Volume 12, Issue 31 Friday, July 22, 2011

Here come

the cookies!

Meet the new CoS

Rabun hits the ground running

PLUS:

Forever flowers

These petals need no water
The Wire | Page 2 Commander’s Corner |

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.

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson

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

Spc. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Photojournalists:

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: Army Staff Sgt. Jackson Schneider, a Trooper assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo, 

stacks boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies at Naval Station Guantanamo, Monday. – photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Cc

ommander’s

orner

This week, before I address a few more 

of your specific questions from the recent 

all hands sessions, I would like to take a 

minute to talk about teamwork. After all, 

teamwork at every level of this Joint Task 

Force or any organization is at the heart of 

what we do to accomplish our personal and 

collective goals. To paraphrase a popular 

Chinese proverb, “behind every able 

person, there are always other able people.” 

Former President Lyndon Johnson once 

said “there are no problems that a team 

of people cannot solve together and very 

few that we can solve by ourselves.” I 

challenge you to think of a great historical 

achievement that did not involve a team of 

people. If you look closely enough, you will 

always find that a team of ordinary people 

worked together to achieve something truly 

extraordinary. 

Wherever you serve in the Joint Task 

Force, you are part of a team. If you are 

serving as of member of our guard force, 

the man or woman standing with you on 

the block is a part of your team, as are the 

many other servicemembers, government 

employees, and contractors here you may 

or may not see in the normal course of 

your work week. If you are in command 

of your organization, a senior enlisted 

leader, or serving on a staff, you also rely 

on others to accomplish your mission, as 

the men and women you lead and support 

rely on you. True teamwork is not always 

easy and demands a significant investment 

of time and energy to develop. The truly 

great teams are those that work through the 

challenges that arise from time to time and 

find new, cooperative ways to achieve the 

mission. I want to thank each and every 

one of you for your outstanding efforts, 

leadership, and dedication to accomplish 

what our country has charged us to do at 

Guantanamo Bay. What we achieve here, 

we achieve as a team. 

Troopers Questions & Answers 

If you missed last week’s installment, I 

plan to use The Wire to answer the questions 

raised during the all hands sessions, as 

well as questions you may submit in the 

“JTF Comments” boxes in the galleys or 

to commandersquestions@jtfgtmo.

southcom.mil. Of course, I first encourage 

you to use your chain of command first and 

allow your leadership an opportunity to 

address your concerns. 

First, there was a question as to why 

troopers are not allowed “take-outs” from 

the galleys with the exception of Kittery 

Café. There are a couple of reasons; food 

safety and cost. With “take-outs,” there is a 

real concern about food safety when allowing 

Troopers to take prepared food out of the 

dining facilities. There are concerns with 

Troopers storing their “take out” meals for 

prolonged periods of time, which can result 

in food borne illness. Additionally, the cost 

of the consumables (i.e., clam shells, plastic 

utensils and cups) are not covered under the 

current food service contract and are a direct 

expense to the galley. Only the Kittery Café 

consumables are covered under the food 

service contract due to lack of dish washing 

equipment. As you know, “take-outs” are 

still offered at Kittery Café, which primarily 

supports those on shift work. Finally in 

regards to “take-outs,” there is a possibility 

of abuse – when personnel take excessive 

amounts of food. This increase in food 

cost can have a direct and negative impact 

on the financial operation of the galley and 

thus affect everyone. 

Next, there was a question about the 

 see COMMANDER, page 19
| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

Trooper to Trooper featuring

Senior Enlisted Leader, 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo

Command Master Chief

Reynaldo Tiong

Amongst the clamoring calls of discipline, 

responsibility, chain of command and other 

military formalities, one key element so often 

missing in making this whole operation work is 

mentorship.

But what does that mean and whom does it 

apply to? I would suggest mentoring applies to 

every single one of us, from the lowest enlisted 

to the highest officer, wearing the uniform. In 

fact, I would go so far as to say it is essential 

in continuing our proud military traditions 

and ensuring the survival of the U.S. Armed 

Forces.

PSEC ALERT

KEEP PERSONAL INFORMATION PERSONAL!

Protect your Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Most of us understand that if someone were to have our name and social security number that we would be 

susceptible to identity theft. What most people don’t know is that people finder websites have made it easy to 

obtain public information like addresses, phone numbers, names of relatives, etc... Before the internet, much 

research had to be done to gather this information. Now all this information is at the touch of a keyboard. So 

protect your personal information from people who don’t need to know. Use OPSEC to protect your PII.

Have a good Idea? See an issue that needs addressed?

Drop an anonymous note in the JTF Guantanamo Suggestion Box!

Located at the Seaside and Kittery Galleys

Why our traditions you ask? The answer is 

simple; the U.S. military will outlive all of us - 

it will keep going long after we have put down 

our rifles and settled into the rocking chair of 

retirement. The military will continue to march 

along and the knowledge and wisdom we impart 

to those junior to us will carry forth to future 

generations - all we’ve taught them, all we’ve 

shown them and all we’ve mentored them.

Mentoring is listening. Mentoring is advising. 

Mentoring is sometimes having to come out 

with the hard truth – “Because Trooper, you’re 

in the military and that is what’s expected of 

you.”

Most importantly, mentoring is a two-way 

street. While it is incumbent upon leaders to 

take an active role in both the personal and 

professional development of their Troopers, 

junior leaders must make an effort to seek out 

those individuals who can provide guidance and 

be that person they can go to.

When seeking a mentor, look for someone 

you respect. While it’s important to have a 

cordial relationship, finding someone who will 

be honest and speak the difficult truths to you 

is much more important than finding a buddy. 

None of us like to hear we are in the wrong 

and a good mentor will tell you when you are 

but should also provide ways to correct the 

situation.

Senior leaders – be the noncommissioned or 

petty officer your Troopers seek out. Be available 

and make sure they know you are available. 

Effective mentoring begins with effective 

communication and if your people don’t know 

you are there for them, then you’ve failed before 

you’ve even started. Show through your actions 

and deeds that you are fair and equitable with 

both rewards and discipline. Let 

 see TROOPER, page 19
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

Boots on the Ground

What do you like most about another service that you would adopt?

News from the Bay

Stories and reporting by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Name that run winner

announced - sign up now

Name that run winners have been 

announced and the prize goes to Kristin 

and Mark Good and Joe Koerber.

Their run is appropriately named “The 

Good Run - Running in Fidel’s Backyard.”

This is a 5k fun run open to ages 5-50. 

The first 150 people to sign up will be 

guaranteed to receive a T-shirt. First and 

second place winners in each age group 

will receive medals.

Group cycling classes 

free - offered all week

Spin a web with your friends at the 

Marine Hill Fitness Center in a group 

cycling class, which are scheduled for 

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 

a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 

p.m.

 “The indoor cycling class simulates 

outdoor cycling,” said Jen Norton 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation event 

coordinator. “It is a challenging class 

because the instructors incorporate 

climbing hills and varying speeds as if 

you are cycling outside.”

 The class requires the participant to 

change the resistance on the bike to make 

it harder or easier to pedal. 

“These classes offer a great workout to 

Free pizza and bowling 

offered every Wednesday 

Strike! Break up your work week with a free 

night of bowling at Marblehead Lanes offered 

every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

This event sponsored by the Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation Liberty Single Sailor 

Program is only open to unaccompanied 

Active Duty members. 

“Active Duty Members are able to enjoy 

two free games of bowling and also free food,” 

said Jen Norton, MWR event coordinator. 

“Join us at Marblehead Lanes for an evening 

of fun!”

For more information call x2010.

“I want the Army uniforms, 

these winter weights are too 

hot!”

Air Force Staff Sgt. 

Brian Margovich

“I would adopt all other 

branches hair regulations, 

because we are the only 

branch who has to cut our 

hair off in boot camp.”

Sgt. 1st Class 

Jose Santiago

Master-at-Arms 

2nd Class

 Heather Shelley

“I would take the travel 

from the Air Force, last time 

I was here I got on a C-17 

with them and travelled the 

world.”

“I would take the 

organization from the 

Marine Corps, they always 

seem like they have a 

handle on what’s going on.”

Tech Sgt. 

Jason Burns

burn a lot of calories,” Norton explained. 

“They also offer a form of cross-training 

to running. The instructors motivate the 

participants with great music, energy and 

an overall great workout.”

 Classes are free. For more information 

call x77262.

Hurry and sign up now at any gym 

near you, and call x77262 for more 

information.
| Trooper Focus The Wire | Page 5

trooper

Spc. Kelly Gary

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 18 years

Hobbies: Going to the gym, 

playing golf

Pet peeves: Disingenuous 

people

Next goal: Make Chief

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Robert 

Spahr, Joint Medical Group’s leading 

petty officer, decided he wanted to join 

the military in his first year of high school 

but he wasn’t sure which branch. He 

eventually decided on the Navy, following 

in the footsteps of his grandfather. “The 

pride my family has in me keeps me 

going,” said Spahr, a father himself. “It 

is not always the easiest thing to be away 

from them.”

This is not the first time Spahr’s family 

has dealt with his absence. Before coming 

to Guantanamo Bay, Spahr served as an 

individual augmentee in Iraq and spent 

two years with the USS Essex (LHD2). 

While on the ship, Spahr participated in 

humanitarian missions in the Philippines, 

Australia and Japan. In recognition of 

his hard work, in 2008 he won the Sailor 

of the year award on The Essex. Here 

at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Spahr 

ensures all the corpsmen under him are 

succeeding in their mission.

“He just does an outstanding job,” said 

Chief Hospital Corpsman Marian Precht, 

leading chief petty officer for the JMG. 

“He handles the day-to-day stuff and helps 

operations run smoother.”

Spahr also makes certain his Sailors are 

taken care of professionally and personally. 

He helps them decide what to do with their 

careers encouraging them to take advantage 

of opportunities in the military.

“I have a lot of professional knowledge,” 

said Spahr, “not only in Navy medicine, but 

as far as what the military has to offer.” 

Currently, Spahr is working toward his 

associate degree in health care management 

and hopes to attain his bachelor’s in the 

near future. 

Spahr believes one of the largest benefits 

of being in the service is the ability to meet 

different people from different places.

focus

Hospital Corpsman 

 1st Class

 Robert Spahr

MCSFCO Moonlight Run

When: 23 July 2011  Check in starts at 1800 last

Check in at 1830 depart Marine Hill 1830

Where : Starts at NE Gate, finishes at Kittery Beach

First 10 to sign up will receive a free  T‐Shirt

FMI Call SSgt Tucker at X‐2643  

Sign up at Marine Hill Whitehouse Mon – Fri  1130‐1300

Sign up Begins the 8th of July, Cost: 25.00

All Proceeds will benefit the 236th USMC

Birthday Ball UNCLASSIFIED

Present Present

Leeward Bike Ride Leeward Bike Ride

July 30, 2011 July 30, 2011

Ride the Leeward Fence-line from MOP 20 to Leeward Ferry line from MOP 20 to Leeward Ferry 

Landing

Meet at Marine Hill Parade Deck 0730

Transportation to and from the Leeward side will be provided. Transportation to and from the Leeward side will be provided.

$25.00 per entry, First 15 to sign up will receive a Free T-Shirt

Sign ups start July 8th

*New MCSFCo Shirts are on Sale*

FMI call SSgt Tucker at 2643

Marine Security Force Company

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

All Proceeds will benefit the 236th USMC

Birthday Ball

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

Amongst the long list of 

accomplishments spanning a 27-

year career for Navy Capt. Patrick 

Rabun, perhaps the one which prepared 

him the most for his new role as Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo Chief of Staff is one 

not featured on his official biography.

“I coached a girl’s soccer team for four 

seasons,” the northern Louisiana native 

explained. 

While stationed in San Diego, Rabun 

led his daughter’s team to four consecutive 

winning seasons. He explained, “Coaching 

the players was relatively easy – it was 

the coordination with the league, the 

referees, and the parents that proved most 

challenging. We all generally wanted the same 

outcome, but the different stakeholders all 

approached their involvement from varying 

perspectives.”

Rabun believes that experience will 

prove beneficial to serving as Chief of Staff 

– being aware of the interests of the various 

stakeholders who have influence over 

activities here in GTMO. “We’re going to 

need to present a united front to the various 

Alphabet-Soup organizations who interact 

with us in JTF/JDG,” he stated, “and all 

pull together as one effective team.”

One of the first questions he asked 

when he learned of the opportunity to 

come to Guantanamo was – who’s the 

boss? Discovering it was Rear Adm. Jeffrey 

Harbeson convinced him he’d have a good 

start to his tour. 

“The admiral was one of my instructors 

at Command Leadership School,” Rabun 

said. “I knew he’d be sincerely focused 

on long-term mission success, and always 

fair.”

Rabun is also no stranger to working in 

a joint environment. While commanding 

the USS Valley Forge (CG 50) in 2002-04, 

Rabun worked with all services as well as 

member nations of the Coalition Forces 

involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He 

likened his experience on the Valley Forge 

with what he’s already seen amongst the 

JTF.

“I was at the BUB (battle update 

brief) and was struck by how genuine the 

relationship was amongst all participants,” 

Rabun said. “It was great to see the frequent 

use of humor between the various services 

and agencies – both before and during the 

brief. The players on the field all seem to 

get along just fine.”

As the task force moves forward 

preparing for pending military commission 

trials and ongoing operations with a 

reduced footprint, Rabun said there will be 

challenges ahead that will require creative 

thinking and teamwork. “Flexibility will 

be key – as I doubt we’ll ever be certain of 

the exact schedule of the commissions,” he 

explained. 

“But what is critical for everyone to 

know about me, is that I value the inputs of 

all,” he says. Explaining further, Rabun said 

he believes that too often people assume 

a decision is final and stop bringing forth 

ideas.

“I want people to come to me with their 

ideas, I want to hear what they have to say, 

since I recognize the best ideas often come 

from those most involved in the details,” he 

said.

Just a few weeks into assuming his 

position as the chief of staff, Rabun said he 

was already impressed with the way some 

Troopers have risen to the challenge of 

achieving key leadership roles. 

“We should all be dedicated to improving 

ourselves and leaving the organization better 

than we found it,” the Capt. said. “And from 

what I’ve seen so far, there are some great 

role models here in GTMO.”

The new 

‘bird’ has 

landed

Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel
| Sports The Wire | Page 7

Servicemembers assigned to Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo filled five Moral, Welfare 

and Recreation boats to enjoy a night of free 

fishing on the bay, Friday.

The trip was made possible by the 

coordinated efforts of MWR Single Trooper 

Liberty Center program and four volunteer 

boat captains from the JTF.

MWR Liberty facilitates free activities 

through an infrastructure of volunteers for 

unaccompanied military members deployed 

to Guantanamo Bay. This allows Troopers to 

make new friends, learn new skills and get to 

know the local area.

“MWR trips like this are great for all the 

Troops, and it is a good way to explore and learn 

about GTMO,” said Ensign Kerry Yudiski, a 

nurse attached to JTF’s Joint Medical Group.

The sporting event was organized to help 

Troopers find another way to relax and unwind 

said 1st Sgt. Kevin Stapleton, head MWR 

volunteer boat captain.

“The trip was put together for the Troopers 

that don’t get a chance to go out or have never 

been out fishing,” Stapleton explained.

Story and photos by Sgt. Mathieu Perry The MWR fishing trips are full of variety 

and are a great way to socialize said Aviation 

Ordnanceman 1st Class Jose Santa Maria, a 

Trooper attached to the Joint Commissions 

Support Group.

“Every fishing trip is different,” said Santa 

Maria. “You always meet new people and learn 

new ways to catch fish.”

Stapleton said the target was two dozen 

servicemembers, but the idea proved to be 

more popular than expected.

“It turned into 30 JTF military members on 

five boats. It was a very good turn out,” said 

Stapleton.

Yudiski said the evening was enjoyable even 

though the fish weren’t biting.

“I had a really good time on the fishing trip.

We didn’t catch much,” said Yudiski. “but it 

was nice to get out with people who actually 

know how to fish.”

At the end of the night, Troopers learned 

catching fish wasn’t the only goal.

“Everyone had fun and that is the main 

point of coming out here and making new 

friends,” said Stapleton.

The fishing trips are scheduled twice a 

month. For more information call x2010.

Troopers take to the bay on night fishing adventure

“We didn’t catch much but it was nice to get out with people who 

actually know how to fish!” 

1st Sgt. Kevin Stapleton, JTF Trooper and 

volunteer boat captain, drives a pontoon boat 

during a night fishing trip, Friday. 

Logistics Specialist 1st Class Jerome Breaux, a Trooper attached to the 

Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, casts his fishing line Friday night, at 

the MWR hosted fishing trip.
The Wire | Page 8 Feature |

Operation 

‘Mints to the 

Military’ 

lands in

GTMO

Operation 

‘Mints to the 

Military’ 

lands in

GTMO

Spc. Stephen Pantoja, a Trooper assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo, stacks boxes 

of donated Girl Scout cookies at Naval Station Guantanamo, Monday. (top right) Sgt. 

1st Class Gordon McCall and Army Sgt. Shawn Kirk, both assigned to Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, welcome a pallet of donated Girl Scout cookies. (middle) Nearly 10,000 

pounds of Girl Scout cookies were sent to JTF Troopers through a national program based 

in Southwest Florida. (below right) As Trooper unload the pallets, this marks the third 

year in a row cookies have been donated to the JTF as part of the “Mints to the Military” 

program.

Story and photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand
| Feature The Wire | Page 9

Troopers attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

unloaded more than 10,000 pounds of Girl Scout cookies 

at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Monday.

This is the third year in a row cookies were donated as part of the 

national Girl Scout program of Southwest Fla. called “Mints to the 

Military.” The program gives customers the option to purchase a box 

and donate it to military members serving in Guantanamo.

 The cookies were unloaded from the aircraft to waiting trucks 

and taken to W.T. Sampson Elementary School where they will be 

stored for distribution to the JTF units and staff sections. 

Army Maj. Tim Tuttle, a Trooper assigned to JTF, said he and his 

wife have always been involved in the boy and girl scout programs, 

and he’s glad to see this yeard cookie drive be another success.

“The 10,000 plus pounds we got today was actually only about 

half of what they collected this year,” Tuttle explained. “So, we’ve 

actually redirected some to go down range to Afghanistan.” 

Tuttle pointed out the entire process from start to finish is all 

volunteer based and couldn’t be done without a team effort. 

“There are days where it’s tough to get this organized, because 

everyone in this chain is a volunteer, we have to go scrounge for 

the airlift to get the cookies here,” he shared. “So, there are a lot 

of different layers involved in getting them here and it works out 

because people are volunteering.”

The 1200 boxes totaling 10,000 pounds, each contained 12 

individual boxes, giving the JTF a total of 14,400 boxes of Girl 

Scout cookies. The abundance of cookies is expected to leave each 

Trooper plenty satisfied.

 Army Sgt. Shawn Kirk, a Trooper assigned to JTF, said it’s tough 

to pick a favorite Girl Scout cookie, but he enjoys the peanut butter 

thin mints. 

“I could eat an entire box in one sitting,” Kirk laughed as he 

heaved a box onto a truck behind him. “It helps with morale, because 

we’re out here cut off from things we love like family and friends so, 

it keeps our spirits up and helps us work harder!”
FFeaeatture ure | |

Mary Hardee took a likening 

to flowers in college. Taking a floral 

arranging class at night revealed a 

hobby she’s carried with her for more 

than 15 years.

Thankfully, she brought her craft 

to Guantanamo Bay a year and a 

half ago, and has since been wooing 

friends and acquaintances with her 

artsy style.

“I really like flowers,” said Hardee. 

“I like working with my hands; it 

helps me decompress.”

Hardee, a small-framed, softspoken woman, with a contagious 

smile carries a plastic bag with her to 

collect the flowers – well, they’re not 

real flowers.

She grew up in Colorado where 

there aren’t many beaches, but she 

loved collecting sea glass and shells 

when she did find a beach.

Those little treasures later became 

Hardee’s flowers. You see Hardee’s 

flowers never die, because they’re 

made of broken glass bottles, shell 

and oddly enough – tape. Not just any 

The E

Story and photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand
|| FFeaeatture ure The Wire | Page 11

tape – floral tape.

“When I came down here a year ago,” 

shared Hardee, “my son happened to be 

getting married and I was making the 

bouquet. I had all my floral tape and 

wire with me, and from there I was like, 

well, I could use it for this and that...”

And that she did, Hardee uses her 

florist mind-set, sense of design, and 

love of the beach to create everlasting 

floral arrangements.

“Red is the hardest color to find,” 

Hardee explained as she pulled and 

twisted a piece of green, floral tape 

around a pinkish shell. “I mostly use the 

green for the leaves, and I try to match 

the colored glass with each arrangement, 

some have dark glass and others lighter 

green. I try to match the shades.”

Hardee said she’d be overrun with 

sea glass if she didn’t have an outlet for 

her collection.

Today’s outlet is “Aunt Glo.”

“I get people begging me,” said 

Hardee “I do this outside my regular job 

as a hobby, so I don’t charge people and 

they get their flowers when can get to 

making them.”

Army Col. George Bryan, a Trooper 

attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

said Hardee’s work is a direct reflection 

of her outward expression of positivity 

and creativity.

“The amount of detail, creativity 

and time that she puts in to making 

these floral shell creations,” Bryan 

complimented, “to my knowledge, can 

be found nowhere else in the world other 

than GTMO. If you are fortunate enough 

to have one, you will most definitely 

treasure it!”

If Hardee charged for her florist talent 

she’d only end up making a minimum 

wage; between collecting the shells, the 

glass, and twisting the tape around each 

piece Hardee would have to charge too 

much money. Each arrangement takes 

about 30-50 minutes not including the 

time she takes collecting her materials.

“It’s just a hobby,” Hardee explained. 

“I’ll spend hours doing this – really 

because this place is crazy and some 

people aren’t content to be with 

themselves. I can go and spend hours 

collecting sea glass all by myself – it’s 

relaxing.”

Hardee said they are hours well spent 

and encourages others to pursue a hobby 

while working on Guantanamo Bay.

“Just when I’ve had a bad day at 

work or whatever, I know I’m making 

something pretty,” she smiled. “It takes 

my mind off of things. You gotta find 

what’s right for you.”

Hardee’s goal is to make a dozen 

roses – only difference is they won’t die. 

And if you’re thinking they won’t smell 

like flowers – think again.

When twisting an arrangement by 

candlelight one day. Hardee accidentally 

dropped the glass into the candle wax, 

creating a pretty coloring and giving the 

flower a scent – an accident she now 

calls “dipping.”

Hardee’s forever flowers can be seen 

around base on display table and pinned 

to plaques given away as gifts.

As for getting one yourself, you’ll 

have to catch Hardee by chance. She 

doesn’t sell her flowers or even advertize 

them. It’s more of a word-of-mouth 

thing she said. The good news is – if you 

do find her, you won’t find any wilted 

flowers!

Ever-lasting Bouquet 

Mary Hardee, JTF J6 employee, displays one of her hand-made finished floral arraignments, Sunday.

| News you can Use The Wire | Page 17

Voice of America News

An internally displaced woman holds her malnourished son at a new 

settlement in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, July 19, 2011.

Afghan insurgents launched deadly 

attacks in key cities Wednesday,, even 

as the coalition continued to transfer 

security control to Afghan forces.

Afghan officials said a gunbattle 

between local forces and insurgents killed 

three police officers, including the district 

chief, and two militants in Kandahar city 

Wednesday. 

Bomb attack

Separately, a bomb planted on a bicycle 

killed at least four civilians, including a 

child, and wounded 10 others in Mazari-Sharif. The northern city and capital 

of Balkh province is one of seven areas 

where foreign forces are handing over 

security responsibility over to Afghan 

troops, in the first phase of the security 

transition.

Earlier Wednesday, NATO transferred 

control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of 

Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand province, 

to the Afghans during a ceremony. The 

southern city is the third area to be 

handed over to the Afghan government 

after Bamiyan province and the relatively 

peaceful city of Mehterlam in eastern 

Laghman province.

The transfers are the first phase of 

a plan that will see all of the country’s 

security under Afghan control in the next 

three years. International combat troops 

are set to leave Afghanistan by the end 

of 2014.

Violence has increased since March, 

when President Hamid Karzai announced 

which areas would be the first to be 

transferred to local forces.

Mullah Omar

Earlier Wednesday, the Afghan 

Taliban denied that its leader Mullah 

Omar is dead, saying a text message 

announcing his death was a fake.

A Taliban spokesman said the 

message was sent after the insurgent 

group’s phones and website were hacked. 

The Taliban blamed U.S. intelligence 

agencies.

Rumors of Omar’s death periodically 

arise, including in March when an 

Afghan news channel said he had been 

killed by members of Pakistan’s military 

spy agency. 

The one-eyed Afghan Taliban leader 

has a $10 million bounty on his head. He 

implemented strict Islamist rule while 

leading Afghanistan during the 1990s.

Afghan forces take security 

control despite attacks

The United Nations officially declared a 

famine in parts of Somalia, Wednesday, as 

malnutrition rates rise to extreme levels. The 

U.N. is now appealing for immediate action to 

keep the crisis from spreading to other parts 

of the region. 

The United Nations says consecutive 

droughts over the last few years in Somalia 

have created a famine in two regions of the 

south.

Speaking at a news conference in 

Nairobi, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for 

Somalia Mark Bowden called it a “desperate 

situation.”

“We estimate that almost half of the 

Somali population, 3.7 million people, are 

affected by this crisis and a full 2.8 million 

people live in the south, the most seriously 

affected area,” said Bowden. “It is likely that 

tens of thousands will already have died, the 

majority of these being children.”

What this means

While the world has been watching a food 

crisis unfold in Somalia, this is the first time the 

United Nations has used the term “famine.”

That classification means that malnutrition 

rates have exceeded 30 percent, that more 

than two people per 10,000 are dying each day, 

and that many cannot get access to food and 

other essentials.

To be precise, the famine has only been 

declared in the regions of southern Bakool 

and Lower Shabelle in Somalia, but the U.N. 

warns it could spread to other areas in coming 

months.

Was this preventable?

Asked if the United Nations could have 

done more to prevent this crisis, Bowden told 

VOA that they did not have the resources.

“We had been hoping to avoid famine, we 

spent a lot of our resources that we had at 

the beginning of the years specifically to help 

those communities that we thought might 

migrate, to stop migrations which is one of 

the major causes of death,” said Bowden. 

“We spent our money, we didn’t have enough 

to scale up as we now need to.”

Now, the U.N. says $300 million is urgently 

needed during the next two months to address 

the crisis. 

Much of the money will be used to tackle 

immediate needs, by supplying existing feeding 

centers and providing medical services for 

affected areas. 

The funds will also be used to help sustain 

local economies by providing cash for work 

and other livelihood assistance for farmers.

Main objectives

The head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture 

Organization for Somalia, Luca Alinovi, says 

the objective is to keep people from fleeing 

the areas.

“We have to remember that we are in the 

making of an incredible disaster,” said Alinovi. 

“The famine is eating already two regions, there 

are more regions on the edge of becoming in 

that condition and people will move out. The 

only way to prevent people moving out is to 

make sure that they have hope for the future 

- they can make something out of their lives. 

How can they do that? They can do that only 

if they feel that in the next few months they 

will be in condition to produce their food.”

Complicating relief efforts, the two 

famine areas in Somalia also happen to be 

the strongholds of the Islamist militant 

group al-Shabab. The group, until recently, 

had banned foreign assistance. Its members 

have also been known to hijack food and 

aid deliveries, creating some hesitation from 

foreign donors.

Mark Bowden said the U.N. is doing what 

it can to minimize the risk posed by al-Shabab 

and is in discussions with local leaders in 

Somalia to gain support for its efforts. 

He said while there is always a risk of 

operating in Somalia, this famine requires 

what he called, “exceptional actions.”

UN declares famine in Somalia, issues aid appeal

Voice of America News Service
The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

On The Deck

Inside the Jar

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The 

Navy announced July 12 the 

U.S. Naval Academy’s admissions cycle for the class of 

2016, entering in July 2012, is 

open to enlisted Sailors.

Top enlisted performers 

who possess strong leadership 

potential, have been recognized 

as Junior Sailors or Bluejackets 

of the Quarter or who graduated in the top 20 percent in 

their “A” and “C” schools are 

encouraged to apply by Jan. 31, 

2012.

To be eligible, top quality 

Sailors and Marines must meet 

competitive standards based on 

academic, military and physical 

performance. Academically, 

applicants must possess strong 

high school grade point averages and SAT scores, and 

have completed four years of 

mathematics and English and 

one year of chemistry.

Applicants must be physically fit with no record of disciplinary action within three 

years preceding application. 

They must not have passed 

their 23rd birthday by July 1, 

2012, and cannot be married, 

pregnant or have incurred obligations of parenthood.

The deadline for initial application to the class of 2016 

is Jan. 31. All completed applications and recommendations 

must be received by March 1 

to be considered. 

The Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, Md., provides approximately 1,000 ofNaval Academy accepting enlisted applications 2012

U.S. Naval Academy 

Public Affairs

PHNOM PEHN, Kingdom 

of Cambodia — The surgery 

team attached to 3rd Medical 

Battalion recently concluded 

joint training with Cambodian 

medical personnel during surgical operations at the Children’s 

Surgical Centre, Phnom Penh, 

Kingdom of Cambodia.

The battalion, part of 3rd 

Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offers 

the surgical training as a new addition to Cambodia Interoperability Program 2011, a regularly 

held exercise between the U.S. 

and Royal Cambodian Armed 

Forces allowing both nations to 

conduct joint medical and dental 

operations, improve interoperability and foster goodwill to ensure regional peace and stability.

“This is the first time that I 

know of that a surgery team has 

ever participated in a MEDCAP 

with 3rd Medical Battalion,” said 

Navy Lt. Charles J. Siegert, a 

general surgeon with 3rd Med. 

Bn. “I think the knowledge will 

Marine surgeons’ scalpels improve lives in Cambodia

have a long-lasting effect on the 

Cambodian medical personnel 

and local community.”

The team consisted of four 

personnel from the battalion’s 

Forward Resuscitative Surgical 

System. The team performed 

minor surgical procedures and 

screened patients in need of invasive surgery during the Medical Civic Action Program outreach projects setup by U.S. and 

RCAF medical personnel in the 

Kampot province. The CSC, one 

of the few places offering surgical procedures in Cambodia, is 

operated mostly by volunteers 

and is equipped with both modern and somewhat old medical 

equipment.

Surgery personnel helped restore some of the older equipment at the CSC while educating the medical staff how to use 

some of the modern equipment 

for operations such as hernia removal and laparoscopic surgery. 

One of the most modern techniques, laparoscopic surgery, involves inserting a very small camera through a thin tube placed in 

small incisions for reduced pain 

and recovery time.

Working at the center has 

been a great opportunity for 

medical trainees and has allowed 

the opportunity to gain knowledge they can share with other 

medical personnel, according to 

Huot Vutha, a surgery trainee at 

the CSC.

“I liked working with the 

U.S. doctors,” said Vutha. “They 

taught me the proper procedures for many surgeries that 

we were not able to do until recently in Cambodia and guided 

me through several of the actual 

surgeries.”

The surgical operations at 

the CSC have allowed him and 

his Cambodian counterparts to 

learn a lot from each other, according to Siegert.

“One interesting thing I 

learned from the staff is that 

they give extra stitches to many 

of the locals here because they 

know as soon as they leave the 

center they will immediately go 

back to doing whatever hard 

work they were engaged in,” 

said Siegert. “This can be used 

to benefit many of the Marines 

that we see everyday; some that 

don’t really have time and others 

really don’t take the time to let 

their own injuries heal.”

The surgery team and Cambodian medical personnel’s exchange of knowledge and surgical procedures was a great benefit 

and to many local residents who 

were able to receive treatment.

One of the largest and most 

difficult surgeries to take place 

at the CSC was the removal of a 

25-pound tumor from a patient’s 

side.

“Before the removal of the 

tumor I was unhappy because I 

didn’t feel normal and it was difficult for me to do a lot of things, 

especially walking,” said Pha Nit, 

a 31-year old Cambodian resident 

who received the surgery. “I am 

very happy now and thankful for 

the help the U.S. and Cambodian 

doctors gave me, I hope they will 

continue to come here to help 

others like me.”

.

By Cpl. Kentavist P. Bracin, 

Marine Corps Bases Japan

ficers to the Navy and Marine 

Corps every year, with many 

entering as prior enlisted men 

and women from the regular 

and reserve components of the 

Navy and Marine Corps.

Students at the academy 

are designated midshipmen 

and receive midshipman pay 

plus tuition, room and board. 

Upon graduation, they receive 

a Bachelor of Science degree 

and a commission in the Navy 

or Marine Corps.

The Naval Academy offers 

23 academic majors in engineering, science, mathematics, 

social sciences and the humanities. In addition to the academic 

curriculum, students also take 

military professional courses in 

navigation, naval engineering, 

weapons, leadership, naval history and law.

More information on enlisted applications to the Naval Academy can be found in 

ALNAV 043/11 at www.npc.

navy.mil. 

The U.S. Naval Academy is 

the United States’ sea service 

academy responsible for developing future naval officers 

morally, mentally and physically. For more information 

about the U.S. Naval Academy 

enlisted admissions process, 

visit www.usna.edu/admissions/step.htm. Follow USNA 

at www.facebook.com/usnavalacademy. 

For more news from the 

U.S. Naval Academy, visit 

www.navy.mil/local/usna/. 
| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

On the Wing

FORT HOOD, Texas – Fort Hood’s Directorate of Logistics 

Transportation Office opened the door on a new Defense Personal 

Property System kiosk in the Copeland Soldier Service Center July 8, in 

an effort to increase efficiency and ease the burden of moving Soldiers. 

The kiosk, located in Room A111A in the center, contains 10 

computer workstations where Soldiers and Department of the Army 

civilians can coordinate their moves, whether they are governmentfunded or personally procured. 

Soldiers may use the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, from 

any computer with an Internet connection, but the kiosk, the first of its 

kind in the Department of Defense, provides more than just computers, 

according to Gladys Yoshinaka, installation transportation officer. 

“This allows them to come in here and not only access the computer 

but have access to a counselor who can give them the guidance,” she 

said. 

The idea for the kiosk originated after the Department of Defense 

announced intentions to introduce an online system. 

“We collectively, here in the transportation office, got to thinking 

about how that was going to impact the way we do business,” Robert 

Chadwick, DOL transportation chief of personal services, said. “One 

of the things we came up with was the DPS kiosk as a facility for Soldiers 

who don’t have computers or have questions.” 

Turning the kiosk idea into reality was a long process, but one well 

worth the effort, according to Fort Hood Garrison Commander, Col. 

Mark Freitag. 

“Several months ago, I was informed that it was coming online after 

about a year-and-a half of working toward it,” Freitag said. “It took a 

long time, but it’s a great product and service that we provide for our 

Soldiers, Families and civilians.” 

According to Freitag, the execution of the plan was in line with Fort 

Hood standards. “The facility itself is first-class,” he said. “It’s got all 

the decorator touches, it’s got brand-new computers, it’s got brandnew equipment. We could have grabbed a bunch of old gray desks and 

old computers, but no; at Fort Hood, we do this the right way. It’s just 

amazing. It’s a beautiful facility.” 

“If you’re a people-person, there’s someone here to help, and if 

you’re a computer-person, you’ll have the computer right in front of 

you,” Sgt. 1st Class Michael Thomas, Headquarters and Headquarters 

Troop, Task Force ODIN, and one of the kiosk’s first customers, said. 

“This is a good idea and a good step for the Army.” 

Bob Bishop, Fort Hood’s director of logistics, said the Interactive 

Customer Evaluation reports echo Thomas’s approval. “From our 

Moves made eaiser: New self-service kiosk opens at Fort Hood

Spc. Nathan Booth, 4th PAD

Interactive Customer Service comments, we’ve only seen one negative 

ICE comment, which we think was attributable to the process,” 

Bishop said. “All the other ICE comments -- and we’ve got numerous 

(comments) -- are very positive from a customer service standpoint.” 

Yoshinaka said the kiosk increases customer service, as well as 

efficiency. 

“The fact that we can handle more customers at one time is a great 

advantage,” she said. “Prior to this, it would not be unusual to see a line 

waiting to get in to our office to see a counselor. Now, you come in, sit 

down and you’re served right away. I see nothing but benefits coming 

from this facility.” 

Freitag called the new kiosk a success story for the Fort Hood 

community. 

“I think that it provides an additional convenience for them as they 

go through a stressful time in their life,” he said. “As I said, the future 

of the Army begins at Fort Hood because we’ve got so many people 

coming up with great ideas and then implementing them. I think it 

speaks to the volumes of dedication and the initiative and innovation 

that our transportation office here at Fort Hood provides to the 

community.” 

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Department of Defense’s 

first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter touched down at its new home 

here July 14, marking a major milestone in the nation’s military history. 

Upon arrival, the jet officially became part of the Air Force inventory. 

It now belongs to the JSF training unit, the 33rd Fighter Wing.

Flying it in was Lt. Col. Eric Smith of the 58th Fighter Squadron, the 

first Air Force qualified F-35 pilot.

“It was a smooth ride in,” said the colonel of the hour and 40 minute 

flight. “The jet behaved awesomely. I’m just so proud to bring it home 

to Eglin (Air Force Base).”

A crowd of 33rd FW people braved the 90 degree heat to watch the 

fifth-generation fighter touchdown and taxi in. Col. Andrew Toth, the 

33rd FW commander, was the first to greet his pilot upon arrival.

“It’s an exciting day here at the wing where our joint and integrated 

DOD’s first F-35 arrives in Eglin marking a national milestone

By Samuel King Jr. Eglin Public Affairs team has been preparing for this day since October 2009,” Toth said. “I 

have no doubt the caliber of the Airmen, Sailors, Marines and contractors 

will provide safe and effective training operations at Eglin . Now, we look 

forward to the start of classes later this year.”

Now that the aircraft is on station, F-35 maintainers will train and 

be certified here at home.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian West, the crew chief for 

the new aircraft. “We’re thrilled to be able to train with one of our 

own.”

As the world’s first multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35 is known for 

its superior range, cutting-edge avionics and next-generation sensor 

fusion. Each model shares breakthroughs in combat performance, 

survivability and support, while each is specifically tailored for unique 

service needs.

Lt. Col. J.D. Wilbourne, the 58th FS commander, said he was thrilled 

to see his first aircraft arrive, one day before his change of command.

In The Trenches

A soldier uses the new Defense Personal Property System kiosk in the 

Copeland Soldier Service Center, July 8. The system was implemented 

to increase efficiency and ease the burden of moving Soldiers.
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Prom

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m. 

Hangover 2

(R) 10 p.m. 

Thor

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

(last showing)

Jumping the 

Broom

(last showing)

(PG- 13) 8 p.m.

Priest

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Zookeeper

(PG) 8 p.m.

Cars 2

(G) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Harry Potter: 

Deathly Hallows 

Part 2 (NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Something 

Borrowed 

(last showing)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

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

We’ve all had our share of bad bosses in 

the past who keep us from our families and 

meddle in our personal affairs. Knowing 

this, it was no surprise to see a movie like, 

“Horrible Bosses,” go over so well with its 

audience. Familiarity in this film reaches 

further than just having a hated boss when 

three friends, Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale 

(Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) 

meet up at their favored pub for a little shoptalk. After a few drinks, the group begins to 

realize exactly how much they can’t stand 

their bosses: Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), 

Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston), and Bobby 

Pellitt (Colin Farrell). For the most part, 

I could empathize with their reasoning. 

Nick’s boss is the physical embodiment 

of the Devil – not a new role for Spacey 

who more or less just shook the dust off 

of his Lex Luther script and changed 

Superman’s name to “Any guy who looks 

at my wife.” Kurt’s boss is a real piece of 

work too; Farrell masters the role of tool 

bag here, playing a self-entitled little prick 

with a dope nose. And then there’s Dale’s 

boss. The only thing Aniston’s character 

is guilty of is being game for a little slap 

and tickle. Don’t get me wrong – I get that 

Dale’s committed to his fiancée – but on 

the scale of evil bosses, a saucy vixen with 

an insatiable appetite for lewd behavior 

falls short. 

So we’ve got three horrible bosses – one 

that’s just horribly gorgeous – and their 

three disgruntled employees having a drink 

at a bar. Anyone familiar with this situation 

can see what’s coming next; they decide to 

kill their bosses of course! Well, maybe it 

would’ve taken a few guesses, but low and 

behold, about 15 minutes into the movie, 

we’ve got ourselves a story and a burning 

question. How are they going to get away 

with it? 

If you’re really curious, you should 

probably just watch the movie. That’s what 

I did and I have to say, for the most part 

I enjoyed it. The story is solid and paces 

out bit by bit leading you through twists 

and turns to a decidedly clever conclusion. 

By no means did the storyline provoke any 

deep thoughts or emotions, but it kept me 

happy to stay seated for the whole hour and 

a half – a notable accomplishment given 

the venue and the fact that I didn’t have to 

pay to see it. 

While the plot gives a movie its purpose, 

this film garnered the better part of my 

interest due to its cast. All of the star names 

were familiar and a few were even ones I 

genuinely enjoy watching. As I mentioned 

before, Kevin Spacey just played Lex 

Luthor in “business casual,” but watching 

him manipulate a grumpy Jason Bateman 

and company was just as much fun as 

Pfc. Justin Pierce

R

100 min.

Prom

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Pirates of the 

Caribbean

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Harry Potter: 

Deathly Hallows 

Paert 2 (NEW)

(PG- 13) 8 p.m.

Thor

(last showing)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Something 

Borrowed 

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Priest

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Kung Fu Panda 2

(PG) 8 p.m.

Hangover 2

(R) 8 p.m.

Horrible Bosses

 (R) 8 p.m.

Horrible Bosses

 see MOVIE, page 19
| Sports The Wire | Page 17

Female Troopers compete, sweep JIDC track meet

Story and photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Joe Ebalo

Troopers assigned to Joint Task Force 

and Naval Station Guantanamo dominated 

the women’s running events at the Jamaican 

Independence Day Committee track meet, 

Saturday at Cooper Field.

A Sailor, Coastguardsman and two 

Soldiers beat their competition, finishing 

first in at least one race they entered. 

Together, they won eight out of the nine 

competitive running events in the women’s 

division. 

“This is the first time we have done 

this and we are extremely happy for all 

the support, volunteers and of course 

all the great competition,” said Robert 

Graham, JIDC vice president and track 

meet coordinator. “Especially from all the 

lady Troops.” “We knew there was a lot of 

interest in the community, but the turnout 

was fantastic.”

Maritime Enforcement Petty Officer 

3rd Class Desiree Villa, a Coastguardsman 

attached to Maritime Safety and Security 

Team Boston, won the 100 and 200 meter 

sprint events. Sgt. Racheal Allen, a military 

policeman attached to the Joint Detention 

Group, won the 100 meter hurdle event. 

Sgt. Ashley Chandler, a medic with the 

525th Military Police Battalion, won the 

800 meter race. Master-at-Arms Seaman 

Rhonda McGee, a patrolman attached to 

the Naval Station Security Department, 

won the 400 meter, 100 meter dash and the 

4 x 100 meter race.

For the final event of the night, all 

four Troopers teamed up for the 4 x 400 

meter relay race, outpacing four teams to 

sweep almost all women’s events.

“It was a really fun and exciting time,” 

said Chandler. “We all came out to 

support a good cause and compete.”

Allen agreed, “I haven’t run 

competitively in a few years, so I was a 

little nervous when I saw all the people 

out at the event. When I saw some 

familiar faces and recognized some of 

the other runners, they helped me relax 

a little bit and get my mind right for the 

race.”

Villa said the competition was fierce, 

but no one pushed her harder then her 

fellow Troopers.

“These girls are fast!” Villa exclaimed. 

“I knew I really had to work to beat 

them, but it was cool because we were all 

rooting for one another even if we were 

going to be on the starting blocks racing 

against one another trying to win.” 

More than 50 servicemembers and 

civilians participated in various track and 

field events as well as traditional, Jamaican 

cultural games. The most popular were 

the Thread the Needle Race, where coed runners stopped midrace and actually 

threaded a needle before finishing, and 

the Lime Race, where competitors ran 

100 meters while holding a lime in a 

spoon without dropping it.

“Track and field is very popular in 

Jamaica and we thought it might be a great 

way to share some of our cultural games 

with the local community too,” Graham 

said. “We were overwhelmed with the 

participation and I think a lot of people 

enjoyed the fun games just as much as the 

races.”

 McGee, a brand new Trooper to the 

island couldn’t agree more, she said it was 

unlike any other track meet she had ever 

been to.

“I just got to GTMO, and in my first 

weekend I got to meet great people who 

like to run as much as I do, and I learned 

about a new culture,” said McGee. “I 

hope they have more track meets, I’ll sign 

up right now.”

For more information on the JIDC or 

upcoming Morale, Welfare and Recreation 

sponsored athletic events, contact Denich 

Gym at x7727. 

U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Petty Officer 3rd Class 

Desiree Villa, a patrol boat operator attached to the Maritime Safety 

and Security Team Boston, prepares to launch off the starting line in 

the 4 X 400 meter relay race during the Jamaican Independence Day 

Committee Track Meet at Cooper Field, Saturday. 
The Wire | Page 18

Mind, Body & Soul

A weary traveler stopped by a river to 

soak his aching feet after a long journey. 

He was depressed over the twist and turns 

life seemed to be handing him. As he 

soaked his feet, he noticed a small leather 

bag laying in the grass along the bank. He 

picked it up, looked inside and saw a few 

stones. 

He picked up the first stone and thought 

to himself, “If I were a rich man, THEN I 

by Air Force Lt. Col. Gary Berstch

JTF Guantanamo Command Chaplain 

“If you worry about what might be, 

and wonder what might have been, 

you will ignore what is.”

but precious stones and he had thrown 

them all away.

Many folks waste the opportunities 

of TODAY by wishing on tomorrow. We 

can’t change yesterday, and tomorrow is 

not ours to determine. Don’t throw away 

those gems on things over which we have 

no control, or on things which ultimately 

don’t bring happiness. 

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

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

would be happy...” and pitched it into the 

stream. Then he picked up a second stone 

and said, “If I only had a better position 

in life, THEN I would be happy...” and 

threw the stone into the stream. “If I only 

lived in a beautiful house, then I would be 

happy...” And so on.

Finally, he picked up the last stone. As 

he was about to throw it into the river he 

suddenly realized they weren’t marbles, 

If

Only

Mind, Body & Soul |
| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

status of the Bayhill housing 

units. The JTF purchased the 40 

trailers in Bayhill when the lease 

expired last summer. Upon 

completion of the purchase, 

the JTF submitted a renovation 

package to convert the trailers 

into 2-person quarters. When 

completed later this summer 

or in the early fall, the Bayhill 

housing units will provide living 

quarters to 80 troopers. They 

are centrally located downtown, 

close to all the facilities, and each 

trailer has its own separate living 

area, kitchen and laundry room. 

When completed, Bayhill will 

provide additional billeting for 

E-7’s and below as assigned by 

the JTF Housing Office. 

Finally, some of you asked 

what can be done to upgrade the 

Navy Exchange’s fleet of rental 

cars. There were also concerns 

that the NEX was charging 

unreasonable prices to rent 

vehicles in such poor condition. 

We have actually been working 

this issue with the NEX for 

the past few months. At our 

request, the NEX recently added 

17 new vehicles to their rental 

fleet. You may have already 

seen some of these vehicles 

being driven around the Naval 

Station. These new vehicles 

are dedicated to the short-term 

leases lasting 30 days or less. 

In May 2011, there were a total 

of 79 rental cars available – 20 

for short-term lease and 59 for 

long-term lease; today, there are 

94 rental vehicles – 44 for shortterm lease and 50 for long-term 

lease. (Note that two vehicles 

were taken out of service.) As 

for the rental fee for the older 

vehicles, we have addressed this 

issue with the NEX general 

manager and he is exploring our 

request to discount the rental 

rate for and to repair some of 

the older cars. More to follow 

on this issue. 

In closing, I truly appreciate 

your efforts this past week. You 

should all be proud of what this 

team has accomplished thus far 

and confident in our readiness 

to overcome the challenges that 

lie ahead in the coming months. 

Stay focused, be safe and 

continue to take care of each 

other. Honor Bound! 

COMMANDER

there be no doubt in the eyes of 

your subordinates that you are fair 

and live the values of your service.

Serving with Joint Task Force 

TROOPER

When he is not taking care 

of his Sailors or studying, 

Spahr does his best to play an 

active part in the First Class 

Petty Officer Association and 

community events. “The base 

does a real good job with their 

MWR programs with trying to 

involve the community and bring 

people in to boost the morale,” 

said Spahr.

Spahr also likes to workout 

and play golf. He has shown that 

he has drive off the course as 

well. Spahr hopes to pin on E-7 

in the next few weeks.

“Advancement is tough but 

he has a wonderful chance,” said 

Precht. “I would like to see him 

excel.”

FOCUS

him toy with Superman. Bateman and his two cohorts made the 

movie. The three worked seamlessly together in their endeavors, 

chalking up moments of hilarity throughout a relatively dark plot. 

Big names like Spacey and Bateman tend to carry along a good 

deal of show stealing potential, but that wasn’t the case here. “It’s 

Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s,” Charlie Day is what made this 

film so enjoyable. From start to finish, Day champions the role of 

the Loveable Loser. Whether he’s saving the life of someone he’s 

supposed to kill or just doing “Charlie work” for the gang in “It’s 

Always Sunny,” Charlie Day is fun to watch. 

Overall, the movie was good. The plot was good; the acting was 

good, and the cameos by Jamie Foxx and – WHAT?! Bob Newhart – 

were pleasant surprises. Watching the film wasn’t the highlight of my 

week – that honor goes to my new Sanuk Sandals – and it wasn’t the 

best movie I watched all week – “Love Actually.” It was, however, a 

nice way to spend a Saturday night. I don’t regret taking the time to 

see it and if it happened to be on when I didn’t have anything else to 

do, I’d watch it again. “Horrible Bosses,” checks in at three and a half 

happy little Banana Rats. 

MOVIE

Guantanamo means every single 

one of us is fully engaged in a nofail mission. But while performing 

that mission, there is no reason 

each of us can’t take the time to 

work on ourselves and serve those 

around us. Find a mentor – grow. 

Be a mentor – develop.
WAX ON, WAX OFF

A Joint Task Force Trooper washes the windshield of the NEGB Commander’s 

vehicle, Saturday at the First Class Petty Officer Association car wash. - photo 

by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

MOON WATCH

A full moon rises over Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Friday. - photo by Sgt. 

1st Class Benjamin Cossel 

SHOOTER READY?

Pfc. Ashley Boniol (left) places a dime on the top of Pvt. Sierra Starr’s (right) M-16 

flash suppressor during dime drills at Kittery Beach range, July 14. More than 

50 personnel attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo shot pistols, rifles, and 

shotguns for their weapons safety training. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

TheJTF

BATTALION RUN

More than 200 Soldiers representing the four companies assigned to the 525th Military Police Battalion at Joint Task Force Guantanamo participate in a 

battalion sponsored three mile run, Tuesday. - photo by Sgt. Mathieu Perry