Friday, December 16, 2011

Navy men, Army women

beat the competition

GTMO Gridiron

Volume 13, Issue 6
| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

MWR will demonstrate four of the group 

fitness classes at G.J. Denich Gym Dec. 21 

from 6-8 p.m. There will be a half hour session each for kickboxing, Total Body Conditioning, and yoga, as well as High Intensity 

Training. Win hats, t-shirts and lots of other 

prizes while learning new fitness options. 

For more information, call 2157.

Radio GTMO and MWR will host the 

Jingle Bells 5K Fun Run on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. 

There will be prizes given to the participant 

with the most jingle bells and the participant 

with the most creativity. Free water and Santa 

hats will be given out, while supplies last. Santa will be available for pictures.

For more information, call 2113.

The Joint Task Force Guantanamo First 

Class Petty Officers Association will be washing cars at Downtown Lyceum Saturday from 

10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Donations will go to the 

JTF FCPOA.

For more information, call 8228.

Surprise your buddy with a flock of flamingos. From now until March 1, the Seabee 

Ball Committee will adorn a yard with plastic 

flamingos for three days for $20. If you want 

to get unflocked earlier than three days, they 

will remove the birds for $10. All proceeds 

will fund the Seabee Ball on March 10. 

For more information, or to schedule a 

flocking, call Patty Hinton at 4518.

The Guantanamo Bay Main Chapel Fellowship Hall is looking forward to distributing 1,300 stockings to people who have to 

work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

To do this, the chapel is asking for donations 

of stockings, candy canes, non-perishable 

snack foods, Christmas cards and Christmas 

cookies. Donations can be dropped off at 

Fellowship Hall on Dec. 22 between 8 a.m. 

and 1 p.m.

Additionally, there will be many volunteer 

opportunities available to stuff and distribute stockings:

Dec. 22, 12-4 p.m.: Arrange volunteer 

tables at Fellowship Hall and organize donations.

Dec. 23, 12-4 p.m.: Operation Christmas 

Stockings will be filled with donated items.

Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Stocking distribution, based on volunteer availability.

Dec. 25, 1-3 p.m.: Stocking distribution, 

based on volunteer opportunity.

For more information, call 2323.

Singer-songwriter Scott Kirby will perform live at the Tiki Bar tonight and Saturday at 9 p.m. 

Kirby, who hails from Key West, Fla., 

plays coastal-inspired folk rock, referred to 

by fans as “beach folk.” His latest album 

(below), “Row Me Home,” features a variety 

guest vocalists and instrumentals, including 

fiddle and saxophone.

The Tiki Bar will be serving up island 

drink specials in souvenir cups. 

For more information, call 4882.

. 

Jingle Bells 5K Fun Run

If you are a new military spouse or civilian spouse living on base, arm yourself 

with the knowledge and information needed to help you thrive in your new community Dec. 22 from 9-11 a.m. at the Fleet 

and Family Support Center, building 2135. 

Even seasoned spouses can benefit from 

this workshop. 

For more information, or to register, 

call 4141 or 4153. 

MWR is looking for local talent to perform during the GTMO Rock n’ Roll half 

marathon on Jan. 28 at 7 a.m. Each mile 

of the 13.1 mile run will have a station for 

cheering, supporters or musical talent. 

If you are interested in participating, contact Jen Norton at 2157 or email Jennifer.

Norton@usnbgtmo.navy.mil.

MWR is hosting a free, all hands Capture the Santa paintball event at the paintball field on Dec. 21 from 5-7 p.m. Teams 

will be created at the start of the game and 

prizes will be awarded to first, second and 

third place. 

For more information or to sign up, call 

the Marina at 2345.

Enjoy a morning meal with Santa Claus at 

McDonald’s Saturdayat 9 a.m. Don’t forget 

your camera!

Scott Kirby performs 

at Tiki Bar

Military Spouse 101

INDEX

The Wire

December 16, 2011

Stocking Stuffer Shuffle 5

Online banking tips 7

Army-Navy football game 8

NASCAR-USO tour 10

Christmas carols at Bargo 12

Run/walk safety notice 13

MBS: Recovering from injury 17

Movie review: The Thing 18 

Car wash fundraiser

Flock your friends

GTMO Rock n’ Roll 

half marathon

Breakfast with Santa 

Operation Christmas 

Stocking

12 Days of Christmas 

Aerobathon 

Capture the Santa 

paintball

The Wire | Page 2 Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Michelle Coghill: 9927

Operations Officer

Army Maj. Jon Powers: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant: 3649

The Wire

Editor: Army 1st. Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Layout Assistant: Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Photojournalists

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: amelia.c.thatcher@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

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 

Defense Logistics Agency Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Watching the news these days can be 

troubling. Not only do we see frequent 

allegations of wrongdoing, we also 

see bickering and a disturbing lack of 

coordination to actually pursue real 

accomplishments. We wonder, “What is 

going wrong?” Many are questioning the 

country’s commitment to ethics.

Just writing the word “ethics” will 

cause some people to stop reading this 

article right now. If you haven’t been 

bored or insulted by poor attempts at 

ethics training, you 

are the exception. 

The typical ethics 

training focuses almost 

exclusively on telling us 

what we shouldn’t do. 

Don’t cheat, don’t steal, 

don’t lie, etc. We easily 

recognize these blatant 

examples of unethical 

conduct – and generally 

don’t benefit much 

from being lectured 

on “what not to do.” I 

prefer to focus on the 

other (often neglected) 

side of ethics.

To us, ethics implies an OBLIGATION 

to make improvements to the mission/

organization during every one of our 

tours. Finishing a job without being fired 

or reprimanded is sometimes seen as 

success. In fact, some people expect to be 

rewarded for that. I’d like to think that we 

in the military (this includes our militaryrelated civilians) have higher standards. 

We rotate through different billets and 

different locations as a natural part of our 

career development. Simply “finishing” 

without getting in trouble is a sad goal. 

Ethics motivate us to strive to make a 

difference every day. This is especially true 

here at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, 

where our time is limited. Yet everyone 

can make something better every day. 

We don’t settle for just finishing. We try. 

We don’t sit on the sidelines and critique 

others’ performance. We’re on the field. 

A full appreciation for ethics drives us to 

pursue progress. Simply being cautious to 

avoid mistakes is not a complete view of 

ethics.

However, striving to make a difference 

is perceived by some as foolish. It makes 

us stand out from the crowd, and we 

typically don’t get paid extra for harder 

work. We expose ourselves to possible 

criticism, and we might make mistakes. 

This gets us back to the traditional 

thought of ethics – which is sometimes 

narrowly interpreted as 

avoiding mistakes. 

Yes, there are risks 

in endeavoring daily to 

make improvements. 

Hopefully our military 

mindset convinces us 

to accept those risks – 

knowing that by being 

honest with ourselves 

and others, we can 

move beyond innocent 

mistakes. Obviously, 

when we make 

mistakes, we should 

admit it: don’t lie. But 

we should do more. We should learn 

from our mistakes, put steps in place to 

avoid their reoccurrence, and move on. 

Dealing with mistakes is a vital part of our 

ethical development. Unlike the general 

public, we are not so fixated on avoiding 

mistakes that we become paralyzed from 

taking action.

