Volume 12, Issue 33 Friday, August 5, 2011

JTF’s one and only female 

Marine leaves the island

A Marine’s goodbye

Savings plan

What’s in your wallet?

PLUS:

Tang Soo Do

Troopers learn an 

ancient martial art
Cc

ommand

orner

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force 

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

inform and educate the Troopers of JTF Guantanamo through 

news, features, command guidance, sports and entertainment. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

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

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE 

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

Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Spc. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Erica Gardner

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Ebalo

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Spc. Kelly Gary

Yeoman 3rd Class Britney Epps

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3499

DSN: 660-3499

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s lone female Marine, Lance Cpl. Britney Thomas, 

leaves the island this month. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

In case you did not see the all hands email I sent on Monday, I expect 

Rear Admiral David Woods to arrive in a few weeks and for our change 

of command ceremony to be held on or about August 24. Adding this 

event to our already busy schedule will be challenging so I ask for your 

continued support as we work through this transition together. 

Before responding to some more of your recent questions, I want 

to personally thank you for your continued dedication to our mission 

which remains of strategic importance to our Nation.

Question: Can we expand the hours of the courtesy patrol? 

Troopers are often walking home in the dark down Kittery Beach 

Road through the Roosevelt Gate. 

Answer: The JTF courtesy patrol offers “safe rides” at no cost 

Sunday through Thursday night from 2200 to midnight. On Friday 

and Saturday night, the patrol runs from 2200 to 0230. The schedule 

ensures that Troopers can arrive home safely after the MWR facilities 

close. Troopers must plan their off-duty time accordingly. Drink 

responsibility, use the buddy system, and always wear reflective gear 

when necessary. 

Question: Why is it that only select personnel on TDY orders 

receive $2/day for dry cleaning?

Answer: Per chapter 4 of the Joint Federal Travel Regulations 

(JFTR) “the cost incurred during TDY travel for personal laundry/

dry-cleaning and pressing of clothing is not a reimbursable expense for 

OCONUS travel and is part of the Incidental Expenses included within 

the authorized per diem rates”. Please contact the office that provided 

your TDY orders if you have further questions. The JFTR is available 

at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/perdiem/JTR(Ch1-7).pdf

Question: The Camp America mini-NEX seems to be the 

only place that has sufficient stock of Army uniform items.

Answer: We have addressed this issue with the NEX manager and 

efforts are underway to improve the selection and quantity of uniform 

items at the Main Exchange. The focus of effort will be on the more 

perishable items like socks, t-shirts, rank insignia, covers (or hats), and 

boots. Please allow the NEX a few weeks to restock their uniform 

items and reorganize their displays.

Question: Any possibility of getting an ATM machine in the 

TK mini-NEX? 

Answer: The JTF J4 is working with representatives from the 

Naval Station, Community Bank and Fleet Industrial Supply CenterJacksonville to determine the feasibility of installing an ATM machine 

in the TK mini-NEX. Efforts are underway to submit the necessary 

estimates and justification. More to follow on this issue as information 

becomes available. 

The Command Corner | Wire | Page 2
Trooper to Trooper featuring

Command Sgt. Maj., Joint Task Force Guantanamo

Sgt. Maj. 

Mark Porrett

Most companies and products are pretty good, but only a few turn 

out to be great. These great companies and products stand the test of 

time, earning a respected reputation by cornering the market and creating 

a monopoly. Some “great” companies that come to mind are Mercedes, 

Apple, BMW, Boeing and even Wal-Mart. Units and individuals can reach 

greatness by using the same business principles.

There is no way of being great if you cannot build a strong team. No 

one person does anything by themselves. It takes a team to do any task you 

can think of. Someone always has a special skill others may not, and that 

skill should be utilized. It’s up to the leader and others to determine the 

best way to use that team member. Only when the right person is placed in 

the right position will the team take a step forward to being great. 

Initiative is one of the driving factors of being great. Not settling for 

the status quo, but always striving to be better or have a better product. 

You know you have a great product or idea when others try to imitate it. 

The adage of “imitation is the greatest form of flattery” stands true. We’ve 

all been let down by buying a generic product expecting it to perform like 

the name brand product. When a company comes up with an outstanding 

product, they take the initiative and continue to improve it. We, too, should 

never be content with things the way they are – we must develop leaders, 

units and individuals.

Along with greatness comes failure. Thomas Edison was attempting 

to create a filament that would sustain light, he failed over 2,000 times. 

But he kept at it, saying only that when you fail, fail better next time. His 

teachers said he was, “too stupid to learn anything.” Few of us today would 

consider him a failure. Now we remember him as a visionary, a world-class 

inventor who was way before his time. 

We often learn more by failing than being right all the time. Positive 

environments allow individuals and teams to fail without it being a 

catastrophic event. I can’t imagine what the world would be like if Edison’s 

boss had a zero-defect mentality. We need everyone to help build a climate 

where mistakes are a learning opportunity.

As you go about your daily business and duties, do a personal check to 

see whether you are just going through the motions, or actually improving 

the unit, individuals and morale. The collective effort to take issues and 

objectives from good to great depends on the effort, cooperation and 

desire to be more than just mediocre. We may not all be great, but each of 

us has the potential. 

To break this message down to its simplest form: greatness is the result 

of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is 

safe, dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than 

others think is possible.

Honor Bound!

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

THINK BEFORE YOU POST!

Keep your personal life personal. 

How many times have you seen someone online share places they have “checked into”? Social Media can 

be a great tool for staying connected with friends and family while you’re deployed, but there is a limit to 

what you should put online, especially when it comes to your personal life. Telling the online community your 

whereabouts at all times by “checking in” at places might not be the best idea. Especially if your smart phone 

does it automatically. Make sure you know what you’re sharing online and what the settings on your mobile 

devices are. Stay safe. Think before you post. Use OPSEC. 
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

Boots on the Ground

What do you do to save money?

News from the Bay

Stories and reporting by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

NEGB Chiefs host car

wash to raise money 

Don’t wash your car, instead, let the Navy 

Expeditionary Guard Battalion Chief Petty 

Officer’s Association do it for you on Saturday 

at the Downtown Lyceum car wash port from 

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“We like to support special events and 

have to raise money to do that,” said Chief 

Culinary Specialist Alfonzo Greene, NEGB 

supply chief. “We have the new chief’s 

induction coming up, so we will do stuff with 

them as well.”

There is no set price to get a wash – 

donations only. Troopers can choose from 

hot dogs, hamburgers and a variety of drinks 

while waiting under shaded tents as their 

vehicle is washed.

