Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year!

JTF’s 2011 photo gallery

Volume 13, Issue 8

Full of holiday spirit 

with Operation 

Stocking Stuffer 

Phone for you: 

President Obama 

calls MSST
 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.

Happy New Year! As 2011 comes to 

a close and we prepare to welcome 2012, 

many of us will take time to do personal 

“After Action Reviews” in preparation 

for making New Year’s resolutions. If 

you are like me, the tendency will be to 

look at all the things we want to change 

and base our resolutions on those things. 

But I have a new resolve.

 “Why are you only looking at the 

things that need to change?” a friend 

recently asked me. “Why not include 

those things that you want 

to sustain as well?” 

The idea to include 

“sustains” with my New 

Year’s resolutions is a 

new one for me, but I like 

it. I’ve already identified 

things I need to improve: 

one of them is taking 

advantage of the transition 

services available to 

servicemembers. Those of 

us retiring or getting out of 

the military soon must realize it time for 

a change. Therefore, I will start planning 

for my retirement now. 

As for the challenge to identify 

“sustains,” I can happily look back at 

decisions I’ve made in the last year that 

I will continue to perform. I increased 

the amount of time and distance that 

I’m running and have improved my 

overall cardio health. I had also made 

the decision to start doing core exercises 

(something I hadn’t done before), and 

that decision also has improved my 

overall fitness level.

So not only will I plan ahead for 

transitioning out of the Navy, I will 

continue to maintain my running and 

core workout schedules which have 

served me well.

Are there things we can improve here 

at Joint Task Force Guantanamo as a 

whole? Sure. But all of you here at JTF 

Guantanamo have done an outstanding 

job this year and I, along with the rest 

of the Command Staff, believe you will 

continue to put your best foot forward as 

we embrace 2012. 

Today, rather than focus on what 

needs to change, let me encourage you to 

sustain all the good things you have been 

doing. Many of you have been involved 

in many, many volunteer programs over 

the last year including cleaning the trails, 

participating in holiday events, helping 

stuff stockings and then taking the time 

to hand them out.

I’ve seen Troopers walking rather 

than riding to the Seaside 

Galley to add a little 

extra fitness to their busy 

schedules. I even saw one 

of them picking up trash 

as he went. Troopers 

took it upon themselves 

to weed the front of the 

IOF because they saw the 

need.

You have maintained 

diligence in your military 

occupational specialties 

in spite of the distractions that all the 

recent holidays could have caused. You 

conducted yourselves in a professional 

manner and maintained your military 

bearing throughout the commissions in 

October. You presented your best selves 

as the International Committee of the 

Red Cross wrapped up their last visit of 

the year earlier this month and inspired 

their comment that this was “the best 

assessment experience we have had yet.” 

Make your changes to diet and 

exercise if you need to, and cut back 

on alcohol consumption or tobacco 

use if that is your resolve. But I want to 

encourage you to embrace your success 

from the past year too, not just focus on 

what needs improvement. 

Find those things which have made 

you successful this year and remember this 

quote from the well-known entertainer 

and entrepreneur, Oprah Winfrey:

 “The more you praise and celebrate 

your life, the more there is in life to 

celebrate.”

All of you 

here at Joint 

Task Force 

Guantanamo 

have done an 

outstanding job 

this year.

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Command Master Chief, Joint Task Force Guantanamo

Cover: Volunteers for Operation Stocking Stuffer, including Army Sgt. Veronica Arquette of the 193rd 

Military Police Company, put together stockings for fellow MPs coming off shift on Christmas Day. 

–photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Cc

ommand

orner

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Become an official or a scorekeeper for 

2012 sports leagues and tournaments! Scorekeepers must be at least 16 years old and officials must be over 18.

For more information, contact Alana 

Morrison at 2113 or email alana.morrison@

usnbgtmo.navy.mil 

Stop by the Fleet and Family Support Center, building 2135, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 

a.m. on Jan. 3 for lessons on interview skills. 

Attendees will be instructed on proper ways 

to dress for an interview, what questions are 

normally asked as well as inappropriate interview questions and how to respond to them.

For more information or to register, call 

4141 or 4153.

Is your passport about to expire? If so, 

go to Bulkeley Hall, Suite 220 Tuesdays and 

Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more 

information or to make an appointment, contact Chief Robert Pagtakhan at 4812 or Robert.Pagtakhan@usnbgtmo.

Get your softball team together and register for the Guantanamo Bay men’s and women’s leagues. Registration ends Jan. 3 by 7 p.m. 

Players must be 16 years of age or older. 

For more information, call 2113.

Effective Jan. 22, the United States Postal 

Service will update shipping prices:

First class stamp $0.45

Priority flat rate regular envelope $5.15

Priority flat rate small box $5.35

Priority flat rate medium box $11.35

Large APO/FPO/DPO box $13.45

Priority flat rate large box $15.45

Come to O’Kelly’s Irish Pub tonight at 9 

p.m. for a concert by acoustic musician Erick 

Baker. Baker blends rock, pop, soul, blues, 

country and folk to make his self-dubbed 

genre of “American music.” 

For more information, call 4882.

Head to Downtown Lyceum Sunday at 7 

p.m. to see Edwin McCain in concert. McCain, singer of “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask 

for More” will perform for the Guantanamo 

Bay community on New Year’s Day. 

For more information, call 4882.

Play Whacky Putt Putt Golf Dec. 31 at 

6 p.m. The mini-golf course is located next 

to Denich Gym. Come out for a funny good 

time! Sodas, water, and snacks will be provided.

For more information, call 2113.

Interview training

MWR will host a dual kickball and volleyball tournament. Pick a tournament, call 

2113 and register your team by Jan. 3 at 7 

p.m. These tournaments are open to anyone 16 years of age and older. There is a 

coaches’ meeting at Denich Gym, Jan. 10 

at 6:30 p.m. for both tournaments.

For more information, or to register, 

call 4141 or 4153. 

Effective Jan. 7, the Camp Bulkeley gym 

will be open until 9 p.m. on weekends.

A country twist on ye olde beanbag toss: 

Tierra Kay Liberty Center will hold its annual Corn Hole tournament Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. 

For more information, or to register, call 

2010.

The following locations will be closed in 

accordance with the federal holiday:

Bayview Restaurant 

Rick’s Lounge 

Jerk House

Goat Locker

Ceramics and Wood Hobby shops

Youth/Teen Centers 

Child Development Center

Clipper Club (Leeward)

Auto Skills Center

Paintball Field

Erick Baker concert

Kickball and indoor 

volleyball tournaments

INDEX

The Wire

December 30, 2011

King (LeBron) James 5

RCO of the Year 7

President calls MSST 8

2011 photo gallery 9

Operation Stocking Stuffer 12

Only at GTMO 13

Movie review: In Time 18 

Updated chapel schedule 19

Update official pass- ports

Winter softball begins Jan. 17

New Camp Bulkeley 

Gym hours

Closings on Jan. 2 

New USPS mailing/

shipping prices 

Officials and 

scorekeepers wanted

Corn Hole tournament

Edwin McCain concert

‘Real’ golfers need 

not apply
 The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Being in today’s military requires that you 

be not only a manager, but a leader. Managers 

plan, coordinate and organize resources to 

achieve a desired end state, while leaders 

inspire and motivate others to do it on their 

own. We have all known successful managers, 

who were horrible leaders. Being successful 

at both requires an endless supply of tools 

in your tool bag with special emphasis on 

preparation, hard work, and learning from 

mistakes. As Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf 

said, “The truth of the matter is that you 

always know the right thing to do. The hard 

part is doing it.” 

As an E-6, I was frustrated with the 

quality of recruits that we were receiving 

at operational units and asked a company 

commander why we were getting less than 

stellar products out of boot camp. It turned 

out that these recruits knew the right thing 

to do, but were learning bad habits upon 

arrival at their first duty station. As leaders, it 

is our responsibility to ensure the bad habits 

are stopped and corrected on the spot so 

that they do not perpetuate. This is why it 

is critical that everyone leads by example, 

particularly senior personnel, as every action 

is closely watched by junior personnel. Taking 

shortcuts and not following procedures will 

only be amplified as it trickles down the ranks. 

That is when mishaps occur. Conversely, if 

we continuously hold ourselves to the highest 

standards and correct those around us if they 

happen to make a mistake, junior personnel 

will do the same. At the Coast Guard 

Maritime Safety and Security Team, we live 

by the simple motto “Quiet Professionalism,” 

which means that we always ensure that we 

conduct ourselves to the highest standard as 

we are defined primarily by our actions. 

You may be thinking, “I’m only an 

E-4, what can I do?” Just remember that 

leadership skills are independent of rank. 

There will always be opportunities to take 

the initiative and motivate all those around 

you. For a senior leader, this should already 

be a natural instinct, as you are responsible 

not only for the troopers subordinate to you, 

but in many cases, those who are senior to 

you. You are obligated to ensure the right 

thing is done all the time every time. There 

is never an excuse for anyone to walk by a 

problem.

Junior enlisted Troopers and officers 

depend on senior enlisted leaders for guidance 

and confirmation of action. They rely on the 

fact that senior leaders can provide assistance 

at a moment’s notice and also help groom 

them into being better leaders themselves. 

Getting to know your people, being involved 

and productive with mentoring will help 

develop junior personnel and align them for 

success as the future of the armed services 

and representatives of the United States. 

As Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said 

about leadership, “Motivation is the art of 

getting people to do what you want them to 

do because they want to do it.”

Trooper to Trooper

Senior Chief Justin Hanson

JTF Guantanamo MARSECDET

OPSEC is everyone’s responsibility!

Do your friends and family know about OPSEC? It is easy to assume that what we do here at 

Guantanamo Bay just affects us. What some of us may not know is that it also affects our loved 

ones back home, who may potentially become targets. Teaching them simple techniques like 

updating security settings on social sites and varying their day-to-day routines are just a few 

examples of how they can protect themselves as well as you. Practicing good OPSEC is not just 

the responsibility of service members, but your family and friends as well. USE OPSEC!

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

setting an example through leadership

| Student of the Game The Wire | Page 5

I wrote a letter to the North Pole a couple 

of months ago that went like this:

Dear Santa, 

All I want for Christmas is for AFN to 

stop playing second-rate college football 

games every night.

That’s it.

Sincerely,

Landis

Kris Kringle (or Arthur Christmas) 

delivered, because Christmas Day was filled 

with exciting National Basketball Association 

competition. If the initial slate of games is 

a preview of this lockout-shortened season, 

we are all in for a gift.

But the biggest present might be reserved 

for Akron’s own LeBron James and the 

Miami Heat. James led all scorers with 37 

points in a 105-94 Christmas Day rout over 

the defending champs, the Dallas Mavericks, 

in a game that wasn’t as close as the box 

score appears. 

This could be the year that LeBron takes 

his talent to the fourth quarter and wins not 

one, not two, not three but four games in 

the NBA finals to get his first championship 

ring.

This offseason, Erik Spoelstra, head 

coach of the Heat, spent time with Chip 

Kelly, the head coach of the Oregon Ducks 

college football team. Known for their wide 

offensive set and speedy players, the Ducks 

ran their way to the Rose Bowl with that 

approach. Spoelstra said he was motivated 

by the Ducks and integrated the “space and 

pace” offense into the Heat’s plan.

This new offense, which looks like 

the “seven seconds or less” offense Mike 

D’Antoni ran in Phoenix and now teaches in 

New York, but with much more firepower, 

might be the difference between the Heat’s 

championship let down and the first in a 

string of promised rings.

When the lockout ended, the NBA 

announced it would be playing a shortened 

season. With 66 games in 124 days, teams 

will play back-to-back-to-back games with 

few days for practice and rest. If the Heat 

can continually run this fast-paced style of 

play, their opponents will not be physically 

or mentally able to keep up.

The rigors of this condensed season 

means battered bodies won’t have normal 

recovery time. Benches will have more 

impact on a team’s success than ever before 

and Miami has players coming off the bench 

that could start on many other teams in the 

league.

Last year, the Heat’s regular season 

nemesis was the Chicago Bulls. Shooting 

guard Rip Hamilton joined forces with last 

year’s most valuable player Derrick Rose to 

try to stay a thorn in the side of Miami’s trio. 

But, is Chicago’s defense going to be able 

to stop this offense that is already averaging 

more than 100 points?

There is no doubt the road to the ‘ship 

will have to go through Los Angeles, but 

will it be the slow-start Lakers or newly 

signed Chris Paul and the Lob City Clippers? 

The Portland Trailblazers, Oklahoma City 

Thunder and Denver Nuggets shouldn’t 

be slept on, either. All these teams could 

possibly give the Heat fits.

Do the Heat have what it takes to go the 

distance this time? You make the decision.

Do the Miami Heat and LeBron James have what it takes to go the distance this time?

 –photo courtesy Miami Heat

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews 

Can King 

James 

finally take 

his throne?

S t u d e n t o f 

the Game
 The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

What did you get for Christmas?

“I received a stocking from 

the chapel when I got off 

watch.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Amy Ball

trooper focus

“I got a nice pair of Vans.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Miguel Romero

“My son was born!”

Pfc. 

John Hale

“I got a diamond tennis 

bracelet.”

 Spc.

Sheanean Golson

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 12 years

Hobbies: Surfing, golf, free diving, motocross and other 

outdoor activities

The boss says: “He is a hard worker who is very versa- tile. He wears more than one hat for us.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Learn your job, and learn it well, but most importantly, learn to love it!”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

John Ellson loves his job and 

loves his home. The California 

native enjoys seeing the world, 

but revels in his roots. 

“I have been stationed in 

different locations around the 

world, such as the Arabian 

Gulf and Alaska, but I have 

also had the pleasure of being 

stationed at home in California,” Ellson said. 

Ellson believes it is imperative to converse with family 

and friends often and advises 

Troopers to keep in touch with 

their loved ones on a frequent 

or regular basis.

“It is important to keep up 

with your family and friends 

back home,” Ellson explained. 

“You have to understand that 

most times people you leave behind are just as unaware about 

your welfare and conditions 

here as you are about what is 

going on back home. But it’s a 

joy to hear a familiar voice every now and then.”

According to Maritime Safety and Security Team supervisor Petty Officer 1st Class Mike 

Pearsall, Ellson has proven 

himself valuable to his department by being multifaceted. A 

machinery technician, Ellson 

works primarily in the MSST’s 

3-M department conducting 

routine maintenance on the department’s assets but is also a 

part of the boat team’s roving 

watches on the perimeter of 

JTF’s waterfront.

“My job here is to help 

maintain the boats, vehicles, 

generators and other equipment to help us keep going,” 

Ellson said. “My favorite part 

of the job is having the opportunity to work on various types 

of equipment out here.”

Ellson’s love for his family and pride in his work are 

driving factors in his success. 

The 12-year veteran hopes to 

achieve several different goals 

while stationed here, including reaching a higher level of 

physical fitness and college, but 

also values the time he has to 

himself.

“Advancement is definitely 

at the top of my priorities 

here,” Ellson said. “I am also 

training to run a marathon 

when I get back. Other than 

that, I am pretty low-key and 

keep to myself.”

| feature The Wire | Page 7

Team Chief Paula Claudio (right) and Air Force Master Sgt. Jan-Pierre Malboeuf hold the 2011 RCO of the Year award. Claudio praised the efforts her team made to 

improve the Regional Contracting Office Guantanamo Bay. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

The Naval Station Guantanamo Bay 

Regional Contracting Office (RCO) has won 

RCO of the Year for 2011. 

Awarded by the Army’s active component 

410th Contracting Support Brigade, RCO 

Guantanamo Bay provided exceptional 

service and made significant contributions to 

the mission performance. 

The RCO’s mission is to evaluate and 

approve or deny unit supply requests. RCO 

processes both the naval station’s and Joint 

Task Force’s requests. 

For the RCO to win the award, Team 

Chief Paula Claudio submitted a packet to 

the 410th for consideration.

“My work would be not successful without 

the customer’s work, so we engage them into 

this process,” said Claudio.

She said that the RCO Guantanamo Bay 

developed a better working relationship with 

Joint Task Force by training organizations 

on acquisition planning, performance work 

statements, quality assurance plans, contract 

administration and contract monitoring. 

The RCO also developed the first 

consolidated annual report to raise awareness 

of the organization and provide the Joint Task 

Force commander situational awareness. 

Many improvements to the RCO helped 

the office win. One improvement is the 

increase in Contract Office Representatives 

(COR). 

Claudio explained that before the 

adjustment, customers often sent requests 

unassisted. 

“Now the office has more CORs to help 

customers,” Claudio said “These are the guys 

who are outside checking all the work and 

coordinating contracts.” 

Another improvement Claudio and the 

office made was the creation of an intranet 

application offering downloadable templates. 

“A lot of the forms were inconsistent, 

because customers were looking online for 

examples,” said Claudio. “Now we have a 

web page that makes things more efficient 

for the customer and us.”

The RCO has made many improvements 

to earn the RCO of the Year award, but the 

award isn’t the reason to celebrate. According 

to Claudio, the improvements to the system 

and the relationship between the JTF and 

RCO are the real success. 

“Just with the comments from the 

community I was satisfied,” said Claudio. 

“That’s why I wanted to extend the celebration 

to the JTF because their part as the customer 

was very important, so this award is for JTF 

too.”

by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Regional Contracting Office wins 

RCO of the Year
 The Wire |

Page 8

Two Joint Task Force Guan-

tanamo Coast Guardsmen received 

a special holiday phone call on 

Christmas morning from Presi-

dent Barack Obama. Petty Officer 

1st Class Gilbert Zepeda and Petty 

Officer 2nd Class Derek Weatherly, 

both currently deployed with Mari-

time Safety and Security Team San 

Diego, answered the president’s 

calls.

“It was an honor,” Weatherly 

said. “A person could go 10 lifetimes 

and never talk to the president. He 

took time out of his very busy life 

to call, thank us for our service and 

wish us a merry Christmas.”

Obama thanked them and the 

other Coast Guard men and women 

for their sacrifices far from home 

during this holiday season.

“The president was very down 

to earth,” Zepeda said. “We talked 

about when we’re getting home and 

the weather.”

While overseas, Zepeda, a gun-

ner’s mate, is responsible for main-

taining MSST San Diego’s armory 

including the unit’s weapons, am-

munition and pyrotechnics. He also 

supervises weapons training. Due 

to operational needs, Zepeda de-

ployed with eight days notice for 

the extended overseas deployment.

During Weatherly’s call with the 

president, they discussed his previ-

ous deployments, the current de-

ployment, returning home and the 

NFL playoffs.

“We talked a lot of football,” 

Weatherly said. “The Raiders’ over-

time win and other NFL games 

from Saturday.”

Weatherly, a San Francisco Bay 

Area native, is an avid Oakland 

Raiders fan.

“He thanked us for our service 

and asked us to tell our shipmates 

that he appreciates everything we do 

for our country,” Weatherly said.

Weatherly, a machinery techni-

cian, is a tactical boat crewmember 

in the waterside section and pro-

vides on-water, anti-terrorism force 

protection for Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Bay.

While assigned to Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo, Zepeda, 

Weatherly and all of MSST San 

Diego form the Maritime Security 

Detachment Guantanamo and are 

responsible for securing the port 

and waterways around the base. 

They also provide landside security 

mission while commissions for de-

tainees are underway

Cmdr. Eric Cooper, MSST San 

Diego’s commanding officer, was in 

the room when Zepeda and Weath-

erly took the phone call.

“The Coast Guard is recognized 

worldwide for having some of the 

highest quality professionals in the 

nation and I am fortunate to have 

the cream of the crop here at MSST 

San Diego,” Cooper said. “Petty 

Officers Zepeda and Weatherly are 

true professionals and I couldn’t 

be prouder of the dedication and 

consistently high performance that 

they display every single day. I am 

particularly impressed with the out-

standing job that they have done 

while deployed supporting Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo.”

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson

MSST San Diego Coast 

Guardsmen receive 

surprise phone call 

from President Obama

Left: Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek Weatherly chatted with 

President Barack Obama Christmas morning about football 

and past deployments.

Below: Petty Officer 1st Class Gilbert Zepeda also took 

the President’s phone call Dec. 25, and updated him on the 

weather and the unit’s progress.

–photos courtesy United States Coast Guard

Feature | | 

Feature The Wire|Page 9

photos by Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Public Affairs
 The Wire |

Page 10

Feature | | 

Feature The Wire|Page 11

photos by Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Public Affairs

Hail and 

Farewell

2011
 The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

With stockings filled to the brim, the 

Guantanamo Bay community greeted Troopers as 

their shifts ended Christmas Day. 

The community implemented Operation 

Stocking Stuffer Dec. 25. The event is a community 

effort to fill stockings for Troopers on duty on 

Christmas. 

 “About 19 years ago, the chaplains got together 

and asked ‘how can we bless the community and 

the military personnel deployed here, particularly 

around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?” 

said Navy Lt. Douglas Holmes, the naval station 

command chaplain. 

Volunteers met on Dec. 23 to fill the stockings 

with candy, cookies, small gifts, and letters from 

listeners of a stateside radio show. 

“The community really supported us,” said 

Holmes. “When we were stuffing the stockings, 

there were people everywhere, coming from both 

the Joint Task Force and the naval station.”

The letters were sent to Guantanamo Bay 

from the Atlanta-based Bert Show, which asked 

their listeners to send in letters of gratitude to 

servicemembers. The show sent 1,800 letters 

here. 

“Over the past few weeks, listeners of the Bert 

Show have written letters to thank you and your 

fellow servicemen and women for your tremendous 

service to the United States of America,” the 

show’s cast said in a press release. 

The Bert Show wanted to bring a little holiday 

Top: Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander Rear Adm. David Woods and Joint 

Detention Group Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Porrett hand out stockings with the 

volunteers Christmas morning.

Above: Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Hoad and Spc. Marcel Dawson stuff stockings for 

Operation Stocking Stuffer Dec. 23. 

Right: Army Sgt. Linda Baez and Sgt. 1st Class Betty Goodlow select stockings to 

stuff during Operation Stocking Stuffer, a community effort to bring stockings to 

Troopers on duty during Christmas.

 –photos by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Operation

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

Stocking Stuffer

Above: Dressed as Ralphie from 

“A Christmas Story,” Army 1st 

Lt. Seth Porter hands a stocking 

filled with small gifts and a letter 

to a soldier finishing his shift 

Christmas morning. 

Left: Volunteers dress as holiday 

characters to bring smiles to 

Troopers after their shifts.

–photos by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

cheer to the servicemembers stationed overseas. 

“We hope these letters bring you a smile and 

a little piece of home,” the release added. “You 

are truly appreciated for your service. We all look 

forward to the day when you are back on American 

soil.”

Community volunteers and off-duty Troopers 

met as the night shift ended on Christmas morning 

to hand out the stockings. The volunteers later 

returned to give stockings to the Troopers whose 

shift ended during that evening. 

“I’m away from family and I thought I’d bring 

a little cheer to somebody and make them smile,” 

said Air Force Staff Sgt. Lyneleanor Jackson. “It 

is hard being deployed during the holidays but to 

work on Christmas Day is even more difficult.” 

Off-duty volunteers from the 170th Military 

Police Battalion even dressed up as familiar holiday 

characters. 

“I like making people smile and happy so I 

thought coming out here dressed up would bring 

a little holiday cheer,” said Army 1st Lt. Andrew 

Sparks. “The Gingerbread Man was my favorite 

character from Shrek so I thought it would be 

really funny to dress up as him.” 

With more than 1,100 stockings distributed, the 

mission was a success and Troopers who were on 

duty received a small piece of home. 

“It’s a wonderful thing,” said Holmes. “It lifts 

my spirits because I know that yes, the Troopers 

are remembered during Christmas.” 
 The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

NORFOLK, Va. – In an effort to bring attention to the sexual assault prevention awareness 

campaign, the Naval Criminal Investigative 

Service (NCIS) issued important guidelines 

and tips on how individuals can report and 

prevent sexual assault crimes through NCIS’ 

Crime Reduction Program Dec. 26. 

The increased prevention awareness campaign is a proactive effort to reduce sexual assaults across the Department of the Navy. 

Sexual assault is defined as sexual abuse of 

an individual by the use of force, threat, or intimidation. Rape, sodomy, sexual battery and 

attempts to commit these crimes are examples 

of sexual assault offenses.

Sexual assaults are more prevalent with 

those who recently enlisted or are away from 

home for the first time. In many cases, the situations involve alcohol.

“Drugs and alcohol will impair a person’s 

judgment and may increase sexual desire, therefore, a person’s actions may be misunderstood 

when they are intoxicated,” NCIS Special 

Agent Leatrice DeBruhl-Daniels. “Do what 

is right morally. If you violate a person’s rights 

and have sex with them without their permission, you may be subject to charges under the 

Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 120.”

Under UCMJ Article 120, sexual act crimes, 

such as rape and aggravated sexual assault, 

carry very high penalties. Rape itself under the 

UCMJ can carry a death penalty and the maximum punishment for aggravated sexual assault 

is 30 years.

“When there is a report of sexual assault, 

commands are required to report it almost 

immediately to NCIS,” said Cmdr. Frank D. 

Hutchison, staff judge advocate.

Victims have a choice of reporting preference as either restricted or unrestricted. Victims who choose to use restricted reporting are 

only allowed to talk to a victim advocate, sexual assault response coordinator, chaplain or 

healthcare provider. This ensures that no one 

without confidentiality knows the details about 

the case, and it remains confidential until the 

case is reported to law enforcement, or NCIS, 

at which time it will automatically become an 

unrestricted report.

An unrestricted report allows victims to legally pursue the perpetrator. The command is 

restricted from conducting their own investigation on the matter, but they will be notified that 

the event occurred.

Zero tolerance: NCIS aims to prevent sexual assault

In the f ig h t

Operation Noel: Marine helicopters spread Christmas spirit

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – 

Capt. Jeff Barnes isn’t really Santa Claus, but 

don’t tell that to the Marines in Afghanistan.

“We are doing a care package delivery 

to austere [forward operating bases],” explained Barnes, a UH-1Y Huey pilot with 

Marine Light Attack Squadron 369. “I think 

since there’ve been helicopters around – in 

Vietnam, in Iraq, here in Afghanistan – on 

Christmas Day, we’ve helped the guys on the 

ground enjoy the holiday.”

So, early on Christmas morning, Barnes 

led a team of Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey 

helicopters from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, en route to dozens 

of tiny combat outposts dotting the Helmand River.

“We’re going to places you might have a 

squad, a company,” said Barnes, a self-described ‘Marine Brat,’ whose family now lives 

in Las Vegas. “We picked places specifically 

because they’re very austere. They don’t get 

regular packages.”

On a typical day, pilots like Barnes use 

their helicopters to provide close-air support 

for infantry Marines. The Marine Corps relies on Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters to provide a watchful eye for 

the Marines patrolling through southwestern 

Afghanistan’s villages and farms.

On Dec. 25, however, the Marine aviators’ 

mission was different. Dubbed “Operation 

Noel,” the Marine Corps Hueys lifted thousands of pounds of Christmas spirit –items 

like socks and toiletries, as well as letters, 

cards and even candy – to the grunts who 

call these small outposts home.

“The Marines are excited to be supporting 

our brothers and sisters [in the Marine Corps] 

in a very different way than we normally do,” 

said Barnes. “It’s a big privilege to be able to 

do a mission like this that’s outside the realm 

of normal.”

Lance Cpl. Andrew Harris is a UH-1Y 

Huey crew chief with the light attack helicopter squadron. Harris, nicknamed ‘the best 

door-gunner in the Marine Corps’ by his fellow Marines, flew with Barnes on the Christmas Day mission.

“I think it’s really cool, we’re trying to 

boost morale,” said Harris. “We’re trying to 

keep the family of the Marine Corps together, especially during the holidays.”

“It’s still Afghanistan. We still have to be 

prepared for the threat. That being said, it 

happens to be the 25th of December,” said 

Barnes. “It’s about spending Christmas with 

your family – your Marine Corps family.”

At Kandahar Airfield, the detachment of 

Marines who fly and maintain the KC-130J 

Hercules took a short break on Christmas 

Day. Santa passed out stockings and the Marines shared a Christmas dinner.

Ten years ago, the airfield was captured by 

the U.S. Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, becoming a foothold in efforts 

to rout the Taliban from Afghanistan. 

Since December 2001, the airfield has become a metropolis – host to tens of thousands of U.S. troops and their Afghan and 

coalition partners.

For the U.S. Marines, Kandahar is a central hub of fixed-wing aviation. Marine Corps 

AV-8B Harrier attack jets and KC-130J refueling and transport aircraft call Kandahar 

home, aircraft which launch daily to support 

combat operations in southwestern Afghanistan.

Gunnery Sgt. Charles V. Westall, the 

squadron gunnery sergeant for the detachment of aerial refueler transport Marines deployed to Afghanistan, said he believes taking 

time to remember the holidays is integral to 

keeping morale high for his Marines.

 “It’s important because celebrating holidays even when we are out here is a reminder 

why we do what we do,” said Westall, deployed to Afghanistan with Marine Aerial 

Refueler Transport Squadron 152. 

Westall, deployed from Okinawa, Japan, 

serves alongside Marines with Marine Aerial 

Refueler Transport Squadron 252, deployed 

from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, 

N.C. Collectively, the Marines use the KC130J Hercules – the Corps’ largest aircraft 

– to provide aerial refueling, combat aerial resupply, and troop and cargo transport for the 

Marines in southwestern Afghanistan.

“It’s a reminder of why we became Marines in the first place,” Westall said. “So that 

our family and friends are able to celebrate 

the holidays – freely. It makes us happy to 

know they can, even if we are all the way out 

here in Kandahar, Afghanistan, away from 

our loved ones.”

on the DE C K

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward)

From Naval Criminal Investigative Service

O n T he w i n g

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

c o a s t to c o a s t

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Santa Claus paid a 

surprise visit to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Dec. 23 to assist in an airdrop 

delivery to remote forward operating bases 

in Afghanistan.

“I just wanted to bring a little holiday 

cheer to the men and women of the 379th 

Air Expeditionary Wing and help out with a 

very special holiday delivery,” chuckled Santa, 

portrayed by Tech. Sgt. Mike Morris, 816th 

EAS Loadmaster Flight NCO in charge and 

native of Charleston, S.C.

The delivery – 160 barrels of fuel – was 

loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft 

under Santa’s command.

The fuel will be used for generators, vehicles and heaters to keep service members 

warm in the frigid mountains of eastern Afghanistan, said Staff Sgt. Mike Folk, 816th 

EAS loadmaster and native of Frazeysburg, 

Ohio.

“This fuel is going to help keep them 

warm and let them continue to accomplish 

their mission,” said Folk.

Santa’s precision as a loadmaster comes 

from years of experience configuring loads 

for his sleigh rides across the globe to deliver 

presents.

“Santa is sometimes a little hard to work 

for,” Folk added. “His operations are generally more large-scale, so his work ethic definitely reflects that.”

The 816th EAS transported about three 

million pounds of cargo and personnel to 

forward locations throughout Southwest 

Asia last month.

“It’s a huge part of what we do around 

here and it’s important that we sustain the 

warfighters,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kevin 

Kloeppel, 816th EAS superintendent and 

native of Sante Fe, N.M. “With the fuel, water, food and supplies that we drop off, we 

can sustain their mission.”

The 816th EAS works with the U.S. Army 

421st Quartermaster Company Parachute 

Riggers and the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron to get the job done.

“The riggers build the pallets, the 8th 

EAMS brings the cargo to the plane, and 

we deliver the supplies,” said Kloeppel. “It’s 

truly a team effort to get the mission accomplished.”

Santa helps deliver fuel to 

remote bases in Afghanistan

MIAMI - The Coast Guard repatriated eight 

Cuban migrants Wednesday and 29 Cuban 

migrants Friday to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba.

The Cuban migrants were interdicted at 

sea during two separate incidents since Dec. 

17.

Three Cuban migrants are awaiting further disposition.

“The Coast Guard has a network of boats, 

cutters and aircraft ensuring border security 

and maintaining humanitarian responsibility 

to prevent the loss of life at sea.” said, Cmdr. 

Kevin Lopez, 7th Coast Guard District assistant chief of enforcement. “The majority of 

migrant vessels are dangerously overloaded, 

unseaworthy or otherwise unsafe. We continue to enforce federal laws and regulations 

prohibiting illegal entry, or bringing, or attempting to bring, undocumented migrants 

into the United States.”

All migrants interdicted were provided 

with food, water, shelter and basic medical 

attention.

For more information on legal immigration, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit 

the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

Coast Guard interdicts 40 Cuban 

migrants, repatriates 37

By 7th Coast Guard District Public Affairs

Santa Claus, portrayed by Tech. Sgt. Mike Morris, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Loadmaster Flight 

NCO in charge and native of Charleston, S.C., pushes a pallet of fuel onto a C-17 Globemaster III prior to a 

mission Dec. 23. –photo courtesy 378th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO – A wounded warrior 

limped into Ryan Blanck’s office at the Center 

for the Intrepid one day with a plea for help.

The doctors at Brooke Army Medical 

Center had saved the service member’s leg 

after a combat injury, but due to the pain, 

he couldn’t walk comfortably, let alone run.

Blanck, a leading prosthetist at the state-ofthe-art rehab center, found himself in an 

unfamiliar position – at a loss. 

“There wasn’t a go-to option,” he said, 

referring to devices for wounded warriors with 

lower leg injuries.

So Blanck designed the Intrepid Dynamic 

Exoskeletal Orthosis, or IDEO, a streamlined, 

energy-storing brace that delivers nearly 

instantaneous results. Now, most troops with 

salvaged limbs who wheel or limp into his office 

walk out a short time later, pain and limp-free.

“They’re uncontrollably weeping,” he said. 

“It’s the first time they’ve walked without pain in 

two or three, or seven years in one guy’s case.”

Blanck’s creation is a lightweight, streamlined 

carbon-fiber device that can be tucked under a 

pant leg and into a boot or sneaker. 

The device is proving a “game-changer” 

for service members with salvaged limbs, 

said Johnny Owens, a CFI physical therapist 

who is working hand-in-hand with Blanck in 

treating IDEO-fitted warriors. “We’re seeing 

immediate changes we don’t usually see.”

Owens said the device also is singlehandedly helping to turn the tide on a trend 

of wounded warriors opting for delayed 

amputations -- amputations several months 

after injury. He attributes the trend to the slow, 

and sometimes frustrating, recovery for troops 

with lower leg injuries.

“Prior to all this, limb salvage was a little 

bit of an unknown,” Blanck explained. “You 

couldn’t tell a patient, ‘you’re going to run.’”

Thanks to IDEO, these troops now have 

another option, he said, that enables them to 

not only walk, but run, sprint and jump.

The program’s success has one limitation: 

space. Between amputees and warriors with 

salvaged limbs, the CFI can get crowded at 

times. The pair would like to see a rehab center 

like the CFI, but devoted to wounded warriors 

with salvaged limbs. Ownes noted that for 

every amputee, there are about 10 limb salvage 

patients.

“I never thought I’d come to work and 

get hugged by a 220-pound, 6-foot-4, Special 

Forces guy,” said Blanck.

There’s a lot you can do to make 

coworkers your biggest asset. With a little 

effort on your part, your coworkers can 

become a source of information, insight, 

support, camaraderie and, sometimes, 

endless amusement. Of course, if you 

fail to handle yourself properly or aren’t 

sensitive to others, they can make your 

work experience an unpleasant daily grind. 

Getting along doesn’t really have to be 

that difficult; it just takes a little common 

sense, a bit of courtesy and sometimes 

compromise.

For anyone aspiring to work through 

personality conflicts in the office, here are 

some tips for success.

– Be respectful! During discussions with 

coworkers, listen as well as speak. A nod, 

eye-contact, and occasional verbal comment 

are important to communicate that you’re 

really paying attention. 

– Avoid controversial subjects. Politics, 

religion, and personal value topics should 

remain off-limits in the workspace. If you 

find yourself in a conversation that appears 

to be going in the direction of conflicting 

viewpoints (which may lead to ruffled 

feathers), tactfully introduce a different 

topic or make a neutral statement to avert 

tensions. 

– Respect diversity. Diversity is the key 

element in producing high performance 

since people make things happen. Do your 

part to be inclusive and respectful of all 

differences and lead the way by encouraging 

others to do the same.

Sometimes, workplace resolution can 

be a difficult task to wrangle. This is why 

JSMART offers dynamic professional 

services to address personality conflicts and 

provide education on how to cope with the 

stress of conflict while at Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. JSMART is now located in 

a new building across from the Trooper 

Chapel entrance and near the Camp 

America Post Office. Our clinic is open 

Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 

p.m. and closed on the weekends and federal 

holidays. The duty cell phone is manned 24 

hours a day at 3566. And remember, you 

don’t have to like everyone. You just have to 

work together and keep the peace!

PYONGYANG, North Korea – Tens of 

thousands of weeping North Koreans bade 

a final farewell to longtime leader Kim Jong Il 

Wednesday as a black hearse carried his coffin through the capital city of Pyongyang. 

Snow filled the gray skies as the funeral 

procession began early Wednesday. A black 

limousine with a huge portrait of the late 

leader led the procession through Pyongyang’s snow-covered streets, followed by another limousine with Mr. Kim’s flag-draped 

coffin resting atop on a bed of white flowers. Just behind it, a car carried an enormous 

wreath from his son and successor, Kim 

Jong Un.

The younger Kim walked on the street 

alongside the vehicle for at least a portion of 

the procession.

Bitterly weeping mourners lined the 

streets, many wailing and flailing their arms 

in grief as soldiers struggled to keep them 

from spilling onto the road. 

Images broadcast on North Korea’s state 

television showed Mr. Kim’s son and successor, Kim Jong Un, dressed in a dark overcoat, hand raised in salute, walking alongside 

his father’s hearse as it returned to the huge 

square of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace. 

Walking behind him was his influential 

uncle Jang Song Thaek, senior party officials 

Kim Ki Nam and Choe Thae Bok, military 

chief Ri Yong Ho, armed forces minister 

Kim Yong Chun and senior military officer 

Kim Jong Gak.

Analysts say the proximity of the political and military officials to the young leader 

could provide clues to the make-up of his 

inner circle.

Since Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack 

on Dec. 17, state television has shown repeated scenes of extraordinary public grief 

throughout North Korea.

Foreign governments are watching events 

in Pyongyang closely because of concerns 

about the young Mr. Kim’s rise in a country 

with a nuclear program, a large army and a 

history of deep animosity toward its neighbors.

Official media have been quick to declare 

Kim Jong Un as the “great successor,” supreme military commander and chief of the 

ruling Worker’s Party.

Kim Jong Il’s 

funeral held 

Army News Service in Pyongyang

| Around the World The Wire | Page 17

JSMART cont. 

on the g round

New brace salvages 

limbs, mobility, morale

Voice of America News Service

 The Wire | Page 16 Mind, Body & Spirit |

Mind, 

Body

& Spirit

by Hospitalman 3rd Class

Dominique Cannon,

JSMART

The mission here at Joint Task Force Guantanamo depends not 

only on the individual but also on the larger decisions made by your 

leadership, peers, and subordinates; whether you work directly with 

detainees at the detention center or are seated at a headquarters 

cubicle. Navigating through the finely oiled cogs and gears of the 

U.S. military is a daunting task when you take into consideration 

the multiple factors which influence day to day 

operations. One of the most important factors 

to consider is the diversity of personalities we 

work with in our daily routines. In some cases, the 

unique character of even a single individual can 

create situations which detract from the mission. 

Sometimes the personality creating tension in the 

workspace may very well be your own.

Much like a finely choreographed play, life 

is full of characters complete with their own 

peculiarities, preferences, and agendas. As we grow, 

we learn new ways to interact with a dissimilar cast 

of people. We build compromise and long-lasting 

relationships with those select few individuals who 

share similar interests to ours, and we attempt to 

avoid those who possess traits that we cannot 

tolerate for more than a few minutes at a time. So what occurs when 

said disliked individual is your boss, your co-worker, or subordinate? 

What occurs when personal tastes and dissimilarities are too great to 

get the job done? 

Workforce psychology probably has been a topic of research 

since the construction of the first cubicle. One might expect that 

as military members we would be able to avoid the same personality 

conflicts present in the civilian setting; however, this is far from the 

truth. The workplace, no matter where you work, can be the ideal 

setting for the kinds of claustrophobia, tension and backstabbing 

that fuel reality shows. But in the military, our professionalism and 

mission orientation should come before petty differences.

Unfortunately, this is sometimes not the case. There are many 

types of personality conflicts, even in the 

military. Often, such conflicts are based on 

minor personality differences that don’t affect a 

service member’s professional capacity at all. For 

instance, different styles of humor can be funny 

to some or an irritant to others. Conversely, an 

extremely serious demeanor can inspire a few and 

be tiresome to everyone else. There are occasions 

when specific combinations of personalities don’t 

settle with one another and the irritation between 

two people becomes friction, and the friction 

becomes a conflict.

Sometimes a personality conflict can become 

overt, even openly hostile – yet the players 

themselves still perform at their normal levels. 

However, you must look closely to see if the 

battle has cast a shroud over the project team in any way. Often, 

the sarcasm and cutting remarks that sometimes accompany personal 

discord can bother other team members, and this irritation can 

become cumulative. If the conflict is affecting team morale, then 

someone should step in.

Can’t we all just get along?

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

 see JSMART next page

Workforce psychology 

probably has been a 

topic of research since 

the construction of 

the first cubicle. There 

are many types of 

personality conflicts, 

even in the military.
Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

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

| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 31

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

30 1 2 3 4 5

Adventures of 

Tintin (NEW)

(PG) 7 p.m.

The Rum 

Diary (NEW)

(R) 9 p.m.

Footloose (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

Sherlock Holmes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Girl with the 

Dragon Tattoo 

(NEW)

(R) 10 p.m.

Mission Impossible 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Rum Diary 

(NEW)

(R) 10 p.m.

No movie: 

Edwin McCain 

performs at 

7 p.m.

The Thing (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Girl with the 

Dragon Tattoo 

(NEW)

(R) 7 p.m.

In Time

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Thing (last 

showing)

(R) 7 p.m.

The Big Year 

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

The Big Year 

(last showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Mission 

Impossible

(NEW)

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Paranormal 

Activity 3

(R) 8 p.m.

New Year’s Eve

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

GTMO Religious Services

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

Daily Catholic

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

 Mass

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m. 

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m. 

Iglesia Ni Cristo

Sunday 5:30 a.m. 

Room A

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m. 

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Islamic Service

Friday 1 p.m. 

Room C

United Jamaican 

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Room B

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

For other services, 

call the Chaplain’s 

Office at 2323.

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

For more information, 

contact the JTF 

Chaplain’s Office 

at 2305.

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

Movie Review PG-13

109 min.

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

 The Wire | Page 18 Movie Review |

As I watched “In Time,” I was reminded 

of Ray Bradbury stories of yesteryear, the 

kind you were assigned to read in junior high 

and/or high school. All those sci-fi “moral 

of the story” tales were similar in theme: an 

outlandish premise about an alternate future 

which is really a social commentary on caste 

cultures and the human condition.

This latest Justin Timberlake vehicle 

succeeds in taking those ingredients and 

borrowing contemporary social dilemmas 

straight from headlines to tell its story. 

The film opens in the year 2161, where 

the human aging process has been stopped 

at age 25 for everyone. Each person has a 

glowing digital “lifeclock” visible in their 

left forearm tracking the time they have 

left before “timing out” to death. Time is 

distributed via tactile contact from person to 

person and from time boxes. Starting at age 

25, people automatically have their clocks 

turned on with only one year to live. For a 

price you are able to live indefinitely. The wellto-do don’t give this a second (pun) thought, 

as their wealth enables them to live years and 

centuries. They can even accrue and grow 

more time. The impoverished must work 

as drones in factories to earn minutes and 

days to add to their lifeclocks. The urgency 

of earning more time to maintain your life is, 

as one character puts it best, “You generally 

don’t sleep in.”

This makes for an attractive-looking 

society. People over the age of 100 are 

indistinguishable from people in their midtwenties. Based on what I saw on the silver 

screen, I suspect the physical appearance 

of humans has been altered too. After all, 

everyone’s mother and daughter all look like 

supermodels straight out of Victoria’s Secret 

while the men all look like they should be on 

the cover of GQ Magazine. 

Will Salas (Timberlake) is a working class 

joe who lives with his mother (Olivia Wilde) 

in the ghettos of Dayton. A personal tragedy 

sets Will’s crusade in motion to bring down 

the system to change the status quo for all 

those in the lower class “time zones.” Will’s 

cause is further aided when he is inadvertently 

helped by a suicidal wealthy benefactor, who 

transfers over 100 years of life to Will before 

timing out. 

Time is the only currency in their world. 

With it, people can buy whatever they can 

afford in days, weeks and years. Whether 

it is a hotel suite or high performance 

automobile, they pay with time. Will’s 

newfound fortune raises the suspicions of 

Timekeeper Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy, 

“Inception”) who believes Will is a thief and 

murderer. 

Will escapes from his ghetto time zone to 

the wealthy time zone of New Greenwich 

in pursuit of a wealthy businessman 

(Vincent Kartheiser, TV’s “Mad Men”) 

who built his fortune by holding the keys to 

immortality. After romancing his daughter 

Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried, “Big Love”) and 

eventually kidnapping her, Will returns to the 

ghetto to show Sylvia the plight of those less 

fortunate than her. Soon, Will and Sylvia are 

robbing timebanks and sharing hundreds of 

years with the working-class all while being 

pursued by Timekeepers with decade-long 

bounties on each of their heads. 

“In Time” isn’t astonishing or great cinema, 

but it is a fun sci-fi popcorn thriller. The 

present day messages about social inequity 

ring true. In reality we have people in various 

social classes, in some cultures even castes, 

around the world struggling to make ends 

meet on a daily basis. These themes are as 

old as time. Does 

the movie clamor 

on the edge in the 

political arenas 

debating the 

redistribution 

of wealth? 

Is it 

designed to generate awareness of global 

poverty? I’ll leave that for the viewer to 

discern. 

Originally, the release for “In Time” 

was nearly blocked by sci-fi author Harlan 

Ellison who alleged it was stolen from one 

of his short stories. Upon seeing this film, 

Ellison backed off, though he did receive a 

screen credit for “The Terminator” (1984) 

when he made a similar claim on that film. 

Like I said, “In Time” felt like those grade 

school dystopian fables we grew up with, so 

maybe there is no reinventing the wheel on 

how to dress up a message and make social 

statement. I’m sure Ellison or Bradbury 

were not the first writers to do so. Look at 

Shakespeare, he did it before those guys. 

How about that story about Oedipus? 

Shocking what Sigmund Freud said that was 

really about!

“In Time” is a nice evening at the movies. 

Not amazing, but pleasant and likeable 

enough to carry you through to its conclusion. 

There’s some convincing acting, good action 

and it also works as a chase movie too. The 

film makes some relevant observations and 

is highly timely (pun). You can never have 

too many films that entertain you and make 

you think a little bit in the process. “In Time” 

does those things well.
Zoinks! have you seen the Mystery Machine and 

other creative vehicles around Guantanamo Bay?

–photos by Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant and Mass 

Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson Rolling into 

2012

See you next year!

– The Wire staff