You’ve probably seen opinion polls 

which show the public has higher trust in 

the military than any other profession. I 

believe that’s because our view of ethics 

doesn’t just address “what not to do” – 

we also feel an obligation to make things 

better. We take actions daily to make 

improvements. We are mission-focused. 

This mindset should be especially evident 

during our short tours at GTMO, since 

we only have a limited time to make a 

difference. Thanks for your dedication 

and motivation. Thanks for realizing that 

ethics drive us to take actions. 

Ethics motivate 

us to strive to 

make a difference 

every day. This is 

especially true here 

at Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, 

where our time is 

limited. 

Captain Patrick Rabun

Chief of Staff, Joint Task Force Guantanamo

Cover: The men’s Navy team won out 15-9 over Army Saturday in Guantanamo Bay’s biggest sports 

event of the year. Petty Officer 2nd Class Gerald Provost, who played quarterback for the Navy, scored 

the two winning touchdowns. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Cc

ommand

orner
| Sports The Wire | Page 5

Hosting a community event is 

a great way to develop camaraderie 

within a unit, and also step out 

to meet people around the base. 

The Naval Station Intelligence 

Department’s (NSID) Stocking 

Stuffer Shuffle 5K run, held Dec. 

9, is an example of a community 

event that Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Bay Troopers can 

host.

“As a Department of Defense 

organization, the intelligence 

department can’t do fundraising,” 

said Marine Staff Sgt. Edwin Latrell, 

the NSID staff noncommissioned 

officer in charge. “But we can run 

a community activity, like a 5K, 

and say ‘hey we are trying to tell 

you about this other message.” 

Members of the military 

are generally allowed to host 

fundraising events; however, there 

are specific rules which must be 

followed. The NSID run, for 

example, raised awareness of the 

Guantanamo Bay Main Chapel’s 

Operation Christmas Stocking 

event. Volunteers will distribute 

stockings to Troopers and naval 

station personnel who are working 

through the Christmas holiday.

“We didn’t actually do any 

of the fundraising,” Latrell said. 

“We just set everything up so that 

people who wanted to make a 

donation could at a time and place 

that was advertised.”

The idea of the 5K run came 

from a Marine and a yeoman 

who wanted to do a holiday event 

similar to Morale Welfare and 

Recreation offerings. Lance Cpl. 

Tyler Truesdale and Sailor Richard 

McPherson brainstormed ideas 

and came up with the Stocking 

Stuffer Shuffle 5K run. 

“We were looking to somehow 

get involved with any volunteer 

or community type activity to 

make our shop come together in 

a camaraderie building exercise 

and get some volunteer hours 

under our belts,” said Truesdale. 

“So when we heard about the 

Operation Christmas Stocking, 

things just came together like one 

plus one.” 

After putting together the 5K’s 

rough draft, they presented it to 

Latrell, who reviewed and refined 

the idea. 

“What they came up with 

was this idea that they could do a 

fundraiser as a 5K event and give 

donations,” said Latrell. “These 

two motivated Troopers said ‘we 

want to do something’ and they 

took the ball and ran with it.” 

This was the NSID’s first 

community event and through the 

process they learned a lot about 

how to organize and advertise for 

a base wide event. 

“I learned to get our message 

out and make everyone aware in an 

earlier timeframe,” said Truesdale. 

“It gives us an opportunity 

to do something bigger in the 

future,” said McPherson.

For information about 

volunteering for Operation 

Christmas Stocking, call 2323.

Top: Petty Officer 1st Class Percival Valenzuela, a hospital corpsman, pushes 

himself in the Stocking Stuffer Shuffle 5K Run. Above: 5K organizer Marine Staff 

Sgt. Edwin Latrell runs through Guantanamo Bay’s trails. –photos by Army Sgt. 

Saul Rosa

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

The making of a community event: 

The Stocking Stuffer Shuffle 5K Run

The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Guantanamo Bay offers our 

Troopers a wonderful opportunity 

to get out and do things that 

many of them have never had the 

opportunity to do before. When 

the day’s work is complete, there’s 

more to the off hours than takeout and Xbox.

The naval station is dominated 

by two features: open water and 

rugged trail-crossed hills. Both are 

excellent locations for adventure. 

The Morale, Welfare, and 

Recreation (MWR) program here 

goes to great lengths to facilitate 

opportunities for our Troopers 

to get out and experience a wide 

variety of outdoor fun on their 

off hours. 

On the water, the possibilities 

are nearly endless here. Boating, 

sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, 

fishing, and other water sports 

activities such as wakeboarding, 

skiing, and tubing; all are available 

for a very reasonable price. The 

MWR and Liberty Centers offer 

many guided tours on the bay, 

such as kayaking tours and day and 

night chartered fishing trips. Other 

opportunities, such as half-priced 

boating and even free boating days 

are offered each month. All that is 

needed is the motivation to get off 

the couch and get out there!

Waterborne adventures at 

Guantanamo Bay aren’t restricted 

to the surface though. Some 

of the best open water diving 

opportunities in the Caribbean 

are just a few lessons away! Sign 

up at the dive shop next to the 

laundromat and Navy Exchange 

and get in the water! 

For those of you who don’t 

want to dive, the coral reefs near 

the beaches here offer a great 

opportunity for snorkeling. Pick 

up snorkeling gear at the NEX 

and maybe a waterproof camera 

for some phenomenal views under 

the sea. 

On land (and not to be outdone), 

there are many opportunities to 

see the variety of wildlife here, 

either hiking or mountain biking 

the trails. The Marina has a map of 

the trails and some rules to abide, 

and you can rent a mountain bike 

daily, weekly, or monthly. If you 

have your own mountain bike and 

need a good mechanic, they have 

one there too. 

Make fitness a part of your 

recreational routine, and set 

reasonable, attainable goals. 

Early-morning unit PT as well as 

individual workouts will help you 

reach your desired level of fitness, 

as well as keep unit morale elevated 

and mission oriented.

Here at Guantanamo Bay you 

can also volunteer your time as 

well, and maybe work towards 

earning the Military Outstanding 

Volunteer Service Medal instead 

of staying in your room during 

your off hours. Sporting events, 

cook outs, trail and beach clean 

ups, water events for boat captains, 

runs, the DPW nursery; all need 

a steady supply of Troopers to 

volunteer to keep things running. 

So what are you waiting for? 

Get out there!

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. maj. Karium Edwards

JTF Guantanamo j3

Would you tell a stranger when you’re not home?

Have you ever left a light on at your house when you’re not home? When you’re on vacation 

do you have a friend pick up your mail, or take the paper off the lawn so it won’t look 

like there’s nobody home? If you did, then you used OPSEC. We do these things to keep 

ourselves and our things safe from people who mean us harm. So why would you post your 

travel plans online? Putting travel plans online is the same as putting a sign in front of your 

house that says “I’m not home.” Stay safe. Protect your travel plans. USE OPSEC!

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

GTMO: the land of activity opportunity!
| Money Matters The Wire | Page 7

When you enlist in the 

military, one of the first forms 

you fill out is the direct deposit 

form. This means your pay goes 

straight into a bank account, 

sometimes a day or two before 

the actual payday, instead of 

being sent to your house in the 

form of a check. You get your 

money fast, you can access it 

right away, and it saves a deposit 

slip and a trip to the bank. Why 

not do all your banking this 

way?

Of course, all Internet 

applications have their own 

security concerns, but things 

like identity theft and forgery 

can happen with or without an 

online account tracker. But unlike 

a paper statement, any unusual 

bank account withdrawals or 

suspicious charges to a debit or 

credit card can be checked right 

away and disputed immediately. 

Don’t wait for the next billing 

cycle to find out you’re tapped 

out. Monitor all accounts to 

ensure your money is where it’s 

supposed to be.

While deployed, you 

probably won’t have access to a 

regular bank branch. The ATM 

fees could start piling up and if 

Grandma sends you some bucks 

for your birthday, it might be 

awhile before you can deposit 

the check. It’s time to set up 

online account access, for both 

banks and credit cards.

Online bank account access 

allows you to monitor activity, 

especially if you use a debit card 

linked to a checking account. 

Some banks allow you to scan 

and email checks and deposit 

them right away. Many banks 

and credit cards offer bonuses or 

entries in giveaways for signing 

up for “paperless” or “green” 

accounts, and every statement 

will be accurate to within a few 

days. No more getting weeksold statements in the mail! 

Have your statements sent to 

a secure, regularly monitored 

email. Keep PDF copies of 

bank statements: interestbearing accounts often require 

a tax form, usually furnished 

by the bank in early January. It’s 

just like the downloadable W2 

on MyPay and you’ll need it for 

tax time. Write down your login 

information and safeguard it like 

you would a paper statement.

Credit card online accounts 

have a multitude of tools 

available to show you how you 

spend your money. Purchases are 

categorized, such as groceries, 

restaurants, merchandise, gas, 

and travel. See how you spend 

money through your card and 

decide quickly if you need to 

cut back, switch to cash, or 

target your card use to one 

category or another. If not for 

emergencies only, research your 

card’s bonus programs and 

only use the card on purchases 

which will earn extra points. If 

it’s gas and groceries month for 

5 percent extra cash back, use 

that card at every supermarket 

stop. But don’t go nuts – always 

pay off as much as you can every 

month. Have your account set 

up so that it sends you an email 

reminder before the bill is due. 

If you spend wisely, use the 

bonus points, and pay off the 

entire balance each and every 

time, you can increase your 

credit limit and make money 

off the credit card company!

Use a few minutes of your 

Internet time every week to keep 

an eye on your finances. Know 

how much money is coming in 

and out of your accounts and 

keep your spending in check. 

Using online features makes it 

fast, easy, and up-to-date. 

Let’s get fiscal

(fiscally responsible, that is)

By Army 1st Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Money Matters

$

$ $

$ $

$

$

$

The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

Which is holiday beverage do you prefer, eggnog or cider?

“I like eggnog better. You 

can mix it with everything.”

Spc. 

Stanley Victor 

trooper focus

“I would say cider. It’s 

sweet. I’m a sweet guy.”

Staff Sgt. 

Wellington Jose

“Eggnog, because 

it’s traditional for the 

holidays. Cider is more for 

the fall.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Angela Lanter

“Warm apple cider! I’m 

the only one in my family 

who enjoys it.”

 Petty Officer 3rd Class 

Rheyma Burley

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 10 years

Hobbies: Playing softball with the “Swordslingers” and cooking 

The boss says: “He’s willing to assist and accept respon- sibilities in areas that he’s not familiar with.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Be openminded and don’t complain. The number one goal is completing the mission.”

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Spc. Orlando Rivera 

understands that every Trooper 

contributes to the Military no 

matter what your job or specialty 

may be. As an admin clerk he 

feels he contributes by assisting 

other Troopers.

“I like my job,” said Rivera. 

“I get to help soldiers out.”

Rivera is the admin clerk for 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

J3. He handles all of the 

administration duties for the J3 

office as well as some additional 

duties. 

“I’m the mail guy and I love 

that job,” said Rivera. “Everyone 

is so happy when they get mail.”

Rivera, who hails from 

Florida, worked as a family 

programs assistant for the Army 

Reserve before being deployed 

to Guantanamo Bay. 

“That was the best job I 

ever had,” said Rivera. “Our job 

during the week was to make 

sure the family members were 

ok. We were the middlemen 

between the family and the end 

solution.”

Before the Reserve, Rivera 

served for three years in the 

active component as an admin 

clerk with an infantry unit. 

Rivera left the military for nearly 

two years before joining back up 

with the Reserve. 

“I missed it,” said Rivera. “I 

worked in a civilian job and I 

didn’t like it. No one was held 

accountable for their actions, 

unlike the military.”

Although Rivera loves helping 

Troopers, when he returns 

home he wants to concentrate 

on improving himself. 

“I’m trying to focus on my 

military career,” said Rivera. 

“I’ve put it on the back burner 

these past couple of years, so 

I want to go full force and get 

promoted and continue to go up 

in rank.”

When Rivera does find 

some down time, Rivera plays 

softball for the Guantanamo 

Bay “SwordSlingers” and cooks 

for the office. 

“I made shish kabobs and 

everybody liked them,” said 

Rivera. “I cook traditional Puerto 

Rican foods. It helps morale.” 

Rivera offers this advice to 

Troopers arriving on island. 

“Find something you like 

and stick to it,” said Rivera. 

“Otherwise you’re going to go 

crazy watching television or 

playing video games and that’s 

not productive at all.” 
Feature |

TOUCHDOWN!

The Wire | Page 8

Army Pvt. Chris McCray makes 

the first down of the game.

Opposite page: both the Navy

and Army celebrated victories 

at Saturday’s game. Navy 

men prevailed 15-9, while 

Army women took the trophy 

with a score of 13-6.

–photos by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army-Navy teams win big, GTMO-style

The Wire | Page 9

On the same day West Point 

and Annapolis squared off in 

Washington, men and women on 

Guatanamo Bay met at Cooper 

Field to have their own flag 

football festivities, mirroring our 

collegiate counterparts.

The Army women took the 

trophy for the second year in a 

row by the score of 13-6. Navy 

men defeated Army’s team by a 

score of 15-9.

Quarterbacked by Sgt. 

Maj. Callie Leaver of the Joint 

Detention Group, the Lady 

Knights became a pass heavy 

offense and marched down the 

field to set up the 525th Military 

Police Battalion’s Sgt. Sherry 

Watkins’ winning touchdown.

Leaver said the coach and his 

halftime adjustments made all 

the difference.

“We were able to get to our 

passing game,” she said. “The 

coach did some modification to 

our blocking so we could get the 

passes out.

Watkins relied on persistence 

and confidence in the team more 

than she did her personal ability 

on the winning scamper.

“Truthfully, I do not know 

anything about football but if 

you tell to do something I am 

going to do it,” the military 

policeman said. “I knew [Leaver] 

was going to get it to me.”

Even though the first half 

was run-heavy, Leaver knew her 

receivers would be ready when it 

was time.

“I had some great receivers 

with good hands and I knew if I 

could get through the defenders 

hands they would catch it,” she 

said.

When the final seconds ticked 

off the clock, cheerleading 

groups from the Guantanamo 

Bay community entertained the 

audience and then the men’s 

game kicked off.

Quarterback Thomary 

Winslow dinked and dunked 

the Army offense down the 

field until the drive ended on an 

interception. This fed right into 

the Navy’s defensive plan.

“Our plan was to let them 

get the deep throws and give 

them two or three yards and not 

beat us deep,” Navy quarterback 

Petty Officer 2nd Class Gerald 

Provost. “It was kind of nervewracking, but I knew our defense 

could hold it together.”

The Army did just as good of 

a job knocking the naval squad 

off of their game.

“Our offensive plan didn’t 

work out too well,” Provost 

said. “Both of our touchdowns 

I ran in. They did pretty well as 

far as holding me back passing, 

but they couldn’t stop the run. It 

ended up working.”

Navy staved off a late 

charge sparked by a well-timed 

interception late in the fourth 

quarter. Winslow, again, led the 

Army team to the redvzone. 

The final play was an example 

of excellent play-calling, when 

Winslow tossed a shovel pass 

up the gut of the Navy defense 

which sent the receiver sprinting 

into the endzone. Unfortunately 

for Army, Winslow’s flag was 

stripped a split second before he 

got the pass off.

Provost and Leaver both 

enjoyed the victories, but the 

real winners were the people of 

Guantanamo.

“It was good for the 

community to get out here,” 

Provost said. “We practice for 

that game for three weeks and 

I’m glad we could put on a 

show.”

Leaver concurred.

“This is what it’s all about,” she 

said, “coming together to honor 

our country and our community. 

It’s a great experience and I’m 

very proud to be a part of this.”

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

| Feature
The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

A DAY AT THE RACES

Resident iguanas fled the streets and took to their drainpipes 

Dec. 13 when NASCAR stars Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano 

visited Guantanamo Bay. The two drivers shifted into low gear while 

visiting the base during their USO tour. 

Brad Keselowski drives the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in 

the sprint Cup series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/ Ruby 

Tuesday Dodge Charger in the Nationwide series for Penske Racing. 

Keselowski has had an exciting season, scoring 14 top 10 finishes, 

and is ranked 5th in the final driver standings. 

Keselowski can relate to the changes that military members face 

as they deploy. 

“Change is a part of life and it’s certainly no different in racing,” 

said Keselowski. “Change can be bad and it can be an opportunity 

for good. I know I’m committed to making sure the changes we 

make are good and we’ll just have to see how they play out.” 

A change that Keselowski will be facing is his new role as Penske 

Racing’s top driver, as Penske Racing announced that they are 

parting ways with Kurt Busch.

Joey Logano drives the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry in the 

Sprint Cup Series and the #20 Gamestop/Sports Clips Toyota 

Camry in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. Logano’s 

season hasn’t been his best, scoring only 6 top 10 finishes, but it 

has provided him with an opportunity to learn from his mistakes. 

Logano is ranked 24th in the final driver standings. 

“The guys at the shop are rebuilding everything from the cars to 

the pit boxes and some people are rebuilding teams,” said Logano. 

“You’re trying to improve yourself and your whole team for next 

year. We’re going to have to work really hard right now to get back 

to where we were last year.”

The two drivers made two meet-and-greet visits: one at the Gold 

Hill Galley and the other at Kittery Beach Cafe. They also made a 

stop at O’Kelly’s Irish Pub. Along with their autographs, Logano 

and Keselowski handed out phone cards to Troopers. 

“They’re sitting right here in our galley and you can go right up to 

them and talk to them,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathy Richards, 

a hospital corpsman. “They’re very warm and welcoming. You 

would think people like this would walk around with an entourage, 

but they don’t and that’s cool. They’re celebrities.” 

The drivers later met with Radio GTMO for an interview on the 

103 GTMO Country for an on-air tour interview and a shout out 

to the community. 

“I don’t think you can do enough of these trips,” said Keselowski. 

“This one has been a blast so far and hopefully I’ll get invited 

back.” 

The local speed limits may be a little slow for their taste, but the 

NASCAR drivers hope to return to Guantanamo Bay for another 

USO tour. 

“I jumped at the opportunity at doing something like this,” said 

Logano. “I asked myself, ‘What am I getting myself into?’ But I 

would love to do it again.” 

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

NASCAR drivers Brad Keselowski (left) and 

Joey Logano (center) meet-and-greet with 

members of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, 

including Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathy 

Richards. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Keselowski and Logano drive the #2 Miller 

Lite and #20 Home Depot cars, respectively. 

–photos courtesy NASCAR.com
The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

Many hidden treasures are scattered 

about the Guantanamo Bay community and 

two were revealed Dec. 12 at the Cuban 

Community Center. These treasures are the 

amount of compassion and respect that 

Troopers can have for a community group 

which literally helped build Guantanamo 

Bay. 

The Naval Station Intelligence 

Department (NSID) partnered with its Joint 

Task Force counterpart to sing Christmas 

carols at the Cuban Community Center and 

Bargo Housing area. 

“We knew that the Cuban Community 

Center can be overlooked at times,” said 

Marine Staff Sgt. Edwin Latrell, NSID 

staff noncommissioned officer in charge. 

“This was a way to say hello, how are you, 

and Merry Christmas to the people who 

literally built the roads we use and helped 

the infrastructure develop to the point it is 

today.” 

The residents who attended the holiday 

event were grateful for the Troopers coming 

out and singing the holiday carols. 

“Any time we have anyone who has the 

courage to meet a totally different group of 

people, we are appreciative,” said Melanie 

Resto, the Cuban Community Activities 

Program Manager. 

Those feelings of appreciation could be 

felt by Troopers who sang for the Bargo 

residents.

“They really appreciated us taking the 

time out of our day to make them feel a little 

better for all they’ve given to us,” said Seaman 

Richard McPherson. “We just wanted to give 

a little back.”

The caroling at the Cuban Community 

Center allowed Troopers to experience 

something new and different. 

“Personally I think it’s awesome because I 

love to set new bars for myself,” said Latrell. 

“I’m doing this because I wanted to do 

something else and encourage the people in 

my shop to do good things and be active.” 

Every Trooper had a positive attitde about 

the holiday event.

“I realized when somebody comes up 

to me and says ‘thank you for serving our 

country’ its not me doing my job but what I 

give back to the community that makes me 

feel honored,” said McPherson, a yeoman. 

“It was a really good reflective period for me 

to understand my purpose for joining the 

military to serve and protect everyone else.”

For more information about the Cuban 

Community center, call 2093.

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Troopers reach out 

to Bargo, Cuban 

Community Center 

through song

The Naval Station Intelligence Department and its Joint Task Force Guantanamo counterparts sang Christmas carols at the Cuban Community Center Dec. 12. Frequented by 

residents of the Bargo Housing area, the Cuban Community Center supports many of Guantanamo Bay’s seniors. –photo courtesy Cuban Community Center staff

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

You may have seen them before and after 

sunset, scampering across the street after coming 

down Skyline Drive or Tarawa Road, glancing at 

any approaching vehicle with a scowl. Sometimes 

they hesitate at the side of the road, seemingly 

calculating whether or not the dart into traffic 

is worth the risk. Other times they saunter into 

the street like water buffalos, acting as if they are 

indestructible.

Unfortunately, I’m not talking about Cuban 

wildlife. I’m referring to some walkers and runners 

here at Guantanamo Bay. 

Before you get your running shorts in a bunch, 

I need to point out that I too am a runner and 

some of the following information applies to me 

too.

Paragraph 7, part “a” of the Naval Station 

Instructions NAVSTAGTMOINST 1710.10B, 

deals specifically with running and jogging (and 

walking). It reads:

“For safety reasons, all 

pedestrians are required to use 

sidewalks when available. However, 

when sidewalks are not installed, 

running and jogging are permitted 

in the area immediately adjacent to 

the roadway facing traffic. Walkers, 

runners, and joggers are required 

to wear either a reflective belt or 

harness at night. Navy PT uniform 

is reflective in nature and therefore 

suffices this requirement. Reflective 

arm and leg bands may be worn in 

conjunction with a belt or harness, 

but are prohibited from being worn 

as the sole reflective gear. Headsets 

may be worn on one ear only while 

on sidewalk or roadway.”

On my distance running days, I have been 

running on the road (against traffic, wearing a 

reflective belt) because I don’t like running on 

concrete. However, I did not know that I was 

“required to use sidewalks when available.” That’s 

an easy fix: I will be running on sidewalks when 

available.

For those of you who are already wearing your 

reflective gear and running in allowed areas, good 

job! For those who are not, there’s another easy 

fix: Put on your reflective gear before leaving your 

house in the morning, or if there is even a slim 

chance you won’t be back before sunset. And for 

your own safety, obey the posted signs and stay 

off Tarawa Road and Skyline Drive after sunset 

and before sunrise.

Motor vehicle drivers need to do the right thing 

as well. Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks 

and slow down to 5 miles per hour when passing 

runners, walkers, and Troopers in formation. It’s 

the law!

Reflecting on safety

By Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant

Illustrations by 

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant

No banana rats were harmed 

in the creation of this issue.

Dumb, Chuck! 

You should 

have worn a 

reflective belt!
The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

USS Benfold Public Affairs

O n Th e wing

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The 

Air Force Academy’s a cappella group “In 

the Stairwell” performed at the White House 

for a holiday reception Dec. 9.

The group was approached by the White 

House Social Office and asked to submit 

samples of their music to be compared to 

other performers. A few weeks later, they 

were notified that they had been selected for 

the performance.

“I remember getting the email from the 

other cadet in charge, Cadet (2nd Class Erik) 

Clark, saying, ‘You’re not going to believe 

this. We just got contacted by the White 

House,’” said Cadet 1st Class Julian Gluck, 

the cadet in charge of “In the Stairwell,” 

who also beat-boxes and sings bass. “I said, 

‘The White House? Like where the President 

lives?’ ... It just blows my mind.”

“I thought it was a joke,” said Cadet 1st 

Class Kevin McMullen, one of the main 

baritones in the group. “It was kind of just 

a prospect at first, but once we got the final 

word, we were pumped.”

Even with finals right around the corner, 

the cadets weren’t willing to pass up an opportunity like this.

“As cadets, we’re used to being under a lot 

of pressure with our academic and athletic 

requirements,” Gluck said. “A lot of us have 

been working ahead of time, and (we had) 

time to study on the plane.”

During the performance, the group went 

back and forth between traditional holiday 

songs and some of their current pop routines, Gluck added. The event also allows the 

group to showcase some of the many talents 

of cadets at the Academy.

“When you think of the Academy, you 

don’t think of the male a cappella group,” 

said Cadet 2nd Class Trey Lowman, a midrange singer for the group. “This gives us a 

unique opportunity to show people we’re not 

just about military training and athletics; we 

have so much more we bring to the table.”

“In the Stairwell” was created when 

members of the Air Force Academy’s Class 

of 2007 had to find a location for freshmen 

who enjoyed singing together. The name 

came from where the group met for rehearsals.

Academy a cappella group performs at White House

I n t h e fig h t

Marines look to new tuition assistance program 

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE 

BARSTOW, Calif. – The Marine Corps has 

reverted from the tuition assistance cuts recently announced more than two weeks ago, 

to the former 2011 TA policy for the upcoming year.

According to MARADMIN 639/11, the 

policy was restored to 2011 levels, which set 

a cap at $250 per credit hour and $4,500 per 

fiscal year. It also adds that students affected 

by the MARADMIN released Oct. 17, will 

be eligible for TA coverage for any costs that 

would have been covered prior, under the 

TA in 2011.

“The policy hasn’t changed but the Marines should look for help now,” said Francis Villeme, the education services officer 

aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow. “It’s important that they get started 

now so they can get all the help they need 

with financing.”

The message advises Marines to wisely 

use tuition assistance to maximize Marine 

Corps financial resources.

Stated in the MARADMIN, “Even with 

prudent utilization measures in place, it is 

likely that FY-12 tuition assistance funds will 

be exhausted well before the end of FY-12.”

According to the MARADMIN, the TA 

policy covers the price of tuition, labs and 

distance learning fees, although graduate students are only afforded $250 per semester 

hour instead of the original $350.

Active duty military spouses are still eligible to receive up to 100% TA for education. 

Pursuing off-duty education is beneficial to 

service members, whether they continue 

their service or decide to leave the military, 

said Staff Sgt. Arturo D. Padilla, a career retention specialist at Marine and Family Programs aboard MCLB Barstow.

Not only does it enhance your career but 

it creates a sense of accomplishment as an 

individual, Padilla added.

MCLB Barstow is an ideal place to pursue further education with its small Marine 

population and its unique work tempo.

“Being stationed here makes it easier to 

go to school because the work load is smaller 

due to the number of Marines on base,” said 

Lance Cpl. John. C Ordonez, an administration specialist at S-1 Manpower aboard 

MCLB Barstow. “I have more time to myself 

to go to school and complete my homework. 

There are many online schools you can enroll with and there are two colleges in town.” 

Barstow Community College and Victor Valley Community College both offer a variety 

of classes for Marines and their dependents.

For more information on how to utilize 

tuition assistance, contact Francis Villeme at 

the education office at (760)577-6118 or villemefr@usmc-mccs.org.

USS BENFOLD – Guided-missile destroyer 

USS Benfold (DDG 65) assisted four stranded mariners in the waters off San Clemente 

Island Nov. 28 while conducting routine 

training operations in the Pacific Ocean.

“The United States Navy always stands 

ready to provide assistance,” said Cmdr. David Oden, Benfold’s commanding officer. “It 

was our privilege to help these seamen.”

Benfold initially detected the small fishing 

craft using the ship’s state-of-the-art optical 

sight system. The ship deployed a rigid-hull 

inflatable boat with engineers and medical 

personnel aboard to assess the condition of 

the vessel and crew, as well as render assistance. A helicopter assigned to the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 

(HSC) 23 provided aerial support during the 

assistance operation. 

After determining that the small boat was 

no longer seaworthy, the U.S. Coast Guard 

Cutter Sea Otter quickly responded in order 

to take the mariners aboard and their vessel 

in tow.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my crew for 

going above and beyond,” said Oden. “Particular credit was given to Fire Controlman 

3rd Class Lisa Stamp for first sighting the 

craft. It’s exceptional Sailors like FC3 Stamp 

that make this the best ship in the Navy and 

the best Navy in the world.”

