July 3, 2014• VOL. 71 • NO. 26• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 011-5399-4090
Weapons Department Keeps Base Armed and Ready
Members of the Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay Weapons Department take a group photo, July 3. The Weapons Department handles the storage, transport, live fire expenditure and destruction of ordnance onboard the installation. MCC Keith Bryska Gazette Editor
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ailors and civilians working for Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay’s Weapon Department help keep the base armed and trained year-round. According to NS Guantanamo Bay Weapon’s Officer Lt. Jeffrey Crabtree his department is instrumental to the base because it is the single authority and executor of all storage, transport, live fire expenditure, and destruction of ordnance onboard GTMO. “NAVSTA Weapons Department is a rarity in today’s Navy. Most bases no longer have a Weapons Department and have shifted magazine/storage and ordnance transport tasks to Naval Munitions Command Detachments, while local Security departments are forced to shoulder range, armory, and EOD functions,” said Crabtree. “Obviously, GTMO is still able to enjoy a single source that reports only to the Base Commanding Officer.” More than 60 explosive storage locations are exclusively populated, inventoried, and maintained by
Weapons Department. NAVSTA’s 700+ Navy weapons are stored, inventoried, and issued in Weapons Department armory facilities. All real-time Range Control, Range Safety Officer qualification, and Range Scheduling are solely coordinated by Weapons Department. Weapons ordnance handlers and vehicles are the only authorized means on base to transport bulk DoD ammunition. “ “Magazines throughout the various magazine areas house ammunition of each operational branch on base,” said Crabtree. “On a weekly basis the Weapons Department handling teams deliver/recover operational and range ammunition to multiple branches of service for a variety of mission purposes. Training Range Safety Officers, of every color of uniform, to run local ranges onboard GTMO is very unique to this environment.” According to Chief Gunners mate Brandon Lalley they are making upgrades to the Windward rifle range and the Windward pistol range. Continued on Page 3...
PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
NS Guantanamo Bay Commanding Officer, Capt. J.R. Nettleton congratulates BM2 Rector on his selection as Sailor of the Week.
■Job/Department: Port Services ALPO ■Age: 29 ■Hometown: Crossville, Tenn. ■Hero: My Uncle Ron ■Favorite Hobby: Driving Boats ■Favorite GTMO Restaurant: EN1 Lopez’s House ■Goal: To make BM1 ■Passion: My daughter Morgan ■Favorite Book: Where the Red Fern Grows ■Favorite Quote: ”A true friend will be there sitting next to you in jail.” ■Sailor of the Week Because: BM2 Rector spear headed the rehab and beautification of the BOL Landing where many VIP, Dignitaries, and High Ranking Military Officials are greeted by official parties from all base entities. He also was the lead coxin for MCPON Campa and his party attending the Corpsman Ball ensuring that NAVSTA GTMO upheld its reputation of excellence.
BM2 RYAN RECTOR
VOL. 71 • NO.26
COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
Guantanamo Bay Gazette
CAPT. JOHN NETTLETON CMDR. COLIN CASWELL CMDCM (SW) JEFFERY TIDWELL
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER GAZETTE EDITOR PHOTOJOURNALIST
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
KELLY WIRFEL MCC(SW/AW) KEITH BRYSKA MC3 JASON BAWGUS
The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services with a circulation of 1,000.
Continued from Page 1... “We received 20 previously-used rifle carriages from Camp Lejuene, MCSFCO made the arrangements and the Marine Corps shipped them down here for us. We executed all labor ourselves and updated and revamped the pits in the matter of a month for the whopping cost of a few dozen concrete bolts,” said Lalley. “With the collaboration of Weapons Department and the Marine Corps we saved the government over $68K plus installation parts and labor. The Windward rifle range allows the Marine Corps to maintain their annual qualifications along with further training requirements and is a known distance range that allows shooters to fire from 100/200/300/500yds. “We have re-appropriated the speed pistol range at Windward Pistol for Joint Task Force Joint Detention Group and turned it into a less than lethal range so they have a realistic environment for them to train on
Chaplain’s
JULY 3, 2014• PAGE 3
the proper deployment of their weapons systems,” said Lalley. “We relocated two shooting towers that we built out at Granadillo Range. We are currently building the fencing for it and expect the project completion by the end of next week.” Upon final completion the Soldiers at Joint Task Force will be able to acclimate themselves to deploying less lethal rounds through fencing from towers in a secure range environment. As with the target carriages, this is another major project that is being completed with existing towers/stock materials and will incur zero costs to the base. Lalley believes that the changes and upgrading of the Windward Ranges allows them to provide better support of the installation and tenant Commands. These upgrades just further the Weapons Departments material readiness and their ability to support all missions here at GTMO.
Corner
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Cmdr. Gabriel Mensah NS Guantanamo Bay Command Chaplain
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s a newly ordained priest, I was assigned to a church in a small Texas town, about four hours northeast of Corpus Christi, with a population of about 7,500. My Hispanic friends called me “Padrecito;” they still do. I did a little research to find out why they would call me that. It turned out that a Mexican comedy film called “El Padrecito”(The Little Priest) came out in 1964. It was a movie about a young priest, Father Sebastien, who was assigned to a small church in a small Mexican town. The community did not like him at all, particularly the resident priest, Father Damien. Slowly, but surely, the young priest was able to win the congregants over through humor and hard work. He also became the toast of town, and a beloved Little Priest for the people in that small town. During the annual fiesta for the town, the bull fighter failed to show up, and guess who saved the day? El Padrecito. He dressed up as a bull fighter and fought the bull. In the end the young priest was shown the respect and admiration by the town. He was even able to convince the congregants to tithe more to help the less fortunate people in the town. My life as a young priest in that small Texas town started out as Father Sebastien in the movie “E’ Padrecito”. The town was about 89% Anglo/ Caucasian, and the rest Hispanic. For obvious reasons, I was not welcomed, especially by the congregants. It was probably the lowest point of my life.
I could easily have been angry and frustrated, and packed up my things and left. I could have thrown a pity party. Nobody, I don’t think, deserved the kind of treatment and harassment that I went through. But through a lot of prayers, hard work, patience and kindness, the congregants eventually warmed up to me. Growing up in my native Ghana, some of the priests that came and ministered to us were Dutch and Irish missionaries. We loved them, we admired them for leaving their families in their homeland to come and serve us. I thought, perhaps naively, that the congregants and the townspeople could have accorded me the same kindness we showed the missionaries in my hometown. As we all know, sometimes circumstances beyond our control can happen that demand every ounce of our strength to pull through. The successful people in life are people who are able to use wisely the hands that life has dealt them. When life gives you lemons, you don’t throw up your hands in the air and say, “why me?” Rather you use your ingenuity and make lemonade out of them.
Submitted by: CDR Gabriel Mensah
Port Operations Qualifies Swimmers MC3 Jason Bawgus Photojournalist
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orkers from Burns and Roe took part in a second class swim certification at the Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay’s Marine Hill pool, July 1. The workers that took part in the certification work on various Port Operations boats including the ferry, tug boats and other vessels in which a second class swim certification is necessary. “We had to do these tests because the Navy came out with a message that anyone who works with Port Operations must be a second class swimmer,” said Engineman 1st Class Carlos Lopez. “Since Burns and Roe have a contract with the Navy their workers also fall under this new rule.” The second class swim test consists of a deep water jump, 100 yard swim demonstrating 25 yards each of the crawl stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. Immediately after the completion of the swim, without leaving the water, students will prone float (face down) for five minutes and transition to a back float before exiting the water. “The second class swim test is essentially survival swimming,” said Lopez. “If they were to fall overboard and need to stay in the water for a
long period of time the training they received will definitely increase a chance of survival.” The second class swim test is used to determine if a person can stay afloat in open water without the use of a personal flotation device (PFD) indefinitely. “We started working with them about eight weeks ago and when we started some of them couldn’t swim at all,” said Lopez. “We started by focusing on their strengths and then moved on to teaching them the individual strokes necessary to pass as well as the conditioning needed.” The workers learned how to float to conserve energy as well as how to use their clothes to make temporary flotation devices. “The hardest evolution of the test for most of them was to turn pants into flotation device,” said Lopez. “If you’re not comfortable in the water it is really easy to start to panic and that is something we wanted to work with them on.” After eight weeks of classes and trips to the pool the testing day had finally arrived. “We had over 30 workers successfully complete their swim certification,” said Lopez. “That is a pretty awesome number considering that some of them couldn’t swim on the first day.”
PAGE 6• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
Till Debt Do Us Part Michael Rivera Fleet and Family Support Center
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e marry our high school sweetheart; the loves of our lives and along with all of that love and comes their indebtedness. Many couples shy away from discussing what is sometimes said to be the root of all evil, “MONEY.” Most certainly money, finances, and spending habits can play an integral part in a healthy and successful marriage. Because of the Navy “life style,” one of the spouses becomes the “money handler” in large partly by default. It is said that opposites attract, and that usually means that one spouse will be much better suited for the job than the other. So one spouse may take control, ranging from full control with a strict budget and controlled spending to somewhere in between, and like in the fairy tales, everyone lives happily ever after without any late payments or more debt. But do they? Here is an actual client that came to see me for information and help a few years ago. The Service member was in need of serious credit and debt counseling (not to mention divorce and finance advice). His story is so indicative of what can happen when one spouse takes complete control of the finances. Whether they want to or not, sometimes to such an extreme that the other spouse may become resentful over a period of time and sometimes, without even really knowing it. So the question is - what is the best way to handle your financial situation when you have a spouse that can’t handle money? The first and most important item is good communication, combined with building a solid plan together that will work for both of your lifestyles and needs. As seen in my client’s case, the “absolute rule or dictatorship” style of controlling the financial ship, seemed to slowly sink it over time, despite their many more than 20 years of marriage. Sadly, the rules and restrictions that were established caused the other spouse to secretly start applying for credit cards. The spouse would get the “preapproval” offers that would come in the mail and before the significant other got home, they would apply for them. Eventually the mail was transferred to a PO Box or a friend’s home address to avoid the potential of getting caught. Obtaining these secret credit cards, caused them to have to take out a second mortgage on their home, to
pay off the extra debts, once the significant other found out what had been going on. The spouse felt as though they had to beg for simple spending money for lunch, so clearly it was an unhappy, destined to fail way of handling the situation. Getting back to discussing ways to create and develop a strong financial partnership, with respect and communication for each person. Here’s a list of a few steps that I recommend any couple should consider: Setup goals that you both agree on. Get together, discuss, prioritize and make an agreement on these items. Determine what are the household priorities (that means both of you)? Paying off outstanding debts? Saving for a new home or vehicle? Children’s education? Talk about financial matters. Both spouses need to be involved, and aware of the monetary expenditures, especially mindful of any and all possible forthcoming issues. If there is a weekly or monthly budget established, the progress should be discussed and tracked so both partners are aware of their financial picture. Be flexible and consider each other’s needs. If one partner has really strong feelings concerning a specific expenditure on something that the other feels is not a necessity, be willing to negotiate something in exchange, or do your best to work it into the family budget. Share responsibilities and work together. Each one will most likely have strong points in different areas, so take advantage of those and plan financial tasks accordingly. I would recommend that these steps start as early into the relationship as possible, to establish a good base on the financial pyramid of success from the beginning. Obviously, these steps will not ensure that all relationships succeed financially, but they are a good place start. If you find you’re in over your head, please feel free to come to your local Fleet and Family Support Center and speak to an accredited Personal Financial Counselor, FREE OF CHARGE. And remember “Most people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan.”
NAVFAC Awards New Contract Agreement
Kelly Wirfel Naval Station Public Affairs Officer
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aval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $10.8 million contract agreement, June 19 to URS Group, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, for the replacement of four Reverse Osmosis (RO) processing units in the Desalination Plant, at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is the only viable source of drinking water at GTMO because there is no adequate groundwater aquifer, surface water source, and no purchase agreement with Cuba,” said Steven Vickery, Utility Energy Manager, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Guantanamo Bay. “This project replaces four of the six modular seawater
reverse osmosis (RO), desalination trains that, together, have production capability of 1.07 million gallons of safe drinking water per day. The oldest of these trains were constructed in 1990 and have reached the end of their serviceable life. At completion, the project will ensure the installation’s continued ability to produce high-quality water meeting all U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act standards.” Original construction of the desalination plant began on April 1, 1964 when Rear Adm. John Bulkeley along with representatives from Westinghouse and Burns and Roe broke ground for the $10 million plant which was fully completed one year later. Work is expected to be completed by June 2016.
GTMO SHOPPER
MOVIES
MISC Liberate yourself from being a so-so raquetball player this 4th of July. Conatct Ronnie ASAP @ 77892 or mr.racquetball@ yaoo.com
FOUND: Celtic style men’s P A O - C L A S S I F I E D A D S @ silver ring with center cross U S N B G T M O . N A V Y . M I L and green stone on Girl Scout Beach 6/29. Contact 9742 or If sent to any other e-mail, it may not be pub79658. lished. Submit your ad NLT noon Wednesdays E-mail classified ad submissions to
for that week’s Gazette. Ads are removed after two weeks. Re-submit the ad to re-publish. The Gazette staff and NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, page. The Public Affairs Office has final editorial discretion on all content. Call MCC Keith Bryska at 4520 with your questions or concerns. Please keep ads to a minimum of 5 items.
YARDSALE Caribbean Circle 35-D. Variety of Items, Dive fins to toddler toys 0800-1100 July 4 and 5. Yard Sale July 5, RP 720 0800-1100
VEHICLES 2011 Toyota Highlander, blue, great condition, 16K miles asking $27,000 ask for Samedi a 84809 or email at humboldtll11@yahoo. com 1996 Geo Tracker hard top, 51K miles, manual transmission, new tires and battery, $3500 call 78474 or email shaukatpir@gmail.com 2001 DODGE RAM 2500 V8 PICK UP TRUCK AND 18 FT Pontoon Boat … $8,500 OBO. FMI Call: 58814
OUTDOOR REC Full Scuba set $700, dive rite travel exp with a polymer lightweight back plate, weight trim pockets, large D-rings, dive rite regulator, SPG gauge, din and yoke regulator please call 77219.
HOUSEHOLD GOODS Large d kennel $50, area rugs ranging from 5x7 to 8x10 $30-$75 each, bar stools $10 ea., patio set, table and 4 chairs $40. call Rudy at 84147
ELECTRONICS Playstation 3 with 3 controllers, 4 games (FIFA 14, FIFA 13, World Cup 14, Last of Us) and HDMI cable $250. Call Tony 0800-1430 at 8235 after 1530 at 77106. Full entertainment package- 46” Sony Television, Boses surround System, Blu-Ray player, 6’ Direct TV dish and Direct TV DVR, $1200 call JB at 78469. 6’ Direct TV satellite Dish with LNB and Pole $500. call 90022.
GTMO JOBS
MWR is offering the Following jobs:
Senior Library Technician Cashier Recreation Assistant NEX is offering the following jobs: Sales Clerk Front Desk Clerk-Navy Lodge Barber Hair Stylist
DEFY Youth sign-ups for the annual Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program are currently underway. The program is open to youth ages 9-12 and the mission of the program is to teach youth positive lifestyle habits so they can make positive decisions. The camp is from August 13 to August 22. For more information contact Brandon.stafford@gmail.com NEX The Navy Exchange wants to remind you that they will be on holiday hours on July 4th. The main store will be open from 0900-1700 and the Marine Hill, TK and Camp America minimarts will be open from 0700-1700. All other NEX facilities will be closed.
NAVSTA HRO is offering the following jobs: Food Service Worker Burns & Roe Services is offering the following jobs: P/T Passenger Service Representative
The
scoop
Navy College Office
6’ dish for Starband or Dirctv, $600. The Navy College Office is curcall 77222 rently closed and will remain 40” Sony Baravia LCD TV, SCSI closed until July11. Normal operations will resume on July 14. For modem $50 call 77798
assistance during this temporary
al Education Center in Virginia by Blackberry Bold 5 New $130.00 emailing VEC@navy.mil
Local 24/7 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Contact #:
BASE HOUSING Do you plan on doing any type of 6’ metal satellite dish with dual modification to your quarters? All LNB and brackets. All new still modification must be approved in box. $200. Call 84147 through housing before they be-
Your Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator’s Contact #:
o.b.o. Omar 77689(h) 8153(w)
PG
10:15p.m.:Jersey Boys R
SATURDAY 8 p.m.: Godzilla
July 5
PG13
10:30p.m.: Transformers Age of Extinction
PG13
SUNDAY 8 p.m.: 22 Jump Street
July 6
MONDAY 8 p.m.: Earth to Echo
July 7
R
PG
TUESDAY July 8 8 p.m.: How to Train Your Dragon 2 PG
WEDNESDAY July 9 8 p.m.: A Million Ways to Die in the West
R
THURSDAY July 10 AIR TERMINAL 8 p.m.: Blended PG13 Need updated flight information? Call the AMC terminal’s information line at 6204 to find out seat availability and arrival CALL THE MOVIE HOTLINE @ 4880 and departure times. This line is updated daily.
Housekeeping Attendant
Blackberry Bold 5 New $130.00 closure please contact the Virtuo.b.o. Omar 77689(h) 8153(w)
JULY 3, 2014• PAGE 7
gin. The request forms are available at Housing. Do not start any work until you have received written permission. Any ground digging requires a dig permit DOWNTOWN LYCEUM from the Public Works Depart- FRIDAY July 4 ment. 8 p.m.: Million Dollar Arm
84578 84577
Making History T From Defense Media Activity
he United States Navy promoted Michelle Janine Howard to the rank of four-star admiral July 1 during a ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office. Adm. Howard is the first female four-star in the 238 year history of the United States Navy. “Michelle Howard’s promotion to the rank of admiral is the result of a brilliant naval career, one I fully expect to continue when she assumes her new role as vice chief of naval operations, but also it is a historic first, an event to be celebrated as she becomes the first female to achieve this position,” said Mabus. “Her accomplishment is a direct example of a Navy that now, more than ever, reflects the nation it serves - a nation where success is not borne of race, gender or religion, but of skill and ability.” “Michelle’s many trailblazing accomplishments in her 32 years of naval service are evidence of both her fortitude and commitment to excellence and integrity,” said Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. “I look forward to many great things to come from the Navy’s newest 4-star Admiral!” Howard, the Deputy CNO for Operations, Plans, and Strategy, will relieve Adm. Mark Ferguson III as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) later this afternoon. Howard is a 1978 graduate of Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982 and from the Army’s Command and General Staff College
in 1998, with a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences. Howard’s initial sea tours were aboard USS Hunley (AS 31) and USS Lexington (AVT 16). While serving on board Lexington, she received the secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins award in May 1987. This award is given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership. She reported to USS Mount Hood (AE 29) as chief engineer in 1990 and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She assumed duties as first lieutenant on board the USS Flint (AE 32) in July 1992. In January 1996, she became the executive officer of USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and deployed to the Adriatic in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, a peacekeeping effort in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Sixty days after returning from the Mediterranean deployment, Tortuga departed on a West African training cruise, where the ship’s Sailors, with embarked Marines and U.S. Coast Guard detachment, operated with the naval services of seven African nations. She took command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47) on March 12, 1999, becoming the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy. Howard was the commander of Amphibious Squadron Seven from May 2004 to September 2005. Deploying with Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5, operations included tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and maritime security operations in the North Arabian Gulf. She commanded Expeditionary Strike Group Two from April 2009 to July 2010. In 2009, she deployed to CENTCOM theater, where she commanded Task Force 151, Multi-national Counter-piracy effort, and Task Force 51, Expeditionary Forces. In 2010, she was the Maritime Task Force commander for BALTOPS, under 6th Fleet. She was the 2011 USO Military Woman of the Year, and the 2013 NAACP Chairman’s Image Award recipient.
Adm. Michelle Howard lends a hand to Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus as he and Wayne Cowles, Howard’s husband, put four-star shoulder boards on Howard’s service white uniform during her promotion ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. Howard is the first woman to be promoted to the rank of admiral in the history of the Navy and will assume the duties and responsibilities as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from Adm. Mark Ferguson. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor/Released).
JULY 3, 2014• PAGE 7