Coffeehouse series 

brings artist Nelly’s Echo

Wind down the week with Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation’s Coffeehouse series featuring 

Nelly’s Echo on Friday at the Triple C patio 

from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday at O’Kelly’s 

from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday on the 

Bayview patio from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Accomplished singer-songwriter and 

guitarist Nelson Emokpae, also known as 

“Nelly,” originally hails from Nigeria, Africa. 

He draws from his multi-cultural background 

and experiences to tell his story in music and 

lyrics.

Emokpae’s skillful blend of soul, reggae 

and blues coupled with infectious hook lines 

and tremendous vocal abilities transport 

listeners into a musical story being told. He 

has been compared to Seal and Sting, with a 

tad of John Mayer thrown in as he mixes a 

little calypso, a little Afro-beat and a lot of 

Troopers redeem free 

hotel accommodations

Thanks to the Asian American Hotel 

Owner’s Association’s Proud and Patriotic 

Salute to Soldiers program, Troopers can get 

a free hotel room upon returning from a deployment.

The program, sponsored by the United 

Services Organization and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, provides a 

voucher good for a free room at participating hotels. 

To reserve a room, Troopers can visit 

www.salutetosoldiers.com and then call or 

email the contact person to redeem their 

voucher. 

“Investing in myself and 

diversifying my network.”

Senior Airman 

Karie Quenette

“By transferring money from 

checking to my savings 

every month for larger future 

purchases.”

Hospital Corpsman 

2nd Class Kyle Coven

Spc.

Anya Genoval 

“My chief told me when I get 

promoted save the difference 

of my paychecks each month 

and live off of what I was 

making before.”

“Use multiple savings 

accounts, so if there’s an 

emergency I won’t use more 

than I’ve saved.”

Aviation 

Adminstrationman 2nd 

Class Michael Damazo 

“It’s going to be better than the first class 

association car wash,” Greene said, adding 

sparks to the age-old rivalry between chiefs 

and first classes. “We are chiefs and have more 

experience washing cars than they do!”

soul into a winning and charming style that is 

always a crowd pleaser. 

For more information, call x4882.
trooper

Spc. Kelly Gary

Bullet Bio

Time in service:

13 years

Hobbies:

fishing, motorcycles, the 

outdoors

Pet peeves:

people without integrity

Next goal: 

become a first sergeant

Advice to junior

Troopers: 

“Pursue an education.”

| News The Wire | Page 5

At a young age, Sgt.1st Class Timothy 

Sersig decided he wanted to fill the 

combat boots of his grandfather, father 

and older brother and become a Soldier. 

He did just that and now Sersig is the one 

his children look up to.

“When I drop [my kids] off at school 

they are always proud to be seen with me 

in my uniform,” said the father of four. 

Sersig, anti-terrorism force protection 

noncommissioned officer in charge, 

believes his family is the backbone to his 

determination and being away from them 

is one of the hardest obstacles he has to 

overcome. Sersig had to part from his 

family when he deployed to Afghanistan 

2005-2006 as part of a civil affairs 

team. He since has traveled to Ethiopia, 

Guatemala and Egypt.

Sersig now monitors personnel and 

property here on Guantanamo Bay. He 

ensures all Department of Defense 

military, family members, civilians and 

military assets are protected.

“I’m the guy out there making sure 

everyone is following correct procedures,” 

said Sersig. “I have to be fair, firm and 

consistent.” 

Sersig’s command said he is a solid, 

impressive NCO who is acquainted with 

all the standard operation procedures and 

regulations.

“[Sersig] knows the standard, follows 

the standard and helps to set the 

standard,” said Army Maj. Gary Brewer, 

ATFP officer in charge. 

Sersig sets the bar high for junior 

Troopers but regrets he does not have any 

Soldiers directly under him to mentor. To 

better perform his role as an NCO, Sersig 

decided to assist with remedial physical 

training. He helps many Joint Task Force 

Troopers with their fitness, encouraging 

them to improve their Army Physical 

Fitness Test, Physical Readiness Test or 

just their overall performance.

Working out is Sersig’s number one 

solution to dealing with stress. He provides 

a source of motivation and presents a good 

image of fitness.

“Sersig leads by example,” said Brewer. 

“His self-discipline and selfless service 

make him an NCO lower enlisted personnel 

can look up to.”

If he is not training by himself or 

with fellow Troopers, Sersig enjoys many 

outdoor activities such as fishing and 

riding motorcycles. While on the island, 

much of Sersig’s time is occupied making 

sure Troopers and assets are in order at all 

times.

“He is a hard worker,” said Brewer, 

“working after hours until the job and 

ultimately the mission gets done.”

Over the past 13 years, Sersig has grown 

as a Soldier and as a leader. Brewer believes 

the sergeant belongs with his Soldiers and 

will make an excellent first sergeant. Sersig 

plans on achieving first sergeant but then 

continuing to move as far up the chain as 

he can with hopes of one day reaching the 

top. 

“To reach the rank of command sergeant 

major is a goal of mine,” said Sersig. “I 

started as an E-1 and I have always wanted 

to get that next rank to use my influence to 

help Soldiers.”

Asked what he dreamed of being as a 

child, Sersig replied, “You’re looking at it – 

I am living my dream.”

focus

Sgt. 1st Class 

 Timothy Sersig
The Wire | Page 6 News |

Marines host annual leeward bike ride

Story and photos by

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

More than 25 cyclists from 

Joint Task Force and Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay as 

well as civilian members of 

the community participated 

in the Marine Corps Security 

Force Co. Leeward Bike Ride, 

Saturday.

The 22-mile roundtrip 

event was hosted by the MCSF 

Co. as an annual fundraiser 

for the Marine Corps Ball in 

November.

Marine Cpl. Sheldon Curtis, 

treasurer for the Marine Corps 

Ball, said this was the first 

time the event, which serves 

as one of many fundraisers for 

the Marine Corps, has taken 

place since he has been on the 

island.

“We hold all sorts of events 

like half marathons, decathlons, 

moonlight runs, fence line runs 

– a whole bunch,” said Curtis. 

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the 

bike ride on Leeward side.”

Participants saw a part of 

Naval Station Guantanamo very 

few people get the opportunity 

to, as well as benefit from the 

obvious physical demands of 

exercise, said 1st Sgt. Richard 

Anderson, MCSF Co. first 

sergeant.

“MCSF Co.’s expectations 

were met and I believe 

the event went well,” said 

Anderson. “We had a lot of 

participants and some even 

asked about the opportunity to 

do the ride again or more often 

in the future.”

The route began and ended 

at Marine observation post 20, 

with Leeward ferry landing 

serving as the half-way point, 

said Curtis. Riders enjoyed the 

chance to bike along the fence 

line and the overall reaction 

was positive

“I’ve asked a few people 

(afterwards) and they said they 

enjoyed it. Not really the hills,” 

he chuckled. “But they enjoyed 

it.”

Staff Sgt. Luis Torres, a 

Soldier assigned to the Joint 

Detention Group, took part 

in the same event when he 

was stationed here four years 

ago. Although the length of 

the ride did not change, he 

noticed there were still some 

differences.

“This time the ride was 

about the same distance as 

before,” said Torres. “But this 

was more difficult because the 

route was round-trip.”

Sevag Khatchadou, a civilian 

contractor with Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, enjoyed the ride but 

wished more people attended.

“On a scale of one to ten, 

this was a ten,” exclaimed 

Khatchadou. “I would like to 

have seen three to four times 

the amount of people out here 

today. It’s a great experience for 

people who are going to be here 

a year.”

Having completed the ride 

before, Torres said he appreciated 

the opportunity to do something 

most people never have the 

chance to do.

“They do it [the Leeward 

bike ride] just once a year,” said 

Torres. “They don’t open that 

road for anybody, so you have 

just one chance to do it.”

Twenty-two mile route offers cyclists opportunity to see Leeward fence line 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harbeson (left) and 

Jane Merkel, a supply technician for the Naval Station hospital, cross a section of the 

Guantanamo River during the Marine Corps Security Force Co. Leeward Bike Ride, 

Saturday. More than 20 participants rode their bicycles approximately 22 miles as part of 

a fund-raising effort for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, scheduled in November.
| News The Wire | Page 7

Getting your

With the recent and ongoing debate over 

our nation’s debt, perhaps it’s time to take a look 

inside our own wallets, as well. For Troopers 

looking for ways to save or eliminate debt in a 

time of turmoil, Army Chaplain Capt. Daniel 

Price said it’s never too late to start.

Price currently facilitates “The Total Money 

Makeover,” a 13-week course designed by 

author Dave Ramsey’s to teach financial basics 

often forgotten. Participating Troopers are 

currently into week nine of the course.

“It’s the things like how much money we 

throw away in debt payments that surprise me,” 

Price said. “It’s amazing how much is available 

for living when you cut out debts!”

The program offers cash-opposed-to-credit 

as an alternative way of spending.

“Don’t spend what you don’t have,” Price 

noted. “Save up to pay for something in cash.”

Ramsey’s program and bestselling book 

explain how consumers learn to buy what 

society tells them to and how worth is based 

on property.

“It’s about image,” said Price, “and 

not understanding the consequences of 

our spending habits. We need to learn the 

importance of taking care of our finances.”

In the beginning of his book, Ramsey 

offers a disclaimer about what the book is not 

– a guide to financial quick fixes. True money 

makeovers, writes Ramsey, start with “you.”

“Look in the mirror,” the author challenges. 

“Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 

20 percent knowledge.”

If this is the case, why are so many people 

in debt?

We often rationalize about money, answered 

Price, and buy things on a “want” basis rather 

than a “need” basis.

“The fact is - that opportunity costs,” said 

Price. “If you spend money on this, then you 

don’t have money to spend on something 

else.”

Price’s class meets twice a week for two 

hours and listens as Ramsey’s 13-week videobased program dispels common money myths. 

“Myth: If no one used debt, our economy 

Money’$

would collapse. Truth: Nope, it would 

Worth

prosper.”

 Ramsey explained if everyone stopped 

buying on credit for one year it would be a 

disaster. However, if slowly over fifty years 

Americans stopped buying on credit - the 

gradual “money makeover” – the economy 

would prosper.

 “People would save,” says Ramsey, “they 

would spend, [and] not support banks.”

Americans tend to act like a kid in a store 

begging their parent to buy them something – 

now! When the parent doesn’t deliver, the child 

breaks out in a tantrum. 

“If we can just delay that gratification of 

getting the things we want immediately,” said 

Price. “We can begin to buy more often with 

cash.”

Ramsey takes a less polished approach 

instead and reminds students he, too has been 

in debt and twice pulled himself and his family 

out of it.

“We buy things we don’t need with money 

we don’t have,” explains Ramsey, “to impress 

the people we don’t like.”

It’s the overspending that does not feel like 

overspending that gets people in trouble, warns 

Ramsey.

In other words, don’t live at a maximum 

spending limit; instead, live below your means. 

Or as Ramsey puts it, “if you live like no 

one else, later you can live like no one else!”

For more information on Ramsey’s 13-week 

program, stop by the chaplain’s office for a 

copy of the book or check it out at the library. 

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand
Story and photos by 

Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

The Wire | Page 8 Feature |

the

art

ofthe

knifehand
d

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

T

ang Soo Do: “Art of the Knife 

(Empty) Hand.” 

Also known as the “Grandfather 

of Tae Kwan Do,” Tang Soo Do, 

is mainly a self-defense method of 

martial arts. Derived from the T’ang Dynasty 

of China more than 2,000 years ago, this 

seemingly unknown art has made its way to 

Guantanamo Bay and into the hearts of Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo Troopers by way of 

eager instructor - Master-at-Arms 2nd Class 

Chris Fern, attached to Naval Station security.

The blood-pumping, action-packed 

defensive techniques class is not a sport and 

has no rules. Fern, who has 19 years experience 

with the art, teaches it twice a week at the 

Marine Hill Fitness center. 

“I enjoy being able to teach what has been 

taught to me,” Fern shared. “I also like to feel 

the accomplishment of knowing that one of 

my students has succeeded in passing a test.” 

Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class Clayton 

Whitman has attended the class for more than 

seven months and stressed the uniqueness of 

Tang Soo Do when compared to other martial 

arts.

“Tang Soo Do is not a martial sport - it is 

a martial art,” Whitman said firmly. “Tang Soo 

Do is designed for combat, whereas Tae Kwon 

Do is designed to look pretty for competitions. 

No offense to Tae Kwon Do; there’s no way 

... I could do a fraction of those moves.”

The art, still used by the Republic Of 

Korea’s Army, is a viable military hand-tohand combat method, said Whitman, making 

Fern’s practical way of teaching it all the more 

impressive.

“Mr. Fern doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” 

Whitman noted. “He tells it how it is and he 

shows how certain moves are applied in realworld situations. When we’re learning a simple 

move, he’ll show us how to make it more 

complex by adding in more strikes here and 

there, or by extending the move to completely 

neutralize the opponent.”

Fern not only gets involved in demonstrating 

the moves, but shares his personal experience 

along the way as well.

“Almost every class he’ll be telling a 

story while we’re learning something new or 

reviewing something old,” Whitman said. 

“He always makes a class fun. His philosophy, 

from what I’ve determined, is if you learn 

something when it’s not fun, you’re not going 

to remember it.”

Fern’s favorite move is the flying sidekick, 

also known as the official move of Tang Soo 

Do. Whitman enjoys the hop sidekick most.

“While it’s not as practical as, say, a punch in 

a fight, it generates a ton of power,” Whitman 

explained. “Depending if you use a thrust 

kick or a blade kick, you can either push an 

opponent back or over, probably knocking the 

wind out of them, or you could possibly break 

a couple ribs.”

Fern, who is a black belt qualified Tang Soo 

Do instructor, said Whitman came to the class 

with prior experience and has since earned his 

orange belt, level two out of the six basic belts 

before the black belt series.

“Whitman is very driven,” Fern 

commended. “He came to me and did not 

hold anything back. He also has the technique, 

and is always working to become better and 

learn more. He’s a superb student!” 

Despite a common misconception about 

martial arts, prospective students do not have 

to be in tip-top shape, but being healthy and 

fit is ideal.

“If you’re completely out of shape and 

can’t walk a quarter mile without taking a break 

... then yeah, you might want to work on your 

fitness level first,” Whitman laughed.

Whitman himself only weighs 124 pounds, 

giving his approach both an advantage and a 

liability.

“It makes most of the moves easier for 

me,” Whitman explained. “Because I can flow 

easier, transition from one technique to the 

next without stopping ... but when we get to 

grappling, it can be more difficult for me and 

I need to twist and utilize different techniques 

to compensate.”

At the end of the day, Tang Soo Do is 

based on survival and, most of all, knowing 

one’s own strengths and weaknesses.

“Tang Soo Do is about you going home that 

night, safe and sound,” Whitman emphasized, 

“while your enemies do not!”

For more information about taking the next 

Tang Soo Do class starting in August, contact 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation at x2010.

(opposite page) Intelligence 

Specialist 3rd Class Clayton 

Whitman simulates a stabbing 

move during a Tang Soo Do class 

at the Marine Fitness Center, 

Tuesday. The class teaches self 

defense techniques as opposed 

to competition technique. 

Tang Soo Do Instructor Masterat-Arms 2nd Class Chris Vern 

demonstrates a self-defense 

technique on student Cryptologic 

Technician 3rd Class John Daniels 

during a class, Thursday, July 25. 
The Wire | Page 10 Mission |

J

oint Task Force Guantanamo is populated 

with servicemembers from every branch 

– Navy, Army, Marine, Coast Guard and 

Air Force – making the experience here a 

unique one. There is, however, a notable 

shortage of Marines on the JTF side. Only 

four Marines are attached to the JTF, and 

just one of them puts her hair in a bun.

“We (Marines) stand out a lot more than 

anybody else,” says Lance Cpl. Britney 

Thomas, a telecommunications specialist 

with J6 and the only female Marine with 

JTF. “And a female stands out even 

more!” 

Thomas is set to leave the island soon, 

leaving the task force with an all-male 

Marine population. While she is ready to 

embark on a new chapter of her career, she 

must also say goodbye to the relationships 

she has cultivated over the past months.

“[I will miss] all the people who I’ve 

met here,” she says sadly. “The ones who 

are truly my friends will be my friends for a 

long time. I consider them my family more 

than friends.”

Arriving in January, Thomas realized 

Guantanamo Bay was going to be an 

environment completely different than 

her home station, where she only worked 

alongside fellow Marines.

“Everybody does everything 

differently,” she says. “Learning how to 

work with other branches and services, 

I’ve never done that before.”

Becoming a valued member of the J6 

staff, Thomas impressed not only her work 

leadership, but also her Marine seniors. 

“I thought she was driven and very 

inspirational,” said Marine Maj. Charles 

Koch, JTF executive assistant. “She 

came here and didn’t let herself become 

distracted. She set her goals and achieved 

them.”

More than anything, Thomas was 

determined to score a first class on her 

next physical fitness test. She worked for 

months, often with friends, and eventually 

was rewarded for her commitment.

“I could not get that smile off my 

face for days,” she laughs, describing her 

exhilaration after netting the needed score. 

“I worked damn hard.”

Arguably, Thomas’ smile is what she 

will be remembered most for. Her positive 

attitude and ability to make others around 

her perk up is part of what will make her 

an outstanding leader, says Koch.

“She is a refreshing personality, and 

because she’s achieved so much here, I think 

she’ll always remember this deployment 

and the people here,” he says. “It’s always 

hard to see a really good Marine ... leave 

because watching them be successful is 

such a great thing.”

Koch, who has been in the Marine 

Corps for more than 19 years, says he 

Farewell

Marine

Joint Task Force Guantanamo says goodbye 

to its one and only female Marine. 

Story by Spc. Meredith Vincent

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand
| Mission The Wire | Page 11

believes Thomas shows promise for the 

future of the Corps.

“As long as she continues on the path 

she’s on, I think she will have a lot of 

opportunities come by that she’s prepared 

for,” he explains. “I think that’s what’s going 

to make her successful; if she continues to 

strive to be the best Marine she can be, 

everything else will fall into place.”

For her part, Thomas is taking notes 

and waiting for the day when she holds 

a leadership position. She said thanks to 

this deployment, her idea of what true 

leadership is has been sculpted even 

more.

“Since I’ve been here, there’s been a lot 

of different leadership and they all lead 

differently,” she shrugs. “I’ve had good 

experiences and bad ones. But when I’m 

ready to lead my younger Marines, I’ll now 

know what not to do and what to do.”

Thomas’ ultimate goal is to become 

a drill instructor, a desire fueled mostly 

by her own instructors who left a lasting 

impression with the young Marine.

“They were just so strong,” she 

remembers, recalling the women who led 

her through boot camp on Parris Island. 

“They let nothing get to them, nothing.”

That resiliency is echoed as Thomas 

gives her advice to female Marines just 

getting started.

“You better work your ass off,” she says 

plainly. “There will be a lot of challenges 

and you’ve got to be strong enough to 

handle it. You’re going to work ten times 

harder than you think you will.”

