Resolution, a U.S. law that 

requires congressional approval within 

60 days if U.S. forces are involved in 

hostilities.

He said Libyan leader Moammar 

Gadhafi was threatening to massacre 

his people, and the United States, as 

part of an international coalition, 

took out Libyan air defense systems 

so humanitarian assistance could 

be provided. He said pressure is 

increasing on the Libyan leader, or as 

he put it, “the noose is tightening.”

He said he addressed the American 

people on Libya and briefed members 

of Congress and has done “exactly” 

what he said he would. He said the 

operation is limited in time and scope, 

and there have been no U.S. causalities 

and no risk of additional escalation.

He said the narrow mission has been 

carried out in “exemplary fashion.” 

But he said questioning whether he 

needs congressional approval for the 

mission has become a popular topic 

among some lawmakers.

Obama Defends US 

Involvement in Libyan Conflict

Voice of America News ensuing gun battle lasted more than five 

hours. 

Afghan police initially cordoned off 

the area. An Afghan special commando 

unit arrived later, and NATO helicopters 

provided assistance.

According to NATO spokesman Master 

Sergeant Jason Haag, coalition forces 

mobilized at the request of the Afghan 

Ministry of the Interior, but the response 

was conducted primarily by the Afghan 

security forces.

“We were called in, specifically for air asset. 

We also had some ISAF embedded-mentors 

that were part of the Afghan unit that was 

involved in the response,” said Haag. “We 

did put some assets on standby as well, just 

in case. Medevac and some explosives folks 

were on standby but they did not actually 

respond.

Haag went on to say that this was mostly 

“an Afghan-led operation and we just 

provided those couple of supporting roles.”

The spokesman added that the NATO 

helicopters did fire at insurgents who had 

taken positions on the hotel’s roof.

The fighting ended early Wednesday with 

all the insurgents killed.

Key installations in Kabul and around the 

country remain on high alert as a result of 

the assault on the hotel.

The last major attack on a Kabul hotel 

was in 2008, when militants stormed the 

luxury Serena Hotel in the center of the city, 

killing eight people in a coordinated assault.

A summit on the security transition 

was supposed to take place at the InterContinental on Wednesday, and many Afghan 

provincial officials who are taking part were 

staying at the hotel.

The transition commission was set 

Voice of America News

A new report issued by Brown 

University says the cost of America’s 

wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - and 

operations in Pakistan - will cost the 

country nearly $4 trillion. The report’s 

total is more than three times higher 

than U.S. President Barack Obama’s 

estimate in a recent speech.

When Obama recently announced 

a drawdown of U.S. troops from 

Afghanistan, he said America’s wars 

have cost the country $1 trillion 

dollars.

But a report by Brown University’s 

Watson Institute for International 

Studies estimates the total cost at $3.7 

trillion.

Report: Iraq, Afghanistan wars cost 

U.S. nearly $4 trillion
The Wire | Page 4 News from the Bay |

Boots on the Ground

If you only had one window what would you choose to see through it?

News from the Bay Stories and reporting by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Food, fireworks for 

Independence Day

Morale, Welfare and Recreation is hosting 

an Independence Day celebration, Monday 

from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Tiki Bar. 

There will be live music by Carbon Leaf 

at 5:30 p.m. and Airiel Down at 7:30 p.m. 

The fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. 

Hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad and more 

will be available for purchase at 5:30 p.m. 

“The community can expect great music, 

food and a spectacular fireworks show,” 

said Amiee MacDonnell, MWR community 

activities director. “We partnered with Navy 

Entertainment to bring Carbon Leaf and 

Armed Forces Entertainment to bring Airiel 

Down for this year’s Independence Day 

festivities.” 

The event is open to all ages and residents 

are encouraged to come out and celebrate 

Independence Day as a community.

For more information call x4882.

Independence Day 

10K run offers T-shirts

To celebrate our independence, Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation is hosting a 10K 

run. Show up to Denich Gym Saturday at 

6:30 a.m. to participate. 

If pre-registered by June 29, runners 

will receive a guaranteed free T-shirt.

“This will be a fun event,” said Tanya 

Henigman, MWR fitness coordinator. “If 

we don’t have their T-shirt size available, 

we will have one made.”

 Same-day registration participants will 

not be guaranteed a T-shirt, but will have 

the opportunity to receive a medal if they 

place 1st or 2nd in their age category.

 Be sure to wear reflective gear and 

bring a water bottle. 

For more information about the 10K 

run or any other sports activities and 

tournaments, call Henigman at x2113 or 

x77262.

Something Distant to 

perform at Tiki Bar

Free concert! Come sing your heart out 

with rock group Something Distant, in concert Friday and Saturday at the Tiki Bar from 

9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Something Distant gives audiences a mix 

of originals, modern alternative and new 

rock. The Jacksonville, Fla.- based band 

performs with high energy, sure to keep a 

crowd entertained.

Something Distant was formed in 2005 

by vocalist/songwriter Jeff Congo. Congo 

discovered his love for music and singing 

at a very young age. Bad weather cancelled 

their initial show, but the four-member band 

was rescheduled and are ready to perform.

According to the band’s website, “We’re 

proud to kick off the July 4th weekend with 

our Troops serving abroad.”

www.somethingdistant.com. 

For more information, contact x4882. 

“The ocean anywhere makes 

me feel peaceful.”

Army Staff Sgt. 

Luis Torres

“‘I want to see sunshine and 

sky...in Puerto Rico.”

Hospital Corpsman 

2nd Class Dustin Johnson

Army Staff Sgt. 

David Mercado

“‘The Adriondack Mountains 

because it’s home.”

“‘A real golf course.”

Navy Chief Petty Officer

Marian Precht

trooper

Spc. Kelly Gary

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 2 years

Hobbies: reading, playing 

golf, the outdoors

Pet peeves:stupid questions

Next goal: move up in rank 

and to stand out among my 

fellow Sailors

Advice to junior Troopers: 

“Learn from those above 

you.”

As a small town girl, Intelligence 

Specialist 3rd Class Valli Doiron dreamt 

of seeing new places and traveling the 

world. At the same time, she wanted the 

opportunity to serve the military and her 

country. Two years after enlisting in the 

Navy, Doiron traveled to Guantanamo 

Bay as an Individual Augmentee and 

immediately impressed her superiors 

with her hard work and positive attitude.

IS1 Sharron Carter, Doiron’s lead petty 

officer, noted how quickly she adapted 

and what an asset she proved to be. 

“When she got here she hit the ground 

running,” he said. “She did way more 

than anyone expected,” he remembered. 

Doiron does her best with everything 

she is tasked with but, she said being low 

on the totem poll can be a challenge. 

Being lower-enlisted is a difficult time 

for anyone in their career but Doiron 

hopes she can excel in ranks so as to 

accomplish more. 

“She works hard, from the time she 

gets there to the time she leaves,” said 

Carter.

Doiron ties her accomplishments and 

motivation to her sense of honor. Honor 

is one of the three Navy core values and, 

for Doiron, it is the basis for courage and 

commitment.

“If you don’t have honor for yourself 

PSEC ALERT

TALK TO YOUR FAMILY ABOUT OPSEC!

Does your family know about OPSEC?

Have you talked to your family about OPSEC? Do they know how to protect their information? Tell them to 

check their privacy settings and make sure that they know that some things just shouldn’t be put online. 

Make sure they don’t inadvertently give away information about you or your unit that could harm the 

mission. Keep your family and friends aware of OPSEC requirements. Protect yourself, your family and the 

mission, use OPSEC!

| News The Wire | Page 5

focus

Intelligence Specialist

 3rd Class Valli Doiron

or for your country you are not going to 

have the courage to move forward,” said 

Doiron. “If you don’t have honor, you are 

not going to be committed.”

Doiron has shown that she is dedicated 

to the Navy and her job here, but also to 

the community as well. She serves as a 

Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention 

representative.

“She is not only an asset to me but 

also to Guantanamo Bay as a whole,” said 

Carter.

When not working, Doiron enjoys 

reading and spending time outdoors. She 

dreams of traveling the world and excelling 

at whatever career path she may follow. 

Doiron said she is planning on reenlisting 

and would like to eventually make chief 

petty officer. Her boss believes no matter 

what course Doiron takes it will be one 

of success.

“I see her going wherever she wants 

to go,” said Carter. “She has the potential 

and drive to be whatever she wants to be 

in life, be it here in the military world or 

the civilian world.”
The Wire | Page 6 Feature |

Quality of Life

Home Improvement

Update:

Getting laundry done at the Cuzco barracks just got a little easier thanks 

to the efforts of Troopers working in Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s 

housing office. In addition to new washers and dryers, several endeavor 

are currently underway in most of Joint Task Force Guantanamo living 

areas, developments all driven to improve the quality of Trooper living.

“We currently have four major projects that are ongoing,” said Sgt. 

Maj. Rivers Jacques, J4 senior enlisted leader.

Jacques said along with new laundry facilities, repairs to leaking 

roofs, addressing lighting issues and replacing worn out tarps are all 

improvements currently in the works at the Cuzcos.

In the Tierra Kay, a $2.3 million plan to update fire suppression 

systems is moving forward, along with termite abatement.

“Basically, this will bring those particular housing units up to code,” 

Jacques said, explaining the Tierra Kay buildings were constructed in the 

early 1970s.

The upgraded fire suppression system will include an integrated 

sprinkler system, new smoke alarms and smoke detectors. Jacques said 

the project should be complete sometime in October.

Outside Tierra Kay, work tree removal continues as part of the termite 

abatement program. The abatement program is also being conducted in 

the Windward Loop area.

 “We were out there (Tierra Kay) and one of the things we were 

also looking at was the problems with mold, mildew and ventilation 

systems,” Jacques added. “So that is another project we’re actually going 

to be working to get implemented. Obviously it comes down to funding 

and everything else, but that is on the horizon.”

Looking to Camp America, Jacques said his team is currently in the 

planning phase for upgrades to windows, doors and other elements 

geared toward energy efficiency and giving the housing unit a much 

needed facelift.

Jacques said across the board, his team is always looking for ways to 

reduce the JTF’s energy footprint.

“We’re looking at some efficiencies improvement in terms of 

electricity, water usage and all those other things,” Jacques explained. 

“Everything from the type of faucet or shower head we install to 

windows ... if the window is a single pane, maybe go to a double pane 

to help reduce our costs in energy.”

Helping Jacques keep the “i’s” dotted and the “t’s” crossed is Air 

Force Capt. Coulette Swiggett, the J4 housing officer. Swiggett recently 

arrived to the JTF and hit the ground running.

“We are aware that we have room for improvement with some of the 

housing areas,” she said. “But the leadership here from the top down is 

focused on improving Trooper living conditions, as evidenced by all the 

quality of life initiatives that have occurred over the last year.”

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

To help the J4 housing team identify potential issues, Swiggett 

said come August, a Department of Defense Residential Satisfaction 

Survey will be made available to all Troopers and she highly encourages 

maximum participation.

“Information received during the survey will be addressed by 

NAVSTA (if within their realm) and could result in money being given 

to the base for housing improvements,” she explained.

Both Jacques and Swiggett stressed Troopers take an active role in 

their living conditions.

“We can’t make corrections if we don’t hear about issues,” Swiggett 

said. “So continue to pass information through leadership so we can 

address it.”

| Feature The Wire | Page 7

Photo illustration by Spc. Kelly Gary

“Sometimes we wait for a problem to become a bigger problem 

before we address it,” Jacques added. “Now it’s a bigger problem and it 

costs more to fix. I think the Troopers have to be more proactive in their 

approach to their living conditions.”

Both agreed, at the end of the day, their job is to make sure those 

turning the wheels around the JTF have the things they need to complete 

their job.

“Regardless of the mission ... our most important assets are the 

people accomplishing the mission,” said Jacques. “In order to execute 

the mission, you’ve got to have people who are well rested, well feed, 

properly trained, etc. Part of that is quality of living and that’s what we 

do.”
The Wire | Page 8 Feature |

Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

leather

man of

JTF Trooper shows 

off the hard work and 

craftsmanship that goes 

into his unique hobby: 

leatherworking. 

F a m i l i a r 

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

 see LEATHER, page 19

Alright, this is where the fun begins,” Aaron Heizer narrates as 

he picks up a spray bottle and dampens a smooth, fresh piece 

of genuine cattle hide. 

His lips clench together and his bright, blue eyes widen in 

anticipation. Extending his left, patriotically-tattooed arm toward the 

tool block, Heizer grasps for a particular utensil. 

 “This right here is the center shader,” he explains. “It depresses 

the leather around the lines to make the flower have depth.”

 He squints and furrows his brow while eagerly carving away. 

With a push here and a nudge there, the center shader is powered by 

Heizer’s creativity, performing beautifully at his will. 

“It’s carved in,” he exclaims, as his tool-gripping hand pulls away 

from the crafted canvas. “Now, we get to beat on it!” 

“When it dries, it will be a bit more firm,” Heizer explains as he 

tactfully reaches for another tool.

His canvas now bears a striking array of deep and smooth lines, 

exquisitely carved to display a blossomed flower, its pedals brought 

to life at the work of Heizer’s hand. 

Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Heizer was a corrections specialist at Ft. 

Leavenworth Kan., when he was introduced to what became a 

passion in leatherworking. 

“I started doing leatherwork because of an inmate... who inspired 

me. He had been there for a long time,” Heizer shares. “He went to 

the prison craft shop for an hour a day and in that time he made 

some really neat stuff.”

Heizer wondered, if the inmate could do that in an hour each day, 

what could he do with his spare time? After a few years of learning 

the trade, he decided to take on a particularly challenging project: a 

riding saddle. 

“I made it entirely [from] a book,” recalls Heizer, who now works 

as a corrections specialist assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo. 

“I don’t ride horses nor have I rode one in probably 25 years. So, I 

don’t know anything about saddles, you know? I just picked up the 

book and read it until I figured out how to make a saddle.”

Heizer specializes in western style leather work, to include detailed 

and often intricate designs which are traced onto the leather, then 

carved. Heizer said the tracing is a boring but important step to 

getting started.

“Leather is anywhere from seven to 10 dollars per square foot,” 

Heizer noted. “On top of that, the carvings on that photo album 

took me about six or seven hours and it was hand sewn.” He points 

to a large portfolio with the words ‘Heizer’s Leather and Saddle’ 

stamped on the front. 

Heizer said a lot of effort goes into his work, more than people 

think. 

“You tear your hands up pretty good most of the time,” he said, 

looking down at his callused hands. “Working with the needles for 

hand sewing will just rub your fingers raw.”

Heizer’s portfolio includes everything from handbags and wallets 

to holster gun belts. Each requires sewing, which Heizer emphasizes 

is not like regular needle-and-thread sewing. 

“To sew leather, it takes two needles and each goes into the same 

hole in opposite ways,” Heizer describes. “That’s why it never looks 

like it was hand sewn.”

Heizer begins threading a needle, while holding the second needle 

in his mouth. He is about to sew the piece of leather he carved 

earlier. 

“Everybody always wonders how I don’t stab myself ”, Heizer 

laughs. “Honest answer is, I stab myself all the time.” 

Heizer’s saddle project took multiple sewing techniques, a fierce 

Faces

Army Staff Sgt. Aaron Heizer, a corrections specialist assigned to 

the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, (left) sews a piece of leather 

being clamped tightly by a sewing bench. Heizer (upper left) pounds 

a tool head to depress parts of a flower design on his latest leather 

project and (lower left) later makes indentions with another tool to 

depict the flower’s detail. 
The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

‘Addicted’ to 

saving

abel

“It’s so much 

better coming to 

a place like this 

because you know 

that these guys 

deserve rock and 

roll more than 

anybody else in 

the world.”
The Wire | 

Page 12

Feature |

Story by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

More than 700 music fans from Joint Task Force 

and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay turned out 

at the Downtown Lyceum Friday for the first of 

two concerts by the rock group Saving Abel as 

part of a tour with the USO.

Jared Weeks, lead singer for the rock band Saving Abel, performs at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Downtown 

Lyceum, Friday. The band was on station to perform two shows sponsored by the USO for residents of the base. 

Following their performance, members of the band stopped to sign autographs (top right) and take pictures with 

their fans of the base. Drummer Blake Dixon (bottom right) thrashes the drums during Saving Abel’s set.

The concert was a way for the band to 

thank servicemembers for their contributions 

and also helped Guantanamo Bay residents 

socialize, relax and blow off steam.

“It’s important to host a variety of 

recreational opportunities on base so our 

troops have an outlet to enjoy themselves, 

meet new people and relieve stress,” said 

Story by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

Aimee MacDonnell, Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation community activities director.

Jared Weeks, lead vocalist for Saving Abel, 

said he loves playing for the military because 

they are always the band’s best audience.

“The crowd participation is so much 

better over here,” said Weeks. 

The band is thankful for the opportunity 

to perform in front of Troops and enjoys 

the diversity rather than the grind of a 

routine.

“It’s so much better coming to a place 

like this because you know that these guys 

do so much for us every single day, said 

Weeks. “They deserve rock and roll more 

than anybody else in the world.”

In addition to performing for USO 

tours, Weeks has a close connection with 

the armed forces through several family 

members.

“I have six uncles who have been in 

the military,” said Weeks. “Two of them 

were Marines, the others were in the Army 

and both of my brothers have been in 

Afghanistan. My Grandpa fought in the 

Korean War, so the military is in my blood 

|

Feature

The Wire | 

Page 13

and my family.”

Weeks’ diabetes prevents him from 

following in the footsteps of his brothers 

and uncles. Touring with the USO is his way 

of serving the military. 

“The opportunity to be here and play 

for you guys makes me feel like I have 

done something in my life,” said Weeks. “It 

doesn’t matter if I was playing music or not, 

I would want to walk out here and shake 

your hand and say ‘thank you.’”

Weeks said being at Guantanamo Bay 

helps the band pay forward and contribute 

to a greater cycle of gratitude.

“Being here makes it all worth it,” said 

Weeks. “It’s about being a part of something 

bigger than each of us or the group as a 

whole.”
In The Trenches

On the Wing

ARLINGTON, Va. – The results of a recent survey indicate Army 

leaders are seen as effective on a wide range of criteria, but leadership 

development has not been receiving the attention it once did at the unit 

level.

“Unit leader development appears to be less of a priority,” said John 

Steele at the Center for Army Leadership, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Steele 

is the project lead for CAL’s Annual Survey of Army Leadership, known 

as CASAL.

The latest CASAL, completed during November and December, had 

more than 22,000 Army leaders respond – sergeants to colonels – from 

both the active and reserve components.

Army leaders who reported their unit/organization placed a high 

priority on leader development was at an all-time low of 46 percent 

(compared to 53 percent in 2009 and 55 percent in 2008).

“If an individual is not getting leader development in the field, not 

seeing it as a priority, and the classroom is not effective in teaching leaders 

how to develop subordinates, then we need to figure out how to improve 

this.” Steele said, adding that the current operations tempo has affected the 

time and attention that can be devoted to professional development.

Only 57 percent of Army leaders reported they have time to carry out 

the duties and responsibilities for developing subordinates. This was down 

from 63 percent in 2009.

“A real value of CASAL is the detection of shifts or changes over time, 

since it is often the changes that occur gradually that can end up being the 

really big problem,” Steele said.

This latest CASAL is an on-going effort by the Center for Army 

Leadership and the Combined Arms Center to assess Army leader attitudes 

on leader development, the quality of leadership, and the contribution of 

leadership to mission accomplishment.

“These perceptions not only affect behavior, learning processes, 

and learning outcomes, but ultimately and most importantly, mission 

accomplishment. We are constantly updating, changing, and utilizing 

what we learn about leader attitudes to maintain an accurate pulse of how 

leaders see their Army,” said Steele.

From year to year the survey responses overall are more positive than 

Survey suggests Army focus on improving leader development

Rob McIlvaine negative, yet the Army desires to detect and act on initial signs of issues.

Only 38 percent of respondents of the latest survey agreed that, “The 

Army is headed in the right direction to prepare for the challenges of the 

next 10 years.” The number one explanation was a perception of a “lack 

of discipline” or that the “Army is too soft.”

While 74 percent of junior noncommissioned officers selected lack 

of discipline as a reason, only 35 percent of company-grade officers did. 

Members of deployable units selected lack of discipline more often than 

leaders serving in the generating force.

About one-fourth of Army leaders responding to the survey said they 

believe that honest mistakes are held against them in their unit/organization. 

Nearly one-third believed that their unit/organization promotes a zerodefect mentality.

About one in five Army leaders reported that their immediate superior 

demonstrates some negative leadership behavior. Four out of five Army 

leaders reported they observed a leader who demonstrated toxic leadership 

behavior in the past year.

However, almost all also reported that they observed an extraordinary 

leader in the past year.

Information collected in the CASAL provides research guidance for 

policy decisions and program development, Steele said

The bottom line, he said, is that CASAL findings inform diverse 

groups or consumers of information and are applied to a wide range of 

products, such as informing the Army Influence Trainer, FM 6-22, and 

various handbooks and training packages, as well as connections to areas 

with a broader focus, such as human dimension and providing baseline 

information for Comprehensive Soldier Fitness.

“CASAL allows us to see how the Army is doing in leader development, 

is a tracking and management tool to know what the field thinks, and 

empowers the field by providing opportunity for direct feedback,” Steele 

said.

“It is a best business practice, and results in a database used for senior 

leader queries, such as broadening task force, effectiveness of Captains 

Career Course and MSAF,” explained Steele, adding that the Multi-Source 

Assessment and Feedback, or MSAF, Army 360-degree program is widely 

used, has been well-received and is showing positive results.

 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – For many Airmen, working 

across other cultures provides some of the most memorable stories of 

their careers. A two-year research study began this month that will collect 

those stories to help Air Force educators provide better cross-cultural 

competence education and training to warfighters.

Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center at Air 

University on Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., launched the Cultural Studies 

Project survey site June 3 to gather information from Airmen about 

their experiences working across other cultures. The survey is located at 

www.culture.af.mil/csp, and all Airmen are encouraged to volunteer to 

participate.

Responding to the survey will only take minutes, but it will have a 

lasting impact on how Air Force instructors teach the skills and knowledge 

required for cross-cultural competence, according to Tricia Fogarty, the 

ethnographer at the AFCLC.

“We hope to survey more than 30,000 people over the next two years, 

and we can use that information to enhance our materials to target specific 

educational and training needs,” Fogarty said.

Tell your story: center seeks input from Airmen for Cultural Studies Project

Air Force Public Affairs Some Airmen also may have the opportunity to participate in more 

extensive research. Of those surveyed, about 3,000 volunteers will 

be selected for phone or in-person interviews to elaborate on their 

experiences.

“From those 3,000, about 50 volunteers will be selected for taped 

interviews that will serve as specific case studies of Airmen’s cross-cultural 

encounters and the knowledge they’ve gained,” Fogarty said.

The survey differs from traditional “lessons learned” events due to the 

depth and specificity of the research.

“We’ll really have a detailed picture of their experiences,” said Dr. 

Kimberly Hudson, who leads the AFCLC’s Culture Department. “We 

can take that picture, and provide better opportunities for our Airmen to 

become cross-culturally competent, which will directly impact their ability 

to perform their missions globally.”

For more information on the survey, or on the AFCLC, see their 

website at www.culture.af.mil, e-mail afclc.pa@maxwell.af.mil, or call to 

334-953-7729. The protocol number of the survey is FAC20110023H. 

The study and ICD were approved Feb. 25. The expiration date is Feb. 

24, 2012.

The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service | | At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

On The Deck

Inside the Jar

SAN DIEGO – Sailors on the Navy’s newest 

destroyer are scheduled to arrive with their 

ship at Naval Base San Diego, Friday.

The guided-missile destroyer USS 

William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), the 60th 

Arleigh Burke class destroyer, was built in 

Pascagoula, Miss. and commissioned during 

a ceremony at the Alabama State Docks in 

Mobile, Ala. June 4. 

After commissioning, the ship departed 

Mobile and sailed through the Gulf of 

Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Panama Canal 

into the Pacific Ocean on its voyage to its 

homeport of San Diego.

Cmdr. Thomas R. Williams II is the 

first commanding officer of the 9,200-ton 

warship’s 280-person crew. 

“It is wonderful to celebrate our 

homecoming on the 4th of July weekend 

with our families,” said Williams. “Our goal 

as a command for the past year was to make 

it home by the 4th, and I’m very proud of 

the Lawrence warriors who worked so hard 

to make it possible.”

The new destroyer honors the late Vice 

Adm. William P. Lawrence, an accomplished 

leader and the first naval aviator to fly twice 

the speed of sound. During the Vietnam War, 

as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 

143, Lawrence was awarded the Silver Star for 

a strike against a heavily defended target in 

North Vietnam. He completed his mission, 

but was captured after his aircraft went down 

in June 1967 and remained a prisoner of war 

(POW) until March 1973. He was awarded the 

Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership 

to fellow POWs.

While a POW, Vice Adm. Lawrence 

composed a poem entitled “Oh Tennessee, My 

Tennessee,” which was subsequently designated 

as the official poem of the State of Tennessee 

by the state legislature.

The ship is capable of carrying Tomahawk 

missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, surface-toair missiles, as well as a five-inch gun and two 

SH-60 helicopters.

William P. Lawrence helps provide deterrence, 

promote peace and security, preserve freedom 

of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response 

within 3rd Fleet’s 50-million square mile area of 

responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as 

supporting the Navy’s Maritime Strategy when 

forward deployed.

For more information on the USS William P. 

Lawrence (DDG 110) visit 

http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/

ddg110/Pages/default.aspx and for more 

information on Commander, Naval Surface 

Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.surfaceforces.

surfor.navy.mil or follow the Surface Force at 

www.facebook.com/SurfaceWarriors. 

Navy’s newest Destroyer to arrive in San Diego

From Naval Surface Forces,

 U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, 

Japan – More than 1,800 Marines 

and Sailors with the 31st Marine 

Expeditionary Unit embarked the 

USS Essex (LHD 2), and USS 

Germantown (LSD 42), Tuesday, 

in preparation for exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 to be held in Australia. 

The Marines and Sailors loaded about 90 vehicles and more 

than 120 containers and pallets of 

gear onto the ships. This was done 

within 48 hours to ensure the ships 

left on schedule. 

“The hardest part about the 

MEU on-load is ensuring that we 

have the proper gear packed in the 

appropriate location,” said Capt. 

Robert Schwaab, the assistant logistics chief for the 31st MEU. 

“This has to be done so that regardless of what mission or task 

we are given, we can respond in 

the best manner possible.” 

That capability has proven 

necessary, as the MEU has 

participated in five humanitarian 

aid missions over the last three 

years, including involvement in 

31st MEU Departs Okinawa headed to Australia

Operation Tomodachi after a the 

recent earthquake and tsunami 

struck Northeast Japan in March. 

During this patrol, the 31st 

MEU is scheduled to participate 

in exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. 

“The 31st MEU looks forward 

to the partnership with Australia 

and their military forces,” said 

Col. Andrew MacMannis, the 

commanding officer of the 31st 

MEU. “This exercise increases our 

readiness and advances regional 

security in the Pacific. We look 

forward to validating our combat 

readiness and interoperability as 

part of a combined joint task 

force.” 

Marines from the Command 

Element; Battalion Landing Team 

2nd Battalion, 7th Marines; Marine 

Medium Helicopter Squadron 

265 (Reinforced) with attached 

Marine Attack Squadron 214 and 

Combat Logistics Regiment 31 

will participate in the exercise. 

Talisman Sabre is a biennial 

exercise, so this will be the first 

time most Marines with the MEU 

will participate in it. 

Marines and Sailors 

with the 31st Marine 

Expeditionary Unit, 

board USS Essex (LHD 

2), Monday. - photo by 

Lance Cpl. Garry Welch
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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

Prom

(PG) 8 p.m. 

Scream 4

(R) 10 p.m. 

Cars 2

(G) 8 p.m.

X-Men: First 

Class

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

NO MOVIE

4th of July 

Fireworks Show!

(at the Tiki Bar)

9 p.m.

Madea’s Big Happy 

Family

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Something 

Borrowed

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Green Lantern

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Soul Surfer

(G) 8 p.m.

(last showing)

Water for 

Elephants

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

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

The sleeper hit of the summer, “Super 8” 

is the lovechild of director J.J. Abrams and 

producer Steven Spielberg. The latter should 

need no introduction; for those unfamiliar with 

Abrams, he is the mastermind behind the new 

“Star Trek” reboot, frenzied monster movie 

“Cloverfield,” as well as TV’s landmark brain 

twister “Lost” and similarly spooky “Fringe.” 

In short, the dude knows his sci-fi. 

So what do you get when you mix Abrams’ 

geekishness with the nostalgia of Spielberg’s 

early 80’s films like “E.T.” and “Close 

Encounters of the Third Kind?” One hell of 

a good flick.

“Super 8” is everything a summer movie 

should be: intriguing, unexpected and above 

all else, fun. The story of five pals who set out 

to make a homemade zombie movie over their 

break and end up witnessing one of the most 

explosive train wrecks in cinematic history is 

reminiscent of 80s classic “Stand By Me,” if 

River Pheonix and company had battled aliens 

and menacing Air Force-types. The children are 

wonderful to watch. All of them newcomers, the 

boys exhibit a chemistry few film veterans could 

match. Central to the story is Joe, (the stellar 

Joel Courtney) a sweetie of a kid recovering 

from the sudden loss of his mother by bonding 

with the equally sweet, equally tortured Alice. 

Joe’s best friend, wingman and amateur director 

is Charles (Riley Griffiths, who’s like a lovable 

mix between “The Goonies’” Chunk and 

Mouth). Assisting in special effects, bit acting 

and overall hilariousness are Martin (Gabriel 

Basso), Preston (Zach Mills) and pyro-obsessed 

Cary (impossible-to-forget Ryan Lee.) The oneliners happen so fast and the actors are so deft in 

not only delivery but also pace that the challenge 

for the audience is just keeping up with them. 

The boys need a wife for their movie – 

enter Alice. As the singular girl amid this boys’ 

club, Elle Fanning manages to balance tender 

vulnerability with candid goofiness, making her 

a dream girl for more than one member of the 

movie crew. Fanning, thankfully, is not nearly as 

creepy as her sister, Dakota. In fact, she’s quite 

lovely and we fall for her just as easily as Joe. 

Not to worry, there’s some stuff that blows 

up, too. There’s gunplay, car chases, townspeople 

being snatched up in true, startling fashion and, 

unlike Abrams’ “Cloverfield” creature, we get 

a nice close-up of the misunderstood monster 

that is terrorizing the small town. There 

are conspiracies (the government is hiding 

something – shocking!), betrayals, catharic 

revelations and a tongue-in-cheek moment with 

a Walkman. 

To be sure, the movie has its flaws. With 

Spielberg’s guiding presence, things toward the 

end can get a little overly sappy. And Abrams 

tends to get too excited and forgets to lock up 

all his story lines. (I still don’t understand the 

spaceship part.) 

But what it lacks in clarity, “Super 8” makes 

up for with sheer joy. For so long, movies have 

lacked that spark – that indescribable, guttingling feeling of awe and wonderment. It’s 

what we felt when we watched “E.T.” for the 

first time. It’s what we feel when we watch “The 

Goonies” for the dozenth time. It’s rare and 

fleeting, but worth every minute. It’s also worth 

my very first five banana rat rating. Enjoy!

Spc. Meredith Vincent

PG-13

112 min.

Cars 2

(G) 8 p.m.

Scream 4

(R) 10 p.m.

Something 

Borrowed

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

X-Men: First Class

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Soul Surfer

(G) 8 p.m.

(last showing)

NO MOVIE

4th of July 

Fireworks Show!

(at the Tiki Bar)

9 p.m.

Green Lantern

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Prom

(PG) 8 p.m.

Madea’s Big Happy 

Family

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

High schoolers teach grownups a lesson in Ultimate Frisbee

Story and photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

The Navy Expeditionary 

Guard Battalion Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Bay Frisbee team, 

Prestige, lost in overtime to W.T. 

Sampson High School team, 

the Tortugas, who inched their 

way to a winning score of 8 to 

7, at Cooper Field and Sports 

Complex, Saturday. 

Initially, the Prestige carried 

an expected lead heading into 

halftime, 4-1. The team seemed 

to lose momentum, however, 

going into the second half. 

“We were out here warming 

up forever, because we thought 

the game was at 7 p.m. and it 

ended up being at 8 p.m.,” said 

Bill Niemi, Prestige team member. 

“So, I guess we kind of burned 

ourselves out.”

Prestige accepted their 

shortcomings for the loss and 

acknowledged the Tortuga’s 

fierce determination going into 

the second half. 

“I will say, they are fast, can 

catch and they know the game,” 

Niemi said wearily.

Even the referee was surprised 

at the level of challenge brought 

on by the tenacious Tortugas 

even after their team lost a player 

to an injury in the last minute of 

the game.

“Prestige was about to lose to 

the Tortugas and I was like ‘Oh 

my gosh, these guys [Tortugas] 

only have, like, five players,” said 

Murray Mckeithan, a volunteer 

referee attached to JTF. “Seeing 

the older guys looking like ‘Uh, 

wait a minute, we better take these 

guys seriously!’ was fun.”

Tortuga team member Tim 

Devepentigny said although 

they started the game with a 

few dropped plays and scattered 

defensive tactics, they managed 

to outlast team Prestige.

“We ended up tying the 

game after half time,” said 

Devepentingy. “Then, we 

dropped one in the end zone in 

the last few seconds of the game, 

which took us into overtime.”

After a few back and forth 

possessions in what ended up 

being a short-lived overtime 

segment, the Tortugas managed 

to toss a quick pass to the end 

zone, ending the sudden death 

style overtime and adding a win 

to their record. 

“This was our best game yet,” 

claimed Devepentigny. “Because 

we’re young, we generally have 

more endurance and speed – we 

just kind of outlasted them!”

W.T. Sampson students defeat 

NEGB team 8-7 in nail-biter

(right) Team Tortuga players jump 

into a celebration huddle after 

defeating NEGB team Prestige in 

overtime, Saturday. The Tortugas 

lost a teammate to an injury in the 

last minute of the game and still 

managed to steal the win. 

(below) A Team Tortuga player 

(right) sends the Frisbee sailing 

to a teammate as an NEGB player 

attempts to block the throw.

| Sports The Wire | Page 17
Mind, Body & Soul

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

I like stories and this one I 

think will ring true for most of 

us as we consider God’s will for 

our lives.

There once was an honest 

jeweler who was imprisoned 

falsely of a crime he didn’t 

commit. While in prison he 

quickly became bored and asked 

the guards if he could have 

simple jeweler tools. He said if 

they brought him bits of silver or 

gold he would make jewelry for 

them which they could then sell 

to augment their meager salaries. 

This would give him something 

to do and his skills would remain 

sharp. They agreed and brought 

him scraps of silver and gold. 

One day his wife brought a 

prayer rug to the prison for him. 

She pleaded that her husband was 

a devout man and there could be 

no harm in him having it. The 

guards conceded and allowed him 

to have the rug. 

One morning the guards came 

to the cell – it was empty. The 

door was locked, but no evidence 

of the jeweler. He had vanished. 

Some time later, one of the 

guards saw the jeweler at a bazaar 

in the city. The man tried to run 

but the guard shouted he meant 

no harm. The real thief had been 

captured and confessed to the 

Command Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Gary Bertsch 

Taking time to reflect:

Don’t miss your pattern

crime. The jeweler was a free 

man. 

The guard asked how he 

managed to escape. The jeweler 

said after he got his rug, he 

performed his prayers as usual. 

After a while, as he bowed his head 

in prayer, he noticed a pattern in 

the rug, then another pattern and 

another. He realized the patterns 

were of the locks on the door and 

a map of the prison. His wife had 

somehow acquired the blueprints 

and wove them into the rug. So 

one night he picked the lock and 

escaped.

Seeing God’s purpose for our 

lives is sometimes like the jeweler 

– the pattern is right before our 

eyes, but because of how busy 

and distracted we become, we 

don’t notice it until we pause to 

find quiet time to reflect, pray or 

worship. It’s then that the picture 

God has for us becomes clear. 

Take time to find God’s pattern 

in your life.

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 2323 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

| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

LEATHER cont. 

determination and more 

than a month to complete. His 

dedication earned him a third 

place finish in the Witchata, Kan. 

Leatherworker’s Tradeshow.

Nine years after starting his 

trade, Heizer now plans to share 

his talent with others - he was 

asked to teach a class on leatherworking for Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation. 

“I have to charge [for classes] 

just because I’m providing the 

leather for it,” said Heizer. “We 

are trying to make it cheap so 

people are still interested, at 

the same time, I can’t give away 

expensive leather.”

Heizer’s longtime friend, 

Sgt. 1st Class Eb Nordman, 

a corrections specialist also 

assigned to JTF, praised Heizer’s 

work and believes he would 

make a great instructor.

“He’s a character,” said 

Information Assurance Information Assurance 

Tip of the Week Tip of the Week

Your Common Access Card (CAC) is a Your Common Access Card (CAC) is a 

controlled item. Do not leave it in your card controlled item. Do not leave it in your card 

reader or leave it un-attended. Remember attended. Remember 

you are responsible for your CAC. you are responsible for your CAC.

Nordman, who has known 

Heizer since basic training. “He 

does phenomenal work - he’s 

very detail-oriented, patient 

and methodical.”

Nordman said Heizer’s 

trade is particularly interesting 

because it relates to his job as a 

corrections specialist.

“Patience,” Nordman said. 

“You have to have it when 

dealing with detainees and it 

can be frustrating. You have to 

be aware of your surroundings 

at all times.”

Heizer thinks of his hobby 

as not only a good use of his 

free time, but also as a way to 

vent his frustrations.

“You know people don’t 

realize how much pounding 

goes into it,” Heizer laughs. “I 

tell them it’s my stress relief 

from the Army.”

For Heizer, the hobby has 

nothing to do with him and 

everything to do with the end 

result. 

“I love seeing the face of 

somebody I’ve done work for 

that is just absolutely satisfied 

with it,” he grins. “I mean, that’s 

what it’s all about!”

Heizer plans to one day open 

a leather-working shop in his 

home state of Texas. His first 

saddle will be on display, but 

will not be for sale.

To learn more about Heizer’s 

leatherworking, visit his website 

www.heizersleather.com.
BE PREPARED

Hospitalman Justin Montgomery (left) and Spc. Brian Mikalinis attached to 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Joint troop Clinic, double check the inventory 

records in the patients waiting room, June 22. 

- photo by Sgt. Mathieu Perry1

RAISING FUNDS

Chief Navy Career Counselor Robert Pagtakhan (left), a Naval Station Guantanamo 

Command Career Counselor, hands Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Eric Ortiz his 

change in the Navy Exchange atrium following a donut pre-sale purchase, Friday. 

- photo by Sgt. Mathieu Perry

STOCKING UP

Sgt. Shawn Kirk, Joint Task Force J-4 warehouse Non-commissioned officer in 

charge, stocks supplies at the J-4 warehouse, Monday. Resupply and inventory 

are just a few of the duties in the property book office. 

- photo by Sgt. Mathieu Perry

TheJTF

AT THE THEATER

Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, Commander, U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander, Navy Rear Admr. Jeffrey Harbeson were on 

hand during a town hall discussion about the challenges of war following the dramatic reading of “Prometheus in Prison” by actors with Theater of War at the Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bulkeley Hall Auditorium June 24. -photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry