Volume 13, Issue 21 Friday, March 30, 2012

They see 

me rollin’

‘Gitmo Specials’

demystified

also, build your own!

Vroom vroom

Meet the new Chief of Staff

SharePoint, you got some splainin’ to do
Help keep the trails of Gitmo beautiful 

and clean. The Trail Blazers are looking for 

volunteers to help cut grass, trim tree limbs, 

remove trash and anything else it takes to 

keep your hikes, trail runs and bike rides fun 

and easy. 

For more information, call Martin Sullivan at 8243 or 8242 or email him at 

Martin.E.Sullivan@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.

Upset about the outcome of your brackets? Let the stress go and enjoy the championship game at any one of the four Liberty 

Centers. The game starts at 8 p.m. All of the 

televisions will show it and MWR Liberty 

will provide pizza. 

For more information, call 2010.

MWR needs to know what you want from 

the movie program at Guantanamo Bay. 

Help out by logging onto:

www.surveymonkey.com/GTMOMovieSurvey

Answer a few questions that will help determine the future of movies on base. MWR 

is currently trying to arrange for 3D movies 

at the Windjammer Ballroom.

Are you craving sushi? Learn how to 

make it on your own on Apr. 3 at 6 p.m. at 

the Community Center. MWR Liberty will 

show you how to prepare delicious sushi 

from beginning to end, and teach some cultural knowledge as you prepare the food. 

For more information, call 2010.

INDEX

The Wire

March 30, 2012

Pope visits Cuba

Meet the new CoS

April’s medical specialists

A BRAND NEW CAR! (not)

SharePoint pointers

Yet another sports superstar

MBS: Fresh guest writer

Movie review: Chronicle

5

8

9

10

12

13

18

19

Grab a friend and go to the mini golf 

course at Denich Gym at 5 p.m. and enjoy a 

game or two of putt-putt golf and a chance 

to win prizes. 

For more information, call 2010. 

MWR will be offering swimming lesson 

to the community. The classes begin April 16 

and end October 12. The lessons cost $30 

per student for one 2-week session. There 

are five levels for youths and adults, and an 

infant and preschool level. 

For more information call 84968 or 

2205.

The Jamaica Independence Day committee invites all hands to volunteer for a 

multitude of fundraising events to include a 

car wash, T-shirt sale, sporting events, beach 

party, multicultural cook-off, Jamaican cooking class, gospel concert, chef auction and 

much more. Jamaican Independence Day is 

Aug. 6, and all fundraising event dates are 

TBD. To volunteer, call 4822.

All lawn watering at residences and car 

washing at the Lyceum is suspended until 

further notice.

Troopers needing legal assistance should 

now go to the Naval Legal Service Office located in Bldg 760.

For more information, call 4692.

Conch season is now closed and will reopen in June. As a reminder, taking starfish is 

prohibited at all times. 

To report violations, or for more information, call 4105 or VHS channel 12. 

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Looking for a new hobby? Make your way 

to the ceramics shop Apr. 1 at 1 p.m., and the 

first Sunday of the month for free ceramics, 

sponsored by MWR Liberty. You will be able 

to select a pre-made ceramics piece and glaze 

it for free!

For more information, call 2010.

Take advantage of the opportunity to go 

on a free night fishing trip courtesy of MWR 

Liberty. Boats leave the dock at 6 p.m. so 

make sure you show up early. Bait, snacks and 

non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

For more information, or to reserve a 

spot, call 2010.

Step up your pool game by watching 

“How to Play Pool Right” in the movie room 

at the Marine Hill Liberty Center on Apr. 6 

at 6 p.m. Watch as master instructor Jerry 

Briesath teaches the fundamentals of stance, 

grip, bridge, and stroke as well as advanced 

techniques of English, position play, and patterns. For more information, call 2010.

Specialty care providers will be available for appointments at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo in the month of April: ear, 

nose, and throat (ENT); audiology; dermatology; podiatry; and urology. 

For a referral, NAVSTA personnel can 

schedule an appointment with Primary Care 

Clinic at 72110. JTF personnel can call 3394.

NCAA championship

Want 3D movies?

Trail Blazers

April: specialty care 

providers at USNH

Attention divers and 

snorkelers

Legal office moved

Billiards tutorial

Free ceramics

Night fishing

Sushi workshop

Putt-putt golf

Swimming lessons

Attention all GTMO 

residents

Volunteers needed

This Sunday marks the beginning of 

April, a month associated with many different 

themes that focus on transition and planning. 

April 1 marks the beginning of the month 

and one of my favorite days of the year: April 

Fool’s Day. It’s a day we can have fun with 

each other in a good-natured, harmless way. 

It helps us break from the norm and pretend 

the unbelievable is believable, especially if you 

plan it right.

Many people associate April with the 

changing of the seasons. Depending on what 

part of the world you come 

from, changing seasons can 

have different meanings. In 

the northern hemisphere it 

means transitioning from 

a cold winter to a warmer 

spring. Here at Guantanamo 

Bay, the climates changes 

from warm and dry, to hotter 

and humid. As most people 

acclimate to the changing 

of the seasons, they usually 

reorganize their wardrobe, conduct spring 

cleaning, and begin landscaping. All of these 

spring related activities also require planning.

 This month is also associated with a few 

fiscal milestones; namely, the deadline to file 

your income taxes. This year your returns 

must be postmarked by April 17. If you reside 

in a state that collects income taxes, those 

taxes are usually due on the same date as the 

federal taxes. Again, getting your financial 

information in order and meeting that deadline 

requires appropriate planning. 

On a larger budgetary scale, April marks 

the beginning of the third fiscal quarter. This 

is the time of the year the Department of 

Defense and Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

must evaluate our requirements and resources 

and determine what is needed to successfully 

finish the year. 

April is also Sexual Assault Awareness 

month. We all need to take care of our battle 

buddies and shipmates to protect each other 

against sexual assault. This is something we can 

plan for. Sexual assault is not tolerated at JTF 

Guantanamo or anywhere within the United 

States military. This Sunday and Monday at 

the Windjammer Ballroom, a presentation 

called “Sex Signals” will use theater, humor, 

education and audience interaction to provide 

important training. The U.S. military and 

hundreds of college campuses around the 

world have used this presentation with great 

success. Shows are Sunday 

at 2:30 p.m. and Monday at 

10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sexual 

assault is not okay, and we 

need to eliminate it. 

Recognizing we are a 

rotational force, we know that 

Troopers will return to their 

home units and the civilian 

world. We continuously plan 

to equip our Troopers with 

effective tools to help them 

with planning and making appropriate life 

choices. In an effort to assist our Troopers 

in planning for their next phase of their life 

after their Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

tour, we have developed a redeployment 

seminar to assist them with thinking about 

the next phase. This redeployment event will 

be conducted on April 4 at the Windjammer 

for Coast Guard MSST and NEGB Troopers. 

We plan to routinely conduct these events to 

help all Troopers plan for the next phase after 

serving here.

Think carefully about planning and being 

deliberate in what you do. Some things in 

life happen by chance, but you can plan for 

most things. Taking charge of your affairs 

and planning for the future is a healthy way 

to ensure your health and happiness. Take the 

time now to plan for your future.

The Wire | Page 2 Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Rear Adm. David Woods

Deputy Commander

Brig. Gen. James Lettko

Command Master Chief

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Michelle Coghill: 9927

Operations Officer

Army Maj. Jon Powers: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant: 3649

The Wire

Editor: Army 1st. Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Assistant Editor: Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Photojournalists

Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Keith Simmons

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

Commercial: 011-5399-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/wire/wire.html

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. 

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The 

WIRE are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, 

the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo. It is printed by Defense Logistics 

Agency Document Services with a circulation of 1,300.

From April Fool’s 

Day, to tax time, to 

redeployment, you 

can plan for most 

things. Take the 

time now.

Brig. Gen. James Lettko

Deputy Commander, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: Petty Officer 2nd Class Leroy Smith checked out one of the “Gitmo Specials” rotating through the NEX 

parking lot Wednesday. But keep in mind: this is a really nice car and doesn’t represent the typical Guantanamo 

Bay vehicle market offering. –photo by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Cc

ommand

orner

Joint Task Force

Guantanamo Safe Humane Legal Transparent l l l
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! 

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. 1st Class Sharlene Downer

JVB Protocol Chief

maintaining a positive attitude

What is the significance of a positive attitude? This is a question I had to ask myself within the last 48 hours, among a few 

others. For instance, why is it important to 

display a positive attitude? And what role 

does having appositive attitude play in your 

daily responsibilities? Lastly, how does your 

attitude impact others around you? These are 

questions we should all be asking ourselves. 

Not one individual can say he or she does 

not upset someone’s day during the week; 

from the senior enlisted leader down to the 

lowest ranking Trooper. Let’s face it: it happens to the best of us because no one individual is perfect in any way, shape, or form; 

at least not currently living on this earth.

As leaders, our attitude will either motivate 

our subordinates to develop into the leaders 

we envision them to be, or it will tear through 

the very fabric of their developmental process. Who takes responsibility at this point? 

Yes, it is still us, the leaders. It is our job to 

start the day with sunshine on one shoulder 

and a smile on the other. Does this happen 

every day? No, it doesn’t, but we can surely 

take a few minutes out of our day to break the 

monotony of Facebook, and get a good belly 

laugh from the other side of the wall with our 

coworkers. Whatever gets your day started! 

I know it works for me because I have 

been told that when I am happy others 

around me are happy. There are times when 

I have a thundercloud hanging over my 

head, as we all do, but I still have to maintain a level of professionalism that is befitting a senior leader. That is the expectation!

How do we combat the issue of problematic distracters bent on raining on your parade? 

We try our best to overlook them in order to 

do our jobs. Or, better yet, work around them 

in order to build a rapport with someone else. 

There have been several individuals that have 

told me not to allow someone to steal my joy. 

This is hard to overcome at times because 

of the stressors involved in your daily duties. 

There has to be an outlet in order to maintain that “positive attitude” everyone is looking for each day. Maybe exercising, playing 

MWR sports, hiking on trails, journaling, listening to music, etc. could serve as a healthy 

outlet, to help maintain a positive attitude.

Allowing ourselves to become vulnerable 

to the “devils of the day” will only hinder 

any positive outcome you attempt to maintain. For me, my duties and responsibilities 

are first and foremost in my mind while I 

am deployed. Giving 100% of my time is 

what I came to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to 

do. Knowing I have made a positive impact on the Joint Visitors Bureau when 

I re-deploy will be the icing on the cake.

Surrounding yourself with goal seekers is 

the key. As leaders, we are the motivators of a 

positive attitude in our subordinates and ourselves. Trust and perseverance will always be a 

shining light at the end of the tunnel; ridding 

ourselves of distracters is the ultimate goal.

ALCON

Kittery Beach

closed Mon-Fri

Due to ongoing 

training events, 

Kittery Beach is 

closed on 

weekdays. 

Refer to posted 

signs for all beach 

openings and 

closures.

| Command Information The Wire | Page 5

WASHINGTON – Service members and veterans whose military service was involuntarily 

extended under the “Stop Loss” program between the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Sept. 30, 

2009, are eligible for special retroactive pay, 

and they now have more time to apply for it.

Eligible service members, veterans and 

their beneficiaries now have until Oct. 21 

to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special 

Pay, Pentagon officials announced today.

“Even with extensive outreach efforts 

and tremendous support from the president, 

Congress, the [Veterans Affairs Department], veteran and military service organizations, and friends and family around the 

world, some qualified individuals have not 

yet applied,” said Juliet Beyler, the Defense 

Department’s acting director of officer and 

enlisted personnel management. “We highly encourage anyone who may be eligible 

to apply for this pay. You have earned it.”

The special pay is compensation for the 

hardships the involuntary extensions caused, 

officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective 

military service to receive $500 for each full 

or partial month served in a Stop Loss status.

When the special pay began on Oct. 21, 

2009, the services estimated 145,000 service 

members, veterans and beneficiaries were 

eligible for this benefit. Because the majority 

of those eligible had separated from the military, officials said, the services have engaged 

in extensive and persistent outreach efforts, 

such as multiple direct mailings, public service announcements and continuous engagements with military and veteran service organizations, social networks and media outlets.

To apply for the pay, or for more information on submission requirements and 

service-specific links, go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss.

From American Forces Press Service

‘Stop-loss’ application 

period extended

The Joint Task Force Intranet has 

classified ads! Click through the 

new SharePoint page with the 

Intranet tab. Scroll down to 

“classifieds” under “useful JTF 

links” and see what your buddies 

have for sale! 

New this week: someone is trying 

to unload a ton of video games!

JTF stuff

YN2 Bickhimer

AOC Evans 

MAJ Hopkins

MSG Rodriguez

Master Chief Roberts

MAJ Snider

Super Troopers

Congratulations to the Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Troopers who recently 

received commander’s coins! 
The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

After nearly 35 years, Army Staff Sgt. 

Guillermo Diaz-Hidalgo returned to his 

home nation of Cuba. But this wasn’t a trip 

to see relatives. 

Staff Sgt. Diaz 

is currently 

deployed to 

Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. 

Diaz’s main 

role on island is 

duty driver for 

d i s t i n g u i s h e d 

visitors. They 

range from VIPs 

and foreign dignitaries to high 

ranking visiting 

officers. 

Diaz was born 

in Cuba, but at 

the age of four 

his parents left 

and moved to Spain for a year before finally 

moving to America. In America the family 

settled in Miami.

“I was born in ’73 in Havana,” said Diaz. 

“But I spent my youth in Miami until I was 

20, when I joined the Marines.” 

Diaz spent four years in the Marine 

Corps and left as a corporal. After a yearlong break in service, he joined the Army 

Reserve.

During his time as a reservist in Florida, 

Diaz has deployed to Kuwait for two years, 

Afghanistan for one year, and now Cuba. 

“I came here 

partly because I 

wanted to come 

back to home 

soil,” said Diaz. “It’s very odd, because it’s 

been 35 years since I touched Cuban soil. 

I would love to visit the other side of the 

fence.” 

Eighteen years of service provides a lot 

of insight that Diaz is more than willing to 

share with younger Troopers. 

“My advice to younger Troopers is to 

perform your jobs in a timely manner,” said 

Diaz. “When you see something wrong 

correct it and don’t always wait to be told 

what to do.” 

As a member of one of the last units in 

the Army to receive a one year tour, Diaz 

has learned how to stay entertained and 

active on island.

“Find something you like and stick with 

it,” said Diaz. “If you can’t find something 

you enjoy here, then you can’t find it 

anywhere.”

One of the activities that keeps Diaz 

busy during his days off is coaching. Diaz 

currently helps coach girls’ football on 

island.

“I coach soccer back home for youth 

kids,” said Diaz. “Coaching offers a very 

unique opportunity. You get to deal with 

many different personalities and it’s a lot 

like being an NCO. You get to mentor, 

mold and teach people.” 

Which vehicle would you choose as your “Gitmo Special?”

“I would bring a higher 

quality Gator, one that can 

go faster than 20 miles per 

hour. That’s all you need 

down here.” 

Spc. 

Francisco Sibrian

“Just something to get me 

from point A to point B.”

Construction Electrician’s 

Mate 2nd Class 

Michael Pascuzzo 

“I would bring the General 

Lee from ‘Dukes of 

Hazzard.’”

Hospitalman

Jay Cherluck

“I would bring a Porsche 

9-11 Turbo and take it down 

the abandoned airstrip.”

Hospitalman 3rd Class 

Marcelo Gomez

Boots on the Ground

Time in service: 4 years in the 

Marine Corps, 14 in the Army Reserve

Hobbies: Every sport available on 

island, especially soccer and diving

The boss says: “He’s active in the 

community and is a hard worker.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Maintain a positive attitude, and always be 

flexible.”

Bullet Bio:

SSG Guillermo Diaz-Hidalgo

Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in 

communist Cuba with the aim of awakening 

the faith in what was once officially an atheist 

state.

Benedict was greeted Monday by President 

Raul Castro at an airport in Cuba’s second 

largest city, Santiago. His visit marks the 400th 

anniversary of the religious icon, the Virgin 

of Charity of El Cobre, venerated by many 

Cubans regardless of their faith.

The pontiff said he came to Cuba as a 

“pilgrim of charity,” and he made a veiled 

reference to Cuba’s political prisoners. “I carry 

in my heart the just aspirations and legitimate 

desires of all Cubans, wherever they may be, 

their sufferings and their joys, their concerns 

and their noblest desires, those of the young 

and the elderly, of adolescents and children, 

of the sick and workers, of prisoners and their 

families, and of the poor and those in need,” 

he said. 

He also said change is in Cuba’s future. “I 

am convinced that Cuba, at this moment of 

particular importance in its history, is already 

looking to the future and thus is striving to 

renew and broaden its horizons. Of great help 

in this enterprise will be the fine patrimony of 

spiritual and moral values which fashioned the 

nation’s true identity and which stand out in 

the work and the life of many distinguished 

fathers of the country,” he said. 

The pope arrives at time when churchstate relations are warming. The Roman 

Catholic Church has grown to become 

the most influential institution behind the 

government. Cuba was officially an atheist 

state from 1959 until a constitutional change 

in 1992 abolished atheism as the state creed 

and called for separation of church and state. 

At that time, the Communist Party also lifted 

its ban on members with religious beliefs. 

Pope Benedict set the tone for his trip 

Friday when he said the Catholic Church 

is ready to help Cuba move away from 

communism. He said the Marxist ideology no 

longer corresponds to reality, and he offered 

the Church’s help to move Cuba ahead 

without “trauma.” 

Cuban dissidents hope they will be able to 

present the pope with their views about the 

government.

In Santiago, at least 15 members of the 

Ladies in White, a prominent dissident group, 

have been detained. The group is comprised 

of wives and mothers of 75 dissidents jailed 

in a 2003 crackdown on opponents of former 

Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Each week, the 

women, dressed in white, march in Havana 

to demand the release of political prisoners. 

The Ladies in White, along with many other 

people, have asked for an audience with the 

pope during his visit.

But the Archbishop of Santiago says the 

pope’s time is limited.

“Many people came to give us lots of 

requests, lots, you can’t imagine how many,” 

he said. “One said: ‘I’m having problems with 

my home, and I believe the Holy Father can 

help me.’ Others have participated in this call 

from the Ladies in White. We have channeled 

these requests.” 

Cuba is the last stop on the pontiff’s fiveday Latin American trip that began last week 

in Mexico.

| News The Wire | Page 7

Benedict 

XVI visits 

Santiago, 

Havana

Voice of America News

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Santiago, 

Cuba, Monday, and led a Mass in honor of 

a national religious icon that is venerated 

by both Roman Catholics and followers of 

Afro-Cuban traditions. 

The pope led hundreds of thousands in 

prayer in Santiago and gave his homily in a 

German-accented Spanish.

The pope stood on a platform that was 

erected against the stark backdrop of a Cuban 

independence monument that consists of 23 

giant rusted spikes. 

In an apparent allusion to the decade and 

a half in which Cuba was officially an atheist 

state, he said that “when God is put aside, 

the world becomes an inhospitable place for 

man.” 

“It is touching to see how God not only 

respects human freedom, he almost seems to 

require it,” the pope said. 

The pope spoke from a platform where 

the golden figurine of Our Lady of Charity 

of El Cobre, was encased in a plexiglass box. 

The Mass was a celebration of the discovery 

of the statue 400 years ago by two brothers 

and a slave boy.

Benedict said he was “deeply touched” 

by the outpouring of fervor when the statue 

was recently taken on an unprecedented tour 

of this communist country.

But the pontiff neglected to mention that 

the icon is simultaneously identified as the 

goddess Oshun in a syncretistic Afro-Cuban 

worship known as Santeria that is widely 

followed here. 

Earlier, on arrival at the airport, the pope 

said he came to give hope to the people of 

Cuba. 

“I carry in my heart the just aspirations 

and legitimate desires of all Cubans, wherever 

they may be, their sufferings and their joys, 

their concerns and their noblest desires,” he 

said.

Pope Benedict will visit the sanctuary 

where the shrine is housed before flying on to 

the capital for a meeting with President Raul 

Castro and a Mass in Revolution Square.

Pope leads Mass in honor of Cuban icon

By Jerome Socolovsky

Voice of America News
The medical professionals at the Joint 

Trooper Clinic can diagnose and treat a 

wide variety of conditions and illnesses, 

but sometimes a specialist in one medical 

branch will provide the best care possible. 

That is where the U.S. Naval Hospital, 

Guantanamo Bay helps Troopers providing 

medical specialty clinics.

In April, specialists in audiology, dermatology, podiatry, urology and ENT (ear, 

nose and throat) will be available by a primary care provider referral.

“We need to bring the care here,” said 

Cmdr. Bruce Deschere, Navy Medical 

Corps, director of Medical Services at the 

Guantanamo Bay hospital.

Deshere has been a family doctor for 

32 years. He consults with senior hospital staff to determine what specialties are 

needed, how often a specialist will visit and 

the length of stay to treat patients.

 “Patients understand the limitations,” 

added Deschere, when it comes to the 

length and frequency of the specialist visits. Most doctors rotate on a three-month 

schedule and stay for up to two weeks.

The specialty clinic doctors’ schedules 

are adjusted to provide the best patient 

care, with Deschere citing the example of 

the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor, who 

is comfortable in taking out tonsils, but 

would like to follow up ten days post-surgery. With that prudent follow-on care in 

mind, the specialist would be scheduled for 

a longer time, about three weeks; but would 

rotate out less frequently, about every three 

to four months.

Also, part of the equation considers 

treatments which the hospital can support, 

noted Deschere. Without an operating 

room to perform heart surgery, there is no 

support for a coronary specialist. Patients 

are sent stateside for medical issues that 

cannot be treated locally.

Whether doctors have come in for personnel at Guantanamo Bay; or specifically 

to evaluate and treat detainees at Joint Task 

Force camps, the goal is the same: to provide health services. “They almost always 

make time to assist all who would benefit 

from the care,” said Navy Capt. Richard 

Stoltz, commander, Joint Medical Group. 

“That is a primary mission,” Deschere 

added, discussing how the medical specialists are requested for detainee care and then 

serve the greater Guantanamo population.

Troopers first need to go to sick call 

at the Joint Troop Clinic to be evaluated, 

where the primary care provider can determine the medical specialty clinic for the 

best treatment. The primary care provider 

has an important role, said Deschere, “to 

help guide you through the medical process.”

Use that guide to better health and wellness: it is Trooper responsibility, as part of 

the team.

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

Somebody 

call a doctor!

Wait no more: USNH has 

specialists available

Background: U.S. Naval 

Hospital Guantanamo Bay 

serves the Naval Station 

community, as well as Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo 

Troopers. Specialty care 

is available on a rotational 

basis. –photo by Army Sgt. 

Saul Rosa

The W Feature | ire | Page 8

Attention 

on deck

It would have been hard to avoid the 

positive images of serving in the Navy with 

the hit movies “An Officer and a Gentleman” 

and “Top Gun” in the early to mid 1980’s. 

The movie stars portrayed men of honor and 

courage, and of course there was the allure 

of flying a fighter, that got the attention of 

many a young person.

One of the moviegoers enticed by the 

images and the story of being a naval aviator 

was Capt. W. Andrew Docherty. It was 1986, 

in his final year as an economics major at 

Colby College in Waterville, Maine, when he 

and buddy decided to join the Navy.

“That looks pretty cool. That’s what I 

really want to do,” said Docherty of that 

particular career decision nearly 26 years ago. 

“I can say that I have loved it.”

Not that every day has been perfect: that 

is not the expectation as he begins his time 

as the Chief of Staff for Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo.

“I have not enjoyed every day, but I 

have enjoyed every week,” he said, looking 

back at his assignments since he earned 

Distinguished Naval Graduate at Aviation 

Officer School.

 “There have been some bad days. Lose an 

aircraft or lose a shipmate, there are bad days 

out there,” added Docherty, who believes it 

is what you learn and how you heal from bad 

experiences that make you better.

He speaks passionately about the Navy 

mantra: mission first, people always. 

“We have to take care of our people,” he 

said.

For example, Docherty sees housing as a 

focus to keep Trooper morale up. 

“Whether it is the washers and dryers 

at Camp America, or better lighting at the 

Cuzcos,” he see these issues as areas that can 

be improved.

Working with the JTF staff and senior 

enlisted leaders Docherty will strive for 

decent housing and to provide Troopers 

with the tools to excel in their careers. To 

that end, he wants senior leaders to serve as 

the models and set the right example.

He looks at every assignment as an 

opportunity for personal and professional 

growth. “I am going to grow from you and 

hopefully as you grow from me, we can do 

better together,” he said.

He is encouraged to meet so many 

people in the first two weeks that are glad 

to be assigned here, it is the type of working 

environment he enjoys.

“Whatever job you are assigned, do the 

best job you can. That is what I hope to do 

here,” said Docherty. “Work as best you can, 

till the last day you’re asked to do it.”

He used Capt. Patrick Rabun, the leader 

he replaced, as best example he ever saw of 

that work ethic. “He cared, he cared a lot and 

he cared till the day he left, it was amazing.”

“How we do the tactical job is very 

important. But more than anywhere, 

here a tactical mistake can have strategic 

consequences,” he said. “We can not afford 

to make any mistakes.” 

That strategic mindset comes from 

Docherty’s previous assignment as chief 

of staff for the Interagency Coordination 

Division of U.S. Strategic Command’s 

Center for Combating Weapons of Mass 

Destruction at Fort Belvoir, Va.

JTF all ahead full with the new Chief of Staff 

Capt. W. Andrew Docherty assumed his role as chief of staff of Joint Task Force Guantanamo March 22. He recently arrived on island from Fort Belvoir, Va., where he 

served as a chief of staff at U.S. Strategic Command. –photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven
The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

Maybe you’re frustrated that your plans are 

shackled by the bus “schedule,” or you’re tired 

of being bound by the availability of the guy or 

gal who has control of your section’s GSA. 

Either way, you may have already begun 

looking in the Gazette classifieds at the used 

cars and scanning the “Gitmo Specials” rotating 

through the Navy Exchange parking lot, looking 

for your way to break the travel bondage.

But you hesitate on making an offer because 

getting a set of wheels has got to be a pain here. 

Well wait no more, your freedom is just a few 

simple steps away! Yes, gaining access to your 

tropical island dream ride is way easier than you 

might think! 

Once you have identified the vehicle you 

want and have negotiated the price, you need to 

finalize the sale through the legal department. 

To do this, both you and the seller need to 

go the Navy Legal Service Office (NLSO), in 

building 760 during normal business hours and 

sign a bill of sale.

“It’s too easy,” said Navy Lt. Courtney 

Gordon-Tennant, NLSO officer in charge. 

“Whoever is selling the vehicle just needs to 

bring in any one of three documents to get a bill 

of sale. They bring in the vehicle title, vehicle 

registration, or proof of insurance. Both seller 

and buyer need to have an ID card.” 

The document must have the name of the 

current owner on it. Again, only one of the 

three documents with the sellers name on it is 

necessary to make the bill of sale official. 

“(The owner) must make sure to do a power 

of attorney before leaving the island or they’re 

out of luck,” said Gordon-Tennant. A power 

of attorney authorizes the designated person to 

make a transaction, such as a sale or shipment.

So, once you have the bill of sale you fill 

in the sale price and date. Both the seller and 

buyer sign the document in front of the legal 

representative at the desk who notarizes it on 

the spot. 

Once the buyer has the notarized bill of sale, 

the sale is official, but there are a few more steps 

the buyer needs to take before they can legally 

engage the keys to freedom: the car has to be 

insured and registered.

I insured my “Gitmo Special” within minutes 

and it’s way cheaper to insure a car here than in 

the States. 

“After you get the bill of sale, you need to bring 

it, your driver’s license, and the old registration 

along with the proof of insurance to the Vehicle 

Registration Office.” explained Petty Officer 3rd 

Class Stacey Wilson, Vehicle Registration Petty 

Officer. “It can’t be the insurance card; you must 

bring a copy of the insurance binder or policy 

that shows coverage for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 

with the right amount of coverage.” 

“The minimums for each occurrence here,” 

added Wilson, “are $25,000 for bodily injury, 

$50,000 for liability, and $25,000 property 

damage.” 

When registering your vehicle, make sure the 

basic safety features all work.

“The horn, windshield wipers, all lights, and 

side and rearview mirrors have to be present,” 

said Wilson. “Other issues to watch are to make 

sure the muffler is intact, the seat belts are 

present and operational, and that fenders and 

bumpers are properly secured to the vehicle.”

“If some of these things need to be fixed,” 

Wilson said, “I can give a temporary registration 

so the work can be completed and then grant 

a regular registration once the problems are 

addressed.”

Seller Beware: Once you have gotten your 

money and the bill of sale, you need to make 

sure that the new owner registers the vehicle in 

their name. Take a copy of the bill of sale to the 

registration office along with the license plates 

to show that you’ve sold the vehicle and clear 

your name off the registration. 

If you don’t get your name off the registration 

and the buyer doesn’t take care of it for you, 

your name will remain on the registration and 

you could be held liable if the vehicle gets 

ticketed or is involved in an incident or accident.

Buyer Beware: Make sure to check that the 

vehicle is registered to the person you are buying 

it from OR that they have power of attorney to 

sell the vehicle. If you don’t, you may not be able 

to register the vehicle and secure a license plate 

for it. You may not be able to get your money 

back or sell the vehicle when you’re done with it.

If you follow these steps, you could be the 

proud owner of a “Gitmo Special” in as quickly 

as one day!

The Navy Legal Service Office in building 

760 is open for walk-ins Monday and Wednesday 

8:30-11:00 am and 1:00-3:00 pm; Tuesday 9:00-

11:00 am and 1:00-3:00 pm; Thursday 1:00-3:00 

pm; Friday 8:30-11:00 am. The phone number 

is 4692.

The Vehicle Registration Office, located in 

the NEX Plaza across from the Personalize 

Shop is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9 

a.m.-4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and is closed 

for lunch each day from 1-2 p.m. The phone 

number is 2249.

If you have questions about selling or 

registering your vehicle, don’t be shy or afraid 

to stop in and ask at NLSO or the Vehicle 

Registration Office. It’s better to get an answer 

you may not like than it is to get ripped off or 

get a ticket for something you didn’t know about 

when you bought your “special.”

GTMO 

Freedom 

By Sgt. First Class Jerome Grant 

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant uses his 

‘92 Toyota 4Runner as a mobile dive 

locker. –photos by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

How Does 

it Work? 

The Gitmo 

Special
The Wire | Page 12

Have you noticed that the web browser home 

page has been replaced? Are you wondering where 

the classified ads went? Are you confused by the 

weird new site that looks like it came straight out of 

1996? The new home page was constructed using 

Microsoft SharePoint and what it lacks in aesthetics, 

it more than makes up in functionality.

“It is a tool to help improve communication and 

collaboration,” said 1st Lt. Chad Maurice, the project 

manager who coordinates Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s SharePoint rollout. “If you have something to 

share there is a place for it on SharePoint. Does your 

organization have a new form for users to fill out 

before they can perform a certain task? How about 

an idea for improvements?”

SharePoint promotes team collaboration because 

it gives everyone access to and ownership of the 

piece of the website representing your unit or shop. 

The days of emailing the JTF webmaster requesting 

an update are over. With SharePoint, sections will be 

able to update their site with just a few clicks of a 

button.

“Each organization’s ITO (information technology officer) will be the site administrator for the 

respective section,” said Maurice. “The ITOs are 

viewed as a power user that has a slightly higher level 

permission set compared to a normal user.”

If J1 has an updated version of a leave and pass 

form, they can post it themselves. If the chaplains 

have a daily message, they can reach every Trooper 

who visits the site. If J2 wants to make a new operations security advisory they can go straight to the 

force by updating the SharePoint site.

David McGee, the SharePoint architect, said the 

site is not limited to hanging forms and posting command messages.

“The capabilities of SharePoint is only limited to 

the creativity and imagination of the organization 

and the developers,” McGee said. “I envision JTF 

Guantanamo transitioning many of the more than 

100 external applications and rolling them into a 

single platform, creating savings in time and money. 

I believe JTF Guantanamo can be the model other 

commands follow.”

The external applications McGee speaks about 

are the processes your shop has in place to get your 

job done. Maurice provides an example.

“There are several SOPs (standard operating procedures) and continuity documents that my section 

uses on a daily basis but had to recreate after personnel rotated out,” he said. “By housing all of these 

items within SharePoint, it takes a lot of the guessSharePoint,

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Feature |

does it work?

How does it work?

Are you curious about how

things happen at GTMO? 

Write to The Wire 

and we will try to find out! 

Fill out a comment card or email 

thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

x

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

how does it work?

work out of continuity by allowing a single place for 

knowledge to be located.”

SharePoint might seem confusing now, but the 

more you work with it, the more you will understand 

it. The more you understand it, the more you can tailor 

the site to make your job more efficient. That’s when 

the possibilities become endless.

“Over the next several years there is the potential 

for a major expansion on the foundation that has been 

rolled out,” Maurice said. “The only major limitation 

on what JTF Guantanamo as a whole does with this 

system is our own imagination on how we can better communicate and share information with one another.”

Be a part of that expansion by poking around the 

site. It’s still in the beta test version so changes are on 

the horizon. If you see an opportunity for a community to share knowledge, bring it up to your SharePoint 

representative. If there is something that the intranet 

website offered that you think is missing on the SharePoint page, inform your ITO. Your input will be an 

integral part the future of JTF Guantanamo’s communication. And, by the way, your classified ads can still 

be found on the intranet webpage link located at the 

top left of the new page.
Mission firs t

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department’s request for two new rounds of base 

realignments and closures should be compared to the cost effectiveness of the first 

four BRAC rounds, not those done in 2005 

to transform installations to match force 

structure, a Pentagon official said today.

“The math is straightforward,” Dorothy 

Robyn, deputy undersecretary of defense 

for installations and environment, told a 

Senate panel. “BRAC is the single most effective thing the department has ever done 

in terms of producing greater efficiency and 

savings.”

At a Pentagon news conference today, 

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said 

the two rounds are being proposed as part of 

“good fiscal discipline.”

“We thought it was important to at least 

put BRAC on the table,” Little said. “We’re 

aware of the concerns raised about BRAC, 

but as a fiscal matter, we think it’s important 

to look at additional cost savings through 

this process.”

Robyn and other defense leaders say the 

department needs BRAC rounds in fiscal 

2013 and fiscal 2014 to meet constricting 

budgets. She reiterated those needs today to 

the Senate Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on readiness and management 

support. Ranking members of the subcommittee said they oppose more BRAC rounds, 

mostly in light of the 2005 process, which 

officials say had higher upfront costs and a 

slower return on savings than expected.

The $11.2 billion DOD installations and 

environment budget request is down from 

$13 billion appropriated for the current year. 

The budget request -- which includes $4 billion for environmental work, mostly installation clean-up and pollution prevention, and 

$4 billion for installations’ energy use -- does 

not reflect the BRAC proposal, Robyn said.

The department receives about $4 billion in annual savings from the 2005 BRAC, 

Robyn said, but she acknowledged those 

realignments and closures won’t yield a net 

savings until 2018. By contrast, she said, the 

department has reaped $8 billion in annual 

recurring savings from the first four rounds 

of BRAC, which occurred from 1989 to 

1995, Robyn said.

“That’s the equivalent of buying three 

Apache attack helicopters or four Virginiaclass submarines,” she said.

The 2005 BRAC is not the right comparison because it was designed more for transforming installations to meet military needs 

during wartime than for savings and eliminating excess capacity, Robyn said.

“That was a period of growth in the 

military, and [BRAC] reflected the goals and 

needs of that time,” she said. “It was not 

about saving money and space.” Today, the 

military needs to reduce its installation space 

to match downsizing plans, she added.

The BRAC process gives a six-year window for implementing realignments and closures. Then-Defense Secretary Donald H. 

Rumsfeld broke with past practice and delayed the 2005 BRAC implementation for six 

years because of the wars in Afghanistan and 

Iraq, Robyn said.

The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

I n th e fig ht

Corps: Cutbacks, but no involuntary separations

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – The Marine 

Corps plans to trim its ranks by 20,000 over 

five years, but no Marines will be forced out 

of the service early, according to the Marine 

Corps’ deputy commandant for combat development and integration.

“Marines who raised their hands in a time 

of war can serve out their commitment,” 

Marine Lt. Gen. Richard Mills told reporters 

during a Thursday morning teleconference 

to discuss plans to shrink the Corps.

The force reductions are part of the 

Pentagon’s overall plan to trim more than 

100,000 ground troops in the face of pending budget cuts. Earlier this year, Defense 

Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress the 

Army end strength would “gradually” fall 

from roughly 570,000 to 490,000 soldiers 

while the Marine Corps would shrink from 

just more than 202,000 to 182,000 troops.

As part of that plan, the Corps will cut 

infantry and artillery battalions, tank companies, aircraft squadrons, headquarters elements, explosive ordnance disposal and support units, but it will add more than 1,000 

personnel to cyber warfare and special operations units, officials said.

“We looked at lessons learned in the past 

10 years,” Mills said of the plans to reshape 

the Corps. “It is not going to be your father’s Marine Corps.”

Mills, who also heads the Marine Corps 

Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., said Marines serving with units 

that are inactivated under the cuts but who 

have yet to reach the end of their service 

contracts will be transferred to active units.

“The ones who leave will leave on their 

own terms and when they expect to leave,” 

he said.

The Marines’ approach to downsizing 

is in stark contrast to the Army and Navy, 

which are trimming thousands from the rolls 

through involuntary separation processes.

Still, it will be harder to stay in the Corps, 

if that’s the path a Marine chooses. Every 

Marine will be offered a chance to compete 

for re-enlistment, Mills said, but he added 

that bonuses will likely be cut and re-enlistment options will be tougher.

“Marines will need to bring their A game 

every day,” he said. “Marines will need to be 

top performers to find a slot in the career 

force. There are some Marines serving very 

well now and doing the best they can who 

won’t stay in.”

Measures such as offering retirement to 

some Marines or buying out their contracts 

to meet force-reduction goals are not anticipated, Mills said.

Transition assistance programs will offer Marines help writing resumes, entering 

apprenticeship programs, job networking, 

getting an education or looking for public 

sector jobs such as police work, he said.

“It is a focus on the individual Marine to 

ensure he understands how he goes about 

selling his skills on the civilian market so 

they receive all the help they possibly can to 

set themselves up for success,” he said.

The cuts will not impact the jobs of civilians supporting the Marine Corps, Mills 

said.

About 10 percent of 21,000 Marine civilian positions are unfilled. Some will be cut, 

but the civilian reductions will be achieved 

by not filling vacant jobs or replacing civilians who retire, he said.

“There is no civilian who needs to be 

worried about losing his job,” he said.

By Seth Robson

Stars and Stripes

BRAC good for efficiency, savings

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

 see BRAC next page

on th e D E C K

WASHINGTON – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West testified before Congress March 22. 

MCPON appeared before the House 

Armed Services Subcommittee on Military 

Personnel on “Hazing in the Military,” along 

with top enlisted leaders from the Marines, 

Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard to discuss 

hazing prevention in the Navy and respective 

military branches.

“People are absolutely our most precious 

asset,” said West. “Their individual success 

and Navy’s collective mission accomplishment lie in our ability to provide an environment that promotes inclusiveness and a validated sense of value to the team.”

Hazing is not tolerated in the Navy due 

to its demoralizing and destructive nature to 

an individual’s self-esteem and detrimental 

impact on unit cohesion.

“The secretary of the Navy’s instruction on hazing is the cornerstone of our 

approach to education, prevention, enforcement and accountability,” said West. “Training on hazing, equal opportunity, and core 

values begins with recruits at boot camp and 

is reinforced regularly in a variety of forums 

throughout a Sailor’s service.”

Since 2009, 46 hazing incidents have been 

reported with 20 of these resulting in punitive, administrative or disciplinary action.

“Navy policy requires Commanders to 

formally report every suspected incident of 

hazing to the chain of command as soon as 

possible,” said West. “Every Sailor has the 

responsibility to make the appropriate authorities aware of hazing. Those who commit violations of the policy and those in 

leadership positions who may tolerate such 

acts are held accountable.”

MCPON pointed to the deck plate leaders 

aboard the ships and on the ground throughout the Navy as the pinnacle of success or 

failure of the Navy’s hazing prevention policies and corrective measures.

“We understand people are truly the 

singular measure of your Navy’s success,” 

added West. “We appreciate your passionate 

interest in protecting their welfare and stand 

committed to meeting your expectations.”

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

MCPON testifies before Congress

All services’ leaders denounce hazing

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Thomas Rosprim

Office of the MCPON

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West (pictured) and other top enlisted leaders testified before the 

House Armed Services Subcommitte on Military Personnel. The Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, 

and Navy all agree: hazing is destructive to morale, unit cohesion, and mission readiness.

–photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Thomas Rosprim

“That turned out to be a problem, because delay always is more expensive,” she 

said, citing inflation and high construction 

costs due to Hurricane Katrina and a global 

demand for construction materials as factors. “We were putting out bids at the worst 

possible time,” she said.

“The lesson from that is ‘Do not delay 

the implementation of BRAC rounds, because it eliminates flexibility,’” she said.

Also, Robyn said, the Army spent additional money during the 2005 BRAC process by using new construction instead of 

renovations. “Over and over again, they decided to do more than they had planned because they thought the benefits were worth 

it,” she said.

Katherine G. Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations and environment, agreed that the 2005 round “was a 

very different BRAC.” The Army closed 11 

installations and realigned 53, spending $18 

billion in construction costs, she said. However, she said, the process improved the National Guard and Army Reserve, and made 

the Army more efficient at training.

The Army has been doing its own 

“BRAC-like” process for downsizing overseas, where the process is not required, 

Hammack said, noting it has closed 97 sites 

in Europe ,and plans to close another 23, 

mostly in Germany. It has closed 34 sites 

in South Korea, and plans to close 20 more 

sites there, she added.

Terry A. Yonkers, assistant secretary of 

the Air Force for installations, environment 

and logistics, said the 2005 BRAC process 

did not meet the service’s expectations of 

reducing its footprint. The Air Force had 

about the same 24 percent excess capacity 

that it has now, he said.

BRAC cont. 
One Trooper’s lesson in spiritual resilience

A spiritually resilient Trooper has hope 

when those around him have lost hope. He 

or she can find meaning when the mission 

seems meaningless. They can find new 

strength when others are giving up. Consider 

this quote from 2 Corinthians 4: 

“But we have this treasure 

in jars of clay to show that this 

all-surpassing power is from 

God and not from us. We are 

hard pressed on every side, but 

not crushed; perplexed, but not 

in despair; persecuted, but not 

abandoned; struck down, but not 

destroyed... Therefore we do 

not lose heart. Though outwardly 

we are wasting away, yet inwardly 

we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary 

troubles are achieving for us an 

eternal glory that far outweighs 

them all. So we fix our eyes not 

on what is seen, but on what 

is unseen, since what is seen is 

temporary, but what is unseen is 

eternal.” 

Viewed from the outside, the person 

described here appears to be “wasting away,” 

but inside they are 

being “renewed 

day by day.” This is 

spiritual resilience.

The military has 

given great attention 

to developing 

Troopers who 

can confront and 

overcome any obstacle. The last 10 years 

of conflict have revealed the strength of 

our military: we can go anywhere in the 

world to accomplish any mission against any 

opposition. At the same time, this conflict has 

shed light on our weaknesses: high suicide 

rates, substance abuse, and stress disorders 

are now common in every branch of service. 

Because of this trend, there is a new focus on 

developing resiliency.

Resilience is defined as the ability to 

“bounce back.” The most obvious example 

is physical resilience, which is developed 

through physical training. A trained athlete has 

a greater physical capacity and can “bounce 

back” from an injury faster than a couch 

potato. Every service has set a basic standard 

for physical fitness, and every Trooper must 

pass a physical fitness test in order to be ready 

for the next deployment. 

Spiritual resiliency is not so easy to 

measure and is often 

overlooked. The 

truth is that spiritual 

strength, just like 

physical strength, 

can be increased 

through training. 1 

Timothy 4:7-8 says: 

“Train yourself to be 

godly. For physical training is of some value, 

but godliness has value for all things, holding 

promise for both the present life and the life 

to come.” The physical fitness test comes a 

few times a year, but tests of your spiritual 

fitness come every day. If you feel that you 

are “wasting away,” you need to become 

spiritually strong. Take the time every day 

to become spiritually fit. Pray, pick up your 

Bible, talk to the chaplain, find someone you 

admire who is spiritually fit and do what they 

are doing.

Spiritual strength is developed through a 

daily relationship with God. A daily routine 

of praying (talking to God) and reading 

scripture (listening to God) will slowly and 

steadily increase spiritual strength. As you 

grow stronger spiritually, you will find that 

you have a new hope, a new meaning, and a 

new strength that will renew you day by day. 

Only at GTMO by Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Keith Simmons

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Mind, 

Body

& Spirit

by Army Capt. Douglas Bazil

193rd Military Police Company

Resilience is the ability to “bounce 

back.” Spiritual strength, just like 

physical strength, can be increased 

through training. Take the time every 

day to become spiritually fit.

Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow and West 

Point Cadet Andrew Rodriguez. You know 

the first two names these NFL quarterbacks 

have dominated the sports pages, broadcast 

reports and websites in recent days. At the 

same time, most news media passed over 

the Associated Press story with the headline 

“Army linebacker Rodriguez wins Sullivan 

Award.”

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) 

James E. Sullivan Award honors outstanding 

amateur athletes using the values of character, 

leadership and sportsmanship. Presented 

annually since 1930, past recipients of the 

Sullivan Award include Mark Spitz, Jackie 

Joyner-Kersee, and Michael Phelps.

You can mention Manning, Tebow and 

Rodriguez all in the same breath, as this 

trio shares something very rare in amateur 

sports. These are the only college athletes to 

have earned the AAU Sullivan Award and the 

National Football Foundation’s Campbell 

Trophy.

The NFF Campbell Trophy recognizes 

an individual for a combination of academic 

achievement, football performance and 

outstanding community leadership.

Unlike the two NFL quarterbacks 

with whom he shares this rare distinction, 

Rodriguez’s abilities on the gridiron are not 

setting NCAA records. 

Coming to the United States Military 

Academy in the fall of 2008, Rodriguez did 

not play that year for the Black Knights, even 

as a former three-time all-state linebacker 

selection from Bishop Ireton High School in 

Alexandria, Va.

In 2009 with an injury to another 

player, Rodriguez was promoted to starting 

linebacker and excelled, leading the team 

with 85 tackles. Fifteen of those tackles 

came against Navy. The cadet grabbed a 

pair of interceptions and made two fumble 

recoveries during the season.

High hopes for the 2010 football season 

were dashed by a near career-ending back 

injury. Rodriguez trained vigorously to 

return and was picked by teammates to be 

one of the three team captains. In his final 

opportunity to wear the black and gold, 

Rodriguez accounted for a team-leading 

three takeaways and recorded 59 tackles 

during the 2011 season.

His statistics for only two years of play 

are commendable, but Rodriguez’s stats off 

the football field deserve the most attention. 

A 4.12 grade point average as mechanical 

engineering major; he earned 21 A-plus 

grades; placement on the Dean’s List six 

times and is ranked third out of 1,052 cadets 

in West Point’s Class of 2012.

His family background could help 

explain his drive to excel. His dad, Gen. 

David Rodriguez, is commanding general 

of U.S. Forces Command and the former 

commander of the International Security 

Assistance Joint Command in Afghanistan. 

His sister, Amy, recently returned from 

a deployment to Iraq since her graduation 

from West point in 2006. Dad is a member 

of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1976 

and Cadet Rodriguez will be the next family 

graduate in May. 

It was the troops overseas that Rodriguez 

was thinking about when he accepted the 

AAU Sullivan Award at the New York 

Athletic Club, New York on March 20. “I had 

the opportunity to play for all the servicemen 

and servicewomen around the world. That’s 

who my teammates and I played for, and this 

award goes out to them.”

The video of Rodriguez’s acceptance 

speech on the Army Athletics website shows 

a young man in the cadet uniform who is 

genuinely amazed that his sharing a stage five 

other scholar-athletes.

“At dinner I told my mom (Ginny) I 

didn’t even write a speech. There is no way I 

am going to win,” said Rodriguez. “This is an 

incredible honor to win this award,” noting 

he was surrounded by players of the year 

and future Olympic athletes in the five other 

candidates. 

The other five finalists include Jillian 

Camarena-Williams (track & field), Alex 

Jupiter (volleyball), Jason Read (rowing), 

Katherine Reutter (speedskating) and Jordyn 

Weiber (gymnastics).

Rodriguez is the shining example of 

what collegiate sports should be all about; 

he was selected for these national awards 

based on his athleticism and sportsmanship 

in collegiate football, as well as for his 

exemplary achievements off the field. 

Good news for the Army, at 6’ 3” and 

217 pounds Rodriguez is not what you would 

consider a prime NFL linebacker prospect. 

So he will probably stay in the family 

business, leading troops and protecting this 

great nation.

Cadet wins Sullivan Award

West Point Cadet Andrew Rodriguez joined an elite list of athletes, to include several Olympians, by winning the 

James E. Sullivan Award. –Army Athletics photo

The Wire | Page 16 Sports Commentary |

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven
| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19 Downtown Lyceum Camp Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 31

Call the movie hotline at 4880 or see https://intranet/movies.html for more information.

30 1 2 3 4 5

Hunger Games 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Grey

(R) 10 p.m.

Hunger Games 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Safe House

(R) 10 p.m.

Chronicle

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Safe House

(R) 10 p.m.

The Grey

(R) 8 p.m.

Man on a Ledge

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Red Tails (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Red Tails (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Man on a Ledge

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Journey 2

(PG) 8 p.m.

Hunger Games 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Big Miracle

(PG) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

GTMO Religious 

Services

NAVSTA Main Chapel

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

Palm Sunday,

April 1

9 a.m. – Catholic Mass

11 a.m. – Protestant 

worship

1 p.m. - Gospel 

worship

6 p.m. GTMO Bay 

Christian Fellowship

Holy Thursday,

April 5

5:30 p.m. – Catholic 

Mass

7 p.m. – Protestant 

worship

Good Friday, April 6

5 p.m. – Catholic Good Friday Passion

6:30 – Protestant 

worship

Saturday, April 7

7:30 p.m. – Easter Vigil 

Mass

Easter Sunday special 

services, April 8

6:30 a.m. – Easter 

Sunrise Service at 

Windmill Beach, 

with breakfast 12:45 p.m. – Protestant 

Easter Egg Hunt 

(chapel annex courtyard)

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

Intense Spiritual 

Fitness Power Lunch!

Thursday 11-11:30 a.m.

JTF Chaplain’s Office

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

For other services, contact the 

NAVSTA Chaplain’s Office at 2323.

For more 

information, 

call 2305.

GTMO Quick Reference

Caribbean Coffee & Cream – 77859

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

Sun. 1-10 p.m.

Jerk House – 2535

Sun.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

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

Bowling Center – 2118

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

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

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

Sun. & Holidays 1-11 p.m.

KFC and A&W Express – 75653

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

MWR Liberty Centers – 2010 

Deer Point: Mon.-Fri. 4 p.m.-12 a.m.

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

Marine Hill: Mon.-Th. 11-12 a.m.

Fri. 11-2 a.m., Sun. 9-12 a.m.

Tierra Kay: Sun-Th. 7-12 a.m.

Fri. & Sat. 7-2 a.m.

Camp America - open 24 hours

Pirate’s Cove

Th.-Sat. 7 p.m.-12 a.m.

Cuban Club – 75962 (call ahead!)

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

McDonald’s – 3797

Mon.-Th. 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

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

Sun. 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Pizza Hut – 77995

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

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

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

Windjammer – 77252

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

Windjammer Cafe

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

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

Sat. 5-10 p.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

O’Kelly’s Irish Pub

Mon.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

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

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Safe Ride - 84781

The Wire | Page 18

There are some people who 

absolutely detest “the camcorder 

movie.” In fact, my Cuzco 

neighbor walked off during last 

Saturday night’s showing of 

“Chronicle,” which is this type 

of film, about 20 minutes into 

the feature at the Downtown 

Lyceum. That’s understandable. 

These types of films don’t have 

the same mass appeal as the 

summer popcorn blockbusters 

do. However, I do believe these 

films ultimately do find their 

audience.

“The camcorder movie” 

is also known as the “found 

footage” movie. Basically, these 

are films purporting to be the 

faithful and accurate depictions 

of actual events as they had 

unfolded. The characters in these 

pictures chronicle everything 

with their video cameras. Good 

examples would be the supposed 

lost NASA archival footage 

of “Apollo 18” (2011) or the 

supposed discovered camera of 

the ill-fated college students of 

the witch-in-the woods creep-fest 

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999). 

The actors in these movies are 

usually unknowns to aid in their 

believability as the ordinary 

people they portray. The sound 

fluctuates and the image is usually 

grainy to appear as actual stock 

footage, right down to framing 

and dust on the film if required 

for the medium. 

It is necessary to establish this 

before going right into my review 

of “Chronicle” and for the 

context in which I have graded 

this picture. This is a movie 

intentionally designed to appear 

being pieced together from 

multiple video camera footage, 

cellular telephone videos, a 

surveillance video and a live 

news broadcast 

feed. 

“ C h r o n i c l e ” 

starts off 

simplistic 

enough. The film opens with 

Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan, 

“True Blood”), a socially awkward 

teen, videotaping his abusive 

alcoholic father pounding on his 

bedroom door. At first you think 

this is a defensive tactic to ward 

off the father, but we soon realize 

there’s more to Andrew’s need to 

videotape the moments in life. 

His camera now goes everywhere 

he goes as he documents his 

world. He doesn’t fit in at school 

and his loving mother is dying of 

cancer. 

Andrew’s cousin Matt Garetty 

(Alex Russell, “Almost Kings”) 

has been absent for a while. He 

likes to quote Plato and is asking 

deep questions. Matt and Andrew 

link up and attend a rave outside 

of Seattle. That’s when popular 

Steve Montgomery (Michael 

B. Jordan, “Red Tails”), who’s 

running for class president, enlists 

Andrew’s aid in taking some video 

of the mysterious cavern in the 

woods and what is inside.

After the trio is exposed to a 

glowing crystal in the cave, they 

develop telekinetic abilities. That 

is, they are able to move objects 

with their minds. At first this is 

a novelty to them. It’s good for 

hijinks with a hackysack and skipping 

rocks on a 

lake. They 

discover telekinesis is also fun 

to play pranks at school and at a 

shopping mall. The moments in 

the parking lot and the toy store 

are some of the funniest I’ve seen 

in a movie this year. The part with 

the young girl with the teddy bear 

had me in an uproar.

After theorizing the use of 

their powers is like “flexing 

a muscle,” the three friends 

broaden their abilities into flight. 

The footage of them playing 

football in the clouds together is 

what you’d expect newly superpowered youths to do in real life. 

To them, their new found powers 

are the means to goof off and 

have a little fun. Sadly, as is often 

the case, absolute power corrupts 

absolutely. Not everyone can 

possess super-human abilities and 

keep their tempers in check. For 

those who can do so, it might have 

something to do with moral rearmament and their upbringing. 

This first 50 minutes of 

“Chronicle” are an absolute 

delight. The three friends act just 

like ordinary high school kids 

would act as they test their new 

powers. The problems they face 

and their good humor comes 

across as real making this film feel 

like a legitimate home video. Even 

when the extraordinary happens 

to these guys, they still act as teens 

probably would act in this kind of 

situation. There’s an authenticity 

throughout the picture that 

really makes everything feel 

believable and true. This includes 

Matt’s courtship of the cute 

Casey (Ashley Hinsaw, “Gossip 

Girl”) to the 

extraordinary 

show-down 

in downtown 

Seattle toward the climax of the 

picture.

DeHaan is terrific as the 

shunned Andrew, whose 

problems at home and school 

are universal. Andrew’s repressed 

anger issues are to be expected. 

He is sweet and reserved until his 

personal demons get the better 

of him. What starts off as an 

unassuming movie with good 

cheer turns a very dark page. 

Though this transition seems a 

little abrupt, it also makes sense. 

The last act plays out well.

“Chronicle” has the ingredients 

of a comic book origin story, 

though the filmmakers wisely 

decide to keep this movie in the 

real world as much as possible. 

The overall effect is one of 

sincerity. Some will argue that 

“the camcorder/found footage” 

approach in this film’s story 

telling is a gimmick. Maybe it is, 

but so what? In this case, it helps 

make “Chronicle” work.

“Chronicle” is written by 

Max Landis, who is the son of 

filmmaker John Landis. It’s evident 

that he has a firm understanding 

in writing teen dialog and making 

lines that seem nonsensical come 

across as real and true. All of the 

characters are genuine.

I can only review “Chronicle” 

in the context of what it is: “the 

camcorder/found footage” 

picture. For those who don’t care 

for this kind of picture, there is 

no talking to you. That’s fine and 

I respect where you’re coming 

from. On its own merits, I think 

“Chronicle” did what it set out 

to do. For that, I appreciated 

and enjoyed it. I didn’t expect 

much when I sat down, but I 

did have fun as I watched it.

CHRONICLE By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Movie Review

PG-13

83 min.

Movie Review |
Above: Army Capt. Joyce Louden took command of the 189th 

Military Police Company March 23. –photo by Mass 

Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Below: Congratulations to the J3 Joint Operations Center for 

earning the March Integritas Award! –photo by Mass 

Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kyle Steckler

Above and background: The Red Cross Hike took 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers around 

the trails Saturday morning in appreciation of the 

170th Military Police Company’s Trail Blazer 

efforts. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 1st 

ClassTy Bjornson

TheJTF