Volume 13, Issue 20 Friday, March 23, 2012

Beyond the gate

Tour offers

rare glimpse 

of Cuba proper

Meanwhile, on the American side...

Celebrating Women’s History Month with the BEEF

USS San Diego makes its first port call
There are good ways and not-so-good 

ways to help your fellow Trooper. The 

different choices have little to no effect – or 

you can make a positive impact.

For instance, you and a friend see a 

Trooper carrying several bulky, seemingly 

heavy boxes and approaching a set of doors 

that he or she will obviously not be able to 

open without putting the boxes down. How 

do you help? 

Do you ignore the situation you see 

developing and turn away?

Do you see the problem developing but 

not participate?

You: “Wow! That 

Trooper looks like he’s 

having a rough time of it. 

I hope he can manage all 

those boxes.” 

Friend: “Yeah, they look 

heavy and clumsy, but he’ll 

probably manage.”

You: “You’re right, it’ll 

work out.”

Do you discuss with your friend the poor 

choice the Trooper made in not using a 

hand-truck? 

You: “What an idiot! That would be so 

much easier if she had used a hand-truck or 

cart, jeez!”

Friend: “She did the same thing yesterday! 

Hope she gets it!”

Do you take some of the boxes from the 

Trooper to lighten the load? No, or you’ll 

both be standing there with no way to get in 

the door without still having one or both of 

you needing to put down the boxes.

You open the door so the loaded-down 

Trooper can get to the area he or she needs 

to go in order to get rid of their burden. Or, 

if the weight of the boxes seems to be too 

much for the Trooper who’s been lugging 

them around, you offer to take the boxes and 

have him or her open the doors.

Elementary as the illustration above may 

seem, people often do that very thing when 

they see their fellow Troopers struggling in 

other ways.

Maybe you notice someone has been 

acting out of character. Maybe someone who 

is typically upbeat is walking around sullen, 

or maybe someone who is typically patient 

is short-tempered. Maybe someone who 

normally doesn’t drink or drinks occasionally 

is drinking heavily or more frequently, even 

binge drinking.

Although it is clear that there is a burden 

or struggle, rather than 

approach the Trooper and 

ask what’s going on, people 

will do nothing more than 

discuss it with others. It 

becomes the same as the 

first or second scenario; 

no one says anything to 

or does anything for the 

struggling Trooper, hoping 

the situation will fix itself. 

Or worse, it becomes the third situation 

where you and others notice the struggle, 

but rather than engage you ridicule or belittle 

and talk about them but not to them. This 

can only build up critical attitudes toward the 

struggling Trooper rather than getting him 

or her the necessary help.

So I encourage you: if you see your fellow 

Troopers struggling with something, open a 

door for them to put their burdens down. 

Maybe they simply need an opportunity to 

vent some frustration. 

If the burden seems more than you 

can handle or you think it would be better 

handled by someone with experience in 

counseling, offer to accompany them to 

JSMART or to the Chaplain’s office to get 

the help they need. 

Whatever you do, DO something! The 

resources are here.

 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.

Maybe you notice 

someone has 

been acting out 

of character. 

DO something!

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Command Master Chief, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: The North East Gate tour, led monthly by members of the Marine Corps Security Forces Company, offers 

a unique view of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Troopers and Naval Station personnel. 

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

Cc

ommand

orner

Joint Task Force

Guantanamo Safe Humane Legal Transparent l l l

Take a trip to the Liberty Centers at Deer 

Point, Camp America and Marine Hill to be a 

part of the ping pong tournament on March 

26 at 6 p.m. Great MWR prizes will be given 

out. For more information, call 2010. 

See Guantanamo Bay like you’ve never 

seen it before: on a sunset cruise. Join Liberty MWR March 30 at 5:30 p.m. as they take 

you on a cruise through all points of the bay 

while watching the sunset over tropical waters. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided. Make sure you bring a camera and get 

to the Marina early. You must reserve a spot 

by March 29. To register, or for more information, call 2010. 

See Guantanamo Bay from new heights 

by joining the MWR Outdoor Recreation 

staff on a Saturday morning hike through the 

base’s beautiful trails. Sign up for the hike by 

March 30 at 5 p.m. For more information, or 

to register, call 2345. 

Hundreds of military installations and 

college campuses around the world have 

hosted ‘Sex Signals,’ one of the most popular programs currently available on sexual assault awareness. Seating is limited at the three 

showings: 

April 1, 2:30 p.m.

Bulkeley Hall Auditorium

April 2, 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. 

Windjammer Ballroom

INDEX

The Wire

March 23, 2012

Farewell, Capt. Rabun!

Instead of taxes... credit!

USS San Diego arrives

Women’s History Month

North East Gate tour

Back in regular season...

Movie review: The Grey

Quick Ref, now with McD’s!

5

7

8

9

12

16

18

19

Looking for some recreation after your 

night shift? Check out the dart tournament at 

the T.K. Liberty Center on March 27 starting 

at noon. Whether you want to win cool prizes 

or get together with friends, this tournament 

is the place for you. 

For more information, call 2010. 

Golf cart rentals will be half price every 

Thursday in the month of March. $5 covers 

one person and $7.50 pays for two riders. 

Boat rentals will be 50 percent off every 

Monday this month. Prices vary based on the 

boat. For more information, call 2345.

All base residents are invited to take part 

in the Birthday Triathlon on Apr. 7 at 6 a.m. 

hosted by Guantanamo Bay’s Chief Petty Officers. The events will be a 500 meter swim, 

10 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. Sign up 

in a three-person team or individual. Registration fee for teams is $30 and $20 for an 

individual. 

Signup will be at the NEX Atrium every 

Saturday in March from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Troopers needing legal assistance should 

now go to the Naval Station Legal Office.

For more information, call 4692.

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. And, 

by the way, MWR is pushing to get 3D movies at the Windjammer Ballroom.

| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Take advantage of the free sailboat rentals all day at the Marina on March 28. Call 

2345 to reserve your rental. You must have 

the proper documentation to take out a sailboat. You can also call the Marina to set up 

an appointment to get your captain’s license.

Time is running out to register your team 

in the flag football leagues. The men’s league 

will play 9-on-9 and the women’s league will 

be 7-on-7. Registration ends March 28 at 7 

p.m. For more information, call 2113.

Show your support for Red Cross Month 

by taking part in a Red Cross hike up the Ridgeline tomorrow. Meet at Christmas Tree Hill 

at 7:30 a.m. This is a free community event. 

There will be face painting and other activities. For more information, call Sharon Coganow at 2511 or 2512.

Specialty care providers will be available 

for appointments at U.S. Naval Hospital 

Guantanamo in the upcoming months:

GI – March 

ENT – March/April

Audiology – April

Dermatology – April 

Podiatry – April 

Urology – April 

For a referral, NAVSTA personnel can 

schedule an appointment with Primary Care 

Clinic at 72110. JTF personnel can call 3394.

Discount recreation 

in March

Ping pong tournament

Want 3D movies?

Take a hike

Specialty care 

providers at USNH

Legal office moved

CPO Birthday Triathlon

Dart tournament Free sailboat rentals

Red Cross Hike

Sunset cruise Flag football league

‘Sex Signals’
Keep work at the workplace

Do you have a notebook in your pocket that has information about work? Things like watch rotations, 

important phone numbers or people to notify in the event of an emergency? How about a copy of our 

standard operating procedures? This information is important to know and studying it can help you to 

remember. This information is sensitive so it’s better to read at work and commit it to memory rather than 

write it down or take a copy with you. The less information you take from the workplace, the less likely it 

could end up in a trash can, dumpster or be disclosed to people without the need to know. Use OPSEC and 

keep sensitive work documents at the workplace. 

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

 The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. Maj. Callie Leaver

JDG Operations Sergeant Major

fitness for service, fitness for life!

Each service branch represented here at 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo has a physical 

fitness test. More often than not, Troopers 

speak of the assessments with dread and 

anxiety.

In my younger years, I played basketball, 

softball and ran track. However, my fitness 

regimen revolved around making a team or 

maintaining scholarship eligibility. Rarely did 

I set off for a run or to the weight room 

unless directed to do so by a coach or athletic 

trainer. 

Each season, I loathed returning to the 

basketball court after the summer break. 

Prior to the break, coaches dutifully laid out 

a training schedule in an attempt to keep us 

on track and in hopes of minimizing injuries 

during preseason training. However, the 

coaches, rightfully so, anticipated most of 

us would not follow the training protocol. 

Therefore, during our first few practices, 

the coaches placed trash cans in each corner 

of the gym expecting dramatic physical 

responses to the intense conditioning 

sessions. 

After college, I joined the Army and was 

introduced to the Army Physical Fitness Test 

(APFT). On active duty, we trained for the 

APFT during organized PT sessions at 5 

a.m., three to five days a week. Most platoon 

members grumbled about the mandatory 

sessions. 

I was stationed in northern Germany 

where organized sports were minimal due 

to the installation’s small size and mission 

requirements. Community teams were hastily 

organized for tournaments hosted by other 

installations located in central and southern 

Germany. Therefore, actual training and 

practices were basically nonexistent. 

I experienced a void with the absence 

of organized athletics. In an effort to fill 

the void, I started running on my own, first 

shorter distances and then longer distances. I 

started going to the gym and lifting weights. 

I became aware of what I was eating and 

what I was drinking. 

At that time, I experienced a personal 

paradigm shift as it pertained to fitness. I 

wasn’t doing these things for the Army or in 

preparation for the APFT. I wasn’t trying to 

make a team or running because a coach blew 

a whistle. I was doing these things for myself. 

I started reaping personal benefits as a result. 

I lost 20 pounds. I felt more confident. I had 

more energy. I recognized my heart disease 

risk factors were drastically reduced, which 

was extremely important since heart disease 

runs in my family. 

Ultimately, I adopted an active lifestyle, 

which I continue to enjoy today. My 

paradigm shift didn’t erase all of my APFT 

From left to right: Army Sgt. Ronald Stern, Sgt. Maj. Callie Leaver, Sgt. 1st Class Undrey Bostic, Army Staff Sgt. 

James Kleinheinz, Sgt. 1st Class David Maynor, and Army Sgt. Larissa Pillay participated in one of Guantanamo 

Bay’s many fitness activities: a run up John Paul Jones Hill. Representing the noncommissioned officer corps of 

the 170th Military Police Battalion, Georgia Army National Guard, according to Leaver, “Spartan NCOs lead the 

way!” –photo courtesy Petty Officer 2nd Class Efren Alano

 see TROOPER next page

| Command Information The Wire | Page 5

WASHINGTON – On the ninth anniversary of U.S. forces moving into Iraq, President 

Barack Obama has proclaimed today to be 

“A National Day of Honor.”

Here is the text of the president’s proclamation:

“Nine years ago, members of the United 

States Armed Forces crossed the sands of 

the Iraq-Kuwait border and began one of 

the most challenging missions our military 

has ever known. They left the comforts of 

home and family, volunteering in service to 

a cause greater than themselves. They braved 

insurgency and sectarian strife, knowing too 

well the danger of combat and the cost of 

conflict. Yet, through the dust and din and 

the fog of war, they never lost their resolve. 

Demonstrating unshakable fortitude and 

unwavering commitment to duty, our men 

and women in uniform served tour after 

tour, fighting block by block to help the Iraqi 

people seize the chance for a better future. 

And on Dec. 18, 2011, their mission came 

to an end.

“Today, we honor their success, their service, and their sacrifice. In one of our Nation’s longest wars, veterans of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn 

wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history. When 

highways became mine fields and uncertainty waited behind every corner, service 

members rose to meet the task at hand with 

unmatched courage and determination. 

They learned languages and cultures, taking 

on new roles as diplomats and development 

experts to improve the communities where 

they served. Their strength toppled a tyrant, 

and their valor helped build opportunity in 

oppression’s place. Across nearly nine years 

of conflict, the glory of their service – as 

well as the contributions of other members 

of the U.S. Government and our coalition 

partners – always shone through. 

“The war left wounds not always seen, but 

forever felt. The burden of distance and the 

pain of loss weighed heavily on the hearts 

of millions at home and overseas. Behind every member of our military stood a parent, 

a spouse, or a son or daughter who proudly 

served their community and prayed for their 

loved one’s safe return. For wounded warriors, coming home marked the end of one 

battle and the beginning of another – to 

stand, to walk, to recover, and to serve again. 

And, in war’s most profound cost, there were 

those who never came home. Separated by 

time and space but united by their love of 

country, nearly 4,500 men and women are 

eternally bound; though we have laid them 

to rest, they will live on in the soul of our 

Nation now and forever. To them, to their

From American Forces Press Service

On Iraq anniversary, President 

proclaims ‘National Day of Honor’

Hail and Farewell

JTF CoS moves on

did you know...

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! (hint: there are 

lots of hand-me-down SCSI modems)

JTF stuff!

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Chief 

of Staff, Capt. Patrick Rabun finishes 

his tour today. He arrived at the JTF in 

June 2011 for a nine-month rotation. 

Rabun is bound for duty as Chief of 

Staff of Surface Combatant Readiness, 

working directly for the commander of 

Naval Surface Forces Pacific.

“He’s been the connective tissue of 

the JTF, a perfect blend of effective 

leadership, personality and humor and 

has done a difficult job without missing a beat,” said JTF Guantanamo commander Rear Adm. David Woods.

“He has a great sense of humor and 

is one of the smartest officers I’ve ever 

worked for,” added Lt. Col. Elizabeth 

Golden.

Rabun’s relief, Capt. William Docherty, arrived earlier this month from 

the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 

where he also served as Chief of Staff.

“Capt. Docherty will carry on the 

great work Capt. Rabun has done during his tenure,” Golden said.

Rabun praised the diversity and 

work ethic of all Troopers, with credit 

to the joint environment.

“Working with people who are professional enough to handle a job this 

tough is what impresses me the most,” 

Rabun said.

Look for Capt. Docherty’s profile 

in an upcoming issue of The Wire! 

 see HONOR next page

anxiety. However, it has had a tremendous 

affect on my ability to perform well on the 

test andenjoy a higher quality of life than 

my parents and many of my friends. 

Guantanamo Bay reminds me a lot 

of the small northern Germany military 

installation so long ago. However, this 

island offers more fitness opportunities 

and better weather. I encourage you to 

take advantage of the available activities, 

not because you have a physical fitness 

assessment scheduled, but because you and 

your family deserve to reap the positive 

effects of an active lifestyle. 

TROOPER cont. 
 The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

By Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant

The Wire recently stopped by Camp 

America to see Spc. William Barnett, 

Joint Detention Group S4 Property Book 

Officer.

“Spc. Barnett was specifically selected 

for the 170th Military Police Battalion 

deployment in support of Joint Detention 

Group S4,” said Sgt. Maj. Callie Leaver. 

“Prior to the deployment, the Georgia 

Army National Guard sent him to 92Y 

Supply Specialist training.”

Barnett’s work environment here at 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo looks 

similar to home station.

“My job here is pretty much the same 

as it is in Georgia,” said Barnett. “I receive 

and issue supplies and equipment, maintain 

the supporting paperwork, and maintain 

tracking of inventories and distribution.”

“I like that I can do inventories,” 

explained Barnett. “I also get to see what 

other Troopers here do in their jobs and 

how they use the different equipment 

pieces I issue them.”

With all that materiel, Barnett always 

has something to keep busy.

“Spc. Barnett doesn’t sit idle,” said 

Sgt. 1st Class Roberto Barnes, JGD S4 

noncommissioned officer in charge. 

“When he finishes everything that needs 

to be done around here, he’s out looking 

for the next thing to do.”

“And once everything in our section is 

caught up,” added Barnes, “he goes out to 

help other units too.”

According to Leaver, Barnett steps up 

for all kinds of duties, including 

commissions support, training 

exercises, and volunteer activities 

such as the Trail Blazers.

“I like a break once in a while 

from normal duties,” Barnett 

explained. “When it’s time for 

commissions I like that I get to do 

OPSEC on the photos and talk 

with the media a little bit during 

escorts.”

But even the hardest-working 

Troopers have to take a break now 

and then.

“After a hard day I might 

go back to my room, put on my 

headphones, and just chill,” said 

Barnett. “Or I’ll put my sneakers 

on and go for a run on the track 

near the football field.”

Why is it important for women to serve in the military?

“I think it is important 

because we bring a 

different perspective.” 

Master Sgt. 

Deborah Davis

“Because we make it 

happen.”

Sgt. 

Linda Baez

“I think it is important 

because we are equals 

and citizens of this country 

and we should be able to 

defend it as well.”

Staff Sgt.

Chinon Thome

“Because it’s only fair.”

Petty Officer 3rd Class 

Tiera Austin

Boots on the Ground

Time in service: 6 years in the Marine Corps, 

5 in the Georgia Army National Guard

Hobbies: Listening to jazz, writing poetry, 

bowling, running, digital photography, and 

watching sports

The boss says: “He’s hard working and I love 

his attitude.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Always maintain 

a high level of professionalism. Act as if you 

already hold your next pay grade.”

Bullet Bio:

Spc. William Barnett

MONEY MATTERS

For many young people, getting a credit 

card is rite of passage. That piece of plastic 

gives you the ability to purchase items you 

may have not specifically saved for, but that 

freedom comes at a price if you do not 

manage your credit wisely.

“We need to educate ourselves,” said 

Walter Barrett, financial advisor at the Fleet 

and Family Services Center at U.S. Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay.

According to Barrett, the credit education 

process starts with reviewing your credit 

report. 

“Everything today is based on credit,” he 

said. 

A credit report not only affects qualifying 

for additional credit or betters rates, but this 

information is used by insurance companies 

and employers.

For service members with a security 

clearance, credit history can be a major 

factor in maintaining or receiving a specific 

clearance. 

“It is snapshot of your risk, your 

vulnerability,” Barrett said.

Since 2004, getting a credit report 

can be free. It was the year Federal Trade 

Commission finalized rules which required 

the three consumer credit agencies to provide 

consumers with a no-cost yearly copy of their 

credit report upon request. The three major 

credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, 

and Trans Union established a centralized 

source for accepting consumer requests, 

www.annualcreditreport.com or calling (877) 

322-8228.

Barrett recommends the free reports as a 

way to monitor your credit year-round. You 

can request a single report from one agency, 

and four months later, make a request with 

another credit reporting agency. That way 

you can see your credit with three unique 

pictures in time. He added the three reports, 

spread out over one year, can help monitor 

incidents of identify theft. This is the main 

reason Congress authorized the free credit 

reports as part of the Fair and Accurate Credit 

Transaction Act of 2003.

Consumer advocates have long encouraged 

individuals to self-monitor their credit reports 

as a way to detect identity theft. The credit 

reports are a tool to make sure personal 

identifying information, like your name, Social 

Security number, or credit card number, are 

not being used without your permission to 

commit fraud or other crimes.

The credit report website asks a few 

questions, such as an old address or when you 

got a car loan. Once you answer the security 

questions, the report can be printed or saved 

for future reference.

Toward the bottom of the screen, there 

are instructions on how to dispute an item 

that appears on the credit report. In order 

to dispute an item it is important to have 

paperwork to back up any claim that is settled 

or paid off.

“Paper is powerful,” noted Barrett, saying 

that a canceled check, settlement papers, 

or a set of military orders showing where 

you were, can help in proving your case in a 

disputed item. 

The participating credit reporting agencies 

that control www.annualcreditreport.com do 

not provide a free credit score. That is the 

number that most lenders look at first, to 

determine how credit worthy you are. For 

around $5, that trio of agencies will provide 

the credit score, a bargain as compared to 

credit monitoring services that cost upwards 

of four times that much that every month.

The average credit score was in the 620 to 

680 range before the economic downturn in 

2008. Now, it takes a credit score of above 

700 to get the best interest rates.

“You don’t have to go into big debt to 

develop credit,” Barrett said, as 35% of 

your score is based on paying bills on time. 

This task can sometimes be hard for military 

members to accomplish with deployments, 

TDY and other duties.

A good rule of thumb, according to 

Barrett, is one major credit per adult in a 

household. If you carry a balance, make it no

| News The Wire | Page 7

Creditwise = creditworthy

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

We use passwords every day.

Whether you are checking your email, logging onto

your bank, or shopping on Amazon, you are using 

some type of password. If your passwords are easy to 

decipher, your personal information and data can be 

easily compromised.

• Never tell anyone your password! 

• Make your password hard to guess — do not use the 

name of your pet, child, city, etc.

• Avoid using words found in a dictionary. 

• Never write down your password. A sticky note is 

NOT secure! 

• The more random your password is the better. 

• Try not to use only one password for everything. 

re: 

information 

assurance

families, and to all who served, we owe a 

debt that can never be fully repaid.

When we returned the colors of United 

States Forces-Iraq and the last of our troops 

set foot on American soil, we reflected on 

the extraordinary service and sacrifice of 

those who answered our country’s call. 

Their example embodied that fundamental American faith that tells us no mission 

is too hard, no challenge is too great, and 

that through tests and through trials, we will 

always emerge stronger than before. Now, 

our Nation reaffirms our commitment to 

serve veterans of Iraq as well as they served 

us – to uphold the sacred trust we share 

with all who have worn the uniform. Our 

future is brighter for their service, and today, we express our gratitude by saying once 

more: Welcome home.

HONOR cont. 

 see CREDIT next page
The San Antonio-class amphibious 

transport dock USS San Diego (LPD-22) 

completed an overnight visit to U.S. Naval 

Station Guantanamo Bay this week. The ship 

had been conducting navigation training and 

will soon arrive to its future homeport of 

San Diego in April. 

This port visit allowed the USS San 

Diego’s crew the chance to spend some time 

enjoying the various recreational facilities 

available at Guantanamo.

“As USS San Diego sails to her home port 

and namesake city, we were privileged to visit 

Guantanamo Bay for a brief liberty stop,” 

said Cmdr. Kevin Meyers, Commanding 

Officer. “The crew enjoyed visiting this 

living piece of our naval history, as well as 

providing tours for the Joint Task Force 

and tenant commands. The hospitality we 

received was outstanding!”

The San Diego is the fourth United 

States Navy ship to bear the California city’s 

name. San Diego is the Navy’s largest base 

for operating in the Pacific Ocean. The ship 

is very new to the fleet. The construction 

was completed in December 2011 at the 

Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, 

Miss. The crew moved onboard in January 

and the ship left its Mississippi shipyard on 

Mar. 15. 

This new amphibious ship is crewed by 

360 Sailors with three Marines. By its design, 

the ship can support and deliver an equipped 

Marine battalion of 699 officers and enlisted 

members for amphibious landing missions. 

The ship is designed with ballast tanks to 

allow the flooding of the large well deck 

and to launch and recover landing craft air 

cushions and landing craft units.

At its new homeport, the San Diego will 

continue to install equipment and conduct 

crew training and certifications. The San 

Diego will be formally commissioned in 

May, making the ship officially active in the 

U.S. Navy fleet.

“It was a great tour,” said Master Sgt. 

Gary Hayner, Base Emergency Engineer 

Force (BEEF). “I felt really honored to be 

in one of the first groups to be able to tour 

this new ship.”

The JTF Troopers who visited the 

USS San Diego were impressed with the 

condition of the vessel. Many Troopers 

gave the San Diego’s crew high praise on 

the efficiency and purposefulness of the 

ship’s work spaces. The professionalism and 

courtesies of the San Diego Sailors did not 

go unnoticed either. 

“It was very nice,” said Master Sgt. Ed 

Hudecek, also of the BEEF. “I’ve never 

been on a ship before. I was very impressed. 

The crew was very friendly and highly 

knowledgeable. They gave a good description 

of what they do.”

Feature | The Wire | Page 8

more than 30% of the limit. Even better if 

you can pay off the credit card balance each 

month, use a credit card like a charge card. 

“Otherwise you are just going to stay in 

perpetual debt,” he said.

Credit card companies make their money 

on the interest charged on balances. For 

example on a $1,000 debt at 18 percent 

annual percentage rate (APR), it would take 

nine years to pay off with minimum monthly 

payment of $20, since $15 each month is 

going to interest and only $5 to balance. 

“Debt is biggest obstacle to anybody 

acquiring net worth,” added Barrett. He 

believes that the goal is to acquire assets that 

hold or go up in value, unlike a car, which is 

more of a liability.

Like any potential indulgence, you need 

to use moderation in the use of credit, said 

Barrett. “It is a behavior thing.” 

The Fleet and Family Services Center 

offers credit management classes, as well as 

one-on-one financial counseling. Call 4050 

to make an appointment.

CREDIT cont. 

Boarding party

Troopers greet brand-new ship

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

USS San Diego (LPD-22) made its first port visit to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay this week, and will travel to its namesake city for commissioning by May. Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo Troopers toured the shiny new ship Wednesday. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

Women’s 

History 

Month

Read what two

female leaders 

have to say 

about military 

service and one of 

JTF Guantanamo’s 

critical missions

Air Force Lt. Col. Grace Link 

leads the 474th Expeditionary 

Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo’s Prime 

Base Emergency Engineering 

Force. Counting military 

commissions support among their 

primary duties, the BEEF benefits 

from its experienced, highly 

skilled – and female – leadership.

–photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Kyle Steckler
 The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

Joint Task Force Guantanamo honors 

educated and empowered female leadership of 

the Prime Base Engineering Emergency Force, 

(Prime BEEF), 474th Expeditionary Civil 

Engineering Squadron (474th ECES), Missouri 

Air Guard by highlighting the achievements, 

contributions and sacrifices each of them make 

to educate the world while deployed. 

The theme for Women’s History Month 2012 

is Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment. 

Although women now outnumber men in 

American colleges nationwide, the reversal of 

the gender gap is a very recent phenomenon. In 

our country, the fight to learn and be empowered 

in their positions was a valiant struggle waged 

by many tenacious women across years and 

cultures. 

United States Air Force Lt. Col. Grace Link, 

Prime BEEF commanding officer and base Civil 

Engineer spoke about being in the military and a 

role model for women of all ages.

“My heritage is Mexican. My parents came 

to the United States when I was a year old,” 

said Link. “We moved to Chicago and I went 

to school and joined the Illinois Air National 

Guard in 1987.”

Shortly after enlisting, Link attended a supply 

enlisted tech school at Lowry Air Force Base 

where she met her husband, Scott Link, who was 

also in the Air Guard.

Link was enlisted for six years before she 

graduated from Oklahoma State University, 

earning a Master of Science in Civil Engineering. 

She received her commission in 1994, furthering 

her desire to make a difference. Diversity 

acceptance in the military and the civil engineering 

career field has allowed Link and her command 

to focus on the mission and less on the gender 

of the leader. 

“One of my most challenging times as a leader 

involved getting more than 100 people in the 

squadron all working together towards a common 

goal. Establishing teamwork is not always easy to 

do,” said Link. “It is always extremely rewarding 

to watch our Airmen succeed and become the 

best that they can be!” 

Link and a team of 38 deployed to JTF 

Guantanamo in January 2012 and were assigned 

to the Prime BEEF.

“Our primary mission at the Prime BEEF 

is all of the facilities maintenance repair and 

construction associated with the Expeditionary 

Legal Complex (ELC) and Camp Justice,” said 

Link. “We are here to take care of any facility 

issues that are going to go on during court 

sessions for commissions or anything going on 

with the Camp Justice side of the house.”

JTF Guantanamo supports many aspects of 

ongoing military commissions, such as lodging 

tents for media members, observer organizations, 

defense and prosecution members as well as 

transient personnel.

Link has been a Civil Engineer in the Air 

Guard for 25 years. Her experiences in many 

areas all over the world have allowed her to 

design, construct and maintain the physical and 

naturally built environment of each area visited.

“Our command usually plans and prepares 

for natural disasters,” said Link. “We are able 

to construct roads, bridges, buildings and other 

structures necessary to sustain an airfield and/

or Wing.”

In the summer of 2011, Link and members 

of 474th ECES, and 139th Airlift Wing prepared 

the town of St. Joseph, Mo. and surrounding 

communities for a planned flooding by United 

States Army Corps of Engineers. As a full-time 

federal employee, one of the advantages of a civil 

engineering command is the ability for a Guard 

officer to serve as a dual-status commander; 

maintaining command over both Air Guard 

personnel and federal military units that may also 

respond to an emergency or disaster situation 

occurring within the state.

The level of expertise present with the Prime 

BEEF team can be broken down into several subdisciplines, such as structural engineering, water 

resources engineering, 

construction engineering 

and municipal or urban 

engineering. 

“Prior to our arrival 

to Guantanamo, we were 

planning for the town 

evacuation,” Link said 

about the planned flooding 

and level of training she and her team have on 

large projects. “Setting the standards for members 

not being okay with being average and striving to 

be outstanding is my job as their commander to 

help them get there.”

The projects currently in the queue for the 

Prime BEEF include maintenance and new 

construction of existing facility structures, 

electrical and plumbing needs. Previous Prime 

BEEF teams have started projects, and incoming 

Prime BEEF teams are able to complete the 

work seamlessly.

Celebrating women’s empowerment By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Erica Gardner

 see WOMEN page 16

Female engineers lead the way at Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Camp Justice. The 474th ECES, 

presently composed of members of the Missouri Air National Guard, are led by Lt. Col. Grace Link 

(previous page) and Senior Master Sgt. Debra Rush (left) –photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant

Mission Focused

The Prime BEEF team members all have extensive

experience in civil engineering which supports their 

missions for Joint Task Force Guantanamo. The 

team is made up of very highly motivated, dedicated, 

knowledgeable professionals of which commander Air 

Force Lt. Col. Grace Link is proud to be a part of. 

“Emergency response personnel from 474th ECES 

were called upon to assist during the floods in the 

Missouri area,” said Link. “Emergency response and 

the fire departments fall under us; this also supports our 

ability to provide as much service to a disaster area as 

possible.”

This area of civil engineering is intimately related to 

the design of pipelines, water supply network, drainage 

facilities (including bridges, dams, channels, culverts, 

levees, storm sewers), and canals. 

“The role the Air Guard is playing today is much 

different than it was many years ago,” said Link. “It’s 

amazing what you do and the level of experienced 

personnel performing these missions.” 
 The Wire |

Page 12

Feature |

From a historical military perspective, when 

you think about gates or borders the demilita-

rized zone separating the two Koreas or the Ber-

lin Wall’s Brandenburg gate come to mind. Here 

in Guantanamo Bay we too have a border, still 

scattered with mines from a bygone era and a 

gate (though not as grandiose as Brandenburg).

The North East Gate is the northern entry 

point separating Naval Station Guantanamo 

Bay (NAVSTA GTMO) from the rest of Cuba. 

Closely guarded by the Marine Corps Security 

Forces Company (MCSFCO) with a heavily for-

tified fence line and strategically placed observa-

tion towers, the gate has seen its fair share of 

history which makes NAVSTA GTMO what it 

is today.

Access to the North East Gate is rare and 

strictly prohibited unless personnel are escorted 

by a member of MCSFCO. Tours are offered for 

all those stationed and working on island, every 

third Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. Sign 

up at the MCSFCO headquarters building dur-

ing regular business hours.

When the United States leased the land that is 

NAVSTA GTMO from the Cuban government 

in 1903, the North East Gate was established as 

the checkpoint for up to 3,000 Cuban commut-

ers who would move in and out of the base on 

a daily basis. In 1958, when vehicle traffic was 

prohibited, the number of commuters dropped 

to 300. Of those 300, only two continue the trek 

today.

In 1964, Commander in Chief of Cuba’s mil-

itary and Prime Minister, Fidel Castro cut off the 

fresh water supply to the base to protest the U.S. 

arresting 17 Cuban fishermen for violating terri-

torial waters off the Florida coast. When Castro 

accused the Americans of stealing water, thenBase Commander Rear Adm. John D. Bulkeley 

invited media to watch as the cast iron water pipe 

was cut at the North East Gate as proof to the 

contrary. The cut pipe is prominently displayed 

today by the gate’s main observation tower. 

The competition of national pride between 

the Cubans and American Marines grew at the 

North East Gate after Castro took control over 

Cuba. 

At the barracks on top of the hill where Ma-

rines would sleep during off hours, Cuban per-

sonnel would throw rocks on the tin roofs to 

keep them awake. So the Marines built a 40-foot 

high fence to prevent the rocks from making it 

over.

Then the Cubans used to climb the fence and 

hang metal objects from hangers to make noise 

in the wind. So the Marines fortified the fence 

line with barbed wire.

Cubans used a spotlight on the barracks to 

keep the Marines awake at night for a month. 

Bulkeley erected a tent on the hill where the bar-

racks was located and had laborers work on a 

“secret project.”

At the end of the month, when the Cubans 

used the spotlight on the barracks once more, 

the tent came down and the spotlight would hit a 

hill-sized globe, eagle and anchor, the insignia of 

the United States Marine Corps. The spotlight-

ing stopped immediately. 

North East Gate tour guide Marine Staff Sgt. 

Jonathan Whatley honors and respects the rich 

history of his beloved Marine Corps and their 

history here in Guantanamo Bay.

“Here we are stationed in a communist coun-

try in the oldest naval station outside the U.S.,” 

said Whatley. “It’s an awesome amount of pride 

knowing that Marines were here since 1898 dur-

ing the Spanish-American War and the work 

we’ve done since.”

For others, getting access to such a restricted 

area of the base and receiving some historical 

perspective was enough to warrant time for a 

look-see and to take the tour.

“I wanted to see what the gate was all about,” 

said Chief Petty Officer Edwin Schulze, of the 

Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security 

Team San Diego. “Seeing the entrance and get-

ting a glimpse of the history of Guantanamo 

Bay is very cool.”

For Marine Capt. Kristy Milton, it was her 

last day on island and her one and only chance 

to tour the Northeast Gate and see it up close. 

“The Northeast Gate tour was very informa-

tive, giving us the background and history of this 

place and of Cuba as well,” she said. “When you 

think of Guantanamo, you don’t just think about 

the JTF (Joint Task Force) side, you think of the 

Marines guarding the fence line, the towers, and 

movies like “A Few Good Men.” You see it up 

close, it’s something everyone who comes to 

Guantanamo Bay should come and see.”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

| 

FeatureThe Wire | Page 13

Marine Corps Security Forces Company tours of the 

North East Gate occur once per month and are open 

to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Joint 

Task Force personnel. Here, Troopers can get a rare 

view of the Cold War-era physical barrier between the 

communist and American naval station sides of Cuba.

Background: Marine Staff Sgt. Jonathan Whatley led

the March 16 tour, which delved into Marine pride 

and the naval station’s tense history.

–photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park
at the rea d y

RINGFIELD, Ill. – Deployments can change 

a soldier’s life, but the prospect of a deployment may have saved the life of one central 

Illinois soldier.

For Army Sgt. Kristina R. Melton, a member of the Illinois National Guard’s 1344th 

Transportation Company in East St. Louis, no 

field manual could have prepared her for what 

she learned during a health examination as she 

prepared for a mobilization with the 1644th 

Transportation Company in Rock Falls. She 

had cervical pre-cancer cells.

“When the doctor told me I was going to 

miss the deployment, I was hurt,” Melton said. 

“I was upset. I thought, ‘Great, my husband is 

going to deploy without me again, and I am 

going to be stuck at home.’ So it was really sad, 

and I was bawling.”

Melton’s husband, Army Sgt. Chris Melton, 

also with the 1344th Transportation Company, planned to deploy with her by joining the 

1644th, but decided against it in light of the 

diagnosis.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” he said. “If 

Kristina wouldn’t have been set to deploy, it 

would have been months before she would 

have had her checkup, and her medical condition could have gotten worse.”

Although the condition is serious, the 

Meltons said, they have not allowed it to control their future.

“We are planning on having another child, 

so once we do that, she plans on having the 

hysterectomy and then the cervical cancer issue won’t be an issue anymore,” Chris said.

In addition to having another child, Kristina said, she expects to retire from the Illinois 

Army National Guard. She noted that treating 

her condition and having a hysterectomy have 

quick recovery periods and would not affect 

her career as some other health issues might.

“I think it speaks a lot to her character and 

the kind of person she is,” said Army Capt. 

Matthew P. Wood, the 1344th’s company 

commander. “She knows that she has some 

things going on in her life that are outside the 

Army, but she knows that she can overcome 

those and that they are only temporary. The 

pride that she has and the things that she 

wants to do for the military are going to last a 

lot longer than that.”

Melton said her goal is to get the word out 

about cervical cancer awareness and women’s 

health issues.

“It happens, and I prefer for most women 

to understand that it can happen to them no 

matter what age they are,” Kristina said.

With the number of women in the military 

increasing over the past half century, women’s 

health has become increasingly relevant. Although soldiers learn occupational safety and 

mission safety at a high level, she said, she 

would like to be a reminder of how much 

health safety should be stressed.

“There are women out there that don’t get 

their Pap smears done when they should, and 

they’re missing out on stuff like this,” Kristina 

said. “If this isn’t caught, then there’s not a lot 

the doctors can do. It is life-threatening. It can 

kill you if you go untreated.”

Melton said she hoped other military 

women can look to her as someone who has 

benefitted from preventive health tests and 

find the courage to do the same.

“The dangers of not being checked out are 

much worse than the discomforts of having 

the examinations,” she said.

 The Wire | Page 14 Women in Service |

I n the f i g ht

Females lead the way

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE N.C. – For hundreds of years across 

the globe, women have been fighting for 

equal rights. Today, women in the armed 

forces continue in their footsteps, fighting 

to defend the nation’s freedom. 

During Women’s History Month, it 

seems fitting that numerous women recently returned to Marine Corps Base Camp 

Lejeune from a deployment to Afghanistan. 

There are many female service members, 

from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, 

who fight every day with no complaint, in a 

predominately male work environment. 

Petty Officer 3rd Class Sinthia M. 

Gomez, a hospital corpsman with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, is 

the first in her family to join the military, 

which paved the way for her younger brother to join the Army. 

“If you look back and see how women 

have progressed, especially me being here in 

a male unit. It’s nice to be recognized and be 

held to that same standard – and break that 

glass ceiling,” said Gomez. “My brother 

joined the Army because of me. I definitely 

feel proud.” 

In Afghanistan, Gomez worked at an 

aid station helping the sick, giving over the 

counter medications and even helped organize a pizza party for wounded warriors. 

“It was Father’s Day and we wanted to 

do something for the wounded warriors,” 

said Gomez, with a smile. 

Gomez is not the only female in her unit. 

Petty Officer First Class Jennifer R. Avila, 

leading petty officer, followed in her father’s 

footsteps, when she joined the Navy as a 

single mother who could not afford college. 

“It was the best option for me,” said 

Avila, who has deployed three times to Iraq 

and recently returned from Afghanistan 

with Gomez. 

In Fallujah, Iraq in 2005, Avila assisted 

Marines at security check points by searching women before they entered the city. 

“We were out there working 12-hour 

days in flak (jackets) and Kevlars carrying a 

rifle, just like the guys, doing patrols,” said 

Avila. 

Avila explained, throughout her career, 

she has witnessed some good changes including the increased amount of opportunities for women. 

“It’s absolutely changed since I came in 

(the Navy). They, now, allow women on submarines, they allow female corpsmen more 

so in combat – so I see a change in that. I 

think it’s great that we honor women.” 

Both Gomez and Avila are happy with 

women’s roles in the military and have 

words of wisdom for young women thinking about enlisting. 

“I would say that they have to come in 

with an open mind, be strong and proud of 

being a woman and accept any challenges 

and know their limits,” said Gomez. 

“I believe as females we need to show 

people that we’re strong, that we can do 

the job just as well as a man. Never allow 

the excuse, ‘I’m a female’ to stop you from 

doing your job. Yes we have limitations but 

we’re just as strong as a man and can do 

a job just as good as any man. That’s why 

I have high expectations of females in the 

military,” said Avila. 

By Cpl. Walter Marino II

2nd Marine Division

Guard Soldier becomes women’s advocate

Pre-deployment screenings can save lives

By Army Sgt. Jesse Houk

Illinois National Guard

c oast to c oast

Strength. This word coupled with such 

words as bravery, hard working, mentor, and 

role model have been used to describe women who not only serve their country, but their 

families and loved ones as well. From Joan 

of Arc to Eleanor Roosevelt, women have 

been effectively changing the way the world 

views them and the roles they play. This is 

why in 1987 Woman’s History Month was 

introduced by the United States Congress as 

a month-long dedication of recognition to 

women, young and old, not only throughout 

history, but also to those who live their dayto-day lives as wives, mothers, and co-workers. The women of the United States Coast 

Guard are no exception to this.

Dating all the way back to the 1770s, 

women began as lighthouse keepers, often 

awarded the position full time after their husbands who operated them became ill or died, 

but they didn’t stop there.

In 1881, Ida Lewis became the first woman ever to be awarded a Gold Lifesaving 

Medal. In February of 1976 the Coast Guard 

Academy became the first service academy 

to offer entrance to women. In 1974, mixedgender basic training began which made possible the first mixed-gender crew in October 

1977 when 24 women reported aboard the 

Coast Guard Cutters Gallatin and Morgenthau. More recently, in March of 2011, Chief 

Petty Officer Kristin Werner became the first 

female to make Chief Gunner’s Mate ever in 

the Coast Guard.

Remarkable women live, serve, and 

breathe all around us. In recognition of this, 

a story will be released during each week of 

March honoring the Coast Guard women of 

San Diego that we serve and come in contact 

with every day.

For the women of the Coast Guard who 

have families and lives outside of their career, trying to balance everything can become a juggling act.

Seaman Alyssia Veiga, like many others, 

did not join the Coast Guard right out of 

school.

“Because I’m 22, I’m still young,” she 

said. “I’m not fresh out of high school, but 

at the same time, I have experience in (the 

world). I was away from home and I didn’t 

join the Coast Guard right away.”

Veiga said that she chose the Coast Guard 

because she wanted to help people and the 

Coast Guard seemed the most humanitarian out of all the services. Her face lit up 

as she talked about the possibilities and opportunities that the service has to offer her 

and laughed as she spoke about how she’d 

learned secrets of the trade that she can apply to her own life.

“There has to be a balance,” she went 

on to explain. “There are some people who 

don’t know how to juggle at all. Basically, it’s 

a giant juggling act and I have to delegate 

time for my personal life and draw boundaries.”

Trying not to allow the lines to blend between life and work has been long struggle 

seen throughout the Coast Guard and other military services alike, but for women, it 

comes with its own set of unique pressures.

“You can’t just be one of the guys,” she 

said, “You can’t just be another worker.”

She explains that often times all it took 

was for one female to show up to quarters 

with scuffed boots or a wrinkly uniform for 

all the females to be lumped in as slackers. 

She said that sometimes you have to put in 

that extra effort to move past the ideas that 

people may have of you and how you work.

Although, sometimes things were rougher 

than others, overall she doesn’t seem to allow 

it to affect her or hinder her ability to advance forward. Instead, she moves toward a 

more positive outlook: setting as example as 

those before have. She said that often when 

people mention their boss out in the civilian 

world, people just assume that it is a man. 

This is precisely the reason why she loves the 

fact that at her job in the Coast Guard her 

shop supervisor is a woman.

“For me, I like having my chief be a female,” she said.

It was the first female supervisor she had 

since joining the Coast Guard and she said it 

makes her feel so good to know that one day 

she was going to be in a position of leadership like that.

She explained that the biggest thing she 

wants people to understand is that even 

though at times work can be hard, it’s always 

worth doing if you are willing to push on 

through.

| Women in Service The Wire | Page 15

Coast Guard women find balance

From 11th District Coast Guard Public Affairs
The National Football League has, once 

again, proved that it is the king of American 

sports. Even with the NBA, NHL, MLB and 

the MLS (yes, they are still around) playing actual games, the NFL still rules the headlines.

Not so Saintly in New Orleans

Katrina brought the levies down in 2005. 

On Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger 

Goodell took the breath out of the city once 

more when he levied heavy punishments 

against the New Orleans Saints football team 

and its management in the wake of an investigation into a program that offered payment 

for the injury of key opposing players.

Head coach Sean Payton is suspended, 

without pay, for the entire 2012 season. 

Gregg Williams, former Saints defensive coordinator who recently signed on to do the 

same job for the St. Louis Rams, received the 

harshest sentence with an indefinite suspension from the league. General manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight 

regular season games. As an organization, the 

Saints were fined $500,000 and stripped of 

a second round draft pick in this year’s and 

next year’s draft (because they don’t have a 

first round selection this year).

People that grew up watching the NFL of 

yore may think “What’s the big deal? This has 

been happening on every team for as far back 

as there has been an NFL.” 

That may be true, but the league is currently facing a lawsuit because of a less-thanstellar head trauma system that left lots of explayers with amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 

more widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

The last thing Goodell needs is to look like he 

advocates teams and players acting like The 

Punisher in order to get wins. These suspensions are a warning shot to the rest of the 

league. The next time someone gets caught, 

the commissioner won’t be as nice.

Tebow co-pilots Jets

Quarterback Peyton Manning signed a 

5-year, $96 million contract with the Denver 

Broncos to try to walk in the footsteps of 

legendary quarterback John Elway (check 

last week’s column. I called it). Because of 

the uncertainty of his injury, there is no guaranteed money written into his contract.

Tim Tebow, however, was written out 

of Broncos history with a trade to the New 

York Jets. The former first round pick was 

sent to the biggest media market in the country along with a seventh round pick and $2.5 

million in return for a fourth and sixth round 

pick.

Timmy has not proven his doubters 

wrong – he still has the mechanics of a 

Gitmo special – but he has proven that he 

deserves more respect than he is being given. 

He took a team from the slums of the AFC 

West to division champions. He tacked on 

a playoff victory against a quarterback that 

has as many Super Bowl rings as Tebow has 

vested years in the league. He deserves to 

be packaged in a better deal than with three 

other draft picks that probably won’t make 

an impact on either team.

It was reported that the Broncos, being 

wooed by the Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars, gave Tebow the freedom to pick his 

team and he chose to take a bite out of the 

Big Apple. Hopefully, that won’t turn out to 

be a mortal sin. Maybe he decided to be a 

Jet because Mark Sanchez hasn’t established 

himself as the quarterback everyone thought 

he was. Maybe it was because offensive coordinator Tony Sparano introduced the Wildcat offense to the NFL and Tebow seems 

like the perfect person to run that system.

But one thing is for sure: New York fans 

are no where near as nice as the ones he’s 

used to. They can chant your name one week 

and call for your job the next. As long as he 

wins, he’s in the good graces of the city, but 

that all stops when the victories stop. After 

all, look how long Linsanity lasted.

Peyton in,

Payton out

[STU D ENT O F THE G AME]

D’aww, he’s all frowny 

faced. Saints head coach 

Sean Payton will not be a 

part of an NFL team for 

the first time since 1996 

because of a one-year 

suspension. –NFL photo

 The Wire | Page 16 Student of the Game |

Senior Master Sgt. Debra Rush manages

areas of Prime BEEF in supply, structures, 

engineering, work control and pavements/

heavy equipment. 

“I bring a diversity of experiences to 

Civil Engineering,” said Rush. “I have been 

in this field since 2006, but I have knowledge 

from prior career fields of personnel, 

maintenance, and contracting. I believe this 

diversity helps with my leadership.”

 In order to move up the career ladder, 

Rush explained that sometimes you may 

have to be willing to change career paths.

Rush is a full time production controller 

for the Missouri Air National Guard. 

Because of her education and experience, 

she was able to move into a new career field 

and full-time job. 

“This has been a challenging deployment 

for me,” said Rush. “I feel very fortunate to 

have my husband in my life. It would be very 

hard to deploy without his support. I know 

my family is very proud of what I do.”

Rush commented that nobody in her 

immediate family is in the military; she 

joined for the patriotism and for the travel 

experience. She has been in the Missouri Air 

Guard for almost 19 years and 12 of those 

she has been on active status. 

“My goals for this deployment is to 

improve my leadership role, become more 

physically fit, and have a closer relationship 

with God,” she said. 

Since 1987, the United States has 

recognized women’s history in March, 

honoring the achievements of American 

women during the celebration coordinated 

by the National Women’s History Project.

For too long women’s history and 

achievements have been forgotten, 

overlooked, erased and devalued. The 

celebration of women’s achievements and 

sacrifices helps educate and empower women 

of all ages through their experiences. 

WOMEN cont. 

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Taking a breather, by yourself

Being a member of the United 

States military requires all of us 

to work closely with our peers on 

both a professional and personal 

level. However, the camaraderie 

we develop amongst each other 

is not restricted specifically to 

military life

 As humans, we depend upon 

one another for companionship, 

intimacy, and protection. The 

complex relationships we build 

with our fellow man and woman 

not only enhance the overall 

experience of life, but provide 

the essential tools necessary for 

self-betterment. Nevertheless, in 

a world increasingly dominated 

by a maze of elaborate social 

obligations and norms, we often 

neglect to provide ourselves with 

a much needed “breather” of 

sorts. I’m talking about the elusive 

time spent alone.

Many people regard those 

who spend a great deal of time by 

themselves as loners. Choosing to 

seek solitude over socialization, 

such individuals may be viewed 

by society as eccentric or 

abnormal, and sometimes for 

good reason. Extreme isolation 

can be suggestive of a number of 

mental health disorders, including 

depression, anxiety disorders, 

developmental disorders, 

psychosis, and some personality 

disorders. It is important to 

remember, however, that 

although social withdrawal can 

be a symptom of many mental 

health disorders, a psychiatric 

diagnosis cannot be made solely 

based on an individual’s desire to 

be alone. 

In spite of the negative 

associations with social isolation, 

solitude can also be highly 

beneficial to mental health. By 

purposely removing ourselves 

from the noise and distractions of 

everyday life and social settings, 

we are allowed an essential 

moment to self-reflect on our 

own thoughts and feelings, and 

evaluate ourselves. Self-reflection 

has been practiced actively across 

numerous cultures for many 

centuries in pursuit of inner 

peace, spirituality, and simple 

pleasure. Monks across the world 

seek spiritual enlightenment while 

in isolation. Various philosophers, 

writers, and artists have spent 

much of their days detached from 

public life in contentment.

You too, at some point, 

have likely practiced solitude 

as a means to achieve calm or 

relaxation. Ever go for a walk to 

clear your head after getting into 

an argument? Or simply had a 

day off where you stayed indoors 

to watch television or read a book 

alone? Social creatures we may 

all be, but sometimes, seclusion 

offers a much needed departure 

from the stresses of everyday life 

to spend time with ourselves.

Achieving beneficial solitude 

while at Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo can seem impossible 

at times, especially for those who 

have roommates. But setting 

time aside each day to spend 

alone, without any commitments 

or work, is the first step in the 

right direction. Learning to enjoy 

moments to yourself can allow 

for personal reflection, serenity, 

and better self-understanding. So 

use your time wisely and devote 

at least some of it just to you.

Should you find yourself 

having difficulty in achieving 

solitude, the staff at the Joint 

Stress Mitigation and Restoration 

Team (JSMART) offers a wide 

range of mental health services 

to all service members attached 

to Joint Task Force Guantanamo. 

We are now located in a new 

building across from the JTF 

Trooper Chapel and next to the 

Camp America Post Office. 

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

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Mind, 

Body

& Spirit

by Hospitalman 3rd Class

Dominique Cannon

JSMART

Solitude can be highly beneficial to mental health. 

Self-reflection has been practiced actively across 

numerous cultures in pursuit of inner peace.
 The Wire | Page 18

There are certain jobs people 

look at and say “How do they do 

it? I could never do what they 

do.” I am referring to thankless 

jobs that involve high skills 

working in extreme conditions. 

These workers have limited to 

no contact with their families. 

What motivates people to endure 

these positions to provide for 

themselves and their families? 

These are the questions that 

formulated in my mind as I 

viewed “The Grey,” the latest 

Liam Neeson thriller. The film 

serves as a metaphor to the 

pitfalls of life, the obstacles 

people endure and how their 

faith is tested. True, “The Grey” 

is designed as a taut nail-biter 

with good scares, decent pacing 

and good drama. But I think 

there’s more going on with “The 

Grey” than what you initially see 

on the silver screen. For now, 

let’s hold that thought.

The movie focuses on John 

Ottway (Neeson), a man who 

specializes in killing wolves to 

help keep the Alaskan oil-drilling 

teams safe. After he completes 

his work, he faces much 

uncertainty about what to do 

next. The loss of his wife even 

has him contemplate suicide 

before he decides that he will 

fly back home. Unfortunately, a 

freak blizzard brings his airliner 

down into the barren Alaskan 

wasteland.

Ottway is stranded with 

other oil-drill team members 

who survived the plane crash. 

They have no heat, no food and 

supplies are minimal to aid them 

in surviving the harsh arctic-like 

elements. They are hundreds of 

miles from any other human 

contact. Matters are worse when 

the group realizes they are deep 

within the territory of predatory 

gray wolves. One of the most 

eerie scenes is when a handheld 

torch reveals several pairs of 

wolves’ eyes reflecting in the 

darkness. 

After losing team members 

to the wolves, Ottway leads the 

survivors away from the plane’s 

wreckage. It’s a pilgrimage 

fraught with strife through the 

stark wilderness. The elements, 

group tensions and the pursuing 

wolves continue to take their 

toll on the small band trudging 

through the snow. Desperation is 

combated by stories and humor, 

but the severity of the group’s 

predicament is always looming 

overhead.

The group is pursued by the 

wolves lead by an alpha male. 

Indeed, a formidable omega wolf 

tests the group openly around 

the evening campfire while the 

alpha watches from out of sight. 

The outcome of this incident 

sets the pendulum in motion for 

the group to do whatever it takes 

to make it through each minute. 

“The Grey” depends heavily 

on dynamic visuals to make its 

impact on viewers. It should be 

no surprise the film is produced 

by the highly prolific brothers 

Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. 

The movies they have directed 

and now the ones they produce 

are known for the strong 

visual sense in telling their 

stories. Consequently, the Scott 

brothers’ films are not known 

for having any strong human 

sentiments. This time, “The 

Grey” is separated from the rest 

of the pack with a story about 

fear, faith and, on some level, 

redemption.

Director Joe Carnahan 

wanted to show Ottway as a man 

experiencing deep pain over 

the loss of his wife. In reality, 

it was only three years ago that 

actor Liam Neeson lost his own 

wife to a freak skiing accident. 

Neeson openly admitted he 

suffered from a lapse in his own 

personal faith and he was able to 

channel that into his role in “The 

Grey.” When we see Ottway 

cursing at God and demanding 

a response from him, are we 

watching the character grapple 

with his dilemma or is it about 

Neeson’s real-life pain? 

There are moments in the 

movie containing personal 

visions, flashbacks, poems and 

childhood reminders that aid 

in the acceptance of death 

and making a stand in face of 

adversity. The film was screened 

even by Christian groups with 

media materials highlighting the 

spiritual value of the film.

Whatever the message, “The 

Grey” is a highly crafted film. 

The scenes with the wolves 

are incredibly tense and the 

characters are as real as they 

get. If I had to complain about 

anything, it would be the ending. 

I do feel the build-up throughout 

Ottway’s odyssey demanded a 

more concrete resolution. If the 

audience makes it through the 

film’s credits, there is a “cookie” 

at the very end expanding on 

the films conclusion. How you 

choose to interpret the cookie is 

up to you. I suppose that’s where 

the faith aspect of the film can 

enter. This is what this movie is 

ultimately about. 

I think people can enjoy “The 

Grey” as an engaging thriller that 

happens to ask its viewers “what 

do you believe in to help get 

you through?” It’s a rhetorical 

question from the Scott brothers. 

Goodness knows everyone 

has metaphorical wolves in 

their lives that pursue them. 

Where a person gets the strength 

to cope with their personal 

wolves is something best left to 

people to answer for themselves. 

Looking at “The Grey” from 

this perspective is like seeing 

the tip of an iceberg, with so 

much unseen below the surface. 

Whoever thought audiences 

would get a feature like this 

from the minds that brought us 

movies about replicants (“Blade 

Runner”), unicorns (“Legend”), 

hot-shot fighter pilots (“Top 

Gun”) and feisty race car drivers 

(“Days of Thunder”)?

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

The 

Grey

Movie Review

R

117 min.

Movie Review | | Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19 Downtown Lyceum Camp Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 24

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

23 25 26 27 28 29

Joyful Noise 

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Woman in 

Black (NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Big Miracle 

(NEW)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Chronicle 

(New)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Big Miracle 

(NEW)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Chronicle 

(NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening

(R) 8 p.m.

Woman in 

Black (NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Act of Valor

(R) 8 p.m.

Man on a Ledge

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Haywire (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Contraband (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Contraband 

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Haywire (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Underworld: 

Awakening

(R) 8 p.m.

One for the 

Money

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise 

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Grey

(R) 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
Above: Do you see the double 

rainbow? The leprechauns must have 

missed it – no sightings were reported 

in or around bachelor housing.

–photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 1st Class Erica Gardner

Background: Stick that in your pipe 

and... nevermind. The Cold War-era 

water pipeline from Cuba, ordered cut 

by then-commanding officer of U.S. 

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Rear 

Adm. John Bulkeley, can be seen on 

the monthly North East Gate tour. The 

tour is available to Joint Task Force 

and Naval Station personnel.

–photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

A Pot o’ Gold

Attention

NWU Type III uniform 

issue will be from March 

26-30 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Sign for your items at Bldg. 

5 in Camp Delta.

–photo by Mass Communication 

Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park