Volume 13, Issue 13 Friday, February 3, 2012

You don’t say!

GTMO ‘groundhog’ predicts 

six more weeks of 

(Caribbean) winter

Focus on Trooper of the Quarter

Marathoners rockin’ in the free world
 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

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Jon Dasbach

Mass Communication Spc. 3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

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.

You are part of a joint team of 

professionals which includes Troopers 

from all five service branches and all 

components, as well as U.S. government 

civilian employees and contractors. You 

have joined our team from all walks 

of life to execute the one-of-a-kind 

mission found only at Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. 

I hope that as you learn about the 

different branches of service, while 

working together, you will see that 

although we describe 

our values with 

different words, 

our values are all 

grounded in the oath 

we took when we 

swore to defend our 

great nation. 

As February is 

African-American 

Heritage month, I 

wanted to highlight 

two AfricanAmericans who were 

willing to make the 

ultimate sacrifice. Though they served in 

different services at different times they 

represent our core values to the fullest. 

Landsman Wilson Brown, a Union 

Navy Sailor during the Civil War, worked 

on the USS Hartford during a battle at 

the Confederate-held Mobile Bay. After 

being thrown through a hatch, with the 

dead body of another man falling on top 

of him, he fell unconscious. However 

after he came to, Brown returned to his 

duties. He kept the ship’s guns supplied 

with powder for the remainder of the 

battle although four of the six men at his 

station had been either killed or wounded 

by fire. Brown, earned the Medal of 

Honor for his valiant efforts. 

Nearly a hundred years later, U.S. 

Army Staff Sgt. Ruben Rivers earned the 

Medal of Honor during World War II. 

His tank unit was given a mission to attack 

a German position. While advancing, 

his tank became stuck in a road block 

and subsequent ambush. Rivers got out 

of his tank and attached a cable to it to 

remove the obstacle, thus allowing the 

attack to proceed. A week later, as Rivers 

was leading his company in another 

assault, his tank hit a land mine and he 

was seriously injured. He refused medical 

evacuation and took command of 

another tank. During yet another daring 

assault seriously injured and in a lot of 

pain, he and his company were forced 

to retreat. Rivers’ tank and another one 

provided rear security for the retrograding 

company. While 

saving the company 

from destruction, 

he fell under heavy 

enemy fire and was 

killed when the 

Germans trained 

their fire on his tank.

These two 

outstanding U.S. 

servicemen provide 

us enduring examples 

of two Troopers who 

lived their service 

values to their last 

breath. They volunteered and performed 

their duties to the best of their abilities 

under fire and without regard to their 

personal safety. They were focused on the 

mission and that of their battle buddies 

and shipmates.

Here at JTF Guantanamo, we do 

not work under the physical conditions 

such as those Rivers and Brown endured. 

Our environment is much different and 

requires a different type of dedication 

and commitment to ensure the detainees 

are provided safe, humane, legal and 

transparent care and custody. 

We should remind ourselves and our 

shipmates, battle buddies and wingmen 

every day of our service values. These 

will guide our actions, whether on 

duty or off duty, to conduct ourselves 

in an appropriate manner. I continue 

to be impressed with the level of 

professionalism I see every day with the 

entire JTF Guantanamo team. 

Honor Bound!

We should remind 

ourselves and our 

shipmates, battle 

buddies and wingmen 

every day of our 

service values. These 

will guide our 

actions, whether on 

or off-duty.

Brig. Gen. James Lettko

Deputy Commander, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: Flag aide Lt. Cmdr. Jay Haddock and Duffles the banana rat, also known as “Guantanamo Jay,” 

herald six more weeks of Caribbean winter. No banana rats were harmed in the making of this prediction. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Cc

ommand

orner

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Get in the mood for the Super Bowl by 

playing in the Super Fishbowl Tournament 

Feb. 4. Register at the Marina by Feb. 2. Registration costs $6. The Tournament starts at 

7 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m. There will be prizes for 1st place male and female winners with 

the longest mackerel, jack, and snapper. 

For more information, call 2345. 

Turn your trash into cash for the students 

of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. W.T. 

Sampson is taking part in the Box Tops for 

Education fundraiser. Each box top donated 

will be turned into 10 cents for Guantanamo 

Bay schools. A Box Tops collection bin is 

available at the NEX.

Grab some friends and some sunscreen 

and get ready for the coed Blizzard Sand volleyball tournament. The action runs from 

Feb. 18 to Feb. 20. Register your team (four to 

six people) by Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. There will be 

a coaches’ meeting Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. You 

must be at least 16 years old to join a team.

For more information, call 2113.

Who is going to take the welterweight 

championship while Georges St. Pierre is 

injured? Find out tomorrow night at 9 p.m. 

when O’Kelly’s airs UFC 143 live. 

For more information, call 75503. 

Join the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders for 

Super Bowl Sunday events! Starting at 12 p.m. 

at Cooper Field with the youth cheer clinic, 

learn to cheer from professionals. The Punt 

Pass and Kick competition and Quarterback 

Attack events begin at 1 p.m. These events 

are open to all hands. For more information, 

call 2113.

Then the party moves to O’Kelly’s at 4:30 

p.m. for a one-hour meet-and-greet. Bring 

a camera! At 6:30 p.m. the cheerleaders will 

perform before kick-off. Watch the big game 

on the big screen! 

For more information, call 4882.

Are you looking for a chance to take the 

lead on your command’s physical training? 

Enroll in the Command Fitness Leader 

Certification Course. Register online by 

March 9 at the following address:

www.navyfitness.org/fitness/cfl_information 

The course runs from March 26 to March 

30. For more information, call 2157.

The Tiki Bar will host a Polynesian Luau 

on Feb. 11. Events start at 5 p.m. with Luau 

games! Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the 

luau show begins at 8:30 p.m. featuring hula 

dancers, live music and a fire knife dancer. 

Seating is limited, so purchase tickets at the 

Bayview during normal business hours. 

For more information, call 75604.

The Camp America post office will be 

closed Feb. 4. Normal hours will resume Feb. 

6 at 8 a.m. For more information, call 2331.

There are nine additional classes now 

available for Guantanamo residents of all 

ages: piano, holistic yoga, math and science 

tutoring classes, comedy improv, introduction 

to web design, introduction to Russian 

language, yoga for kids, and leatherwork for 

youth. Register by Feb. 10.

For more information, email chris.

dickson@usnbgtmo.navy.mil or call 84616.

The Navy Legal Services Office is ready 

to help Guantanamo residences through tax 

season. The naval station location will be 

open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon-Fri., and the 

JTF Trooper One Stop office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Mon.-Fri. Appointments are now available.

For more information, call 4692.

Career Exploration 

Feb. 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m. 

Alternative to Violence seminars (men-only)

Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28; 1-2 p.m.

Job Search 

Feb. 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Classes are located at the Fleet and Family 

Services Center conference room. For more 

information, call 4141.

Camp America post 

office closed Feb. 4

INDEX

The Wire

February 3, 2012

A history of Guantanamo Bay

Super Bowl preview

PWD nursery volunteerism

Six more weeks of... summer

Rockin’ the run

Black Heritage Organization

Sprinting for weight loss

Movie review: The Sitter

Sand volleyball 

tournament

Child and Youth 

Programs classes

Polynesian-style luau

O’Kelly’s to air UFC 143

Super Fishbowl 

Tournament 

W.T. Sampson 

box top drive

4

7

8

9

10

13

17

18

Command Fitness 

Leader cert course

Super Bowl Sunday 

with the Miami 

Dolphins cheerleaders

NLSO tax assistance 

Upcoming FFSC classes
 The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Whether you knew it or not 

when you arrived here, when 

you stepped off of the rotator 

you stepped into a time capsule. 

That’s not to say, aside from the 

literal definition, that I agree with 

a certain cable channel’s slogan, 

“History is made every day.” 

What I ate for breakfast this 

morning is history, true enough. 

Items of note, however, the kind 

that “go down in history” for us 

to marvel at many years later, 

have been made in this little bay 

on the southeast coast of Cuba. 

And now you are a part of it.

Before Columbus arrived here 

in 1494, this bay was inhabited 

by an indigenous people called 

the Taíno. The Taíno were a 

peaceful people, and also brave 

sailors who prided themselves 

in their courage on the open 

ocean. Columbus himself 

remarked with astonishment 

at seeing Taíno fishermen all 

alone at sea and many miles 

from shore in an open boat. 

Over the next several centuries 

this bay was predominantly used 

as it always had been: for fishing, 

as a safe harbor, and for hiding. 

Due to its proximity to the 

eastern entrance to the Windward 

Passage between Hispaniola 

and Cuba, and to the buccaneer 

strongholds of Tortuga off 

the north coast of Hispaniola 

(modern-day Haiti), Cow Island 

(off the south coast of Haiti), 

and Port Royal (Jamaica) in the 

17th century, it can be assumed 

that numerous buccaneers, 

privateers, and outright pirates 

used this bay for these purposes. 

The idea of using the bay 

as a staging point for raids 

on Santiago de Cuba was not 

lost to history. However, the 

oddly-named War of Jenkins’ 

Ear destroyed the career of 

one pre-Revolutionary British 

Vice Admiral, Edward Vernon. 

Arriving at Guantanamo 

Bay (which the British named 

Cumberland Harbor) Vernon’s 

failed advance led to the army 

spending nearly four months 

encamped between Guantanamo 

Bay and Santiago de Cuba. 

Suffering from Spanish guerilla 

attacks and a spreading bout of 

yellow fever, British and colonial 

forces withdrew in disgrace. 

Vernon was later recalled to 

England and expelled from the 

Navy. Many of the yellow fever 

victims were “hospitaled” on 

a small island inside the bay, 

which we now call Hospital Cay. 

American forces (this time, 

as in United States of America), 

saw plenty of action in Cuba 

during the Spanish-American 

War. In Feb. 1898, after the 

USS Maine blew up in Havana 

Harbor, tensions between the 

United States and Spain reached 

a boiling point. The U.S. declared 

war on Spain in April 1898 and 

the U.S. Army rapidly assembled 

in Tampa and Key West, Florida 

in preparation for an invasion. 

 On June 6, 1898 the U.S. 

Navy sailed into Guantanamo 

Bay with a light cruiser, the USS 

Marblehead, and two auxiliary 

cruisers, the USS St. Louis and 

the USS Yankee. Six-inch guns 

from the USS Marblehead 

destroyed a Spanish blockhouse 

on the hill above a small village 

on Fisherman’s Point and drove 

off the Spanish defenders. 

On June 9 a battalion of 

Marines under the command of 

Lt. Col. Robert W. Huntington 

had arrived off of Santiago de 

Cuba from Key West aboard 

a converted transport ship, 

the USS Panther. The Marines 

landed on the Windward side 

of Guantanamo Bay at Playa 

del Este (which in English 

translates to “East Beach” 

and is today known as Girl

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Shimer

J3 Senior Enlisted Leader

 Don’t connect USB devices to 

 government computers!

But I’m just using a little power. What’s the harm?

Anything that plugs into USB can not only draw power, but can 

also transfer data. USB provides both capabilities.

But I turned it off, so I’m okay, right?

NO! USB supplies power; so, it’s not necessary for the device 

to be on for data transfer to occur.

But it’s not a thumb drive, so what’s the issue?

Even if it were as simple as a USB light or game controller, 

how do you know it doesn’t have memory? All hard drives, 

mp3 players, phones, etc. definitely DO have storage and, in 

many cases, also include wireless capability which makes 

them a much greater vulnerability than a USB thumb drive. 

The introduction of these devices into US Government 

systems allows for the creation of an infection vector across 

classification boundaries.

PSEC SPECIAL ALERT: Hot Tips from the Interage

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

at gtmo, you are a part of history!

 see HISTORY next page

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 5

But I don’t transfer data back and forth. I would 

never load my data onto a work computer.

Within seconds of plugging in a USB cable, the computer 

and device start exchanging information. It’s during this 

“handshake” period that a virus or malware can begin its 

work and infect any computer you plug into. This data transfer 

may introduce a cross-domain violation or the introduction of 

malicious data onto a US Government network.

But where would my portable device get a virus?

The Internet, Bluetooth vulnerabilities, infected media, other 

USB charging locations... the list is nearly endless. Not only 

is your device at risk of getting a virus, so are the government 

systems to which you are connecting.

Don’t put your information at risk. Keep 

personal devices off government systems!

ncy OPSEC Support Staff (IOSS)

Scout Beach) and occupied the 

abandoned hilltop next to the 

destroyed Spanish blockhouse.

The location became known 

as Camp McCalla and 

McCalla Hill, named after the 

commander of the Marblehead, 

Cmdr. Bowman H. McCalla.

Advised of Cuban rebel 

forces, Huntington decided 

on a bold counterattack. The 

Spanish forces in the area 

were concentrated a few miles 

distant at the Cuzco Wells, just 

east of what today is known 

as Cable Beach. Cuzco Wells 

was the only reliable source of 

fresh water in the area. Without 

the water, Huntington thought, 

the Spanish would be forced 

to withdraw from the area. 

The Spanish were estimated at 

500 loyalist guerillas. Though 

they were outnumbered, 

American forces held the area. 

In 1906, retiring U.S. 

Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. 

Adna Chaffee, a veteran of 

the Spanish-American War, 

dedicated a monument atop of 

McCalla Hill to commemorate 

the Marines and Sailors who 

fought there in June 1898. The 

monument still stands under 

the U.S. flag for all to see upon 

arrival here at Guantanamo 

Bay. The focal piece of the 

monument is a 1748 French 24-

pound Vallière cannon, but that 

is another story.

The ground beneath your feet 

and the sea surrounding us here 

at Guantanamo Bay has seen 

war many times in its past. As 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

Troopers, you carry on the 

tradition of service amidst these 

little-known giants of history. 

Remember the service of those 

who came before us, and the 

next time you look out over 

the Caribbean outside Seaside 

Galley, imagine for a moment 

the Taíno fishermen, Spanish 

explorers, French buccaneers, 

British men of war, and United 

States Marines who sailed into 

this bay before us.

HISTORY cont. The passing of 

the sword

First Sgt. Chris Fick (left), assumed the duties of 189th Military 

Police Company first sergeant Wednesday. With him at the change 

of responsibility ceremony were Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Daniel F. Borrero, 

Command Sergeant Major of the 525th Military Police Battalion 

(center), and First Sgt. Phillip A. Dietz, outgoing first sergeant of 

the 189th MP Co. (right). The 189th MPs fall under the Vigilant 

Warriors of the 525th MPs, and are responsible for security at 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Camp Five. –photo by Mass 

Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson
 The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 4.5 years

Hobbies: Running, fishing, laughing with friends

The boss says: “She has a lot of initiative. She is highly motivated and motivates everyone around her. She is 

always out there doing something to improve the unit 

and the way we do things here.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Strive to do your best at 

everything, both in work and in your spare time.”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army Sgt. Larissa Pillay 

believes there is strength in 

unit cohesion. Pillay, one of 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s 

S-2 analysts, is active in the 

Guantanamo community, and 

is always sure to spread cheer 

with her unit.

“I believe one of the most 

important things in the military 

is keeping morale high,” Pillay 

said. “We are always looking for 

projects and activities to keep 

everyone content and healthy, 

both physically and mentally.”

Pillay is a member of JTF 

Guantanamo’s 170th Military 

Police Battalion, one of the most 

active units in the community. 

At work, she conducts OPSEC 

inspections, physical security 

inspections and is a member of 

the advance search team. Off 

duty, she and her unit are always 

looking for new activities to get 

involved in.

“Our unit is always involved 

in the community,” Pillay said. 

“We help out the schools at all 

of their functions and actively 

participate in all the base’s runs. 

Whenever we can help out, we 

will. It helps us to focus on our 

mission and not worry about 

things back home.”

Pillay was recently named 

JTF Guantanamo’s Trooper of 

the Quarter. Though the award 

recognizes individual service 

members, Pillay attributes her 

success to those around her.

“Its an honor to be named 

JTF’s Trooper of the Quarter,” 

Pillay said, “but I could not 

have done it without my S-2 

team and the 170th.” They 

helped mold me and build my 

leadership skills. They have 

provided me with more than 

enough support to get things 

done.”

Pillay said her unit has 

learned from their differences 

and weaknesses to come 

together for mission success. 

She said not only have their 

experiences helped them in 

their professional careers, but 

the 170th as a whole has learned 

from other branches different 

ways to become more efficient 

as a unit.

“Deciding to volunteer for 

this deployment has probably 

been one of the best decisions 

I have made in life,” Pillay said. 

“Having the opportunity to 

work in a joint environment and 

working with other services has 

allowed me to see the bigger 

picture of military service.”

Who’s going to win the Super Bowl?

“Patriots all day!” 

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Andre Bogus 

“I don’t care. The 49ers 

didn’t make it.”

Airman 1st Class

Brett Lane

“The Patriots. It’s a rematch 

and they really need this!”

Petty Officer 3rd Class 

Robert Lumberg

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

“The Giants, because I 

don’t like the Patriots.”

Pfc.

Jawan Smith

| Student of the Game

I heard rumors about there 

being some sort of football 

game this weekend... I think 

there’s a bowl of soup involved 

and a trophy named after a 

funny looking guy with glasses 

and a fedora... Here is the tale 

of the tape:

Facts:

– This game is a rematch 

from week nine of this season. 

Tom Brady threw for 342 yards, 

two touchdowns and still loss to 

the Giants, 24-20.

– This season Brady threw 

for 5,235 yards, surpassing Dan 

Marino’s 27-year-old record, but 

finishing behind Drew Brees for 

second all time.

– Eli Manning set an NFL 

record with 15 fourth quarter 

touchdown passes.

When looking at this game 

objectively, it seems like it’s going 

to be an air show with very little 

defense involved. But, if the 

Giants have their way, they will 

cook with the same recipe that 

they used in Super Bowl XLII: 

hit Tom Brady hard and make 

him skittish in the pocket.

New England has the perfect 

answer for the Giants’ pass rush. 

They have the most productive 

tight end tandem in league 

history: Aaron Hernandez and 

Rob Gronkowski. The latter is 

nursing a high ankle sprain, but 

says he will be ready at game 

time. Brady can save himself 

from the pass rush by quickly 

dumping the ball to his tight 

ends up the seam.

The outcome of this game 

has the potential to be lopsided 

in favor of both teams, but the 

New York Giants defensive line 

will be the difference maker. It 

won’t be an easy task, but the 

Vince Lombardi trophy will rest 

in New Jersey for the next year. 

Because, you know, the New 

York Giants and Jets actually 

play and practice in New Jersey.

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews 

Injury report

Giants

Questionable

CB Will Blackmon (knee)

 WR Hakeem Nicks (shoulder)

CB Corey Webster (hamstring)

LB Jacquian Williams (foot)

Probable

C David Baas (abdomen, neck)

LB Chase Blackburn (calf)

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot)

S Tyler Sash (concussion)

DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee)

Patriots

Questionable

WR Deion Branch (knee) 

T Marcus Cannon (ankle)

S Patrick Chung (knee)

LB Dane Fletcher (thumb)

TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle)

S James Ihedigbo (shoulder)

DT Kyle Love (ankle)

G Logan Mankins (knee)

LB Rob Ninkovich (hip)

LB Brandon Spikes (knee)

T Sebastian Vollmer (back, foot)

WR Wes Welker (knee)

LB Tracy White (abdomen)

Probable

G Dan Connolly (groin)

WR Matt Slater (shoulder)

S t uden t of th e G a m e

by the numbers

Super Bowl preview

Giants Patriots

 Offense

4th Passing 1st

32nd Rushing 20th

8th Total 

offense 2nd

 Defense

29th Passing 31st

19th Rushing 17th

28th Total 

defense 32nd

New York Giants Team Leaders New England Patriots

Passing Cmp Att Yds TDs Passing Cmp Att Yds TDs

Manning 359 589 4933 29 Brady 401 611 5235 39

Rushing Car Yds Avg TDs Rushing Car Yds Avg TDs

Bradshaw 171 659 3.9 9 Green-Ellis 181 667 3.7 11

Jacobs 152 571 3.8 7 Ridley 87 441 5.1 1

Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs

Cruz 82 1536 18.7 9 Welker 122 1569 12.9 9

Nicks 76 1192 15.7 7 Gronkowski 90 1327 14.7 17

 The Wire | Page 7
At 07:25 a.m. in Punxsutawney, Pa., 

a groundhog by the name of Phil was 

roused from his lair to see his shadow in 

front of 18,000 wondering spectators, 

only to predict six more weeks of winter. 

The horde of locals booed under semicloudy skies, hoping for an early spring.

Since 1887, when the calendar hits 

Feb. 2, the nation waits on a groundhog 

in western Pennsylvania to tell them 

whether we will have a lengthy or 

shortened winter. Nobody seems to 

have good explanation as to why we rely 

on a groundhog of all things to tell us 

this, but it’s a tradition unlike any other.

What many people don’t know is that 

Punxsutawney Phil has a cousin living in 

Cuba by the name of Guantanamo Jay. 

He too has been predicting the length 

of winter every Feb. 2. So let’s try this 

again...

At 08:20 a.m. in Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, a banana rat by the name 

of Jay was roused from his lair to see his 

shadow in front of about 15 wondering 

spectators. The precocious rodent also 

predicted six more weeks of winter. 

The squad of Troopers cheered under 

bluebird-bright skies, hoping for the 

weather to stay just the way it is.

Given the seasonably moderate 

mid-80s temperatures and sunshine 

throughout the winter months 

and the fact that JTF Guantanamo 

Troopers presently live in the heart 

of the Caribbean, Guantanamo Jay’s 

predictions don’t carry the burden that 

his cousin’s up north do.

So, all blatant Bill Murray references 

aside, it looks like we’ll have six more 

weeks of winter here in Guantanamo 

Bay. Okay with that? I am. 

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

Okay, Troopers, rise and shine! And 

don’t forget your boots ‘cause it’s... 

actually, not cold out there today

That’s right, 

wood-chuckers, 

it’s Groundhog Day!

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander Rear Adm. 

David Woods (right) and flag aide Lt. Cmdr. Jay 

Haddock heartily welcome six more weeks of winter 

with the rodentian prognosticator of prognosticators, 

“Guantanamo Jay.” –photos by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Planting serenity

Feature | 

By Mass Communication Spc.1st Class Erica Gardner

Tall, leafy trees and brightly 

blooming plants line the dirt path 

of an oasis where personnel at 

Guantanamo Bay are able to escape 

the daily grind of deployment.

Volunteers manage and maintain 

the base’s many exotic plants as a 

way to soothe their spirit and soul.

Base nursery volunteer Don 

Lloyd explained his love for gardening allows him to relax from his 

everyday job as a systems administrator with the naval hospital. During the past five years on the island, 

Lloyd has encountered many variations of plants, trees and herbs.

“I enjoy being in the nursery 

learning about the plants,” said 

Lloyd. “We take cuttings from plants 

around the island and produce new 

plants for base residents to enjoy.” 

The Public Works Department 

nursery was started several years ago 

by school teachers as a class project. 

As they rotated from the island, volunteers kept the project alive, learning about plant care and creating 

a serene atmosphere for base residents to enjoy.

“Volunteers are necessary to help 

us keep this nursery blooming,” said 

Frances Diverson, also a volunteer 

at the PWD nursery.

Diverson learned how to care for 

similar tropical plants while gardening in Hawaii, where she lived for a 

few years. 

Exotic species such as large 

palm and banana trees, Mother-inlaw’s Tongue and hibiscus welcome 

visitors as they enter the nursery. 

Benches placed under trees serve 

as a relaxing environment to read a 

book, listen to music or take in the 

beauty of blooming plants.

“We are able to provide this sanctuary because of the volunteers,” 

said Diverson. “We are very grateful to them for helping us keep this 

place clean and maintainable.”

Troopers from Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo and Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion work with other volunteers at the PWD nursery to 

assist in maintaining the grounds.

“This is my first time volunteering,” said Petty Officer 1st Class 

Lynny Mahoney. “I want to help 

improve Guantanamo and make it 

look better.”

Mahoney and three other volunteers raked fallen leaves around several pens containing similar types of 

plants, and hauled the leaves to an 

outside bin.

Army Cpl. Robert Keller from 

the 525th Military Police Battalion 

raked leaves and reflected on being 

in a garden.

“This place reminds me of 

home,” said Keller. “It is quiet and 

beautiful.”

This is the third time Keller has 

volunteered his time to assist with 

nursery maintenance. He and other 

volunteers transplanted and watered 

some newly rooted seedlings.

“We cannot maintain this nursery 

without their help,” said Diverson. 

“We look for more people to assist 

us but with the rotation of personnel, it is hard to keep them. 

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark 

Snow hauled several wheelbarrow 

loads of leaves from the nursery 

grounds. This is Snow’s first time 

volunteering with the nursery and 

he toured the planting and watering 

station located in the middle of the 

nursery.

The PWD nursery is open to the 

public every first and third Saturday 

of the month from 8:30 to 11 a.m. 

Guantanamo Bay residents are encouraged to volunteer and choose a 

free plant. Volunteers are welcomed 

to show up every Saturday from 

8:30 a.m. until the nursery’s needs 

have been met.

If you are feeling the stress of 

being deployed and need to focus 

your attention on something other 

than work or home, consider getting your hands dirty at the base 

nursery.

“Volunteering is a great way to 

meet new people, and learn about 

plants and how to take care of 

them,” said Lloyd.

 The Wire | Page 8

Background: a view through the trees at the Public Works Department 

plant nursery affords off-duty Troopers some peace and quiet. 

–photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Donnelly

Below: a hibiscus in bloom at the PWD nursey. Free horticulture is 

available for Guantanamo residents and volunteers on the first and 

third Saturdays of each month. 

–photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park
Feature | | 

Feature The Wire|Page 11

Rock on,

GTMO 

runners!

 The Wire |Page 10

Counterclockwise from top left:

Something Distant performed at 

O’Kelly’s Irish Pub Jan. 27. The band 

got the community fired up for the 

Rock ‘n Roll Half-Marathon. 

Hospitalman Tyler Christy and Jeff 

Congo, the lead singer of Something 

Distant, rock out on stage. 

Katie Sutton finished the half-marathon 

in first place with a time of 01:28:40.

Adrienne Selig, a fan since the album 

‘Chroma,’ got a picture with her favor-

ite band: Cartel! 

Something Distant played the ‘Rocky 

‘theme for runners as they pass midpoint in the run. 

Civilian Thomas Wolfe, dressed as 

Captain America, runs in costume to 

motivate other runners. 

–photos by Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

7

12

9

10

11

The route featured acts 

performed by the com-

munity and the two guest 

bands, Something Distant 

and Cartel. *
 The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

Top, left to right: 

Nic Hudson, Will Pugh, 

and Joseph Pepper, of the 

band Cartel, played at 

O’Kelly’s Irish Pub Jan. 28 

after the GTMO Rock ‘n 

Roll Half-Marathon.

Will Pugh played while a 

group of fans gathered in 

front of the stage.

Bottom, left to right:

Bassist Nic Hudson played 

the show after the run.

Drummer Kevin Sanders, 

also of Cartel, played for 

the Guantanamo community at O’Kelly’s after the 

half-marathon.

–photos by Army Sgt. 

Saul Rosa

Rockin’ in the free world

Morale Welfare & Recreation Guantanamo 

Bay held its first Rock n’ Roll Half-Marathon 

Jan. 28. 

Fitness director Jen Norton based the 

run on similar marathons she previously 

organized stateside. 

MWR kicked off the event with a spaghetti 

dinner Jan. 27 at the Windjammer Ballroom 

for the run’s participants. 

“We held a pre-event spaghetti dinner for 

those that were registered, so they could get a 

last minute carb load,” said Alana Morrison, 

the MWR sports coordinator. 

After the dinner, Jacksonville, Fla. band 

Something Distant performed early at 

O’Kelly’s Irish Pub, finishing at 9 p.m. so 

runners could get a good night’s rest. A 

unique twist to the show was a member of 

the crowd singing with the band on stage. 

“Going up on the stage was fun, I had a 

really awesome time and it was something 

different and new out of Guantanamo Bay,” 

said Hospitalman Tyler Christy. “MWR does 

an awesome job not only bringing these guys 

down but bringing down a lot of things that 

get us out of our barracks.”

This was Something Distant’s first trip to 

visit the Guantanamo Bay community, who 

enjoyed the amount of interaction at their 

show.

“The basis of our band and our show 

is audience interaction,” said Jeff Congo, 

lead singer of Something Distant. “One of 

the best things about coming down here is 

getting to meet everyone.” 

Nearly 100 runners ran in the halfmarathon and more than 100 volunteers 

assisted in the event. 

“All of the Guantanamo community was 

involved,” said Morrison. “The community 

assisted in everything from security, the 

hospital providing ambulance support, and 

cheer stations.” 

To motivate the runners Something 

Distant, Cartel, and local performers played 

for the runners at designated mile markers.

“This was a first time we player for a 

marathon,” said Congo. “Every time runners 

came by we would clap for them and play a 

little harder. We also played the ‘Rocky’ theme 

about 20 times today and I think they got a 

chuckle out of that.” 

Civilian Katie Sutton was the first 

participant to finish the run, with a time 

of 01:28:40. Sutton is a newcomer to the 

Guantanamo Bay community, having arrived 

just last week. 

“It was fun and exciting,” said Sutton. 

“I’ve done a couple of the Rock n’ Roll 

events in the States but this was much better. 

Everyone was great, it was well-organized 

and the people cheering were wonderful. I 

had a lot of fun.”

In addition to the morning marathon, 

MWR held a craft fair and community expo 

for the community. 

“Since this was the MWR’s first half 

marathon we really wanted to make it big and 

loud,” said Morrison. 

Morrison explained the MWR held the 

craft fair and expo at the same time so that 

more members of the community could 

come out and enjoy the run, while learning 

more about other MWR programs. 

Andre Gordon, the manager for MWR 

arts and crafts, set up the craft fair to feature 

the work of local artists. 

Gordon explained it was a great 

opportunity for artists to show off their 

talents while making a little profit. 

“We try to have a craft fair at least every 

three months or whenever there is a big MWR 

event like the Rock and Roll Half Marathon,” 

said Gordon. 

The MWR expo showed off the various 

programs MWR offers to the community. 

Everton Hylton, a fitness instuctor, 

represented the gyms and demonstrated 

new programs and equipment available. The 

gyms’ booth also held a push-up competition 

and curl bar competition. 

“We’re here to showcase some of the 

 see ROCK ‘N ROLL next page

By Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

| Feature The Wire | Page 13

Naval Station Guantanamo 

is a melting pot of diversity, and 

there is a group of Troopers, 

civilians and families helping 

the community to recognize 

and celebrate the heritage of all 

service members represented 

here.

The Black Heritage 

Organization (BHO), a suborganization of Guantanamo’s 

Diversity Committee, is selling 

tickets to their annual ball. 

The ball’s purpose is to further 

education and understanding 

of black culture in Cuba.

“There are a lot of nonblack races represented here 

who have black heritage,” 

said Donald “Sarge” LaBron, 

the BHO’s president. “We 

changed the name of the 

African American Association 

as a general consensus – the 

name secluded other races 

of the black community. 

Our community has a heavy 

populace of Cubans, Africans, 

Puerto Ricans and Jamaicans as 

well.”

Kathalina LaBron, 

Guantanamo BHO’s public 

affairs officer, is taking charge 

of ticket sales for the event. 

She said the BHO just wants 

to enjoy going out and building 

a relationship through the 

community. She said the 

organization held fund raisers in 

the past, most notably providing 

students with scholarships.

“Last year’s ball was great,” 

LaBron said. “The theme 

was ‘The Black Soldier.’ This 

year’s theme is ‘The Black 

Woman.’ Events we have 

planned for the event include 

Guantanamo’s Color Guard, an 

elementary school skit, Cmd. 

Master Chief Betty Watson 

as our keynote speaker and 

we will also be blessed with 

a return visit from last year’s 

speaker and distinguished 

guest, Bishop Donald Archer. 

We hope everyone will come 

out and show support for this 

community effort.”

Sarge believes community 

service, involvement and 

education are the keys to 

building cultural knowledge and 

acceptance in the Guantanamo 

area.

“The BHO was formed to 

give different ethnics a purpose 

and venue to be active in the 

community,” he said. “Our 

essential purpose is to do our 

best to heighten awareness 

of black heritage in the 

Guantanamo community.”

 “I would like to see more 

folks involved in what we have 

to offer the community here,” 

Sarge added. “We need more 

people to help us grow in the 

community. This organization 

is not limited to people of 

color. It provides an outlet to 

everyone and a place to learn 

for all.”

Ticket sales for this event are 

ongoing in the NEX atrium, on 

Feb. 4, 11 and 17. The BHO 

will also sell hotdogs and baked 

goods with tickets.

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

GTMO Black Heritage 

Organization raises 

awareness in community

How does it work?

Are you curious about how things 

happen at Guantanamo Bay? 

Contact The Wire with your 

questions, and we will try to find out!

Use the comment boxes or email thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Here is a simple checklist of energy conservation and efficiency 

measures to use at work:

– Switch off all unnecessary lights.

– Use natural lighting when possible.

– When working late, use task lighting to 

directly illuminate work areas.

– Unplug equipment that drains 

energy even when not in 

use (i.e. cell phone chargers, 

fans, coffee makers, desktop 

printers, radios, etc.)

– If possible, turn off your 

office equipment and or 

computer monitors at the 

end of the work day.

– Use efficient 

ENERGYSTAR products.

– Close or tilt window 

blinds to block direct 

sunlight to reduce cooling 

needs during warm 

months.

– Print/photocopy only 

what you need.

– Always use the second 

side of paper, either by 

printing on both sides or 

using the blank side as 

scrap paper.

– Carpool, bike, or 

use mass transit when 

commuting to work.

– To save gas: drive the speed 

limit, accelerate and decelerate 

slower, and make sure tires are pumped up.

– Use durable coffee mugs instead of disposable cups.

From NAVFAC

Energy: lead by 

example!

latest exercises we’ve been 

doing in our fitness programs,” 

said Hylton. “We want to see 

everyone out, we want to see 

fresh faces and we want to get 

as many people as possible into 

our fitness, sports and aquatic 

programs.” 

After the morning events, 

Cartel wrapped up the Rock 

n’ Roll Half-Marathon with an 

evening show at O’Kelly’s Irish 

Pub. 

“We just appreciate being 

here. We’ve always been very 

supportive of the troops since 

we all have family in the military,” 

said Cartel’s lead singer, Will 

Pugh. “It’s really an honor to 

come play for the Troopers. It 

really makes us feel small and 

humbled to be able to do this.” 

The Rock n’ Roll HalfMarathon was a two-day 

community event which brought 

almost everyone out to support 

the run, participate or just enjoy 

the events and atmosphere. 

“We couldn’t have asked for 

more community support,” said 

Morrison. “It was phenomenal. 

We are really excited about when 

we’re going to have the next 

race.”

ROCK ‘N ROLL cont. 
 The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

In th e f ight

Marine conquers 1,000-mile challenge

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Running is in his 

blood, so Marine Corps Staff 

Sgt. Raymond German Jr.’s passion for the sport began at an 

early age.

The Detroit native began 

running with his grandmother 

at a local park while growing up 

and eventually found his stride 

running alongside friends on his 

high school and college crosscountry teams. Eventually, his 

love for physical fitness found its 

niche in the Marine Corps, where 

a 1,000-mile challenge piqued his 

interest.

It began as the Leatherneck 

Challenge, a series of mile markers suited to test the endurance 

of any Marine. By running, biking, cross training and rowing, 

German could have chosen 236, 

472 or 944 miles, but he decided 

to go the distance and push himself to 1,000.

“It became a challenge between me and one of the watch 

officers,” said German, the legal 

chief for the office of the 2nd 

Marine Division’s staff judge 

advocate. “He was only out for a 

six-month deployment, trying to 

reach 236 miles.”

The competition between 

the two became fierce as they 

constantly tried to one-up each 

other.

“When I’d see him come in 

off a casual five-mile run, I would 

immediately go do six miles,” 

said Melbourne, Fla., native Marine Corps Capt. James Morgan, 

a government prosecutor with 

the 2nd Marine Division’s legal 

services support Section. “When 

I would come in and boast that 

I just did seven miles in the 110-

degree heat, he’d go do eight 

miles in the 115-degree heat at 

an even better clip.

“It was awesome,” the captain 

continued. “He is just an animal 

when it comes to [physical training]. Even when he was having a bad day because he wasn’t 

able to talk to his daughter or he 

hadn’t heard from his family in a 

while, he’d get out there and run 

his worries away. It was not only 

awesome, it was inspiring.”

On duty, German reviews and 

processes investigations within 

the entire division of 10,000 Marines. Running, he said, allows 

him to get out of the office and 

relieve stress. It cleanses his soul 

and it is where his mind can escape, he added.

“I think about my daughter 

– she’s about to be 7 this year,” 

German said. “I think about her 

starting to run and following 

in my footsteps. I think about 

things I could do to better myself. My thoughts are random – 

as I’m running, they’re running.”

For a long time, German 

used his runs as a way to train 

for Camp Leatherneck’s Marine 

Corps Marathon. With so many 

miles to go, he spiced up his 

many runs around the base by 

changing his routes frequently 

and challenging himself to break 

personal records on various 

courses to avoid monotony.

When he wasn’t hitting the 

pavement, he went to the cardio 

gym to work out on an elliptical 

machine, treadmill or bike.

“It’s very repetitive, but being able to get out there and not 

worry about where you are, just 

worry about your running – you 

kind of forget that you’re running in circles sometimes,” German said.

He finished the 1,000-mile 

challenge Jan. 16 with a morning 

run followed by three miles in the 

cardio gym, only nine months 

after beginning. His goals don’t 

stop there though, as he is training to beat a half-marathon time 

of an hour and 30 minutes.

“It’s about challenging yourself,” German said. “It’s pushing 

your body beyond its limits. As 

you get older, you always want to 

put a goal out there in front of 

you.”

By Cpl. Jeff Drew

2nd Marine Division

WASHINGTON – The reserve 

components are an integral part 

of the military in ways that Cold 

War planners could not have imagined, retired Army Gen. David H. 

Petraeus said at a Reserve Officers 

Association meeting here today.

The association inducted Petraeus, now CIA director, into its 

Minuteman Hall of Fame. Petraeus thanked the group, and said 

he accepts the honor on behalf 

of the men and women who so 

bravely served and sacrificed under his command in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Petraeus said the reserve components are more than the strategic reserve envisioned during the 

Cold War and have become an essential part of the U.S. military.

“Without our citizen-soldiers, 

our armed forces simply could not 

fully carry out America’s global 

commitments to keep our nation 

secure,” he said.

Reservists bring warrior and civilians skills to the fight, Petraeus 

said. “That combination has been 

particularly important in the complex environments we’ve been facing in the past decade,” he added.

Iraq and Afghanistan required 

more than just being warriors, he 

noted. “They needed diplomats, 

builders, trainers, advisors, service 

providers, economic developers 

and mediators,” he said. “Citizensoldiers have performed these diverse tasks in particularly impressive fashion, and in so doing, they 

have demonstrated the unique 

edge, the unique quality that they 

bring to every military endeavor.”

The experiences that reservists 

bring from civilian life are particularly helpful in a counterinsurgency environment, Petraeus said, because they are used to working in a 

community to accomplish things. 

For example, he added, their civilian jobs make it possible for them 

to advise a nascent city council on 

how to set up departments. Also, 

he said, reservists serve as firefighters in their home communities can advise the best way to set 

up a fire department and how to 

train the people.

Petraeus recalled when he was 

appointed to head the training effort for the Iraqi military and police in 2004. “This was a particularly daunting task – one that we 

described as building the world’s 

biggest aircraft, while in flight, 

while it’s being designed and while 

it’s being shot at,” he said.

Petraeus also had to build the 

Multinational Security Transition 

Command in Iraq. There was no 

existing headquarters for it, he 

said. “So we turned to the 98th 

Division (Institutional Training) 

and its more than 3,000 reservists 

based mostly in the northeastern 

United States,” he said, noting almost 1,000 members of the 98th, 

set up the headquarters and mentored Iraqi soldiers and police that 

first year.

Army Cpl. Eric DeHart is another example of reserve adaptability, the general said. DeHart, 

an Army Reserve engineer from 

Wisconsin, invented a device 

placed in culverts in Afghanistan 

that allowed water and debris to 

flow, but didn’t allow enemy fighters to plant improvised explosive 

devices.

Petraeus: Reserve components 

critical to U.S. military capabilities

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

Missi on f i r st

 see RESERVES next page

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

on th e g round

WASHINGTON – President 

Barack Obama has nominated 

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. 

Kelly to be the next commander 

of U.S. Southern Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta 

announced today.

If confirmed by the Senate, 

Kelly would replace Air Force 

Gen. Douglas M. Fraser at the 

Miami-based command. Fraser, 

who took over command of 

Southcom in June 2009, has not 

announced his future plans, a 

Southcom spokesman said today.

If promoted to the four-star 

position, Kelly will be the third 

Marine Corps commander of 

Southcom, following Gen. Peter 

Pace, who held the command for 

12 months ending in September 

2001, and Gen. Charles Wilhelm, 

who commanded Southcom 

from 1997 to 2000.

Kelly is the former commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp 

Pendleton, Calif. He commanded 

the 1st MEF through a year-long 

mission in Iraq’s al Anbar and 

Ninewa provinces beginning in 

early 2008. He returned stateside 

to command Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North 

from Oct. 2009 to March 2011. 

Since then, he has served as the 

senior military advisor to the 

secretary of defense.

Southcom comprises a multinational staff of about 1,200 

military members, civilians and 

contractors, including representatives of more than a dozen 

federal agencies, with a primary 

mission of protecting southern approaches into the United 

States, a spokesman said.

The command works with 

31 countries and 15 territories 

on regional security challenges, 

mainly transnational organized 

crime to include illegal trafficking, humanitarian assistance, and 

developing capabilities for keeping the peace.

The command sponsors 

seven annual multinational training exercises and participates in 

combined military exercises in 

Brazil, Chile and elsewhere.

Obama nominates Kelly to lead Southcom

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, if confirmed by the Senate, will be the third Marine Corps 

commander of United States Southern Command. –Department of Defense photo

S ha red P a r t ner ship

“He even wrote a field manual on how to use it,” said Petraeus, noting that the device is still 

being used today and has saved 

countless lives.

Another reservist, Army 

Master Sgt. Juanita Milligan, is 

the mother of three and has deployed to Iraq twice. “She was 

gravely wounded during her second deployment to Iraq, when 

an improvised explosive device 

blasted into her Humvee,” the 

general said. “Seeing the bomb a 

split-second before it exploded, 

she jumped across the vehicle 

to pull her gunner out of the 

hatch and inside. He was OK, 

but she sustained severe injuries, 

including shrapnel throughout 

her body, the loss of part of her 

right arm and her femur broken 

in three places.”

Milligan went through numerous surgeries, therapy and the 

pain associated with regaining 

use of her hands. “Master Sergeant Milligan defines the selfless 

dedication of our citizen-soldiers 

– a mother who twice answered 

the call to military duty, leaving 

family friends and community,” 

Petraeus said.

Some 385,000 reserve-component service members have 

served in Iraq and Afghanistan 

since 9/11, with 30,000 reservists serving today. Since 1990, reservists has been called to serve 

in every contingency the United 

States has been involved in, from 

humanitarian missions and disaster relief to all-out war, Petraeus 

said.

“Today, reservists serve in 

more than 70 countries, demonstrating that our citizen-soldiers 

are not only a strategic reserve, 

but a key component of our operational forces,” he added.

RESERVES cont. 

Army recognizes top 

environmental performers

The Army announced the 

winners of the Fiscal Year 2011 

Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards Program Jan. 27. 

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard won the cultural 

resources management category, 

while the Illinois Army National 

Guard took the natural resources 

conservation small installation 

award. Scranton Army Ammunition Plant won the sustainability 

award for an industrial installation 

and the Stryker Brigade Combat 

Team won the Environmental 

Excellence in Weapon System 

Acquisition team award.

Fort Hood won both the team 

and installation awards in the environmental quality category.

Fort Stewart took the installation award in the environmental 

restoration category, while Fort 

A.P. Hill captured the team award. 

The U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii 

won the natural resources conservation team award for theaccomplishments of its Oahu Natural 

Resources Program Team.

Each year, the Army recognizes and rewards excellence for 

the development,management 

and transferability of environmental programs that increaseenvironmental quality, enhance the 

mission and help make the Army 

sustainable. 

By Cathy Kropp

U.S. Army Environmental Command
WASHINGTON – Although the wars are 

drawing down, the deployment schedules for 

our men and women in uniform aren’t easing 

up. Troops continue to meet multiple operational needs, such as theater security exercises 

with partner nations, Navy ship cruises and 

other training requirements.

Many military pet parents struggle with 

what to do with their forever friend when 

serving our nation away from home. It can be 

tough to stay focused on the mission at hand 

if family affairs aren’t in order.

Enter our partners in the nonprofit sector. 

For the past several years, many organizations 

have stepped up to the plate, providing foster 

pet services to our deploying troops.

“Military members have a hundred things 

to worry about when deployment or training 

comes up. The last thing they should have to 

worry about is the care of their pets while 

they’re away,” said Alisa Johnson, a Marine 

Corps officer and president of Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit organization matching 

service members with volunteers who have 

agreed to take in their animals.

Alisa and her husband, Shawn, a Navy officer, observed the challenges military families 

face when it comes to pet care, which led to 

the creation of this service.

“We’re especially concerned with those 

military members that may live on one coast, 

while all their family lives on another, limiting 

those that they can rely on in their times of 

need,” Alisa said.

Since they launched the organization in 

June, more than 140 families have volunteered to be “boarders” and 20 dogs have 

been placed in temporary foster care.

Along with national organizations helping 

troops – including Dogs on Deployment and 

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet – many local animal shelters are answering the call of 

duty and creating programs in their communities to help deployed service members with 

pet care.

If you need a home for your pet while deployed, check with your local animal shelter 

to see if they might have a military pet outreach program, contact a national foster military pet organization or see if your command 

has a spouse communication network to seek 

temporary pet parents.

By Jason Tudor

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

 The Wire | Page 16 Around the World |

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – The potential rippling effects on regions caused by revolutions in North Africa 

and the Middle East lead discussions here at 

a Department of Defense-sponsored conference held at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

“Arab revolutionary transformation – Quo 

vadis?” unites two of the DOD’s regional 

centers – the George C. Marshall European 

and Near East South Asia Centers for Security Studies – as the theme of the Jan. 18-26 

Senior Executive Seminar 12-1. Both regional 

centers belong to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Ninety-seven participants from 47 countries covering three combatant commands – 

the U.S. Africa, Central and European Commands – are working to better-define what’s 

occurring in countries like Egypt, Libya, 

Tunisia, Syria and other nations. Speakers 

include academics, military leaders and others involved with the change process in those 

nations.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith W. Dayton, 

Marshall Center director, said what comes 

from these discussions will be delivered to 

combatant commanders and other clients for 

further use in regional planning and policy 

decisions.

“The topic – ‘Arab Spring’ and how we 

deal with it – is really important, not only 

to Eucom, Africom and Centcom,” Dayton 

said, “but it’s also important to people who 

live in Eurasia, North Africa, the Middle East 

and Europe.”

The ‘Arab Spring’ began December 2010. 

There have been revolutions in Tunisia and 

Egypt; a civil war in Libya, resulting in the fall 

of its government; civil uprisings in Bahrain, 

Syria, and Yemen – the latter resulting in the 

resignation of the Yemeni prime minister; 

major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Oman; and minor protests in Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, 

Sudan, and Western Sahara.

Well aware of the seminar’s implications, 

Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, addressed the participants via recorded welcome, calling the 

seminar an “extremely important event.”

“This seminar brings together an extraordinary range of viewpoints,” the admiral said. 

“So, how do we collectively understand and 

react to this type of fundamental change? 

Bringing all of you together will afford the 

opportunity to step back... and chart a 

course forward.”

Among the nations represented for the 

event, Bahrain, Kuwait, Niger and the United 

Arab Emirates are first-time attendees. In 

forging bonds here, they will become part of 

the two regional centers’ 13,000-strong network of alumni.

Panel discussions and lectures are confidential, center officials said, to help participants open up about what they perceive are 

the challenges in their countries and regions. 

Retired French Maj. Gen. Philippe Sommaire, 

seminar director for the Marshall Center, said 

that strategy has paid off.

“We’ve been getting almost exactly what 

we want in frank discussions between guest 

speakers and participants,” he said. “It’s going 

very well.”

Magda Kandil provided an Egyptian 

perspective on events as a guest speaker on 

Jan. 19. Kandil, executive director and director of research of the Egyptian Center for 

Economic Studies, said the seminar shines 

the spotlight on unprecedented democratic 

transformation.

“It brings the issues closer to the participants here,” she said. “It’s very important to 

give them first-hand information about what 

is going on in these countries. We want the international community to realize how difficult 

the process of transformation has been.”

Seminar topics touch upon different aspects of the defense department, officials 

said, including the National Guard Bureau. 

Army Brig. Gen. Kevin McNeely is a seminar 

participant who also runs the Pentagon’s State 

Partnership Program. The program reaches 

63 countries in Europe and Africa, including 

Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.

“The foundation of the program is ensuring relationships. Getting a better understanding of the challenges that are being faced by 

the governments and the militaries of these 

countries is important to our partnership 

with them,” McNeely said.

Dayton said there’s no limit to what can be 

accomplished during the seminar.

“What we want to do at the end of the 

day,” Dayton said, “is not only get a better 

understanding by talking to people at a senior 

level who come from these countries, but we 

also want policy recommendations that go 

back to the respective countries involved so 

that they can better deal with the phenomenon that is probably going to be with us for 

some time.”

‘Arab Spring’ subject 

of command seminar Taking care 

of pets while 

deployed

By Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly

American Forces Press Service

Only at GTMO by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Mind, 

Body 

& Spirit

by Mass Communication Spc. 

3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Despite the saying, when deployed “time 

is not always on your side.” There are too 

many things throughout the day that can 

have you sidetracked and take precedence 

over what you may have on your agenda 

for “free time.” Some things that you plan 

to help you stay in shape or better yourself 

physically tend to get put on the back burner, 

and before you know it you’ve missed two of 

your New Year’s 5 or 6-week workout plan.

For many whose New Year’s resolutions 

included losing weight, there may be days 

where you have less than an hour to get a 

good workout in and stay on that 5-week 

schedule. But to keep from throwing in the 

towel, a simple solution could be to take a 

good hour out of your day, three days a week 

and hit the track. 

Sprinting and high intensity workouts 

have been proven to be some of the fastest 

ways to lose weight and among the best ways 

to stay in shape. According to Mohr Tests 

on mohrresults.com, a series 

of tests on subjects who 

participated in low intensity, 

medium intensity and high 

intensity training resulted 

in maximum fat burning 

achieved by the high intensity 

training subjects. 

High intensity workouts keep the heart 

rate up, which in turn targets fat as fuel to 

keep you working out at an elevated level. 

Myah Mason, instructor for yoga, pilates and 

core workouts at Guantanamo Bay says it all 

starts with the cardio system.

“High intensity workouts target the cardio 

system, and you have to keep it up,” said 

Mason. “As you keep your cardio level high, 

it will also crank up your metabolism.”

Results vary for those who may already 

have the muscle memory for these strenuous 

workouts than others. Mason explains that 

results for different people tend to vary 

depending on their starting point. 

“Depending on where you’re starting 

from (as in level of training) and your 

dedication, achieving a fitness goal could 

take 2-4 months,” Mason said. “If that 

person doesn’t have the muscle memory, or 

has physical ailments i.e. obesity or hereditary 

ailments, it could take up to a year. But it is 

still possible, so you must stay consistent.”

High intensity interval training, or HIIT 

workouts, incorporate high levels of training 

for the entire body as well as sprinting and 

are available to all stationed or deployed to 

Guantanamo Bay. Scheduled workouts are 

Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cooper Field at 

6 p.m. 

Mason detailed the other high intensity 

workouts that target the cardio system here 

at Guantanamo Bay. All workout calendars 

can be found at all gyms on the base as well 

as bulletin boards. 

“We also offer kickboxing, GTMO Moves 

and group cycling,” Mason said. “All of these 

workouts keep the cardiovascular system up.”

Above all else, safety is key. You must 

know what your body can and cannot do 

once you decide to start. Mason encourages 

all who are willing to participate to always 

keep safety first. 

“We (workout instructors) 

are taught to inform all who 

attend that checking with 

your physician to make sure 

you are physically able to is 

pivotal to overall safety,” said 

Mason. 

Sprinting to the weight-loss line

Sprinting and high intensity workouts have been 

proven to be some of the fastest ways to lose weight 

and among the best ways to get in shape.
GTMO Quick Reference 

Bayview Club – 75604

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

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

Bowling Center – 2118

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

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

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

Sun. & Holidays 1-11 p.m.

Caribbean Coffee – 77859

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

Sun. 1-10 p.m.

KFC and A&W Express – 75653

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

Jerk House – 2535

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

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

MWR Liberty Centers – 2010 

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

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

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

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

Cuban Club – 75962

(Call ahead!)

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

Library – 4700

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

Sun. & Holidays 12-9 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 Club - 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.

Windjammer Sports Bar

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

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

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Safe Ride - 84781

| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

GTMO Religious Services

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

Daily Catholic

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

 Mass

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m. 

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m. 

Iglesia Ni Cristo

Sunday 5:30 a.m. 

Room A

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m. 

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Islamic Service

Friday 1 p.m. 

Room C

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Room B

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

For other services, 

contact the NAVSTA 

Chaplain’s 

Office at 2323.

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

For more information, 

contact the JTF 

Chaplain’s Office 

at 2305.

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 4

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

3 5 6 7 8 9

Alvin and the 

Chipmunks

(G) 7 p.m.

The Sitter

(R) 9 p.m.

Hugo

(PG) 7 p.m.

Sherlock Holmes

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

Sherlock 

Holmes

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close (NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

The Sitter

(R) 8 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

J. Edgar (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

J. Edgar (last 

showing)

(R) 7 p.m.

Twilight (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Twilight (last 

showing)

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Hugo

(PG) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

 The Wire | Page 18 Movie Review |

Ultra obscene comedies have been the rage this last decade. Today, 

is it possible to think of new “R” rated comedies that don’t contain 

excessive vulgarities, graphic sexual situations, gross out humor and 

other excessive acts of chaos that stretch the bounds of what can 

be done in the movies? I don’t remember “R” rated films being this 

over the top 15 years ago. Even “R” rated fare from the ‘80s seems 

really tame in comparison. 

The latest Jonah Hill vehicle “The Sitter” is supposed to be a 

comedy, though I cannot begin to understand why it was made or to 

whom this movie is marketed. Maybe on paper this film seemed like 

a much better idea than its silver screen offering. 

Jonah Hill plays Noah, a lazy college suspendee who once again 

lives at home with his mother. His supposed girlfriend Marisa (Ari 

Graynor), a self-serving party girl, uses him regularly to cater to 

her every whim. Due to financial woes and to help his mother out, 

Noah reluctantly agrees to babysit three kids: the high anxiety Slater 

(Max Records), the “Toddlers and Tiaras” wannabe Blithe (Landry 

Bender) and the young deviant Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez), who has 

an insatiable love for cherry bombs. Naturally these kids live in a 

very well-to-do neighborhood with their trophy-wife mom and nononsense father. Noah’s game plan is to stay home with the kids and 

keep an eye on them until their parents get home. In a movie like this, 

you just know there’s no way that can possibly happen. 

Soon, the loser Noah is out to appease his girlfriend on a drug 

run with all three of his charges in the backseat as he rushes through 

the streets of Manhattan. The deal goes awry when young Rodrigo 

sneaks into Karl’s (Sam Rockwell) body building gym and steals an 

egg from Karl containing over $10,000 in cocaine. The egg inevitably 

breaks and its powdery contents explode in Noah’s face. All of the 

kids look on while Noah ponders his next move. Cocaine and kids. 

Now isn’t this funny? Ha...ha...ha.

Karl wants his ten grand for the stolen cocaine or else Noah’s 

a goner. Pursued through the night, Noah and the kids go to a 

department store, attend a bar mitzvah, go to Noah’s father’s house, 

stop at wild party and are chased by thugs through a park. Meanwhile 

Slater comes to terms with his anxiety, Blithe ponders her place in the 

world as a child and the pint-sized demolition expert Rodrigo learns 

a thing or two about humility. Oh, I forgot to mention there’s a scene 

where the little girl accidentally defecates herself and stinks up the 

entire van leaving everyone gasping for air with the windows down. 

Isn’t that cute? Isn’t that funny? 

Amidst all this craziness, Noah makes a connection with these 

children and shares with them his insights on life, how to cope with 

circumstances and how to become a better person. Who knew the 

man who would so recklessly endanger children with a trip to make 

a drug deal and to alcohol binges would prove to be as insightful as 

Yoda? Why not? There’s even a sweet co-ed from his college who can 

see what a nice guy he really is! Puh-lease.

“The Sitter” is an astonishingly bad movie. There is nothing even 

remotely funny about this picture. Seeing children involved in coke 

deals, beatings, and contemplating their sexuality (both as a runway 

object and in personal orientation), blowing up everything in sight 

and get chased by vengeful drug dealers is absolutely appalling. I did 

fully expect the kids to use multiple f-bombs, as is par for the course 

with this kind of movie. There are movies with unlimited vulgarity 

that are funny. “The Sitter” is not among their ranks. 

I’m not trying to be a prude here. I don’t object to the use of 

obscenities that dominate today’s comedies. After all, what people 

chose to watch for entertainment is entirely their business. What is 

unsettling to me is how low for a joke will some filmmakers go. As 

I watched “The Sitter,” I was totally mind-boggled as to how far the 

movie would go to do that. When is enough ever enough? The folks 

behind “The Sitter” ought to be ashamed of themselves. 

One can only wonder why the likable Jonah Hill is in such 

a trainwreck of a movie. Does he have a horrible agent trying to 

sabotage his career? How about Sam Rockwell? He’s such a versatile 

and talented actor. No doubt they are in “The Sitter” to collect a 

paycheck. Both actors have appeared in good movies and will 

hopefully continue to do so. There’s no reason they should have been 

sidetracked to appear in this drudge.

Next up for Jonah Hill is the updated big-screen makeover of the 

late 80s TV show “21 Jump Street.” Hopefully that will be a return to 

comic form for Hill. He usually appears in funny, thoughtful movies, 

though on the risqué side. Who can say what went wrong this time? 

Well, I hope the filmmakers learned from their mistakes. We know 

there’s a better Jonah Hill movie to be made. “The Sitter” can sit on 

it.

Movie Review R

81 min.

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

The 

Sitter

(nope!)
Cake bosses

Above: Joint Task Force Guantanamo commander Rear 

Adm. David Woods and chief of staff Capt. Patrick Rabun 

recently celebrated their same-day birthdays. 

Below: JTF Guantanamo Inspector General Army Col. 

Judy Ellis pinned on full-bird rank Feb. 2. –photos by 

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

TheJTF

Background: The 189th Military Police Company, 525th Military Police Battalion “Vigilant Warriors” changed hands 

Wednesday at Camp Bulkeley. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson