Volume 12, Issue 41 Friday, September 30, 2011

PLUS:

Sail Away

MWR offers 

sailing lessons

Hispanic culture 

takes the stage

Highlighting 

a Heritage

Walking the Plank

Runners dress up, 

get wet for pirate run
Cc

ommand

orner

The Wire | Page 2

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force 

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

inform and educate the Troopers of JTF Guantanamo through 

news, features, command guidance, sports and entertainment. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

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

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE 

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

Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Spc. Kelly Gary

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jon Dasbach

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class 

Marquis Whitehead

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Diovany Gonzalez and daughter Melanie pose in their Panamanian dresses at the 

Hispanic American Heritage Association Dinner and Dance celebration at the Windjammer 

Ballroom, Saturday. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kihlo Park

I was excited to conduct my first “All Hands” with all of you. 

Thank you for attending and being engaged in my discussion 

with you. Hopefully, I gave you at least a small glimpse into 

what makes me tick, what you can expect from me as your 

Commander and, most importantly, what my expectations are for all 

of you. 

As I detailed to you last week, my approach is fairly simple: “People 

are our most important asset!” All of the tools we are provided – 

facilities, transportation, housing, computers, high tech electronics, 

galleys, etc.—are useless without the dedicated professionals to turn 

them into action for mission accomplishment. Our mission is also 

straight forward: 1) safe, humane, legal, transparent care and custody 

of the detainees 2) intelligence collection 3) commissions support. 

When I say “straight forward,” I do not for a minute believe it is 

easy or simple. The expectation of those who sent us here to do 

this mission is extremely high and unqualified success is the standard. 

Meeting those expectations requires both focus and determination. 

We are a team and we will only succeed as a team.

I know the only way we can maintain and sustain the required level 

of mission focus is to utilize our off-duty time to rest, recharge and 

reconstitute for the next round of on-duty performance. This cycle 

is very important to provide the balance needed for the long haul. A 

balance of professional execution and personal life management is 

not only healthy for us as individuals but critical to the performance 

of the JTF GTMO team. Naval Station Guantanamo has great 

facilities to provide support balance to our personal lives. There is a 

risk of getting out of balance with too much attention to the personal 

side, which will adversely affect your mission focus and performance. 

Set realistic personal goals and do not over reach to the point of 

imbalance.

Another thing that will prevent mission focus and effectiveness 

is distracters. Distracters can take several forms. Discrimination 

of any kind (sexual, race, color, religion, life style) is destructive to 

our military and our ability to do our mission. We must snuff out 

any signs of discrimination at its source and not tolerate it amongst 

us. Drugs are another distracter and one for which we have zero 

tolerance. I owe you a “drug free” work environment and I am 

dedicated to ensuring we have one. Alcohol also has the potential to 

be a destructive element and distract from our mission. We must not 

tolerate alcohol abuse; we must identify those who need help with 

their alcohol use.

The accident we had this week is a prime example of what I’m 

talking about. We were lucky our teammate survived this accident. 

The GTMO medical team did a fantastic job but his injuries were 

substantial enough to MEDEVAC him off the island. He is in the 

hospital in intensive care as I write this and our thoughts and prayers 

are with him and his family for a full recovery, but it will not be speedy. 

The circumstances surrounding this accident will be discussed by your 

leaders; suffice it to say, it was preventable. A key member of our 

team with a stellar performance record has fallen out and it will stress 

our mission to replace him. We need to take care of each other and 

look out for each other even when it may not be pleasant or popular 

to do so. We are in fact “HONOR BOUND” to do so. 
Trooper to Trooper featuring

Command Master Chief

Reynaldo Tiong

I like to start out my e-mail messages the 

same way I do a one-on-one conversation – 

with a warm greeting, a strong handshake then 

I get straight to the point. Many of you have 

already met me or received e-mails from me 

regarding important command information 

or notices and they all pretty much begin 

like this: “Please take the time to read the 

message below,” followed by, “Make sure to 

spread the word and take advantage of this 

opportunity.” That is what I’d like to talk to 

you about in this week’s column – taking the 

time to go the extra mile for the mission and 

the team and while also taking advantage of 

opportunities to do the best job you can do.

First of all I want to thank you very 

much for all your hard work the last couple 

weeks. Between the 10-year commemoration 

of 9/11, visits from the International 

Committee of the Red Cross, media and 

leadership – in addition to carrying out our 

everyday missions – it has been a very busy 

and exciting time. I appreciate your efforts 

and your professionalism. However, with 

commissions just around the corner, it’s only 

going to get busier.

That being said, I’d like to share a couple of 

the daily leadership principles I have learned 

through my experiences in the military that 

have kept me on track and motivated me to 

just keep giving it my all:

Remain open-minded and see the 

glass as half full – Times will get tough and 

you might not like what it is you’re doing, 

but try to see the positive in every situation. 

Regardless of what your job is, we all have a 

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

What to do with old uniforms

Don’t throw them away! First thing, sanitize them! Remove your name tape and rank, warfare insignia and 

any other patches. Next, look inside – did you write your name or last 4 on the tag so you could claim it from 

the laundry? If you did, remove the tag or blacken out your info. Then take a good look at the uniform. Is it still 

usable? If it is, take it to the thrift shop or ask your shipmates or battle buddies if they could use it. Otherwise 

make it “un-wearable” by cutting it in half down the back and cutting the sleeves off. For pants, rip them in 

two. Don’t throw uniforms away whole – they’re valuable and a whole uniform could be used by an adversary 

to try to access places they shouldn’t be.

So take care of your uniforms and protect your personal information. USE OPSEC! 

Command Master Chief, Joint Task Force Guantanamo

very important mission here and each of our 

individual contributions is critical for fulfilling 

that mission. So if you are standing a watch, 

processing paperwork, gathering intelligence 

or on patrol, remember your job makes a 

difference and carry on as such.

Pay attention to the details, big or small 

– As a recruit division commander for Navy 

Boot Camp, I first heard the saying “You 

get what you inspect, not what you expect.” 

Take pride in the work you do, whether 

it is inspecting financial numbers, supply 

inventories or IDs and badges for Troopers 

entering and exiting secure locations. The 

more effort you put into learning your job, 

the better that job will get done.

Lead by example and try to establish 

good habits – While serving aboard five 

different Navy ships during my career, I 

can’t stress enough the importance of being 

where you are supposed to be at the time you 

are supposed to be there. If you live by this 

principle, it doesn’t matter what your rank or 

job is, your leadership, peers and subordinates 

will notice your punctuality and follow suit. 

Take ownership of both your individual 

and group responsibilities and perform your 

duties to the best of your abilities.

Try to remain calm and be kind; it’s 

nice to be nice – Above all, I keep this 

principle in very high regard. It is important 

for me to treat everyone with respect and keep 

the lines of communication open. Try to be 

patient with your Troopers and accessible to 

them. Trust me, they will be more likely to 

come and talk to you about an issue if they 

feel that you are calm and willing to listen.

The next few weeks will be challenging 

and our work tempo is most likely going 

to get faster before it slows down. We are 

a rotational force and our new folks must 

really hit the ground running. I’m confident 

in our team and in our resolve to get the 

job done. I’m often asked what “Honor 

Bound” means to me. If you haven’t guessed 

already, I believe it means not settling for the 

bare minimum. It means caring about your 

mission and your team and performing at the 

highest level. Since I have been here I haven’t 

seen anything less. Keep up the good work 

and take care of each other. If you see me 

around the JTF, stop me and say hello, or I 

might stop you first. 

I’ll close the same way I do with each of 

my emails and personal conversations.

Thank you for everything you do. 

HOOYAH! 
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

News from the Bay Stories and reporting by

 Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks 

and Spc. Kelly Gary

Hispanic Lunch and 

Learn at Gold Hill

MWR one-mile swim 

at Marine Hill Pool 

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s 

aquatics department is hosting a one-mile 

swim at the Marine Hill Pool, Saturday, at 

9 a.m.

“There has not been a race for only 

a swim in a long time, so we thought we 

would have an event just for the swimmers,” 

explained Tony Roberts, MWR aquatics 

manager.

This swim is for adults only. Every 

participant will get a free T-shirt. 

For more information, call Roberts at 

x2205.

Last chance for divers 

to attend safety brief

Swim lessons available 

for one more month

Morale, Welfare and Recreation is still 

offering swimming lessons for children 

and adults. 

Lessons are available between March 

and October. There are only two sessions 

left, so it’s a good idea to sign up soon. 

While stationed on Guantanamo Bay, 

there are many things to do in the water so 

learning the basics could be rewarding, said 

Tony Roberts, MWR aquatics manager.

“It’s a great way to overcome your 

fears,” encouraged Roberts. “Adults have 

more of a challenge because they know 

the danger that can be involved with water, 

but kids just want to jump right in, which 

could be dangerous as well.”

Adult classes are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

while children’s classes are from 4 p.m. to 

5:15 p.m. All classes are offered Monday 

through Thursday.

Swimming is a valuable skill to possess. 

This is the perfect time to dive in.

For more information, call the 

Windjammer Pool at x2205.

Storybook reading at 

Windjammer Ballroom

Storyteller Bil Lepp is scheduled to perform 

on Guantanamo Bay this week, sponsored by 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Lepp is a nationally renowned storyteller 

and five–time champion of the West Virginia 

Liars’ Contest. His outrageous, humorous 

tall-tales and witty stories have earned the 

appreciation of listeners of all ages.

Lepp’s “The Teacher in the Patriotic 

Bathing Suit,” received the Parent’s Choice 

Approved Award and “Mayhem Dressed as 

an Eight Point Buck” won a 2008 NAPPA 

Honors award. 

“I first saw him at a West Virginia 

International Story Telling Festival and was 

amazed how good he was,” said Chris Dickson, 

MWR school liason officer.

Lepp is scheduled to be at Radio GTMO 

Fire prevention week 

5K and activities

Port operations is scheduled to conduct 

a final scuba diving safety stand down at 

Buckeley Hall at 12 p.m., Oct. 7.

“We have had many incidents,” said 

Boatswains Mate 1st Class Lisa Alkire, 

assistant lead petty officer for port 

operations. “A common excuse has been ‘I 

didn’t know,’ so we are making sure that is 

Friday morning – there will also be a “Story 

Swap” at the Windjammer Ballroom, Friday, 

from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lepp’s final performance is a one-hour 

show following the “Story Swap,” scheduled 

from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday. The adults 

will be as entertained as well as the children. 

For more information, call Dickson at 

x2172 or x84616.

The Naval Station Multi-Cultural 

Observance Committee is scheduled to host a 

Lunch and Learn at Gold Hill Galley from 12 

p.m. to 1 p.m., Monday. 

The Lunch and Learn is dedicated to 

Hispanic Heritage Month and will be focused 

on people from different origins sharing their 

stories.

“Our main goal is to conduct observances 

of the nine official national observances as well 

as the local three,” said Ambroshia JeffersonSmith, MOC chairperson. “Hispanic Heritage 

Month is one of the nine observances.”

There will be a specific area in the galley 

cordoned off for attendees. 

For more information, contact JeffersonSmith at x4612.

The Naval Station Fire Department invites 

all base personnel and families to join them to 

observe, commemorate and take part in Fire 

Prevention Week 2011.

The main event will take place Oct. 11 at 

the Downtown Lycuem at 5:30 p.m., with a 

5K run followed by vehicle extrication and live 

fire using the mobile aircraft firefighter trainer 

demonstration. In addition, there will be fire 

extinguisher training, also using live fire. Free 

hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided as 

well.

“We are here to prevent fires and educate 

the public on how to make their home a safer 

place,” said Foley. “We invite everyone to come 

down and become informed on either an 

escape plan or on how to use the equipment 

around the home.”

The department will be at various locations 

Oct. 10, 12 and 13 with handouts, novelty items 

and fire extinguisher training.

For more information, call the fire 

prevention team at x4178, x4179 or x4611.

no longer the case.”

Port operations does not intend on 

scheduling any more stand downs after 

this one. Divers will no longer be allowed 

to dive if they have not attended the stand 

down, said Alkire.

Divers who can present proof they were 

on leave or off-island at the time of both 

stand downs will be given an alternative.

For more information, contact Alkire at 

x4898.
trooper

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 5 years

Hobbies: reading, working 

out, hiking

Pet peeves: NCOs who 

don’t take care of their junior 

Troopers

Next goal: earning 

bachelor’s degree and 

moving into intelligence 

field

Advice to junior Troopers: 

“Don’t set limits on reaching 

your dreams – everything is 

within grasp if you’re willing 

to put forth the effort.”

| News The Wire | Page 5

Ever since she was in high school, Sgt. 

Linda Baez knew she wanted to join the Army. 

While the birth of her daughter sidelined 

her desire to serve for several years, Baez, 

undeterred, entered the Army and reported 

for basic training at the age of 29.

“I wanted to wait until my daughter was at 

least five years old,” Baez said of her decision 

to delay signing up. “But this was a goal I’ve 

had in mind for years.”

Military service was a natural choice for 

Baez, who hails from a long line of military 

service; her brother is currently in the Air 

Force and her father served, along with greatuncles and other family members.

“Boot camp was kind of odd, I was the 

oldest one there and everyone called me 

‘Mom,’ Baez said. “I definitely understood 

more about responsibility and maturity. If I 

would have joined when I was 18, I would 

have just left.”

Her military occupational specialty 

identifies her as a human resource specialist 

but Baez explained she’s spent nearly all of 

her career working in her MOS designator – 

postal operations supervisor.

“Coming here to JTF Guantanamo is the 

first time I’ve done admin-type work,” she 

said. 

Baez, who currently serves as the Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo awards non-commissioned 

officer in charge, admitted a steep learning 

curve was involved as she transitioned into the 

unfamiliar role, but her NCOIC, Army Master 

Sgt. James Johnson, said she was the perfect 

choice for the job.

“She’s a self-starter and really digs into things 

once you give it to her,” said Johnson. “At this 

point, she is considered the JTF award’s guru 

... you give her a task, give her clear guidance 

and let her go.”

One of the unique aspects of her job, Baez 

said, was learning the U.S. Southern Command 

specific regulations, a point of contention for 

many individuals.

“I’ll have people come up to me and say, 

‘That’s not how we do it back home’ and I try 

to explain to them that down here we follow 

Boots on the Ground

What is your favorite water activity here on Guantanamo Bay?

 “I just started spear fishing when I 

got here and I got hooked on it.”

Air Force Staff Sgt.

J.T. Peacock

“I love snorkeling and scuba 

diving. I love it all.”

Spc.

Heather Blackwell

Logisitics Specialist

2nd Class 

Enrique Sagastume

“I love to have water fights with my 

boss. I always win of course.”

“I enjoy spearfishing – and I’m 

excited about all the diving I’ve 

been able to do here!”

Hospital Corpsman 

3rd Class 

Cameron Hendrick

see FOCUS , pg. 19

focus

Army Sgt. 

 Linda Baez

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 

3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

Pirate-themed 

run inspired 

by national 

pirate holiday

Troopers and civilians across Guantanamo 

Bay dressed up and joined in on Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation’s first Pirate’s Day 

Fun Run, Saturday morning.

The two-mile run was conceived as a 

tie-in with International Talk Like a Pirate 

Day. Tanya Henigman, MWR coordinator 

explained the overall goal of the event. 

“The intent of this run was to provide 

a morning of fun for people who love to 

run or walk, enjoy participating in costume 

themes and like the water,” said Henigman. 

Beginning in 1995, International Talk Like 

a Pirate Day, all started as, John Baur, (Ol’ 

Chum Bucket) and Mark Summer (Cap’n 

Slappy) were playing a racquetball game. One 

of them was hurt and let out an outburst of, 

“Aaarrr!” According to the official site of 

International Talk Like a Pirate Day, this is 

how the idea of Pirate’s Day was born. 

Ol’ Chum Bucket and Cap’n Slappy 

walked around talking like pirates that day 

and the popularity of the inside joke spread. 

It was soon decided Sept. 19 of every year 

would be International Talk Like a Pirate 

Day. 

To add to the theme, participants were 

motivated to dress up in the best pirate 

costume they could find; pets were also 

allowed to partake in the festivities. Pirate talk 

was highly encouraged during the morning 

and individual awards were given to the best 

costume for both individual and animal. 

“Our goal is to keep the patrons of 

GTMO busy and focused on fun, healthy 

activities to boost the morale of the base,” 

Henigman added.

After completing the course, pirates were 

invited to jump off the pier or walk the 

plank. They then received a T-shirt that said, 

“I walked the plank in Guantanamo Bay, 

Cuba.”

“We had a great turnout,” said Henigman. 

“We gave away 110 T-shirts, meaning we had 

a 110 people who walked the plank.”

Henigman promised the Pirate’s Day Fun 

Run will continue be an annual occurrence 

with some changes to be made every year. 

Keep an eye out for this spectacle of 

costumes, pirate jargon and entertainment. 

The Sports| Wire | Page 6

Tanya Henigman, MWR fitness coordinator, prepares runners 

before the Pirates Day Fun Run, Saturday morning. More than 

120 Troopers and base residents participated in the two-mile 

run, held in conjection with International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

(below) Henigman celebrates with Guantanamo Bay residents at 

the end the run with a contest for the best dressed pirate.

- photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks
PHONE HOME

Story by Mass Communication Specialist

2nd Class Jon Dasbach

As part of the Morale Minder 

system, morale phone cards 

are being supplied to island 

newcomers, allowing Troopers 

to call home for free from the 

comfort of their rooms.

Upon arrival to Guantanamo 

Bay, Troopers will receive a 

morale card with a specific 

pin individually assigned to 

each person. This pin will in 

turn be used to make calls to 

loved ones back home. Each 

Trooper is allotted 60 minutes 

per week.

“The biggest change to the 

The why and how of Morale Minder’s phone program

program is, Troopers are now 

allowed to have up to 60 minutes 

a week instead of 30 minutes 

a week,” said Tech. Sgt. Jamie 

Hedrick, non-commissioned 

officer in charge, current 

operations customer support. 

“When a Trooper uses the 

pin, the Morale Minder system 

keeps track of the usage to 

ensure the Trooper is receiving 

their allotted time a week for 

phone calls.” 

The Morale Minder system 

allows Troopers to dial an access 

code from their phone and be 

connected to an automated 

system that will walk them 

through the calling process.

“The morale cards give 

you step-by-step instructions 

on how to make phone calls 

using your morale pin, along 

with information on the 

program and point of contact 

information if you run into any 

issues,” said Hedrick. 

After the access code is 

dialed, automated prompts 

provide instructions on how 

to complete your call through 

a Defense Switch Network 

operator. There are a few 

options that may occur at this 

point of the call. 

“If you already know the 

DSN number, you’ll receive 

an option to dial it,” explained 

Hedrick. “If not, there is 

another option that will put 

you through to the Global DSN 

Operator, and they will give 

you the nearest DSN number 

to your area.”

DSN numbers can also be 

found at www.disa.mil/dsn/

directory/DSN_directory.pdf.

For more information about 

the morale cards and how to 

use them correctly, Troopers 

can contact their senior 

enlisted leadership or the J6 

telecom shop at x8168, located 

in building 1451.

| News The Wire | Page 7
The News| Wire | Page 8

Story and photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Troopers, civilians help clean Slot

Ten members of Reef Raiders scuba 

diving club conducted a beach clean-up at 

the Slot, Saturday morning, in coordination 

with the Professional Association of Diving 

Instructors (PADI) Project AWARE’s 

month-long Dive for Debris program.

The Joint Task Force Troopers and 

government contractors spent more than 

an hour clearing up trash that had washed 

ashore over the course of the past year. 

Their efforts resulted in a pile of 12 trash 

bags, weighing a combined amount of more 

than 100 pounds.

The Slot was chosen by Reef Raiders, 

Guantanamo Bay’s only organized dive 

club, because it is the only public beach not 

cleaned or maintained by custodians, said 

Jean Anderson, budget analyst for J-6.

Eric, a civilian government employee and 

self-proclaimed co-chairman of the “Let’sclean-up-the-Slot-so-it-doesn’t-look-like-adump-anymore” committee said the shape of 

the Slot and its recreational use concentrates 

the debris and divers.

“It’s just a funnel for where all the trash 

comes in from the ocean and you can see the 

waves move in a specific direction, making 

it a natural collection point,” said Eric, who 

declined to give his last name. “The beach 

is very narrow where divers enter and exit, 

so everyone walks through all the trash and 

garbage.”

He said once the trash washes ashore, it 

has nowhere to go. Other beaches avoid this 

problem as the waste gets carried or blown 

out to sea by the wind. 

In addition to terrain and recreational use, 

weather made this beach clean up necessary.

“We had Hurricane Irene come through,” 

said Anderson. “Although we never really 

felt any severe affects from it here at 

Guantanamo, there was a lot of water that 

went by with debris in it.”

The overall goal was to make the 

beach safe, aesthetically pleasing and 

environmentally friendly, she said.

“It’s important to keep the beach clean 

to prevent divers from getting cuts from the 

glass or puncture wounds from the needles,” 

Anderson explained.

Upkeep on the beach is critical because 

the litter and trash never really goes away; 

pieces of plastic, plastic foam and soda 

bottles can always be found, said Eric.

“If we didn’t pick up the trash, some of it 

would be here for 20 to 30 years,” Anderson 

said. “The plastic containers and Styrofoam 

take a long time to disintegrate.”

Anderson hinted at the environmental 

importance of the clean up and the potential 

impact garbage has on local wildlife.

“Some of the debris we picked up could 

really negatively impact the sea creatures, 

especially the turtles,” said Anderson. “They 

get tangled in the plastics or poisoned in 

the case of the car battery leaking toxic 

chemicals.”

Eric said the beach is used daily by divers 

and should play the part of a treasure.

“It’s probably one of the best dive spots 

in Cuba so it should look it as well,” he said. 

“I mean, it looks great in the water and it 

should look just as good on the outside.”

Anderson agreed, adding people like to 

dive where beaches look nice.

“Before it looked like a junk yard and now 

it looks like a really nice, inviting place to 

dive,” said Anderson. “This isn’t just popular 

among divers; it is also a popular place for 

people to come and watch the sunset.”

The awards for the most intriguing piece 

of flotsam or jetsam went to Sgt. 1st Class 

Benjamin Cossel for recovering a plastic 

winged mermaid and Air Force Staff Sgt. 

J.T. Peacock, who recovered an ampoule 

of unknown medical substance, which was 

turned over to authorities on base.

Troopers from Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

and other members of Reef Raiders, 

Guantanamo Bay’s only organized dive club, 

join together in a beach clean up at the 

Slot, a favorite diving spot on Naval Station 

Guantanamo, Saturday.
Vaughn Anthony 

brings R&B, 

soul to Tiki Bar

Story and photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Minutes before showtime, Vaughn 

Anthony sits on a mantle in his trailer, 

mentally preparing himself to take the 

stage. He appears to be calm and collected, 

yet extremely focused. His fellow band 

members seem a little tenser while tuning 

their instruments; they have never performed 

for a military audience.

Anthony, on the other hand, is used 

to this kind of pressure. With little more 

than some muttered words, a few high fives 

and handshakes, the younger brother of 

acclaimed R&B superstar John Legend, is 

able to clear the air of stress and pull his 

crew together. Once they feel the crowd’s 

positive reactions to their warm-up, the band 

gets amped and the show commences.

Up-and-coming R&B artist Anthony 

performed for the Troopers of Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay, at the base’s Tiki 

Bar, Saturday. 

The future star performed multiple songs, 

showcasing artists he considers “inspirational 

to his career,” ranging from The Winans 

and John Legend himself, as well as several 

original pieces from his CD entitled “ In the 

Shadow of a Legend.”

“I am bringing a little something for 

everyone tonight,” Anthony said. “My music 

speaks to people of all ages. The troops can 

look forward to hearing some good music 

for the soul.”

Anthony said he jumped at the opportunity 

to play for servicemembers because it is his 

way of giving back to those who deserve it.

“To be able to share my gift with people 

who sacrifice their lives and time with their 

families is really more of an honor for me 

that stands out and makes me feel good,” 

Anthony said. “Maybe my music will make 

the troops feel good too after hearing it.”

“Its always a good thing when people 

come out to support the Troopers here,” 

said Spc. Rony Michaud, leave and pass 

clerk at Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Joint 

Personnel Center. “Everyone who came out 

definitely had a good time. He (Anthony) 

has a lot of talent and hopefully this gave 

him a little more exposure, too.”

Anthony has made several stops being on 

tour with his brother and said every country 

is its own experience. He said he enjoys 

getting to see different places and taking part 

in other culture’s unique styles.

“Man, my experience here was different,” 

Anthony said jokingly. “I only brought 

undershirts with me and I couldn’t go a lot 

of places here that way! All in all though, I 

had a great time on the island, meeting the 

troops and I enjoyed the hospitality of the 

people here. Thank you to everyone.”

Anthony is currently working on a new 

album titled, “Stepping out of the Shadow.” 

The album is scheduled for release in 

January.

John Legend’s little brother 

working on new album

R&B vocalist Vaughn 

Anthony performed for 

Guantanamo Bay residents 

and servicemembers, 

Saturday night, at the Tiki 

Bar. Anthony sang hit 

singles by The Winans and 

older brother John Legend, 

as well as several original 

songs from his CD entitled 

“In the Shadow of a Legend.”

| News The Wire | Page 9
The Wire | Page 10 Page 8 Feature |

Story by Spc. Kelly Gary

Photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Kihlo Park

see HERITAGE, pg. 19

Fiesta!

The smell of Latin American 

food and sound of music 

wafted out of the Windjammer 

ballroom Saturday night, as 

Guantanamo Bay residents 

celebrated the Hispanic American Heritage 

Association’s Dinner/Dance. The evening 

was filled with feasting, dancing and a 

variety of representations of Hispanic 

culture in honor of National Hispanic 

Heritage Month. 

The month of observance extends from 

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, during which people 

across the nation celebrate the histories, 

cultures and contributions of Americans 

whose ancestral origins to include Spain, 

Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and 

South America.

Kathi Diaz, treasurer for HAHA, said 

the Guantanamo Bay dinner and dance 

has been a tradition for many years. Prior 

to the event, the committee reaches out 

to the community to find people to share 

traditional dances or dress for the evening. 

People from all over the base come together 

to support the committee.

“Latinos are warm, caring people with 

good food and fun dances,” said Diaz.

It is easy to find samples of the tastes 

and sounds of neighboring countries 

around Guantanamo Bay. From salsa, 

merenque and bachata lessons to tamale 

sales, the evidence of Hispanic culture 

is prominent on the island. Troopers, 

contractors and civilians alike from all 

over the base attended as the Hispanic 

community was fervent to share its culture 

with each other and comrades alike.

Melanie Resto, vice president of 

HAHA, said she was happy HAHA had the 

chance to share her culture with everyone 

in attendance.

“This night was an assembly of the 

different Hispanic cultures we have on this 

base,” said Resto. “It was also a sample of 

Edith Diaz performs an impromptu 

merengue with a guest from 

the crowd at the Windjammer 

Ballroom, Saturday night. 
| Feature The Wire | Page 11

(right) Traditional Hispanic dresses from 

their respective countries are prominently 

displayed at the Hispanic American Heritage 

Association’s Dinner and Dance event, held at 

the Windjammer Ballroom, Saturday.

(right) Daniel Freeman plays a solo rendition 

of “Bolero” on his tuba.

(bottom) Melanie Gonzalez performs a 

Panamanian dance with her mother during 

the evening’s festivities. 
Story and photos by Spc. Kelly Gary

The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

more than a

DESTINATION

While Guantanamo 

Bay Troopers and 

residents start the 

motors on their pontoon boats, 

others rig the main and the jib, 

lower the centerboard and set 

sail.

A passenger a few times, Sgt. 

1st Class Michael Shimer was 

never the one doing the sailing. 

In 2005, he and his father-in-law, 

an avid sailor, bought a small 

21-foot boat to restore together. 

Three years later his father-inlaw passed away and Shimer 

sold the boat before he ever got 

the chance to take it out. Before 

his father-in-law’s death, Shimer 

vowed he would one day learn to 

sail. 

When Shimer, J3 antiterrorism non-commissioned 

officer in charge, came to the 

island a month ago he was 

presented with a chance to fulfill 

that promise. He learned of the 

free sailing lessons provided 

by Guantanamo Bay’s Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation, and 

jumped at the opportunity. 

Sunday afternoon, Shimer 

completed his seventh lesson but 

still vividly remembers the first.

“It was a lot of fun,” Shimer 

recalled. “You are a little nervous 

at first; the other guy I was with 

was white knuckled at times.”

For the first few lessons, 

Anthony Henry, the MWR 

sailing instructor, takes students 

out on 17-foot Hunter boats 

before graduating to the 25-foot 

Hunters. Henry explained the 

smaller boats are entirely under 

the command of the sailor. They 

don’t have a motor so reading 

and understanding the airstream 

is vital. 

“Henry is a really good 

instructor,” said Shimer. “He 

teaches you how to really handle 

the boat and use the wind.”

Rigging, boat terminology 

and how to tack into the wind 

using the main and jib sail were 

among the skills Shimer learned.

“If you take heed to what he 

teaches you,” advised Shimer, 

With help from the MWR Marina, 

Troopers learn to set sail.

see SAILING, pg. 19
|

FeatureThe Wire | Page 13

(above) Sgt. 1st 

Class Micheal 

Shimer, J3 antiterrorism noncommissioned 

officer in 

charge, sails a 

17-foot Hunter 

boat back to 

the dock at the 

MWR Marina, 

Saturday.

(left) Shimer and 

sailing 

instructor 

Anthony Henry 

secure the 

sailboat to 

dock following 

Shimer’s fifth 

sailing lesson.
In The Trenches

On the Wing

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR 

FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Air 

Combat Command officials 

received its first HC-130J Combat 

King II after Air Force Chief of 

Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz flew 

the aircraft here and officiated an 

arrival ceremony Sept. 24.

The delivery of the new 

C-130 model from Georgia was 

significant for the personnel 

recovery mission, as the 

predecessor HC-130P/N King 

begins to be replaced with the 

newer HC-130Js.

“It is an honor to have 

flown such a magnificent 

aircraft,” Schwartz said during 

the ceremony. “This is such 

HC-130J arrival brings promise of improved personnel recovery

By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes

Defense Media Activity a significant milestone for the 

personnel recovery community. 

The capabilities of the new HC130J are a magnitude greater than 

any of its predecessors.”

The previous C-130 models 

were originally built in the 1960s, 

but age and flight time have 

caught up with the airframes, said 

Lt. Col. Jason Hanover, the 563rd 

Rescue Group commander.

“This new aircraft is replacing 

an aging fleet and will give us so 

much more capability,” Hanover 

said. “It’s still called a C-130, but 

this is such a radically different 

aircraft. We will always execute 

our rescue mission, but this will 

allow us to facilitate other needs 

across the force.”

The Combat King II has 

a long list of modifications 

that will increase its mission 

effectiveness, including improved 

navigation, threat detection 

and countermeasure systems, 

Hanover said.

Before the newly arrived HC130J can begin flying missions, 

it will be flown by the testing 

squadron here. Air Force officials 

expect HC-130Js to begin regular 

duty at the base in early 2013. 

In the meantime, members 

of the 79th Rescue Squadron 

here will complete the training 

needed to fly and operate the new 

model.

“Right now, the 79th RQS is 

on their last major deployment 

with the older model of the C-130 

and will be set to begin sending 

FORT MEADE, Md. – Due to the unusually 

high number of Soldiers attaining high 

promotion points without attending the 

appropriate schools, the Army is making 

changes to the semi-centralized promotion 

system effective Jan. 1. 

“This change – which only affects the 

Advanced Leadership Course and the Warrior 

Leadership Course for E5 and E6 – facilitates 

the leader development imperative to ensure 

Soldiers get the right mix of developmental 

opportunities at the right time in their careers,” 

said Sgt. Maj. Debra J. Sturdivant, chief of 

enlisted promotions, Human Resources 

Command.

“We came about this because Soldiers 

were maxing out their military education 

with legitimate correspondence courses, but 

weren’t attending the NCO Education System 

schools,” Sturdivant said.

To ensure Soldiers get the “right mix” of 

classes, ceilings have been imposed on each of 

these elements. 

Army ensures ‘right mix’ for junior NCO promotion points

By Rob McIlvaine The total promotion points that can 

be earned in military education is 260 for 

promotion to sergeant and 280 for promotion 

to staff sergeant – this remains unchanged.

A maximum of 40 percent of the points 

a Soldier can potentially earn are applied to 

the NCOES element within the militaryeducation category (104 maximum points 

for Soldiers competing for sergeant and 112 

maximum points for Soldiers competing for 

staff sergeant), Sturdivant said. 

“This design intentionally limits a Soldier’s 

ability to ‘max’ promotion points in the 

NCOES category to those who are officially 

designated as ‘Distinguished Honor Graduate’ 

or as the ‘Distinguished Leadership Graduate,’” 

she said.

Under the NCOES category:

– Distinguished honor/leader graduates 

earn 104 points (competing for sergeant) and 

112 points (competing for staff sergeant) 

respectively.

– Commandant’s List graduates receive 92 

points (competing for sergeant) and 101 points 

(competing for staff sergeant) respectively. 

– Graduates receive 80 points (competing 

for sergeant) and 90 points (competing for 

staff sergeant) respectively. 

Active-component Soldiers should 

see revised scores, based on these newlyestablished ceilings, in the automated 

Promotion Point Worksheet beginning 

Dec. 5, Sturdivant said. She said Soldiers 

recommended for promotion and integrated 

onto the recommended list not later than Dec. 

8 will have these ceilings applied in determining 

their promotion scores for Jan. 1 selections. 

A new DA form 3355 will also soon be 

published and Army Reserve AGR Soldiers 

should use this form to record their promotion 

points according to the new ceilings, Sturdivant 

said. The new ceilings must be implemented 

on promotion-board actions effective Nov. 

1 in order to meet the timeline for Jan. 1 

promotions, she said.

The changes will be announced in a 

MILPER Message released no later than Oct. 

1, Sturdivant said. 

The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

their people to the new J-model 

courses,” Hanover said. “The 

eight months of training needed 

to operate this aircraft really show 

all the improvements that have 

been made.”

The new aircraft will be a 

welcome addition to the Air 

Force’s rescue community, which 

is second to none in training, 

dedication and results, Schwartz 

said.

“It’s a result of all this that 

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines 

and Coastguardsmen who serve 

in harm’s way have that extra 

measure of confidence,” Schwartz 

said. “They know that in times of 

danger or extreme duress, they 

can count on the fact that you will 

be there, or you will die trying.” 
On The Deck

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The 

second phase of the Navy’s 

Enlisted Retention Board 

convened at Navy Personnel 

Command (NPC) Sept. 26.

ERB Phase II will review 

the records of 7, 792 Sailors in 

pay grades E-6 thru E-8 who 

meet eligibility requirements 

outlined in NAVADMIN 

129/11. The quota and 

performance based board is 

charged with identifying the 

most fully qualified Sailors for 

retention. Combined, the first 

and second phase ERB will 

review approximately 16,000 

records for about 13,000 

available retention quotas. 

The primary criterion for 

retention is sustained superior 

performance. 

ERB was announced earlier 

this year as the Navy faces 

record-high retention and low 

attrition among active-duty 

Sailors. The purpose of the 

board is to reduce over manning 

in 31 ratings and to help the 

Navy meet congressionally 

mandated end-strength. 

The ERB was divided into 

two four-week phases in order 

to reduce the amount of time 

Navy convenes second phase of retention

selection board members 

would be required to be away 

from their commands. The first 

phase of the ERB convened 

Aug. 22 to review the records 

of ERB-eligible Sailors in 

pay grades E-4 and E-5. That 

board adjourned Sept. 16 and 

forwarded its recommendations 

to NPC.

Community managers 

from the Bureau of Naval 

Personnel (BUPERS) are 

currently reviewing the Phase 

I board’s recommendations 

for conversion opportunities 

outlined in NAVADMIN 

180/11 before forwarding the 

By Navy Personnel 

Command Public Affairs

board’s recommendations to 

the Chief of Naval Personnel 

for approval. 

Phase II results will also 

be reviewed by BUPERS for 

conversion opportunities after 

the board adjourns. Navy 

expects to release Phase I 

results in October and Phase II 

results in November.

Sailors not selected for 

retention on active-duty are 

encouraged to consider Reserve 

affiliation and will have access to 

the Navy’s transition assistance 

management program and 

other benefits for members 

who are involuntary separated.

Inside the Jar

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, 

N.C. – Physical readiness is a job requirement 

for Marines. Semi-annually they’re tested on 

those skills, to see where they stand compared 

to the Corp’s fitness standards. 

With the deadline quickly approaching, 

Marines have until Dec. 31, 2011, to qualify 

for their Combat Fitness Test . Marines with 

Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 

have been running CFTs aboard Marine Corps 

Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., one a week since 

July. 

Staff Sgt. Gabriel Boehm, data chief, 

Headquarters Company, HQ Bn., recently ran 

his CFT and said, “If you haven’t been training 

up to this point, it might be too late.” 

“This is something that you need to be 

conditioning and preparing for all year round,” 

said Boehm. “At this point in the game if you 

haven’t done anything to get yourself ready, 

there’s not that much you can do but prepare 

your mind.” 

The CFT involves three events during 

which Marines run the course in combat boots 

and utility uniform. 

The first event is a timed 880-yard movement 

to contact. The second event is an ammo can 

lift, where Marines lift a 30-pound ammo can 

from below their chins to over their head as 

many times as possible in two minutes. 

Marines prepare for 

upcoming CFT 

Story and photo by Cpl. Andrew D. Johnston, 

2nd Marine Division 

The final stage is the maneuver under fire. 

This involves a 25-yard sprint, a 25-yard crawl 

and a 25-yard zigzag run, which goes directly 

into a fireman’s drag and carry for 75 yards, a 

75-yard sprint with two 30-pound ammo cans, 

a grenade throw to a target and a 75-yard sprint 

with the ammo cans. 

“I haven’t taken my CFT yet, but that’s what 

I am conditioning for,” said Martin. “I know 

we only have three months left, that’s why I’ve 

been doing a lot of preparation on my own. 

I practice buddy carries, ammo can runs and 

ammo can lifts. One of the workouts I do is 

three sets of 50 ammo can lifts, or you max 

whichever comes first.” 

“There’s going to be those Marines who 

wait till the last week to start preparing, 

and once you hit that point you better start 

praying,” said Martin. “They’re going to learn 

their lesson that when you wait that long you’re 

putting all your chips on the table and by then 

it’s too late.” 

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

Sgt. Benjamin Venhuizen, 

military policeman, Military 

Police Company, Headquarters 

Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 

fireman carries Staff Sgt. 

Gabriel Boehm, data chief, 

Headquarters Company, HQ 

Bn., during his Combat Fitness 

Test Sept. 21, aboard Marine 

Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

30 1 2 3 4 5 6

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

Spy Kids: All the 

Time in the World

(PG) 8 p.m.

30 Minutes or 

Less

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Rise of the Planet 

of the Apes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Crazy, Stupid, 

Love

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Change-Up

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Final Destination 5

(R) 10 p.m. 

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

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

PG-13

105 min.

Spy Kids: All the 

Time in the World

(PG) 8 p.m.

30 Minutes or Less

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Rise of the Planet 

of the Apes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Final Destination 5

(R) 10 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Change-Up

(R) 8 p.m.

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

It’s amazing what a difference 10 years 

makes. The last time we saw the “Planet of 

the Apes” franchise, Tim Burton had all 

but murdered the series with his dull, overreaching remake of the 1968 classic. With 

ridiculous ape costumes, a new “twist” 

ending and Mark Wahlberg’s always-present 

torso, it seemed like a nail in the coffin for 

the apes vs. man saga. The original “Planet 

of the Apes” was good ol’ campy fun, with 

Charlton Heston belting out some of pop 

culture’s most iconic lines. Burton’s take was 

neither fun nor campy, but rather cheesy and, 

ultimately, forgettable.

But low and behold, “Rise of the Planet 

of the Apes” is the surprise movie of the 

year, reaching beyond what anyone could 

have expected and resurrecting a story long 

thought dead. How did what was a laughable 

concept at first – retracing the origin of how 

the apes came into power – easily become the 

most exciting and exhilarating blockbuster of 

the summer?

The little-ape-movie-that-could was 

understandably underestimated; with only 

two full-length features under his belt before 

“Apes,” director Rupert Wyatt is far from a 

household name. Leading man James Franco’s 

status has been rising, but the Wahlbergcurse was always a factor. And the biggest 

challenge of all: When the majority of your 

cast members are primates, how do you avoid 

awkward special effects and costumes?

Enter Peter Jackson. The godfather 

behind “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, 

Jackson’s revolutionary performance-capture 

technology transformed actor Andy Serkis 

into the schizophrenic Gollum with nary 

a snag, allowing Serkis to turn in a brilliant 

performance, while also creating a believable 

creature. 

In “Apes,” Serkis is back and even better as 

main monkey Caeser. Caeser is the offspring of 

a lab ape who dies after Franco’s Will Rodman 

injects her with a new Alzheimer’s drug. Will’s 

father (John Lithgow) is deteriorating rapidly 

from the disease and Will is desperate to find 

the cure. He takes Caeser home with him as 

a temporary solution, but soon notices that 

the drugs given to his mother were passed to 

her son. Caeser’s cognitive functioning begins 

to skyrocket, and Will’s dream of curing his 

father sees light.

Watching the bond develop between Will 

and Caeser is heartbreaking, because you 

know eventually things will start to unravel. 

When they do, it’s justifiably devastating. Will 

is forced to send Caeser to a primate habitat 

that makes Harry Potter’s dwelling under the 

stairs of his uncle’s house look cozy. (That 

won’t be the only Potter reference in this 

review – stay tuned!) The place is run by 

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

More U.S. airports are now offering charter flights to Cuba after 

President Barack Obama relaxed travel restrictions earlier this year. A 

long-time U.S. trade embargo still bans tourist travel to the communist 

nation, but the move makes it easier for Cuban-Americans and other 

authorized travelers to visit. Not everyone approves. 

A cigar store in the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana gives 

Cubans in the U.S. a taste of home. But for many, this Cuba away from 

Cuba is not enough.

About a 30-minute drive away at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, 

several generations of Cubans wait eagerly to visit their families.

“This is a very big day because a new location has been opened for 

all the Cubans who want to travel to the island,” said Octavio Giraldo, 

one of more than 100 passengers on a flight that is first from Fort 

Lauderdale to Cuba in more than two decades. The occasion inspired a 

fiesta, complete with Cuban food, live music and even dancing.

Irelys Uzcategui-Alvarez, returning to Cuba for the first time in 10 

years, says the day is historic. “[It’s] very exciting, because it’s the first 

flight from here, near my house in Fort Lauderdale, and it seems to me 

that it’s more economical and more convenient.”

Fort Lauderdale is one of several airports that have begun flights to 

Cuba since the Obama administration loosened restrictions this year.

Before, only airports in Miami, New York and Los Angeles were 

authorized to run direct flights to the island.

Cuban-Americans divided over expanded US-Cuba flights

By Alex Villarreal

Voice of America News Service Vivian Mannerud is president of Airline Brokers, the charter 

company behind this flight and others to Cuba.

“It’s a celebration for everybody, because anything that we can get 

approved that makes it more normal to travel to Cuba, to leave from 

any airport to visit your family, is a celebration day,” Mannerud said.

But not all Cubans are celebrating.

“This decision to open flights to Cuba is a mistake - more space 

that we have for a country that is a sponsor of terrorism,” said Emilio 

Izquierdo, coordinator of a citizen movement known as Cuban 

American Patriots and Friends. He spent more than two years as a 

political prisoner in Cuba in the 1960s. He and others in the exile 

community often gather at Little Havana’s famed Versailles Restaurant 

- a hub of anti-Castro politics.

Antonio Esquivel, head of the democracy-seeking Cuban Patriotic 

Council, says U.S.-Cuba flights provide only one-sided benefits.

“It’s not helping anybody but the Castro regime. What they’re 

looking for is their money. That’s all,” he said.

But travelers say money is not the motive. “It’s not putting money 

in the hands of the Castros, but happiness in the homes of the 

families who miss their relatives who have come to this country and 

are returning and can return every day to see them,” said passenger 

Octavio Giraldo.

As takeoff gets closer, it is clear how much that family time means 

to Manuel Marquez and many other Cubans. “There I have my mother, 

my siblings, my wife, and they are my loved ones. I wish I could have 

them here,” Marquez said.

More than 100 passengers took advantage of the first flight since 1987 to Cuba from Fort Lauderdale, earlier this month. More U.S. airports are now offering charter flights to Cuba after the 

Obama administration loosened travel restrictions in January. – photo by AP
Mind, Body & Soul

Man’s best friend:

The benefits of pet therapy 

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

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

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 18

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call x2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

Have you ever wondered 

why your dog, cat, bird, or horse 

brightens your day and how 

the unspoken comfort of a pet 

may be more comforting than 

your average human interaction? 

The enjoyment of animals as 

companions dates back many 

centuries, perhaps even to 

prehistoric times. 

It’s no news pets of all kinds 

have healing benefits for a 

variety of ailments. Lowering 

blood pressure, reducing anxiety, 

boosting self-esteem, decreasing 

loneliness and inducing relaxation 

are only the beginning. Some of 

the earliest uses of pet therapy 

in the United States were for 

psychiatric patients. The presence 

of the therapy animals produced 

a beneficial effect on both 

children and adults with mental 

health issues. It is only in the last 

few decades that pet therapy, also 

known as animal-assisted therapy, 

has been more formally applied in 

a variety of therapeutic settings, 

including schools and prisons, 

as well as hospitals, hospices, 

nursing homes and outpatient 

care programs.

Today, animal-assisted therapy 

is used throughout the military, 

especially with wounded warriors. 

Unlike people, with whom our 

interactions may be quite complex 

Navy Lt. Lindsey Gleason, JSMART OIC

and unpredictable, animals provide 

a constant source of comfort and 

attention. Animals bring out our 

nurturing instinct. They also make 

us feel safe and unconditionally 

accepted. We can just be ourselves 

around our pets. Studies have 

shown petting a dog not only 

lowers the blood pressure of the 

individual, but the blood pressure 

of the dog as well. 

You may be wondering, how 

can I get the benefits of a pet here 

in GTMO while I am deployed? 

Well, have you met Beacon? He 

is a certified Red Cross Therapy 

dog who can be encountered 

at JSMART, the Cuzcos, the 

Windjammer and many other 

places around the island. He 

brightens many servicemembers’ 

day and welcomes any scratch 

behind the ears or rub on his belly. 

His proud owner, Spc. Amanda 

Russell, worked hard to get 

Beacon to the island and her hard 

work paid off. This lovable pup 

provides many deployed Troopers 

who have left their beloved pets 

behind a reminder of home and 

unconditional love. He also helps 

individuals with Post Traumatic 

Stress Disorder, depression, 

anxiety and other mental health 

difficulties. So next time you 

are missing your Fido, seek out 

Beacon the Mighty Therapy Dog. 

The benefits will boost your 

mood and your physical health. 

Go fetch!

Here are some other 

suggestions on how to have 

animal contact while deployed 

here to GTMO:

• Volunteer at the local 

GTMO vet clinic.

• Visit the dog park. 

• See if anyone on the 

island needs help walking 

their dog. 

• Offer to pet-sit for friends 

and servicemembers 

stationed in GTMO. 

• Walk in the woods – it’s 

amazing the critters you’ll 

see!

• Put out a bird feeder. You 

may not be able to cuddle 

a wild bird, but its great 

way to start having some 

animal connections.
| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

MOVIES cont. 

SAILING cont. 

Landon (Brian Cox) who does an 

impressive job of making junglekhaki look frightening. But the 

real villain here is Landon’s 

son, played by... Draco Malfoy?! 

Nope, it’s actually Tom Felton, 

pigeon-holed and stereotyped as 

nasty masochist Dodge Landon, 

whose ignorance and brutality 

drive Caeser’s growing hatred. 

The caveat to playing yet another 

miscreat is that Felton gets to 

deliver at least two of Heston’s 

legendary outbursts (“Get your 

paws off me, you damn dirty 

ape!” is one of them – can you 

spot the other?). 

The cast is a talented group, 

to be sure, but none of them 

outshine Caeser. Growing from 

a bright and curious toddler to a 

stubborn, bull-headed teenager 

and then still into a righteous, 

rebellious leader, the ape’s fierce 

face tells it all. Credit Serkis, 

who pulls off probably the most 

fascinating performance this 

year. Props also go to Wyatt, 

who manages to tell the story 

with both integrity and humor 

and not a shred of irony.

A word to Heston loyalists: 

keep an eye out for carefully 

planted nods to the original, 

including a Mars space shuttle 

presumably occupied by Col. 

George Taylor. 

“Rise of the Planet of the 

Apes” is a gripping, intelligent 

and heartfelt flick that’ll split 

your loyalties in half. By the 

time Caeser leads his army into 

a showdown on the Golden Gate 

bridge, you forget who you’re 

rooting for. And when Will and 

Caeser have their own private 

goodbye, you forget about 

everything else. 

“you can go anywhere in this bay 

and make it back.”

After more than eight years 

giving sailing lessons, Henry has 

taught hundreds of students and 

claims nearly anyone can pick it 

up.

“Sailing is easy,” said Henry. 

“Once you know where the wind 

is coming from, you can position 

yourself in the right direction.”

The skill takes time and 

patience. Without the motor, 

moving in little to no wind can be 

frustrating; yet, it is the calm and 

serenity sailing provides many, 

including Henry and Shimer, are 

drawn to.

“It is a lot of concentration,” 

said Shimer, “but at the same 

time there is no noise – you can 

simply focus on what you are 

doing and be at peace.”

Henry agreed sailing is a 

great way to alleviate tension and 

offers an opportunity to take the 

mind off the day or week prior.

“Sailing is good to release the 

mind,” Henry said. “When you 

are out here you can relieve stress 

– sometimes you go out and it is 

just you and the water.”

Sailboats are the cheapest 

boats to rent at the marina and 

sailors can take them all around 

the bay. 

Signing up for lessons is as 

simple as calling or stopping by 

the marina. Everyone gets eight 

two-hour lessons free and Henry 

said many pick up the skill 

within five or six. Shimer is glad 

he seized the opportunity at the 

beginning of his deployment. 

The certification does not apply 

only to Guantanamo Bay – it 

is applicable around the world. 

Shimer plans on taking full 

advantage of his new skill set.

“My goal in the year I spend 

here is to learn to handle the boat 

well so when I go back to the 

states, I won’t have any problem 

sailing down to the Florida Keys 

or to the Bahamas or even down 

here into the rest of the islands,” 

Shimer said.

For sailors, new and old 

alike, sailing can be a means of 

transportation or a hobby. To 

many it is cathartic and for few 

it is even a lifestyle. For Shimer 

and Henry, it is about more than 

the destination.

“If you rent a pontoon boat 

you can get from point A to 

point B real fast,” said Shimer. 

“But when you are operating a 

sailboat you are always looking 

ahead and judging the wind 

and trying to figure out how to 

get from point A to point B. 

Sometimes, they say, the journey 

is the best part.”

what we contribute to today’s 

modern dancing.”

The ballroom was lined 

with several tributes to various 

Hispanic countries. At the 

entrance, women’s clothing 

native to Panama, Columbia 

and Puerto Rico lined the 

wall. In addition, artifacts and 

artwork tied to the culture 

were also on display.

After the presentation of 

colors, a welcome from Resto 

and remarks from Navy Capt. 

Kirk Hibbert, commanding 

officer of Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay, guest 

speaker Navy Lt. Commander 

Samya Cruz spoke on what 

Hispanic heritage meant to 

her. 

“[Cruz] is a Latin woman 

who really represents the 

Guantanamo Bay community,” 

Resto said. 

Following Cruz’s speech 

was a meal of Pavochon 

(poultry seasoned like pork), 

rice with pigeon peas, fried 

plantains and flan for desert. 

As dinner finished, the dancing 

began. First on stage was 

Maria Trias Figueroa’s second 

grade class from W.T. Sampson 

Elementary School performing 

the Puerto Rican Plena dance. 

The rest of the night was 

filled with performances 

featuring merengue, zumba, 

and a panamanian dance with 

traditional dress.

“I would like to think 

everyone learned a bit about 

our dances,” said Diaz. “How 

different styles and countries 

are represented in so many 

different ways.’

Resto believes, Hispanic 

or not, teaching and learning 

about the rich Hispanic 

culture is the primary goal of 

the organization.

“This is just one of the 

events we hope to see for 

National Hispanic Heritage 

month,” said Resto.

Attendees danced into the 

night while David Melendez, 

site safety and health officer, 

sang a mix of traditional 

and modern Spanish songs. 

Patrons and committee 

members agreed the evening 

was a success. 

HERITAGE cont. 

guidance of SouthCom policy,” 

Baez said.

In addition to quickly ramping 

up to support the JTF awards 

process, Johnson said Baez 

personifies a particular Army 

ethos.

“She has a very strong character 

and is a leader by example,” 

HERITAGE cont. 

Johnson said. “Before she’ll assign 

anything to one of her younger 

Troopers, she’ll take the time to 

figure it out and make sure she 

understands it so she can show 

them.”

Because immersing herself in 

SouthCom policy wasn’t enough 

for this motivated Soldier, Baez 

is also currently working on her 

degree in criminal justice with an 

emphasis in homeland security – a 

goal she hopes to accomplish while 

deployed to JTF Guantanamo.

“I’ve got 15 classes left to 

earn my Bachelor of Arts,” she 

said. “I’m going to try and get it 

finished before we leave.”

Whether she finishes here or 

not, Johnson knows the future is 

bright for this young sergeant.

“Once she finishes her degree, 

I can see her moving on to battle 

staff or getting into the intel field,” 

he said. “But whatever she decides 

to do, I know she’ll succeed - that’s 

the type of Soldier she is.”
COASTIE PATROL

A U.S. Coast Guard Transportable Port Security Boat conducts an antiterrosim force protection patrol off Deer Point. - photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

GOOD BURGER

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Command Chaplain Air Force Lt. Col. Gary Bertsch 

cleans the barbecue grill at a burger burn held outside Camp 6, Friday. - photo by 

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

BRIDGING THE GAP

Utilitiesman 1st Class Bill Cahill (left) and Equipment Operator 2nd Class Max 

Leonard, both attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 23, measure 

boards for the reconstruction of three pedestrian bridges at Cooper Field, 

Monday. - photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

TheJTF

BULKING UP

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Zach Lind performs warm up squats before his midday workout at Denich Gym, Wednesday. - photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park