Benfold is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer homeported in San Diego. The ship 

has a crew of approximately 300 Sailors and 

serves as one of the Navy’s premier ballistic 

missile defense ships.

on t h e D E C K

Stranded mariners 

rescued off San 

Clemente Island

By Pfc. Victoria Fairchild

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

c oast to c oast

ARLINGTON, Va. – Lt. Gen. Patricia D. 

Horoho, the first nurse and first woman appointed, became the Army’s 43rd surgeon general Dec. 7.

She was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama May 10 and was later approved by the Senate. She succeeds Lt. Gen. 

Eric B. Schoomaker, who will retire in January. 

“Over the past decade, Army medicine has 

led the joint health effort in the most austere 

environments.” Horoho said. “As part of the 

most decisive and capable land force in the 

world, we stand ready to adapt.” 

A decade of this war, she said, has left a 

fighting force with both physical and psychological scars. 

“We are dedicated to identifying and caring for those Soldiers who have sustained 

psychological and physical trauma associated 

with an Army engaged in a protracted war,” 

she said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. 

Odierno, who passed the U.S. Army Medical 

Command flag to Horoho in a ceremony Dec. 

5 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, promoted her to 

lieutenant general and administered the oath to 

swear her in as the Army’s top medical officer.

“The Army cannot provide trained and 

ready forces to the nation without our talented 

medical professionals and leaders. In everything we do, we rely on medical command and 

the surgeon general to set the vision for this 

community and have the courage to carry it 

out,” Odierno said.

Horoho has commanded the Army Nurse 

Corps since 2008, when she received a rare twograde promotion from colonel to major general.

As Army surgeon general, she will direct the 

third-largest healthcare system in the United 

States, behind the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Hospital Corporation of America. 

“This position requires a special officer who 

can lead change and achieve unity of effort in a 

dynamic, joint interagency and also in a multinational role, working with our allies and partners around the world,” Odierno explained. 

“For these reasons, it’s important to pick the 

right person. And we are absolutely, incredibly 

lucky to have Lt. Gen. Patty Horoho as the 

43rd Army surgeon general.”

One of Army medicine’s greatest challenges 

over the next three to five years, Horoho said, 

is managing the escalating cost of providing 

world-class healthcare in a fiscally constrained 

environment. 

“I see these challenges as windows of opportunity for us to shape the future of Army 

medicine and I am confident, regardless of the 

environment or the landscape, we will meet all 

challenges in true Army medicine fashion – 

with innovation, dignity and strength. Together, 

we will usher in the new era of possibilities.

While deployed to Afghanistan, Horoho 

remembered asking a young medic how he 

would describe Army medicine.

“He replied, ‘We carry healthcare on our 

backs.’ As we sit here today there are young 

men and women willing to put their lives on the 

line to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Thank God we have young medics who 

are carrying innovative quality and precision 

healthcare on their backs, regardless of risk to 

personal safety. This is our privilege. This is our 

honor, and this is why Army medicine will face 

all challenges with strength, resolve and dedicated focus,” she said. 

Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock served as acting 

Army surgeon general from March through 

December 2007, temporarily filling the post after Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley was relieved as a result 

of aging facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical 

Center. But Horoho is the first nurse and first 

woman to be nominated for the position and 

confirmed by Congress. 

“With Soldiers deployed, taking care of 

families, taking care of wounded warriors – she 

is exactly the kind of leader we want to be our 

surgeon general,” Odierno said. 

First female Army surgeon 

general appointed

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews combined efforts with a St. John 

Rescue marine unit to save a missing diver 

Sunday in waters approximately 1.5 nautical 

miles southeast of Dog Island, St. Thomas, 

U.S. Virgin Islands.

The rescued diver is a 60-year-old man, 

U.S. citizen and U.S. Virgin Islands resident, 

who had gone on solo dive during a diving 

trip with two friends aboard the recreational 

vessel Swordmaster III.

“This rescue was possible thanks to successful coordination between the Coast 

Guard and multiple local agencies such as St. 

John Rescue and St. John Park Services,” said 

Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Harper, Sector 

San Juan Operation Unit Controller. “They 

remained vigilant throughout the search and 

offered their services and responded rapidly 

upon the Coast Guard helicopter spotting 

the diver.”

The Coast Guard helicopter crew located 

the diver alive at approximately 1:30 p.m. 

Sunday floating with the assistance of his 

diving buoyancy compensator and a yellow 

inflatable signaling device. 

Diving safety tips:

– Never dive by yourself. 

– Ensure you have a dive plan and a diving buddy. 

– File a float plan with a family member 

or friend. If you decide to deviate from your 

original intended plan, notify your emergency contact immediately. 

– Check your dive equipment carefully 

and ensure that equipment functions correctly. 

– Mark the area in which you are diving 

with a dive flag and a light.

– Know the signs and symptoms of heat 

exhaustion, hypothermia and dehydration, as 

well as procedures for emergency treatment. 

– Check local weather conditions before 

diving. 

– Boat operators should be alert and 

aware of dive flags. 

– If you have not been SCUBA diving in 

the past year, ensure you are physically capable of handling ocean conditions before 

diving. 

– Divers should have proper diving signaling equipment in case of distress.

on t h e groun d

Coast Guard 

rescue team: how 

to dive safely

By 7th Coast Guard District Public Affairs

Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, the Army’s 43rd surgeon 

general. Horoho is the first nurse and the first woman 

to be appointed to this post. –photo courtesy army.mil

By Rob McIlvaine

Army News Service
The Wire | Page 16 Around the World |

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany – One of 

Europe’s four U.S. Army brigades is going by a 

new name, reaching back to the unit’s history.

The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, out 

of Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, has 

quietly become the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. 

The new commander, Col. Keith Barclay, 

chose to drop the name of the unit’s platform 

vehicle, according to press officer Maj. Robert 

Hoover.

The decision moves the regiment closer to 

a name it first held in 1861, Second Cavalry, 

25 years after the unit’s founding as the 2nd 

Regiment of Dragoons during the Second 

Seminole War, according to a timeline on 

the regiment website. The name has changed 

over time—after World War II the regiment 

was redesignated the 2nd Armored Cavalry 

Regiment, and in 2006 it became the 2nd 

Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

Only the name is changing, Hoover said. 

The regiment, in reset after returning from 

Afghanistan in the spring, recently received its 

Strykers for training.

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – School lunch 

prices will increase more than 15 percent at 

overseas military bases next year due to a new 

federal law designed to improve nutrition 

and fight childhood obesity, the Defense 

Department announced Friday.

School meal prices will jump by 35 cents 

to $2.40 for elementary students and $2.55 

for secondary students, the Department of 

Defense Education Activity Pacific said. The 

cost of reduced-price lunches will remain at 

40 cents.

By 2014, lunch prices are slated to rise by 

another 40 cents under the law.

The additional money gives school 

nutrition programs “critical resources to bring 

more fresh produce, whole grains and low-fat 

dairy products into cafeterias,” according to 

the School Nutrition Association.

Meanwhile, the prices of military school 

lunches have not kept pace with the increased 

cost of providing the food to students over 

the past seven years and needed to be raised, 

according to Navy Installations Command 

Headquarters’ Fleet and Family Readiness.

2nd Cav drops 

Stryker from name

WASHINGTON – A U.S. federal judge has 

scheduled a hearing to assess the mental 

capacity of a man charged with firing shots 

at the White House in an apparent attempt 

to assassinate President Barack Obama.

The judge Wednesday ordered today’s 

hearing in the case of Oscar Ramiro OrtegaHernandez to further determine the state 

of his mental health and ensure he can be 

held legally liable for his alleged actions.

Officials say that on Nov. 11, OrtegaRamirez fired shots at the White House. 

The U.S. Secret Service, which protects the 

president and other top officials, says two 

bullets hit the executive mansion, including 

one that authorities say broke a window but 

was stopped by a layer of bulletproof glass.

President Obama and his wife, Michelle, 

were not home during the shooting incident. 

They were in California before heading to 

Hawaii, where Mr. Obama hosted an AsiaPacific economic summit.

If convicted, Ortega-Hernandez could 

get life in prison.

Ortega-Hernandez was detained in a 

hotel in Pennsylvania a few days after the 

shooting incident occurred after someone 

recognized his picture. Authorities began 

pursuing him after linking him to an 

abandoned car found with a weapon in it.

Mental health hearing set for 

accused White House shooter

Voice of America News Service

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congress is 

expected later this week to pass a measure 

that would freeze up to $700 million in aid 

to Pakistan because of fears that Islamabad 

is not doing enough to combat the spread of 

homemade bombs.

U.S. lawmakers are concerned that militants in Afghanistan are using fertilizer produced in Pakistan to develop improvised explosive devices – one of the militants’ most 

effective weapons against U.S.-led forces 

there.

State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said Tuesday that the proposed 

suspension would not automatically cut the 

funding, but will make it dependent on making progress with Pakistan on the issue of 

homemade bombs.

“We have not cut 700 million [U.S. dollars] in aid to Pakistan,” Nuland said. “What 

we have is something on the defense authorization bill, which is currently moving in the 

Congress, which would require the Department of Defense to continue providing a 

strategy on how we will use certain military 

systems and measure its progress, in particular, on progress that we are making on the 

IED issue.”

The aid suspension is part of a larger defense spending bill that U.S. lawmakers are 

expected to pass later this week.

Several Pakistani officials criticized the 

move on Tuesday, saying it would only lead 

to worse relations with Washington.

U.S.-Pakistani ties have suffered since a 

secret U.S. strike killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in early May. 

Relations reached a new low following a 

NATO airstrike in November that killed 24 

Pakistani troops along the border with Afghanistan.

In response to the airstrike, Islamabad ordered the United States to vacate a Pakistan 

airbase and has indefinitely closed the two 

main overland routes NATO uses to send 

supplies to Afghanistan. 

But the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, said Tuesday that 

he achieved progress during talks with Pakistan on rebuilding cross-border security cooperation after the incident. 

“I do have a sense of progress, and, in 

fact, I have had a conversation with [Pakistani] General [Ashfaq Pervez] Kayani. The 

intent of the conversation, the outcome of 

the conversation, was that we stated our mutual commitment to address any shortfalls 

that might have caused this event, but also to 

ensure that we work closely together, because 

the border is always going to be there.”

Allen said he spoke on the phone Monday with Pakistan’s army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

Many in the U.S. have become increasingly 

frustrated with what they see as Islamabad’s 

lack of cooperation in fighting Pakistanibased militant groups who attack U.S. forces 

in Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, the U.S. suspended $800 

million of the $2.7 billion in annual military 

aid it gives to Pakistan.

U.S. may freeze $700 

million in aid to Pakistan

Voice of America News Service

Stars and Stripes

Overseas school 

lunch prices to 

increase Jan. 1

Stars and Stripes

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Mind, 

Body 

& Spirit

by Army Sgt. 

Landis Andrews

So there I was, walking from Cooper Field back to my room when I 

heard the sounds of a tiny whip crack. I didn’t see anyone behind me, so 

I looked down. Intently scowling at me was a banana rat holding a whip 

in one paw and reins in the other, mounted on an iguana with a bit in 

its mouth. The hutia struck the reptile with the whip and they took off 

after me.

I bolted in the opposite direction when I decided to take cover near a 

buddy’s room. In an attempt to escape, I cut through a ditch and on my 

way up the other side of the valley, my foot found a hole camouflaged in 

grass. I turned around to see if my life was still in danger as the banana rat 

was snickering and high fiving his scaly steed.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

No matter how an injury occurs, you still have a commitment to your 

command and yourself to stay in shape. Don’t let a physical ailment keep 

you from being combat effective.

Jen Norton, the fitness director for Morale Welfare and Recreation, 

says it’s important to work within your physical limitations.

“Don’t start running just because you think it feels better,” she said. 

“Build yourself back up to your previous form. Don’t just go straight 

for it.”

During the rebuilding process, there are lots of alternative exercises that 

can build strength and agility. Because of her own shoulder surgery, the 

fitness director offered first-hand advice.

“Resistance bands are a great way to safely work yourself back into 

shape,” she said. “I use bands religiously. I use them at the gym and I even 

use them at home.”

These bands offer varied levels of resistance to force your muscles 

to repeatedly contract without making you bear an exceeding amount of 

weight. Overbearing an injury can prolong your rehabilitation.

“If you have a shoulder or elbow injury, make sure you progress back 

to weightlifting at a slow and controlled pace,” she advised. “Lower the 

weight you push and raise the amount of repetitions you do. You can 

even try the cable machines for lighter weights and maintaining range 

of motion.”

If your injury is an ankle or leg injury, find alternative options for your 

cardio workout.

“You can do some water jogging or swim laps at the pool,” Norton 

said. “You can jump on a bike or an elliptical machine at the gym if it’s less 

stress on the injury.”

When it’s time to put your feet back on the street, don’t run the same 

distances that you are accustomed to. Norton advises the use of a walk-run 

program, and to remember that getting back to your old self isn’t always 

the number one goal.

“It’s easy to get an injury back to the level it was at, but if it’s acute injury 

or pulled muscle, the challenge is to keep the body part moving,” she said. 

“Don’t immobilize the injury or compensate for the pain.”

Now, more than ever before, you need to maintain physical combat 

readiness. Marines have altered their physical training to be combat effective. 

The Navy has a proposed change that will test Sailors’ physical ability within 

their skill set. New Soldiers are put through physical readiness training that 

lessens the rate of injury so they can make it to the battlefield.

Gyms at Guantanamo Bay can help warriors stay fit and healthy. Each 

gym has fitness trainers you can consult to build a regimen catered to 

your physical needs or personal goals. Norton asks that you seek medical 

guidance first.

“We are not medical professionals,” she said. “We can aid in whatever 

your physician says is best for you.”

For more information on fitness trainers, call Denich Gym at 77262 or 

Marine Hill Gym at 2284. And whatever you do, don’t let mounted banana 

rat attacks happen to you!

Recover from injury and stay in the fight

Only at GTMO by Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson
Movie Review

R

102 min.

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

The Wire | Page 18 Movie Review |

Oh my, my, myyy! Just two weeks ago I was poking fun at a certain 

‘tween-vamp-romp when I made a reference to a certain ‘80s monster 

movie. Who knew “Twilight” would ever foreshadow “The Thing”? 

The 2011 incarnation of “The Thing” serves as the prequel to the 

1982 John Carpenter horror film of the same name. Mind you, to call the 

1982 film “the original” would be incorrect. Carpenter’s movie is actually 

a remake of the 1951 film “The Thing from Another World” and was a 

silver screen McCarthyism metaphor. In comparison, the 1982 Carpenter 

version was an-all out horrific monster movie special effects extravaganza. 

In fact, when I first caught Carpenter’s flick as a lad in the ‘80s, it definitely 

disturbed me. Though the 1982 film bombed at the box office, it gained 

cult status via cable television, home video and word of mouth. Now we 

have the 2011 prequel to Carpenter’s movie. In fact, if you stick around for 

the end credits you will see “cookies” on how this movie directly ties into 

the introduction of the 1982 film. 

This new film centers on what actually happened to the joint 

Norwegian/American research group whose camp has discovered at the 

beginning of Carpenter’s film. Norwegian scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson 

(Ulrich Thomsen, “Fringe”) finds an alien spacecraft under a 100,000-

year-old layer of ice. He enlists the aid of Dr. Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth 

Winstead, “Live Free or Die Hard”) for the examination and research on 

the frozen life form found not far from the craft. Shortly thereafter, The 

Thing is revived from its icy cocoon and wreaks havoc on the camp. It is 

a malevolent grotesque oozing monstrosity that mimics the people and 

creatures it kills and absorbs. The Thing could be anybody or anything. 

It could be your best friend or your dog. Having said this, it is hard to say 

what the true appearance of The Thing might actually be. When it’s not 

in a guise, it is shown only as a writhing bloody mass of organs, tentacles, 

teeth, beaks, crab legs, claws and exhibits other nasty, gooey monster 

qualities.

As the researchers fall prey to The Thing, mistrust and apprehension 

divides the group. They don’t know who could be a Thing and who is 

human. Everyone is out for themselves. They are far from civilization at 

their remote Antarctic location without help or backup. All they have for 

self preservation is anything that can be used as a weapon, namely flamethrowers and guns. Where can they go? How can they escape? Will they 

make it through the night?

Though this new movie is faithful in tying into Carpenter’s film, it just 

doesn’t grab me the way that one did. Notably, it didn’t seem inspired to 

me. I guess it has what some fans would want: more of the same. My 

problem with that is horror film audiences have seen it all before. These 

types of situations and monsters have been done better in other movies, 

not just the ’82 film. I think therein lies the problem. When we first saw 

Carpenter’s film, it was innovative, disturbing and original (though it was 

a remake). It was cutting edge at the time. Not this time. It’s almost 30 

years after the last movie came out. There have been all kinds of sci-fi 

horror thrillers since then with varying degrees of quality and success. 

That’s when I realized The Thing is really a one trick pony. You don’t get 

anything else from it because it can’t do anything else. Even Winstead’s 

heroine of this movie is borrowed from another, better monster film 

franchise: the “Alien” series. Both Dr. Lloyd and Ellen Ripley (Sigourney 

Weaver) are observant, logical, vocal and proactive. It is obvious this film 

wanted a new hero to contrast the one in ‘82’s movie, MacCready (Kurt 

Russell), but now there is no reinventing the wheel. So when all else fails, 

borrow from “Alien.” That’s too bad.

I have to note the special effects. It’s now weird to see The Thing as 

a computer animated character. When it splatters somebody, I know the 

blood is CGI. There’s nothing realistic or threatening about it. I know 

the techniques used on movies now differ from those used on the ’82 

film. I only mention it here because I honestly felt like it was more of 

a distraction than an aid. There was something tangible and real about 

Carpenter’s Thing due to the limitations in the medium Carpenter had 

to work with in the early ‘80s. The mannequin work and puppetry were 

performed so masterfully in that picture there was a sense of realism. Too 

bad that tangibility cannot be duplicated with CGI. 

I’m sure that there are some people who will argue this film shouldn’t 

be judged as a companion piece to Carpenter’s film, but judged on its own 

merit. Fine. On those terms it would be just another forgettable monster 

movie. In this case, “The Thing” 2011 gets points for being a companion 

piece. As mentioned, it is faithful to ’82 film’s continuity.

Watch “The Thing” 2011 if you must, though it pales in comparison 

to the ’82 offering. If anything, watch it for Carpenter nostalgia. As of this 

writing, his rendition is on IMDb’s Top 250 at 162 with a user rating of 

8.1/10. That’s the one to watch, if you’re into that kind of “thing”!

GTMO Quick Reference 

Bayview Club - 75605

 Wed.-Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sun. & Holidays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bowling Center - 2118

Mon.-Fri. 6-11 p.m.

 Fri. 6 p.m.-12 a.m

Sat. 1 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sun. & Holidays 1-11 p.m.

Caribbean Coffee - 77859

Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Sun. 1-10 p.m.

Jerk House - 2532

Sun.-Thu. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. 

KFC and A&W Express - 75653

Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 

MWR Liberty Centers - 2010 

Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

Sun. 9 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sat. & Holidays 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

Library - 4700

Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Sun. & Holidays 12-9 p.m.

Pizza Hut - 77995

Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sat. & Sun. 12-9 p.m.

Windjammer Cafe

Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sat. 5-10 p.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Windjammer Club - 77252

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Windjammer Sports Bar

Mon.-Thu. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Safe Ride - 84781

December 17 3-5 p.m.

Caroling

Sing at the U.S. Naval 

Hospital, Gold Hill and 

Seaside Galleys, and 

Guantanamo Bay 

housing areas.

Operation Christmas 

Stocking: Dec. 22-25

Volunteers needed! Call 2323 for information.

December 24 Main Chapel services

5-6:30 p.m. Roman Catholic 

Christmas service

7-8 p.m.

Protestant Christmas service

12 a.m. Roman Catholic 

Christmas Mass

December 31 7 p.m. New Year’s First Night service

January 7 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Decoration clean-up

Call 2323 for more 

information on all 

holiday events.

GTMO Holiday Services

| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 17

Call the movie hotline at 4880 or see the MWR GTMO Facebook page for more information.

16 18 19 20 21 22

Three Musketeers 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

50/50 (last 

showing)

(R) 9 p.m.

Johnny English 

Reborn (NEW)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Dream House 

(last showing)

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

The Big Year 

(NEW)

(PG) 8 p.m.

New Year’s Eve 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Three Musketeers 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Paranormal 

Activity 3 (NEW)

(R) 10 p.m.

The Big Year 

(NEW)

(PG) 7 p.m.

50/50 (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

No movie

No movie

Paranormal 

Activity 3 

(NEW)

(R) 7 p.m.

Dream House 

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Arthur Christmas

(PG) 7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Footloose

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Real Steel

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley
TheJTF

Soldiers of the 193rd Police Company charged down to 

Cable Beach Dec. 13 at sunrise during the 525th Military 

Police Battalion run. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 

2nd Class Kilho Park

Background: “The Santis” (front, in red pinneys) defeated “No Mercy” to win Dec. 13’s final round dodgeball tournament 

at the G.J. Denich Gym hockey rink. –photo by Army Sgt Saul Rosa

Hey Moe! Hey Larry! The 193rd Military Police Company’s 

Dec. 9 picnic included a unique way to raise money for unit 

activities: buy a cream pie! –photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson