Volume 12, Issue 38 Friday, September, 9, 2011

Who’s got the blues?

Bluzapalooza shakes up Ferry Landing

Softball championships

The Vigilant Warriors vs Team MANAAF:

Who came out on top

PLUS:

Men of Faith

Gospel group brings 

spirituality to the island
Cc

ommand

orner

The Wire | Page 2

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force 

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

inform and educate the Troopers of JTF Guantanamo through 

news, features, command guidance, sports and entertainment. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

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

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE 

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

Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Command Corner

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3499

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: Memphis-based musicians Billy Gibson and guitarist Elliot Ives helped bring the blues 

to Naval Station Guantanamo, Saturday, as the musical entertainment for Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation’s end of summer blowout, Bluzapalooza. – photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

“Communication: In our society and in the work place, lack of communication 

inhibits creativity, ideas and effective practices and relationships. There are three 

key elements to effective communication: 1. The Sender – the person sending the 

message; 2. The Message – the information that is trying to be conveyed; and 

3. The Receiver – the person receiving the message. The Sender must make sure 

what’s being said is understood correctly by the Receiver. If the Receiver does not 

understand, they must ask the Sender for clarity in the message. This takes work 

by both parties.” –Anonymous

Effective two-way communication is essential to any organization’s 

success. In order to consistently accomplish the mission, our 

subordinates must know what we expect of them – I call this 

“Expectations Management.” Make your subordinates feel like part 

of the team by keeping them informed and involved. Write an email 

to them and ensure there is clarity in your guidance and messages. 

Allow them to use their initiative. Capitalize on their unique skills and 

backgrounds. 

To me, communicating is the start to building a rapport with an 

individual. Counseling is communicating – setting your expectations 

as a leader. When counseling people, you can give orders, directives 

and instructions from your position in the organization. However, it 

is not until the leader goes down into the depths of the organization 

and facilitates an informal counseling session that he or she will get 

attention and subordinates and their peers will talk. In this session, you 

want to start out asking the subordinate the following:

Where are you from?

Where did you grow up?

Find interesting topics you can discuss with your Trooper.

We have various techniques from all different services at our 

disposal, yet they are bureaucratic in nature and basically become a 

paper drill to say “I counseled the individual.” This paperwork is 

nonsense, not leadership! As leaders, we must get in the trenches of 

our organizations to see what’s actually being done. We think we know, 

but contrary to belief, unless you make that trip, you really don’t know 

what ground truth is. 

As leaders, we must lead by example. We need to effectively 

communicate as human beings and work toward the goals established 

in our organizations.

I want to leave you with this quote from the former Secretary of 

Defense, Mr. Robert M. Gates, presented at the United States Naval 

Academy Commencement on Friday, May 27, 2011 as follows:

“A final quality of leadership, I believe, is simply common decency; 

treating those around you – and, above all, your subordinates – with 

fairness and respect. An acid test of leadership is how you treat those 

you outrank, or as President Truman once said, “how you treat those 

who can’t talk back.” 

Trooper to Trooper featuring

Master Chief Petty Officer

Dwayne White

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying 

the scenery when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He 

remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead 

for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side 

of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was 

broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. As he stood before it, 

he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl 

and the street leading to the gate appeared to be pure gold.

As he and the dog walked towards the gate, he saw a man at a desk 

to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, 

where are we?”

“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered. 

“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.

“Of course, sir.” The man gestured and the gate began to open. 

“Can my friend come in, too?” the traveler asked.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets,” was the response. 

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward 

the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. 

After another long walk he came to a dirt road, which led through a 

farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. As he approached 

the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree, reading a book.

“Excuse me,” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water?”

“Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there,” the man said, pointing to a 

place that couldn’t be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in.”

“How about my friend?” the traveler gestured to the dog. 

“There should be a bowl by the pump,” replied the man. They went 

through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand 

pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the bowl, gave it to the dog, then took a long 

drink himself. When they both had quenched their thirst, he and the 

dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting 

for them.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is Heaven,” he answered. 

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

THINK BEFORE YOU POST!

Are your Facebook friends really your friends?

Do you have more than 100 friends on Facebook? More than 200? How about 500? It might seem unusual to 

some of us but there are people with over 1000 “friends” on social networking sites. Now think about what 

information you give to these friends: your address, phone number, birthday, names of family members and 

other friends. This may seem harmless on the surface but to someone whom you met once and then became 

“friends” with, they might have other uses for your information. Crimes could be committed using your 

information. Your house could be robbed, your identity could be stolen or credit could be obtained in your 

name. You need to protect yourself and your information. Next time you’re online, take a good hard look at 

your “friends” list and ask yourself if you would really trust all the people on that list with your information. 

Senior Enlisted Leader, Task Force Platinum

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road 

said that was Heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold streets and pearly gates? 

Nope, that’s Hell,” the man said matter-of-factly. 

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that,” 

replied the traveler.

“No. I can see how you might think so, but we’re just happy they 

screen out the folks who’ll leave their best friends behind.”
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

News from the Bay Stories and reporting by

 Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand 

and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Golden Monkey - newly

formed local talent band

The newly formed group Golden 

Monkey will perform every Wednesday at 

the Tiki Bar.

The group is led by Chris Dickson, 

a multi-talented musician who also 

organized and played for the band Sounds 

Like Chicken.

The new band will perform popular 

mainstream songs and Caribbean music.

They make their debut Sept. 14. For 

more information, call x75604.

Men and women’s fall

basketball league

Don’t forget to register by Sept. 13 

for the fall men’s and women’s basketball 

league.

A coach’s meeting will be held Sept. 15 

and the league will start the week of Sept. 

19. 

All games will be played to the five on 

five regulation indoor rules.

The league is open to ages 16 and up.

For more information, call x2113.

Marriage enrichment 

seminar at Chapel

Treat your relationship to an 

informative Marriage Enrichment 

Seminar at the Trooper Chapel from 9 

a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday.

The event, hosted by the 525th 

Military Police Battalion, is open to all 

military and civilian personnel to include 

married, single and hopeful.

Joint Task Force’s three chaplains will 

speak at the seminar, offering insight 

and guidance on the ups and downs of 

married life.

Army Capt. Garland Mason, 525th 

chaplain, said marriage is one of his 

favorite topics to speak about.

“Almost everything in life works 

against your marriage,” Mason explained. 

“So, if you don’t work at keeping your 

marriage strong and healthy, the natural 

tendency is for it to weaken and die.” 

Refreshments will be served at the 

seminar. For more information, contact 

Mason at x2453.

Reef Raiders meeting

with chili dinner served

Join other dive enthusiasts at the 

monthly Reef Raiders meeting, Sept. 13, 

at the Reef Raiders Club located between 

the Naval Station Hospital and Marine 

Hill.

The gathering will kick off with a chili 

dinner at 6:30 p.m and will run about forty-five minutes total.

 Group members can purchase two $15 

air cards and non-paying members can 

purchase one for $15. 

Jessie Keenan, the club treasurer, said 

the club was founded in 1952 and she 

had the opportunity to meet the original 

members.

“Back then they used to actually sell 

coral to raise money for a compressor,” 

Keenan shared. “But, now we are all about 

conservation and saving the reefs.”

Keenan said the club is open to everybody and is always looking for new ideas 

Run for the Fallen 

2011 at Denich Gym

Remember the fallen by participating 

in Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s 5K 

Freedom Run, Sept. 11 at Denich Gym.

The race starts at 5:30 p.m. and the first 

250 people to sign up will receive a free 

T-shirt.

There will be a drawing for a laptop 

computer and camelbacks sponsored by the 

Guantanamo Bay Navy Exchange.

Cheering stations will be at Deer Point, 

SCSI and W.T Sampson Elementary 

School.

For more information, call x77262.

Yoga offered every 

Sunday at Marine Hill

Guantanamo Bay’s Youth Center is 

sponsoring a yoga class on Sundays from 

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Marine Hill 

group fitness room. The class will cost $20 

for 10 classes.

“It’s a perfect way to relax your mind and 

body while getting in shape and becoming 

more flexible,” said Gulsen Beyatli, certified 

yoga instructor. 

A yoga instructor for ten years, Beyatli 

sees the benefits not only to her mind and 

body but also in most of the students, to 

include men that attend her sessions. It’s 

not just for women she says.

“I can’t believe how much this class has 

changed my body and my life. I feel less 

stress and people have said I look more 

tone,” said Tracey Walker a Guantanamo 

Bay resident.

Beyatli’s class is called Yoga for Life. It’s 

a combination of different types of yoga 

techniques.

“My class is therapeutic, strengthening, 

healing and enables your mind to become 

more focused,” explained Beyatli. 

Yoga is an excellent form of relaxation 

and exercise to enhance every day life.

For more information, call Melissa 

Voshell at x77491 or the Child Development 

Center at x3664.

and fresh faces.

“We like the mixture of people and 

want to do club dives and events together. 

We sell T-shirts and coins - anything to 

keep diving alive. We want diving to stay 

in GTMO, no matter what.”

The club is open Monday through 

Thursday from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday 

from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. 

- 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Base belly dancing class

temporarily put on hold

Guantanamo Bay’s belly dancing class 

normally held on Sundays at the Marine Hill 

group fitness room from 4-6 p.m. is taking a 

break.

A date has not yet been set for when classes 

will resume. Residents should keep an eye out 

for announcements. 

For questions, contact Denich Gym at 

x77262.

trooper

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 7 years

Hobbies: golf, soccer, 

softball, most sports and 

outdoor activities

Pet peeves: people who 

complain and don’t see the 

big picture

Next goal: Master’s degree 

in Management Science

Advice to junior Troopers: 

“Never quit, no matter how 

hard it looks.”

| News The Wire | Page 5

On the opposite side of the island, 

across the Caribbean Sea, is the northern 

tip of South America. Occupying most of 

that space is Venezuela, a Spanish country 

bordering Colombia, Guyana and Brazil. 

It was here that Aviation Machinist’s 

Mate 2nd Class Dan Reyes was born and 

raised. And where, as a young man of 20 

years, he said goodbye to make his life in 

the United States. 

“Sometimes people, especially 

young folks, don’t realize the freedoms 

we enjoy in the states,” said Reyes, a 

control supervisor for Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. “I do.”

Determined to overcome the language 

and cultural barrier, Reyes signed on the 

dotted line and became an American 

servicemember. When asked why he 

chose the Navy, he simply gestures to the 

great, blue ocean, spread out as far as the 

eye can see. To a kid with a bleak future, 

that ocean was all he needed. 

Reyes has been in the Navy for seven 

years now. He’s seen places like Greece, 

France, Dubai and Italy. He said joining 

the Navy has opened up exciting new 

opportunities he could never have 

expected. 

“I traveled when I was a kid, but when 

you’re a kid, you don’t know what’s going 

on!” he laughed. 

That upbeat spirit is what impressed his 

leadership, said Master-At-Arms 1st Class 

Frankie Knobloch, Camp 6 leading petty 

officer.

“He’s a stand-up guy,” Knobloch said 

of Reyes. “He’s got a lot of pride in his 

work. He wants to accomplish things, he 

doesn’t want to just lay back and watch 

things unfold.”

Despite a heavy accent denoting his 

heritage, Reyes is still able to step up when 

his fellow Troopers need leadership.

“He takes charge,” noted Knobloch. 

“He makes sure that everybody falls in line 

to get the job done.”

Boots on the Ground

What was your first job?

 “I worked in produce at a grocery 

store. There is nothing like 

bringing a smile to a person’s face 

when they pick up that perfect 

apple that I stacked (stocked) on 

the shelf. It was great.”

Sgt. 1st Class 

Joshua Conwell

“I worked at 911 dispatching. 

It was very interesting. I did it 

for two years and then joined 

the National Guard. I actually 

still do that job when I’m not 

deployed. I love it.”

Gas Turbine 

System Technician 

3rd Class Jon Archuleta

Pfc. 

Megan Adams

“I was a carpet cleaner for my first 

job. There’s nothing like the smell 

of a clean carpet. It leaves a fresh 

smell. I was a carpet master. It was 

our family business.”

“I was a bag boy at Bilo’s, a 

grocery store. I didn’t like it so I 

only stayed for two months and 

then quit.” 

Electronic’s Technician 

3rd Class 

Justin Bell

focus

Petty Officer 2nd Class

 Dan Reyes

see FOCUS , pg. 19
The Wire | Page 6 News |

Story and photos by Mass Communication

 Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Out with the old, in with the new

Troopers attached to Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo attended 

a barbeque and get together 

for a Hail and Farewell at the 

Windjammer Pool, Sept. 2.

Hail and farewell ceremonies 

are informal social gatherings 

meant to say goodbye to outgoing 

personnel and to recognize the 

work they have accomplished as 

well as introduce and welcome 

their successors to the deployment 

and team.

“We acknowledge those who are 

going and their accomplishments 

are recognized,” said Army Staff 

Sgt. Felix Diaz Jr., the new future 

operations manager for J6. “Plus 

with everyone coming in, you get 

to put a face with a name. You 

know who you’re going to be 

working with for the next year 

and that’s pretty exciting.”

Approximately 60 personnel 

have come in to replace their 

counterparts in 14 separate 

departments.

For newcomers to the 

island, there is a sense of high 

expectations and being part of 

something special.

“Select individuals [civilian 

and military] were picked for 

their skills to come over here,” 

said Diaz. “They just don’t pick 

anyone to come here, we were 

screened more than the usual 

deployments.”

While turnover in personnel 

is inevitable, for seasoned JTF 

veteranss the time to redeploy 

back home is a welcome new 

challenge. 

“Its been almost a year away 

from home, so now you have to 

turn the switch to the way it was 

before you got here,” said Sgt. 1st 

Class Stephen A. Burke, protocol 

non-commissioned officer in 

charge for the joint visitors 

bureau. “I will miss certain things 

but at the same time I’m ready to 

say my farewells and move on.”

Hail, farewell BBQ welcomes 

new faces, says goodbye to others

Joint Task Force Deputy Director Army Brigadier General Samuel 

Nichols speaks at JTF’s Hail and Farewell ceremony, Sept. 2, at 

the Windjammer Pool. (below) Troopers help themselves to the 

buffet-style barbecue, provided for all in attendance.

| News The Wire | Page 7

Story and photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Motivated vet tech 

looks past GTMO

Army Staff Sgt. Ardicio Galvao treats a canine patient at Naval 

Station Guantanamo Veterinary Clinic, Tuesday. Galvao is one of two 

veterinary technicians in the Army selected for a Ranger assignment. 

When Army Staff Sgt. Ardicio Galvao 

arrived from Brazil to the United States at age 

14, he spoke zero English and was immersed 

in an unfamiliar world. Despite the obstacles 

of learning a foreign language and trying 

to fit into American culture, Galvao still 

contemplated joining special forces in the 

military, but wasn’t quite sure.

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, he 

was approached by an Army recruiter and 

decided enlisting would be a meaningful way 

to give back. At just 17-years-old, he initially 

wanted to sign up for infantry. His mother 

said no. 

The recruiter persisted and asked Galvao 

what he enjoyed doing. Without hesitation, 

he said he had loved wildlife ever since he 

could remember. Luckily, the Army had a 

position as a veterinary technician open - he 

nabbed it.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with 

animals,” Galvao says. “They had the job so I 

took it. I’m glad it worked out.”

Eight years later, he now serves as the 

non-commissioned officer-in-charge at Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay’s Veterinary Clinic 

and says it’s a unique setting compared to 

working in the states. 

 “The difference here is we provide full 

emergency services, but in the states we don’t 

normally do that type of after-hour service,” 

Galvao explains. “Here we’re on call 24/7, 

have a cell phone on us and we rotate the 

duty every week.”

 Pfc. Kerstin Mundy, a veterinary 

technician, has spent the past 10 months 

working alongside Galvao and says she is 

lucky to have such a great teacher in her 

field.

“He’s laid back and always willing to help,” 

Mundy says. “If I have a question, he’s ready 

to teach me. He’s well-trained and definitely 

passionate.”

Galvao says the veterinary office has 

something to offer no matter what side of 

base Troopers work on.

“We are unique because we have a wealth 

of knowledge about the GTMO wildlife 

and animals that you don’t see everywhere,” 

he points out. “We love to share it with 

everyone.”

The clinic also works with various 

researchers who study Guantanamo Bay’s 

animal populations – a favorite perk of the 

job for Galvao who wasn’t allowed to have 

pets as a kid. 

“I’ve always liked wildlife: snakes, spiders 

and things like that,” Galvao shares. “I would

go out and grab things and bring them into 

the house, without my parents knowing 

of course. After I left home, I finally got a 

dog.”

Along with his love for animals, Galvao 

also has a strong desire for continuous 

achievement and is always looking for his 

next challenge.

“My goal when I got here was to get 

promoted to E-6 and get through the Ranger 

course,” says Galvao. “There was no other 

option for me. I didn’t want to leave here with 

anything less.”

True to form, Galvao made E-6 and 

will be leaving soon to Ranger Selection 

School. However, he isn’t casting his love for 

animals aside. As one of only two veterinary 

technicians in the Army selected for this type 

of assignment, he will be a unique combination 

of Ranger and skilled veterinarian. 

“It’s going to be fast-paced,” Galvao 

explains of his new assignment. “Lots of 

deploying and I won’t be working in a clinic 

anymore. My main mission will be to take care 

of the dogs at the regiment and train handlers 

to provide emergency care for the dogs.”

If he passes the intense three-week Ranger 

training, Galvao will be reassigned to the 75th

Ranger Regiment in Ft. Lewis, Wash.

“I can’t see myself getting the same feeling 

out of doing something in the civilian world 

that I do being in the military,” he admits. 

“Getting to do certain things like I’m about 

to do now keeps me going and motivated!”
The Wire | 

Page 8

Feature |

Story and photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

Guantanamo Bay welcomes a new 

musical group, but not just any talent. 

Men of Faith is a six man, all-male 

Gospel praise team, comprised entirely of 

Joint Task Force members.

The sextet met during the 1 p.m. Gospel 

Worship Service at the Naval Station Chapel 

two months ago and have been harmonizing 

together ever since.

Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Marco Griffin 

works in the JTF Post Office and decided to 

form the group when he realized the church’s 

gospel choir was mainly male members. 

“I started singing when I was really 

young,” said Marco. “I come from a line of 

singers and my dad was a member of my 

church praise team. Everything I’ve learned, 

I’ve learned from my dad and our praise and 

worship leader.” 

The group’s tallest member, Griffin 

naturally leads the other five members during 

rehearsals and performances.

“When you get around people who have 

the same values and morals as you do,” 

Griffin explained, “it makes being friends 

easy. But add musical talent and you have 

Men of Faith.”

Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Vincent 

Bradley, says he grew up mixing his own 

beats and is happy to have found such a 

diverse group to share his talent. 

“We all have different personalities and 

blend together so well,” said Bradley. “You 

know they say opposites attract - we are 

a good definition of it because we have 

our own personalities and it helps us give 

our individuality to make a good blend of 

sounds.”

Bradley remembers the group’s first 

performance and says it’s one he’ll always 

carry with him.

“My most memorable moment is when 

we stepped on stage for the first time and 

sang our first song. The faces on every body 

in the congregation were like, ‘Wow, these 

guys are really doing something!’” 

Another testament to the group’s talent is 

Chris Dickson, a local musician himself, who 

heard the guys singing one day outside his 

office and says he had to meet them.

“They have a nice tight harmony,” 

Dickson commends. “They were covering 

the bass, tenor and lead, not just singing in 

unison. They have talent and you can see their 

passion for it; I think they love to sing.”

The shared passion can be hard to come 

by, said Pvt. Greg Allen, a vocalist for Men 

of Faith who is currently assigned to the 

189th Military Police Company.

“Things like this don’t fall into place out 

of nowhere,” Allen explained. “I was one 

of the original guys and we had a few guys 

come in and drop out, but after praying and 

worshiping and having that faith is when it 

started falling into place and here we are now 

out of nowhere, it wasn’t planned.” 

The band’s other members – Spc. John 

Dupree, assigned to the 525th Military Police 

Battalion, Air Force Staff Sgt. Corey Stokes 

and Army Capt. Jose Martinez, assigned 

to the 124th Military Police Company, each 

agree they couldn’t ask for a better group 

of vocalists and plan to continue working 

together.

“This didn’t happen by mistake,” they say 

in unison. “Amen.”

singing with a

|

FeatureThe Wire | Page 9

Men of Faith, a six member all-male gospel group, poses in front of the Naval Station 

Chapel during a rehearsal, Sept. 1. (from left) Air Force Staff Sgt. Corey Stokes, 

Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Marco Griffin, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Vincent 

Bradley, Pvt. Greg Allen, Spc. John Dupree and (front) Army Capt. Jose Martinez. 
The Wire | Page 10 News | | News The Wire | Page 11

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel 

Gettin’

Bluesy

The Naval Station Guantanamo 

Bay community turned out 

in force Saturday for Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation’s end of 

summer bash, Bluzapalooza. 

Held at Ferry Landing, the event featured 

more than 30 craft booths with wares for 

sale, BBQ sandwiches – along with all 

the fixings - to fill the tummy, games and 

activities for Guantanamo Bay’s younger 

residents and down-home Memphis-style 

blues.

“We wanted to do something different, 

to try some different styles of music,” 

explained MWR Community Activities 

Director Amiee MacDonnell about the 

departure from the normal rock, hip-hop 

and country acts that dominate MWR’s 

concerts.

“I would say it was very successful,” 

an excited MacDonnell stated. “You saw 

plenty of Troopers out there, people 

walking around with their families and dogs 

– just everyone having a good time.”

One such person was naval station 

resident, Lindsey Pullon. Pullon was in 

attendance with her husband, Boatswain’s 

Mate 2nd Class Chris Pullon and their son, 

Josh.

“It was really nice to be able to get out 

and do something as a family,” Pullon 

said. “You know MWR is out there for the 

servicemembers, but to see them putting 

something together the whole family can 

get involved in is good.”

Taking advantage of the diverse offerings 

at the craft fair, Pullon said she bought a 

few items; the family then grabbed some 

dinner and enjoyed the musical offerings 

that kicked off around 7 p.m. 

Providing the hot sounds for the warm 

night was a collection of musicians from 

Memphis, Tenn. fronted by legendary 

harmonica player, Billy Gibson and Candice 

Ivory. For nearly two hours, the band 

wowed the crowd with their blues styling 

while throwing in a bit of rock flavoring 

toward the end of the show.

Following the performance, the band 

stayed near the stage, signing autographs, 

passing out T-shirts and commemorative 

Bluzapalloza coins. In addition to the joint 

frontmen, the band included Elliott Ives, 

Pat Fusco, Blake Rhea and Jeff Burch.

“Coming out here and being able to 

perform for the Troops is one of the best 

gigs we can do,” Gibson said as he took 

a few minutes away from the throngs of 

people seeking autographs.

Since taking the helm as the community 

activity director, MacDonnell said this was 

the first time a blues act visited the naval 

station. She hopes to continue bringing a 

wider variety of acts to the island she said.

“There used to be an annual jazz festival 

held here, so that’s something we’re looking 

into as well as other styles,” MacDonnell 

said.

Regardless of what band comes next, 

MacDonnell was pleased with the evening 

and the support from both the band and 

the community.

Candice Ivory heated up the already sultry Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay Saturday evening as her 

and other Memphis-based performers brought a 

bit of the down-home blues to the island during 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Bluzapalooza 

Craft Fair and Concert. – photo by Sgt. 1st Class 

Benjamin Cossel

(opposite page) Following their two-hour 

performance, members of the Bluzapalooza band 

took time to sign autographs, pass out T-shirts 

and offer some music advise to Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay residents. – photos by Mass 

Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks.
The Wire | Page 12 Page 8 Sports |

Players from Team MANNAF celebrate after a game-clinching double 

play, Thursday at Cooper Field and Sports Complex. Team MANAAF 

trailed after their opponents, the Vigilant Warriors in the first three 

innings, but managed to break ahead to take the championship. 

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

| Sports The Wire | Page 13

Head to head: the 525th Vigilant 

Warriors and team MANAAF 

faced off in an epic season finale, 

Thursday night at Cooper Field.

The Vigilant Warriors started 

off with a strong 3-0 lead in the 

first few innings, putting team 

MANAAF on guard, and worried 

they might have to play a second 

game. 

“We were pretty evenly 

matched,” said Richard Walker, 

Team MANAAF pitcher and 

coach. “We knew we needed to 

win the first game in order to not 

go to a second.”

Jeffery Porter, Vigilant 

Warrior’s shortstop, said it was the 

best game all season with some 

of the best friends he’s made on 

Guantanamo Bay.

“The best play of the night 

was when Command Sgt. Major 

Daniel Borrero jumped up in left 

field and snagged a ball that was 

a few feet over his head,” Porter 

recalled. “I thought for sure it was 

going over his head. I had already 

started running out there to take 

the throw in after it got by him, 

but he charged to his left really 

hard, leaped up and came up with 

the catch!”

Team MANAAF, which stands 

for Marines, Army, Navy and Air 

Force, a diverse team including 

Joint Task Force and Naval Station 

members from the various military 

branches, had a winning 10-week 

season and were determined not 

to let that change.

“We came back in the third 

with two runs to tie it up and in 

the fifth or sixth inning we had 

runners on second and third,” 

said Walker, who’s been playing 

softball and baseball for more 

than 30 years. “One of our guys 

hit a line drive that fell just inside 

the line and that put us up 6-3.”

Vigilant warriors managed 

to score another run, inching 

them closer to a tied game but 

were knocked off by a gamewinning double play made by 

team MANAAF who claimed the 

victory with a two-run lead, 6-4.

“The final game was a blast 

with a great turnout from the 

troops,” said Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation’s Lead Recreation 

Coordinator, O’Shane Wynter. 

“The game was down to the wire 

in the last inning and MANAAF 

made a great comeback when the 

guy at third base was tagged out at 

home plate – great finish.” 

Although they ended the 

season with a loss, Porter said he 

won’t forget the friendships he 

made throughout the season.

“It’s a shame we didn’t come 

out on top, but I wouldn’t have 

rather played for any other team 

than the Vigilant Warriors,” Porter 

admitted. “I definitely think we 

had the most fun out there than 

any other team!”

Thursday night’s championship 

knuckle-biter pitted the Vigilant 

Warriors against Team MANAAF 

in a battle of the bases. 

CHAMPS!

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand
In The Trenches

On the Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA – As U.S. 

Forces-Iraq members continue 

to return from Iraq, Airmen here 

have recently reopened an air base 

that was closed in 2004.

With U.S. servicemembers 

and multiple flying squadrons 

expected to pull fully out of Iraq 

by late December, the U.S. Air 

Force has created a home for 

some of these units. 

“We are here to provide 

continuous air coverage of forces 

pulling out of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. 

Adam Shirriff, the 332nd Air 

Expeditionary Group deputy 

Airmen reopen base to support Iraq transition

Story by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri

U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander. “Our goal is to 

support a smooth transition as 

forces withdraw.”

Pre-advanced teams arrived 

weeks ago in order to set up the 

necessary sections to get the base 

started, officials said. Eleven days 

after the first Airmen arrived 

to activate the U.S. component 

of the installation, the first U.S. 

aircraft arrived here. 

“We arrived here only weeks 

ago, and we’re already able to land 

planes and bring in personnel,” 

Shirriff said. “The (pre-advanced) 

teams arrived here in order to get 

the base prepared for follow-on 

forces to arrive. Now that the 

initial forces are here and things 

are setup, conventional forces will 

soon be able to take over.”

 The members of the preadvanced teams couldn’t have 

done it alone. The standup of this 

location was a team effort, which 

included its neighbors. 

“Within 12 hours we increased 

our capabilities by 100 percent,” 

said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Walsh, 

the fire chief here. “Firefighters 

from a nearby base volunteered 

some manpower along with the 

proper fire gear that allows for 

us to fight fires in low oxygen 

areas, including inside aircraft. 

One team, one fight has been the 

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON 

HALL, Va. – The U.S. Army transitioned 

to new leadership as it welcomed the 38th 

Army chief of staff during a change of 

responsibility ceremony, Wednesday.

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno assumed 

responsibility as the Army’s chief of staff 

from Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as Dempsey 

begins his transition to serve as the next 

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“As the new secretary of defense, and 

as someone who shares the immigrant 

backgrounds of these distinguished 

officers we pay tribute to today, it is truly a 

personal privilege for me to honor two of 

our military’s most talented leaders as they 

take on new responsibilities,” said Defense 

Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

Panetta welcomed Dempsey as he 

prepares to take his position as DOD’s senior 

military officer.

“Having worked closely with General 

Dempsey since becoming the secretary of 

defense, I can say that the president has 

made a truly inspiring choice in picking him 

to serve as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs 

of Staff,” the defense secretary said.

“He will be the first Army general in 10 

years to occupy that post,” Panetta said of 

Dempsey. “As a former intelligence officer 

in the Army, I am truly pleased to have 

General Dempsey as a partner in running the 

Department of Defense.”

Ceremony recognizes Army chief change of responsibility

Story by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

Panetta praised Dempsey as a “real 

‘muddy-boots’ soldier,” and a “battlehardened commander” who was responsible 

for transitioning the Army to nine month 

deployments and 18-month dwell time.

“As chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 

Marty will have the opportunity to work with 

the service chiefs [and] craft a joint force that 

can defeat a wide range of complex security 

threats that we face today,” Panetta said.

“And that we will face into the future,” he 

added. “Today’s military is the finest fighting 

force in the world. Together, we will work 

to ensure that it always remains the finest 

fighting force in the world.”

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh 

greeted Odierno as he takes his post as Army 

chief.

“Ray Odierno brings to this job impressive, 

even impeccable, credentials as a Soldier and 

leader, commanding units at every level during 

a career that spans some three-and-a-half 

decades,” McHugh said.

The Army secretary said he was more than 

familiar with Odierno, having visited Iraq 14 

times during Odierno’s various commands.

The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

theme.”

The activation of this base 

is unique, officials said. Unlike 

setting up at a bare location, there 

was already a military presence 

here. 

“When I first saw the dining 

facility that I was supposed to 

set up, the building had nearly a 

half an inch of dirt and sand in 

it; critters were running around 

in here,” said Tech. Sgt. Reginald 

Morrison, the U.S. Air Forces 

Central Command food services 

manager. “Within four days, we 

took this place and had it ready 

for service. My goal is that when 

our follow-on forces arrive, they 

won’t be able to tell how this place 

looked before we got here.”

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, center, conducts a final troop inspection 

as the outgoing Army chief of staff during a change-of-responsibility 

ceremony in Conmy Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Sept. 

7. - photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

On The Deck

Inside the Jar

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – 

The U.S. Navy launched an 

Exceptional Family Member 

Program enrollment and tracking 

application on the Navy Family 

Accountability and Assessment 

System website, Sept. 1.

The EFMP application adds an 

electronic enrollment capability 

for the Navy’s Exceptional 

Family Member Program and 

allows servicemembers to track 

the progress of the enrollment 

process. The initial phase will 

only allow new enrollees to use 

the system. The next phase, 

which is due out by the end of 

the year, will allow access to all 

enrollees of the EFMP. 

“This new enrollment 

and tracking system is based 

on input from the Fleet and 

replaces the Navy’s legacy paperbased enrollment system,” said 

Cmdr. Carl Chaffin, program 

Navy streamlines EFM enrollment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP 

LEJEUNE, N.C. — Before Marines fast 

rope behind enemy lines, blowup doors, 

or engage high value targets; they have to 

learn to shoot, and shoot well.

How well? Firing 15,000 to 22,000 

rounds a day, divvied up between 44 

Marines and Sailors, over the course of 

five-weeks, well.

“It takes a couple thousand times of 

doing something before you start doing it 

on your own without hesitating,” said Capt. 

Travis Beyer, officer-in-charge, Close 

Quarters Tactics course and Visit Board 

Search and Seizure course with Special 

Operations Training Group.

Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine 

Expeditionary Unit’s Force Reconnaissance 

Platoon and elements from 1st Battalion, 

2nd Marine Regiment spent Aug. 31, 

shooting paper targets, on Stone Bay’s 

Multipurpose Range.

The day of shooting was part of SOTG’s 

five-week CQT course. The course is part 

of a pipeline of courses, conducted by 

SOTG, meant to prepare the Marines for 

any type of mission they may conduct with 

the 24th MEU where they engage enemy 

combatants, according to Beyer.

The course focuses on enhancing the 

servicemembers’ combat marksmanship 

and ability to fire under stress. Throughout 

the course, the Marines fire thousands of 

bullets from both rifles and pistols, during 

numerous drills, all while under the constant 

observation of instructors focused on 

making them better marksmen.

Marines fire thousands of rounds during training

Story by Marine Sgt. Richard Blumenstein, 

24th MEU 

management officer for the 

Exceptional Family Member 

Program.

According to Chaffin, 

electronic enrollment will 

benefit Sailors by expediting 

the submission, review and final 

determination of enrollment.

“Case liaisons can track 

the member’s non-medical 

information and referrals more 

effectively, and electronically log 

individualized service plans,” 

said Chaffin. 

Story by Mass Communication 

Specialist 1st Class LaTunya Howard, 

Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

The exceptional family 

module is available online at the 

NFAAS website at HTTPS://

navyfamily.navy.mil. The NFAAS 

Navy Family Member’s user 

guide is available, after login, 

under the help tab. 

Sailors who have additional 

questions can contact the Navy 

Personnel Command customer 

service center at 1-866-U-ASKNPC, visit the NPC website 

at www.npc.navy.mil, or email 

CSCMailbox@navy.mil. 

“Daily they are being evaluated by 

instructors,” Beyer said. “The instructors 

evaluate them, talk to them, coach them, 

and mentor them on their individual 

techniques and procedures on the range.”

During the day of training, the Marines 

stood on a line, each donning a full combatload, and shot their weapons from the 

three, five, seven, 15, 25 and 50-yard-lines.

They shot in the standing, kneeling, and 

prone position. They shot moving forwards 

and backwards. They even trained to shoot 

impromptu on each other’s targets if a 

fellow Marine’s weapon stopped working.

The servicemembers fired drills called 

off by an instructor running the range. 

They received time limits of mere seconds 

during the drills, forcing them to react 

quickly. One drill involved them sprinting 

25-yards and firing from both the standing 

and kneeling position in 11 seconds.

“Just in the repetition of week one I’ve 

gotten a lot better at the simple things that 

we’re expected to do,” said 2nd Lt. Samuel 

Ryder, an infantry officer. “Speed reloading, 

covering each other when guns go down, 

things like that.” 

The course also emphasizes a number 

of skills associated with combat shooting. 

The service members constantly practice 

weapons transitioning, speed reloading and 

handling weapons stoppages in the course.

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

Marines dash 25-yards before firing from the standing 

and kneeling positions in 11 seconds during the 

Special Operations Training Group’s Close Quarters 

Tactics course Aug. 31, on Stone Bay’s Multi Purpose 

Range. - photo by Marine Sgt. Richard Blumenstein
The Wire | Page 16 At the Movies |

Movie Review

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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

Winnie the Pooh

(G) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Harry Potter & the 

Deathly Hallows: 

Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Larry Crowne

(last showing)

(PG- 13) 8 p.m.

Transformers 3

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Zookeeper

(PG) 8 p.m.

Horrible Bosses

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Monte Carlo

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 10 p.m. 

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

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

G

63 min.

No Movie –

Live music from

TRADOC Rock!

6 p.m.

Captain America

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Larry Crowne

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 10 p.m.

Monte Carlo

(last showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Transformers

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Zookeeper

(PG) 8 p.m.

Harry Potter & the 

Deathly Hallows: 

Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 8 p.m.

This column recently brought you the 

exploits of bad teachers, horrible bosses, 

wizards, wolf packs and some flashy robotaliens. It even brought you an excitable 

animated panda and a schizophrenic 

chameleon. Having lived through all those 

characters, whether they rated positive 

or negative banana rats, I am still oh-sotickled to bring you one of literature’s 

most beloved and huggable protagonists 

– Pooh. 

There is, however, a catch (of course). 

The problem is, this review is routinely 

used as an outlet for my love of everything 

snarky and sarcastic. But how do you write 

about Winnie the Pooh, and his squeezable 

group of woodland friends, like I have 

so many other movies? I have no qualms 

giving a Transformer a (much deserved) 

tongue-lashing, but Eeyore? Piglet? I can’t 

talk about Tigger that way!

It’s a good thing this movie was 

perfectly charming, because I would find 

it immoral to write anything derogatory 

about Christopher Robin’s friends. Instead, 

it is pleasant and pleasing, a sweet antidote 

to the summer movie blockbuster body 

count. 

It’s not exactly heavy on plot, but who 

needs it when you’re hanging out with old 

friends? Eeyore lost his tail, and the gang 

sets out to get him a new one. The end. 

But with classic, hand-drawn animation, 

the movie gently glides along, not in any 

hurry and certainly not elbowing other 

movies out of the way for attention. That 

would be rude.

In place of the late Sterling Holloway, Jim 

Cummings voices Pooh Bear with startling 

precision. Craig Ferguson of “The Late, 

Late Show with Craig Ferguson” surprises 

with a spot-on Owl and John Cleese has 

a merry old time as the Narrator. What is 

it about A.A. Milne’s characters that harks 

back to a time, before Facebook, Beiber 

or Britney, and makes us all wish for the 

golden age once more?

Completing the fantasy is Zooey 

Deschanel’s twinkling vocals. As a fan of 

Deschanel’s indie band, She & Him, I was 

delighted to realize she appeared on the 

soundtrack. I really cannot think of any 

other singer with the daintiness to match 

“Winnie the Pooh’s” charm. 

It’s understandable if you skip on this 

Pooh – most of this base is populated with 

the male 18-34 demographic and I can’t see 

this being their idea of a raucous Friday 

night. However, if you’re here with small 

children, if you read Winnie the Pooh as 

a kid, if you’re looking for something to 

smile at, or just want a quiet evening out, 

I highly recommend this film. It’ll make 

everything else smooth as honey. 

| News you can Use The Wire | Page 17

More than 17 million American households had trouble affording 

adequate food in 2010, according to a new report from the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture.

That’s basically unchanged from 2009, but up sharply from 13 

million in 2007.

“This report today underscores what we know: that household 

food insecurity remains a serious problem in the United States,” says 

USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon.

The USDA report shows the lingering effects of a bad economy. 

More people have struggled to afford adequate food ever since the 

economy crashed in late 2007. About one in ten households had 

trouble affording food that year. In 2008, that figure went up to one 

in seven. The new report shows it has stayed there ever since.

“Slow-moving disaster”

“This is a disaster. It’s a slow-moving disaster,” says Dave Krepcho, 

head of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which 

provides food for 3.5 million people in six Florida counties.

Krepcho knows about disasters. When hurricanes hit the state – 

as they do fairly often – Second Harvest helps distribute food to 

people in need. Four hurricanes struck Florida in 2004. But those 

were short-term events.

“For the past two years,” he says, “our monthly distribution 

exceeds...our disaster relief after four hurricanes criss-crossed the 

state. Every single month is beyond that.”

One relative bright spot in the USDA report is that the number of 

households in which someone actually went hungry declined slightly 

last year, from 6.8 million to 6.4 million.

Private sector steps up

Donations from the private sector have helped food banks take 

on some of the extra burden, says spokesman Ross Fraser with the 

Feeding America national network of food banks.

“Corporate America has really stepped forward and has helped us 

both with food and with funds,” he says.

Major supermarket chains, big retailers and food manufacturers 

have made big donations in the last few years, according to Fraser, 

and farm groups contributed 270 million kilograms of fresh produce 

in the last year alone.

“For a hunger relief organization to be able to provide fresh 

produce to low-income Americans for whom produce is often out 

of reach financially has been tremendously helpful,” he adds.

Federal programs grow ... and get cut

Aid from the federal government kept the number of hungry 

people from increasing despite persistent unemployment, says 

Concannon.

“To me, it is a reflection of the impact of these 15 federal 

nutrition programs that are working as has been intended over many, 

many years,” he says. “They are intended to meet the critical needs 

of families struggling to put food on the table until they can get back 

on their feet.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 

the largest of those federal programs, enrolled nearly 19 million 

households last year. That’s up from almost 12 million in 2007.

But advocates are concerned about next year as Congress discusses 

major cuts to the federal budget. The House of Representatives passed 

a budget cutting 10 percent from a $6 billion nutrition program for 

pregnant women and young children. House leaders say the budget 

reflects tough choices that reduce the massive federal deficit.

Anti-hunger advocates disagree with those choices. “We can reduce 

the U.S. federal deficit without making hungry people hungrier,” says 

David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “It’s just not 

right to attack programs who help people that are struggling to feed 

their kids.”

The Senate has not passed its version of the bill yet. Beckmann 

says his group and others are hoping to convince lawmakers to spare 

social safety net programs from further cuts.

But with the federal debt nearing $15 trillion, many in Congress 

say everything is on the table.

By Steve Baragona

Voice of America News Service

One in seven US households struggles to afford food

Firefighters in the U.S. state 

of Texas were for the first 

time gaining ground against a 

raging wildfire that has already 

destroyed nearly 800 homes.

Authorities reported 

Wednesday the blaze was 30 

percent contained, after burning 

out of control for several days. 

They said firefighters were 

helped by lighter winds now 

that Tropical Storm Lee has 

moved out of the area.

The wildfire near the capital 

city of Austin is the most 

destructive of the more than 

180 fires that erupted across 

Texas in the past week.

Four people died as a result 

of the blazes, 5,000 residents 

were driven from their homes 

and more than 54,650 hectares 

of land have been burned. The 

Firefighters gain ground 

against Texas wildfire

Voice of America News Service entire state is suffering through 

a nearly year-long drought 

which has made many areas 

dangerously hot and dry — the 

perfect conditions for wildfires.

President Barack Obama 

Wednesday called Texas 

Governor Rick Perry to “express 

concern” over the fires and 

assure the governor that federal 

assistance will be available to 

help with firefighting efforts. 

According to a White House 

statement, Obama also said 

the government would quickly 

assess requests for additional 

aid, including to help the state 

recover once the fires are 

extinguished.

The White House said the 

Obama administration has 

approved seven federal grants 

to Texas authorities to help with 

the firefighting efforts.

Firefighters from around the state battle a large wildfire on Highway 

71 near Smithville, Texas, on September 5. – photo by AP
Mind, Body & Soul

Massage received:

The why behind The Chair

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

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

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 18

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call x2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

*The following is a dramatization of a 

very possible, real-life conversation. The 

very possible, real-life names were changed 

in accordance with OPSEC.*

Trooper 1: “Did you hear that JSMART 

has a massage chair now?” 

Trooper 2: “Yeah, I did.”

Trooper 1: “Why would they have a dang 

massage chair? So they can relax in their 

office all day?”

Trooper 2: “Actually, I tried it out the 

other day—the SMO told me to—and that 

thing is really awesome. I walked away feeling 

so relaxed. I was skeptical, too, but it’s the 

real deal. It massages your arms, legs, butt 

and back. I think I am going to buy one for 

my room.”

Trooper 1: “I still think that it’s just so they 

can relax in their little office all day, scratch 

their backs with their fancy back-scratchers 

and throw stress balls at each other...”

This hypothetical debate brings up a good 

point—why would JSMART have a massage 

chair? Hypnosis? Trickery? Personal gain? 

All feasible answers, but none correct. 

It is no secret that this writer is, in fact, 

an employee of the infamous “JSMART” 

(heard in an annoying whisper-like noise), 

so I will speak as such is assumed and now 

stated. If you’re looking for a point, reason 

or explanation about the “meaningless chair 

over there,” then you came to the right 

article. 

Hospitalcorpsman 3rd Class Justin Atha

First off, we were unaware of any spa on 

the island and, you know, we got your back! 

(That pun is cheesy even for cheddar—ugh, 

that one was worse.)

On the real and in the most plain: a happy 

body is a happy heart and mind. When 

stress, whether it be deployment-related, 

occupational or simply day-to-day, decides 

it will inhabit your muscles, it does so with 

a sneaky vigilance. Many of us don’t even 

know it. We are not aware of our festering 

back knots, our lost lactic acid spots or our 

hard-to-stretch areas, despite their ugly and 

very possible real-life existence. These are

things the Massage Chair—yes, it is now a 

proper noun—can and will attend to. To get 

to the real marrow of “why” JSMART has 

acquired such a chair, we must look at the 

specific functionality and applicable usage of 

it. 

The most to-the-point description in the 

most commercial-like fashion, is as follows: 

It helps relieve stress and aids relaxation. 

What could be more conducive to a JSMART 

mission? This chair is exclusively making us 

more effective at our jobs—lessening stress 

and relaxing to restore. But if that doozie 

of an explanation isn’t enough for you, than 

here are a couple of bullet points as icing: 

-Helps relieve muscle tension and 

stiffness

-Fosters faster healing of strained 

muscles and sprained ligaments

-Reduces pain and swelling 

-Provides joint flexibility and range of 

motion

-Reduces blood pressure 

-Strengthens the immune system 

-Fosters peace of mind 

-Helps relieve mental stress

-Enhances capacity for calm thinking 

and creativity

-Fosters a feeling of well-being

-Reduces levels of anxiety 

Everyone has stress, in the hardest of 

jobs, in the easiest of jobs, in GTMO or in 

the states. Sometimes, relief is simple and 

right at your finger tips. Other times it is not. 

When you get a second, come chill with us 

and get a massage for your trouble. 

| The Last Word The Wire | Page 19

FOCUS cont. 

“I think you have to lead by 

example,” explained Reyes of his 

approach to leadership. “You can’t 

ask junior guys to do something you 

wouldn’t do.”

Mostly, Reyes believes in the 

simple concept of integrity: do what 

is right. 

“Sometimes people will get 

mad because you go against what 

is common,” he surmised. “But it’s 

not right. As a leader, you should do 

whatever is right, even though it’s 

not shared by the masses.”

Reyes’ unique background may 

be a motive for his success, said 

Knobloch.

“He has to work harder than 

everybody else to accomplish the 

same things,” observed Knobloch. 

“That might be his motivational 

factor.”

Reyes plans on completing his 

Master’s degree in the near future. 

While on Guantanamo Bay, he 

keeps himself busy with a variety 

of outdoor sports and activities. 

Knobloch feels that the young Sailor 

has a promising future.

“It’s on him,” he concluded. “As 

long as he keeps up the motivation, 

the pride in his work and the 

professionalism, he can accomplish 

anything.”

525th Military Police Battalion Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Wynder (far right), escorts Wyoming Assistant 

Adjutant General–Army, Brig. Gen. Kathy Wright (center), through the sally port gate at Camp 5 during her tour of 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s facilities, accompanied by Joint Detention Group Commander Col. Donnie Thomas, 

Wednesday. Wright, Wyoming’s first female general officer, was on the island visiting eight Wyoming Troopers stationed 

with the JTF. -photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

THE COWBOY STATE
STANDING GUARD

The watch commander of detainee Camp 5 stands his watch, August 31. 

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

THE SELECTED

Joint Task Force Commander Rear Adm. David Woods and Command Master 

Chief Reynaldo Tiong pose with Navy chief petty officer selectees, Sept. 1.

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

SHE’S CRAFTY

The Wire editor Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent sits at The Wire’s craft table during 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Bluzapalooza event, Saturday. 

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

TheJTF

A DAY AT THE BEACH

A Guantanamo Bay Trooper looks out over the water at Cable Beach, Sunday. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park