“I think she’s ready to lead Marines,” 

commends Koch. “Although she’s not an 

NCO, I would say she’s already leading by 

example.”

Thomas knows there is more to learn 

beyond Guantanamo Bay. She is aware that, 

despite her own words, she can sometimes 

take people’s helpful words too hard.

“I take constructive criticism with a 

heavy heart,” she admits. “But I’ve gotten 

a lot better. I can’t let a lot of things get to 

me like they have before. I’ve got to be as 

strong mentally as I am now physically.”

As she prepares to board the ferry for 

the very last time, Thomas will be thinking 

ahead, to her home station, to possibly a 

promotion, to her future. And as she sails 

away, Joint Task Force Guantanamo will 

say goodbye to their only female Marine, 

the lance corporal with the wide, sunny 

smile. 

“I can’t let a lot 

of things get to 

me like they have 

before. I’ve got 

to be as strong 

mentally as I am 

now physically.”
The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

A Night Out

Members of Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration 

Team intrigue onlookers with blowing bubbles and balloons as a way to relieve 

stressors during a demonstration held at the 28th Annual National Night Out, Tuesday.

Naval Station Guantanamo’s Security Office held their 28th 

annual National Night Out Tuesday evening, in an effort to 

heighten awareness, strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts and build neighborhood camaraderie. 

For Master-at-Arms 2nd Class John Lewis, who joined NAVSTA 

Security in 2009, it was a personal goal to coordinate this year’s event 

and include as many commands and community organizations as 

possible. 

“It is good to see everyone in a mellow climate interacting with 

everyone,” said Lewis, NAVSTA vehicle registration and traffic court 

clerk. 

While more than an estimated 300 people participated in last year’s 

NNO event, Lewis believes the addition of the Navy Dive Locker, 

Navy Federal Credit Union and music by Sounds Like Chicken drew 

more people this year. 

Also on hand at the 28th Annual NNO were personnel from Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo’s Emergency Medical Team; The American 

Red Cross; Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team; the FBI; Marine 

Security Force Guantanamo; NAVSTA’s Fire Fighting Department; and 

Navy Federal Credit Union. Refreshments were served by members of 

the NAVSTA Security Department. 

“Seeing everyone come out and meet first responders in this 

environment instead of during an emergency gives the community a 

sense of calm,” said Lewis.

NAVSTA’s Fire Department provided several stations to demonstrate 

proper usage of the fire hose, fire extinguisher and use for each type of 

fire truck housed on NAVSTA. Fire Inspector Clifford Foley explained 

the proper use of a fire extinguisher to adults and children using a 

controlled burn pan to simulate a grease fire in a house. The display 

was an effort to increase community awareness of both emergency 

response elements and the importance of fire prevention. 

“We’re here to show the community what we do on a day-to-day 

basis,” said Foley, who manned the fire hose during the exhibit. “We’re 

mainly here for fire prevention.”

Another showstopper of the evening was a performance by 

Security’s Redman. A member of the Security department donned the 

Redman suit and challenged children to attack him with batons dipped 

in lightweight foam. The interaction with the Redman intended to show 

the community how security members simulate situational training.

“I have lived in Guantanamo since 2008 with my four daughters and 

this is a celebration of the community becoming one,” said Andrew 

DeLaRocha, Guantanamo FBI director. “The days of people staying in 

their homes and not getting involved in the community are over. With 

the celebrations like these we can learn to take care of each other.”

Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 

1st Class Erica Gardner
| Feature The Wire | Page 13

A Naval Station Guantanamo Security member dons the Redman suit and takes blows from community 

children during a demonstration held at the 28th Annual National Night Out, Tuesday, while (above 

left) Naval Station Guantanamo Fire Fighter Andre Hemans assists a young member of the community 

in properly handling a fire hose and (above right) Naval Station Guantanamo Fire Inspector Clifford 

Foley explains to children how a fire extinguisher functions when putting out household fires.
On The Deck

Inside the Jar

LOS ANGELES – Nearly 

40,000 baseball fans watched 

the Leap Frogs, the U.S. Navy 

parachute demonstration team, 

perform during the opening ceremony of a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game as part of Los 

Angeles’ inaugural Navy Week, 

Saturday. 

The Leap Frogs, composed 

of parachuting experts from 

Naval Special Warfare, also performed at Santa Monica Pier 

and Knott’s Berry Farm July 31 

and made an appearance at the 

Summer X-Games in support of 

Navy Week.

The Dodgers welcomed approximately 1,000 Sailors into the 

stadium to celebrate the Dodgers’ Navy Appreciation Day, 

which included the Leap Frogs, 

the Navy Band, a local sea cadet 

unit, Sailors from several Navy 

ships and a special appearance 

by the Vice Chief of Naval 

Operations Adm. Jonathan W. 

Greenert. Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Isaiah 

Maring, assigned to the Leap 

Frogs, carried the game ball as 

he parachuted in and presented it 

to Greenert, who threw out the 

first pitch. 

“It was fabulous!” said Heather Herndon, a Dodgers baseball 

fan. “It was really exciting watching them come down and the 

stream of colors was really fun. 

It’s great to see all of the (Navy 

dress white uniforms) sitting in 

the stadium all in one place. It 

makes you really proud.” 

The Leap Frogs presented 

a signed, framed photograph 

of the team to former DodgLeap Frogs parachute during first L.A. Navy week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st 

Class Michelle Turner

DELARAM II, Afghanistan – 

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 turned up the 

heat for new Afghan National 

Army firefighters during the final 

evaluation of a basic firefighting 

course at Forward Operating 

Base Delaram II, Afghanistan, 

Friday.

Throughout the course, the 

Marines instructed the Afghan 

troops on fire truck operations, 

extinguishing fires, and rescue 

saw techniques. The course was 

taught in three classes, spread 

over three weeks. Each class 

covered a different portion of 

the training.

“During the first two classes 

we showed them how to use all 

the equipment on the fire truck 

and gave them hands-on time, to 

better learn how to use it. There 

are a lot of different switches and 

Afghan soldiers blaze ahead with support from US Marines

gauges to operate both inside 

and outside of the fire truck,” 

said Sgt. Justin D. Rankin, the 

MWSS-272’s noncommissioned 

officer in charge of aircraft rescue firefighters at the forward 

operating base. “We would teach 

the new firefighters the basic operations and then they would go 

back and practice what they had 

learned.” 

For the final evaluation on 

July 26, two different stations 

were prepared to test the new 

firefighter’s skills. At the first station, the Afghan National Army 

firefighters extinguished a fire 

using the fire truck. At the other, 

Afghan soldiers used a rescue 

saw to cut through a large piece 

of metal to simulate possible real 

world scenarios. 

“Most of firefighting is learning by experience. You’ll get the 

basic courses but then you just 

have to do it to get better at it,” 

said Cpl. Kevin A. Johnson, an 

aircraft rescue firefighter with 

MWSS-272 who helped instruct 

the course, and a native of Rustburg, Va. “From what I saw today they have got a really good 

start and they’re going to do 

great.”

Rankin, a native of Springfield, Ill., said the new firefighters will now help put out fires in 

Delaram district and surrounding areas located in southwestern 

Afghanistan’s Nimruz province.

“They did really well on the 

final examination,” said Rankin. 

“I am very confident that they 

will be able to perform the skills 

we taught them.”

With the course complete, 

Rankin explained the Afghan 

firefighters can now take the experience and knowledge they’ve 

obtained during the training 

and share it with other Afghan 

troops.

“I’ve learned a lot and I want 

to say thank you to the Marines 

for all the time they spent here 

with us,” said Sgt. Abdul Kitaliq, 

a new firefighter with the Afghan 

National Army. “We are learning 

these trades for the future and 

the good of Afghanistan. We’ll 

make sure to use teamwork and 

share these skills with the others.”

“Firefighters, no matter what 

the nationality, are all a band of 

brothers. We understand each 

other and we work together 

greatly,” said Rankin. “It boiled 

down to just that. The brotherhood of firefighters came out 

between us all.”

Connect with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) 

throughout the deployment. Stay 

up to date with the latest 2nd 

MAW (Fwd.) news, photos and 

videos at http://www.facebook.

com/2ndmawfwd.

By Cpl. Samantha Arrington

The At Your Service | Wire | Page 14

ers manager and Baseball Hall 

of Famer, Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda took time to chat with the 

team after the presentation and 

expressed his deep appreciation 

for the military and everything 

its members do for Americans 

every day. 

The Leap Frogs’ performances 

at Santa Monica Pier and Knott’s 

Berry Farm were just as exciting 

and the team was met by a cheering crowd of spectators at both 

venues. Sea cadets from two local 

units provided security at Santa 

Monica Pier event and helped the 

Leap Frogs pack their parachutes 

after the jump. It was a great opportunity for young, future Sailors 

to meet veteran Sailors – some 

with more than 20 years of Naval 

service. 

Chief Warrant Officer (SEAL) 

Keith Pritchett, Leap Frogs officer-in-charge, said that having the 

opportunity to meet people and 

show them appreciation is a great 

part about Navy Weeks. “The variety of jump locations allowed us 

to get out and meet thousands of 

people all over Los Angeles,” said 

Pritchett. “It’s about the people 

and showing them who their Navy 

men and women are.”

Los Angeles Navy Week is 

one of 21 Navy Weeks scheduled across the country this year. 

Navy Weeks are designed to 

show Americans the investment 

they make in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do 

not have a significant Navy presence. The Leap Frogs are based 

in San Diego and perform aerial 

parachute demonstrations across 

America in support of Naval 

Special Warfare and Navy Recruiting. 
On the Wing

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, – Afghan National Army soldiers 

partnered with Czech Republic and U.S. Soldiers for a two-day mission 

in the Charkh district of Logar province, July 13-14.

The U.S. contingent is composed of Soldiers from Company D, 2nd 

Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment’s Task Force Storm. Charkh district 

had been busy with insurgent activity, so the Soldiers knew what to 

expect going into the mission. 

“The goal for the operation was to conduct a movement to clear 

known NAIs (Named Areas of Interest), interrogate some possible 

cache sites and engage the population in an area that coalition forces do 

not frequent,” said Capt. Morgan Maier, D Co. commander. 

Afghan National Army, or ANA, soldiers helped coalition forces 

with talking to villagers as they cleared houses in Qai-a-i-Amruddin 

and Argan. ANA 2nd Lt. Pakita Zaher of Headquarters Company, 1st 

Kandak, 4th Brigade, 203rd ANA corps, said his men were ready for the 

tough mission because of past experience. 

“All of my soldiers have a lot of experience with searching houses and 

talking to people. Between my sergeant and my battalion commander, 

they have a lot of experience,” said Zaher. “When we went into the 

village (Argon), all of the ANA (soldiers) knew who were the bad guys 

and who we needed to talk to get information. They said, ‘I see no one, 

there is no Taliban.’” 

Having to work around obstacles is nothing new for Maier and his 

Soldiers. Knowing what to ask to get the right answers helps in keeping 

villagers and his people safe. 

“Typically in most villages that I have gone into they will mention 

that everyone is a farmer and that nothing is going on in the village,” said 

Maier. “In some cases, I think it is fear of reprisals. They think if they say 

something, the Taliban are going to come and kill them in the night. It’s 

pretty common. They speak in metaphors a lot, using analogies, and you 

have to read through them.” 

With some locals living in fear, they were relieved with the work of 

ANA and coalition forces when it came to searching houses and treating 

the local people with respect. 

“The villagers are happy and talk to us when they see we are the 

ones leading mission(s),” said Zaher. “When we were searching today, 

the civilians said we are their brothers. You can come in and search our 

houses.

“When we searched the house, the U.S. and ANA (Soldiers) worked 

together, which was good for the villagers to see,” continued Zaher. 

Maier was pleased with the efforts of all the forces involved during 

the mission -- the ANA, the Czechs and his own Soldiers. 

“From an ANA standpoint, the mission was a success because 

Afghan, coalition forces partner in east Afghanistan

By Spc. Brian Glass

we were partnered. There are certain things that occurred during the 

mission that hadn’t really successfully occurred before now,” said Maier. 

“We partnered platoon for platoon.”

Maier said he thought his Soldiers performed well during the 

partnered mission. Given their vast experience operating within Logar 

province, Co. D Soldiers’ adeptness should come as no surprise. 

“Delta Company is the only company in this battalion that has fought 

in every battle space in each of the four districts “ Baraki Barak, Charkh, 

Kharwar and Azra -- so they are pretty proficient about knowing what 

they need to do. 

“We’re also really pleased with the combined effort between us and 

the Czechs,” continued Maier. “I think, in Afghanistan, we have a really 

good working relationship when we go out on operations. They are 

definitely motivated and willing.” 

Maier came away from the mission knowing the operation pushed 

the ANA farther along the road to being successful in taking the lead and 

securing Afghanistan for the long term. 

“A lot of what we were trying to do is build ANSF (Afghan National 

Security Forces) capacity, so you can build the army and just little things 

like teaching them little steps so they can stand on their own,” said 

Maier. 

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy 

received top-10 rankings in most available professors, low drug and 

alcohol use, and best school administration, according to The Best 376 

Colleges book, released today by Princeton Review.

The Princeton Review ranks the Air Force Academy’s faculty fifth 

in the nation in “most accessible professors” and ranked the Academy’s 

administration as No. 9 in the nation in “School Runs Like Butter.”

At the U.S. Air Force Academy, the student-faculty ratio is 8:1, 

average class size is 20, 100 percent of the faculty are full-time and no 

classes are taught by teaching assistants. Several academic departments 

here also staff extra instruction laboratories throughout the academic 

day, with at least one professor available each class period to help cadets 

tackle questions arising from their latest lessons. The Princeton Review 

ranked the Air Force Academy number one in professor availability in 

Air Force Academy ranked among nation’s best

By USAF Public Affairs its 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Best Colleges editions, and number four 

in the same category for its 2010 Best Colleges edition.

The Academy also came out in several other top-20 rankings in the 

nation, including:

- Don’t Inhale - 1st

- Got Milk? - 4th

- Scotch and Soda, Hold The Scotch - 5th

- School Runs Like Butter - 9th

- Stone-Cold Sober Schools - 13th

The Air Force Academy was also selected as one of the Best 

Western Colleges on the book’s regional college list. The Princeton 

Review features the Air Force Academy and other local colleges in 

The Best 376 Colleges, the new 2012 edition of its annual best colleges 

guide. The guide utilizes online student surveys in 62 categories to 

assess the academic, administrative, social, extracurricular and qualityof-life aspects at American colleges. 

In The Trenches

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

Afghan National Army 2nd Lt. Pakita Zaher (left), commander of Headquarters 

Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Kandak, talks to the village elder of Argan in 

Charkh district during a partnered operation that included ANA, U.S. and Czech 

Republic Soldiers, July 13-14. -photo by Spc. Brian Glass
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

05 06 07 08 09 10 11

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

Priest

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m. 

The Conspirator 

(PG-13) 10 p.m. 

Mr. Popper’s 

Penguins

(PG) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(PG- 13) 8 p.m.

Horrible Bosses

(R) 8 p.m.

Pirates of the 

Caribbean: On 

Stranger Tides

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Harry Potter 

and the Deathly 

Hallows Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Judy Moody

(PG) 8 p.m.

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

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

Army officer (Tommy Lee Jones, always a 

pleasure) who thinks he’s nothing but a circus 

act, a Nazi psycho in dire need of a facial (“The 

Matrix’s” Mr. Smith, Hugo Weaving, who has 

made a career out of being a gnarly villain) 

and, perhaps most frightening of all, beautiful 

British officer, Maj. Peggy Carter, played by 

newcomer Hayley Atwell. 

Even as refreshing as Evans is, Atwell 

is more so. Those of you who scorned my 

“Transformers 3” review: listen up. This is 

what a superhero’s lady friend is supposed to 

be like. Tough, alluring, with brains as well as 

beauty, she demonstrates female leads in maledriven blockbusters don’t have to be all bosom 

and Botox. Scoff if you must, but she’s a hell 

of a lot more captivating than Rosie PosieWhatsherface. I’ve said my peace. 

Does “Captain America” have the flash 

and wit that “Iron Man” did? No. Does it 

have the grit and emotional wallop that “The 

Dark Knight” left us with? Definitely not. 

But it also doesn’t make me want to vomit up 

my popcorn like “The Green Lantern” did, 

making it a middle-dweller – a satisfying, oldfashion audience pleaser that marks another 

chapter closer to the spectacle that is “The 

Avengers.” And to that I say, “Yes, please!” A 

healthy three and a half banana rats for you, 

Captain America. Godspeed. 

Spc. Meredith Vincent

PG-13

124 min.

Mr. Popper’s 

Penguins

(PG) 8 p.m.

Horrible Bosses

(R) 10 p.m.

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG- 13) 8 p.m.

Pirates of the 

Caribbean: On 

Stranger Tides

(last showing)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Priest

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Conspirator

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Harry Potter 

and the Deathly 

Hallows Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Super 8

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Let’s be honest - the most thrilling part of 

“Captain America: The First Avenger” doesn’t 

actually take place during the movie. It’s after 

the credits have rolled and fanboys are given 

their first look at the long-promised “Avengers” 

movie, featuring not one, not two, but at least 

half a dozen drool-worthy superheroes. The 

group I was sitting next to had a collective 

geek-spasm afterward. It was partly enduring, 

partly bemusing and one hundred percent 

entertaining. Geeks are so adorable. 

That’s not to say “Captain America” isn’t a 

fully realized, solid superhero movie, because 

it is. However, it’s like the chocolate part of an 

Oreo - it’s a necessary, albeit delicious, part of 

the comic book cookie. 

I remember the geekdom stratosphere was 

hesitant to crown Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, 

the Soldier wannabe who goes from meek to 

mighty thanks to an experimental procedure 

during World War II. Of course, moviegoers 

didn’t have much to go on when sizing Evans 

up, save for his participation in the very unfantastic “Fantastic Four” movies as the Human 

Torch. Their doubts were needless, fortunately, 

as Evans is warm, funny and resilient in his 

first lead role. And thanks to some baffling 

cutting edge technology, Evans face is melded 

onto what appears to be a prepubescent 10 

year old for the first half hour, enabling his 

transformation into a beefed-up hunk of 

muscle much more believable. 

Along his journey into superhero legend, 

Steve must first go up against a grizzly old 

Troopers redeem free 

hotel accommodations
WASHINGTON — While Iraq’s 

government dithers over whether American 

troops should stay beyond the end of this 

year, the accelerating pace of the drawdown 

is making it increasingly difficult for the 

| News you can Use The Wire | Page 17

United States to reverse course if called on 

to maintain operations in the country.

“There’s a momentum in the process 

once you start closing sites down ... and you 

start moving troops and contractors out of 

Iraq,” Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Richardson, 

who oversees logistics for U.S. Forces Iraq, 

Iraq hedges as U.S. drawdown moves swiftly

Stars and Stripes

U.S. releases documents on botched 1961 U.S. invasion of Cuba

The United States has made public documents on the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of 

Cuba, describing U.S. negotiations with some other regional governments on support for the 

botched mission.

The documents were released this week by George Washington University’s National Security 

Archive. In April, the Archive filed a lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency to secure 

the declassification of five volumes of the official history of the invasion. One volume remains 

classified.

The documents detail U.S. efforts to maintain Guatemala’s cooperation for the mission. The 

CIA used Guatemala to train Cuban exiles for the invasion, which was aimed at toppling thenCuban President Fidel Castro. Two years ago, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom apologized 

to Cuba for his country’s involvement in the invasion.

The Archive also says the documents detail information regarding CIA negotiations with 

Nicaragua and Panama for the invasion. They describe the agency’s efforts to obtain a Nicaraguan 

air base and port facility from which to launch the anti-Castro strike force against Cuba. The 

documents also say Panama was involved marginally in the anti-Castro effort. 

On April 17, 1961, about 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles landed on Cuba’s southern coast in 

hopes of sparking an uprising. Mr. Castro was warned of the pending invasion and had ample 

time to prepare his forces. Most of the exiles were arrested and spent time in prison on the 

island.

Then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy took responsibility for the disastrous invasion. Many 

Cuban exiles blamed the botched operation on President Kennedy, saying he did not provide 

enough support.

Separately, the newly-released documents describe how in 1960, the government of thenGuatemalan President Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes faced a series of attacks from Guatemalan rebel 

forces and asked the United States for napalm to wipe out the rebels. The request was refused for 

technical reasons, but the U.S. provided flyovers to help quell the unrest.

Voice of America News Service

told reporters Wednesday.

About half of 94 U.S. military sites 

slated for closure at the start of Operation 

New Dawn in September 2010 have already 

been shut down, while another seven will be 

closed this month, he said. The site closures 

schedule isn’t designed to preserve bases 

needed if the U.S. stays. The mission now is 

simply to be out of the country by the yearend deadline.

“We’re on a glide path based on drawing 

everything down to zero, because that’s the 

orders we’ve been given,” he said.

The pace of equipment disposal is 

also picking up, Richardson said. Prior to 

September 2010, the military had given Iraq 

$157 million dollars of excess materiel — 

commercial equipment like desks, vehicles 

and electrical generators. In the 11 months 

since then, $247 million worth of equipment 

has been handed over to Iraqi authorities.

Excess equipment, Richardson said, is 

defined as usable but too worn out to transfer 

elsewhere within U.S. Central Command or 

given to other U.S. government entities in 

Iraq. The State Department, for instance, 

has so far received $78 million worth of 

equipment that is in better shape that the 

materiel transferred to Iraq.

The longer Iraq waits to answer the U.S. 

on troop presence, the more sites are closed 

down. That means more free equipment for 

Iraq, and perhaps a more difficult task for 

the U.S. to fully equip its own forces that 

might ultimately remain in the country.

Thousands of vehicles and equipment that have returned from Iraq wait to be 

retrograded in a 3rd Army lot in Kuwait. The base receives hundreds of trailer-sized 

containers a week, filled with everything from medical supplies to ammunition. 

- U.S. Army photo by Spc. Monte Swift 
Mind, Body & Soul

American heroes:

On the path to superdom

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

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

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 18

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call 2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

Air Force Tech Sgt. Casey Glass

Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, Coast 

Guard – each servicemember independently 

vowed to guarantee truth, justice, freedom 

and the American way for the average 

citizen, no matter the cost. That is the 

essence of an American Superhero: selfless, valiant, excellent and courageous. 

The Superhero must be willing and able to 

leap tall buildings, pull an injured comrade 

out while under fire, endure stressors and 

stand up against all adversaries. Readiness 

requires physical fitness – there is no choice 

– and it must be integrated into daily life.

WHAT IS MY TASK?

Physical fitness equates movement 

to accomplish a specific task or goal. A 

Superhero asks, “What is my specific task 

or goal?” Overall the common goal is to 

protect. With that in mind, how does the 

Superhero effectively arrive at his or her 

goal?

SCENARIO:

The average human male weighs 

between 165 and 175 pounds without a 

kit. Add a kit to that and you have roughly 

220 pounds. You may, in your Superhero 

career, have to drag 220 or more pounds 

through mud, debris and the onslaught of 

enemy laser beams.

PREPARATION:

Preparing for such an adventure gives 

way neither for the weary nor the weakminded. However, I encourage you to 

begin your adventure by visiting one of 

the local fitness centers. There, you will 

find a room filled with weights and bars. 

To the average eye these items appear dull 

and drab, but to the Superhero they are 

treasures to unfold unlimited amounts of 

strength. 

All young Superheroes need a mentor. 

Likewise, every old Superhero needs a 

protégé. Do not be afraid to ask questions 

– the fitness staff or other Superheroes 

will be able to assist you on your journey. 

Remember, pain does not equal progress. 

Pain in any aspect causes the body to 

produce cortisol. Cortisol, although an 

extremely vital hormone, will only hinder 

progress. Stress-free weight lifting will 

have you pulling 220 pounds in no time. 

CHALLENGE:

Remember: the Superhero is a special 

breed, placed on this planet to take on what 

the average citizen can or will not. Ready 

at a moment’s notice, protector of the 

American way, humble, strong and valiant 

– challenge yourself to be the Superhero 

the American people need you to be. 
| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

Snapshot: Inside the camps

Left: – Detainees at 

Camp 6, Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo 

Bay, Cuba, participate 

in the afternoon group 

prayer, Saturday. JTF 

Guantanamo supports 

individual and group 

prayer in accordance 

to Muslim tradition for 

all detainees. - photo by 

Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class 

Kilho Park

Below: A Hospital 

Corpsman attached 

to the Joint Medical 

Group reviews his 

supply inventory at the 

medical facility inside 

Camp 5, Monday. 

- photo by Army Sgt. 

Mathieu Perry
FIRE TEAMS

Marines attached to Marine Corps Security Force Company C, 5th Platoon, 

return after finishing a simulated patrol during a live fire exercise at Grenadilo 

Range on Guantanamo Bay, Wednesday. 

- photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

BEAUTY ABOVE

The sun rises over Camp Delta, Thursday.

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

SKY HIGH

Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Chief Andrew Meyer works his way to the top 

of the last challenge on the Marine obstacle course, Thursday. Marines pushed 

J2 personnel through the two hours of obstacles to challenge their strength, 

agility and endurance. - photo by Army Spc. Kelly Gary

TheJTF

TACKLING OBSTACLES

Sailors attached to the Joint Information Group pull a tire on the Marine Hill obstacle course at Naval Station Guantanamo, Thursday. 

- photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry