June 16, 2017• VOL. 74 • NO. 43• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay
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Congratulations Class of 2017
PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
W. T. Sampson Elementary and High School celebrated the Class of 2017 during a Commencement Ceremony June 9 at Naval Station Gunatanamo Bay’s (NSGB) Base Chapel. photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr NAVSTA PAO VOL. 74 • NO. 43
COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
Guantanamo Bay Gazette
CAPT. DAVID CULPEPPER CMDR. DENNIS MOJICA CMDCM (SW/AW) THOMAS MACE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER PHOTOJOURNALIST EDITOR/LAYOUT
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
MS. JULIE ANN RIPLEY MA1 MEAGANN FOSTER MC2 JOHN PHILIP WAGNER, JR.
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 535.
CNRSE visits NSGB
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June 16, 2017• PAGE 3
by MCC Monique Meeks, NSGB PAO
ear Adm. Bette Bolivar, Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE), visited Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) to conduct a familiarization tour of the base June 14-16. Bolivar, one of the highest ranking females in the U.S. Navy, is well-known for her can-do spirit and getting things done. That attitude played a large part in her visit to NSGB so shortly after taking command of CNRSE on Feb. 23, 2017. “I am honored to be able to travel around Navy Region Southeast to meet the people that make things happen and see the conditions of readiness that affect our mission firsthand. I think it is important for leadership to get out in their communities and areas of responsibility to fully understand the various issues affecting them.” While here at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, CNRSE visited many sites, including Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, AFN Guantanamo Bay, Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, Base Security, and the Naval Exchange, as well as took a windshield tour of various facilities and utilities around the base. She also made three special stops along the way to congratulate many on a job well done. She visited the Military Working Dog Compound to announce their
being named the CNRSE Kennel of the Year and the Navy Lodge to meet those responsible for earning the Carlson Award. Bolivar also made a special stop at the Dive Locker to congratulate Senior Chief Navy Diver James Goodman on his recent promotion. As a member of the Navy Diver community and a past commander of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, Bolivar was grateful for the opportunity to congratulate Senior Chief Goodman in person and complete a dive with Naval Guantanamo Bay’s Navy divers. “I am proud of the hard work put forth each day here in Guantanamo Bay and the numerous awards received by commands across this great installation,” said Bolivar. “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to congratulate several in person during this visit for their accomplishments.” As commander of Navy Region Southeast, Rear Adm. Bolivar provides support and guidance for 18 installations within the Southeastern United States and Caribbean. The regional command is responsible for shore activities, including each installation’s standards of performance, anti-terrorism and force protection, disaster preparedness, safety, joint services, financial management, public affairs, state and local government liaison, environmental protection and legal affairs.
S. U. D. S. Dives into NSGB
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s dive community and other organizations around the base welcomed six special visitors from Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (S. U. D. S.) to enjoy the underwater world at the base. S. U. D. S. was started by John Thompson and the group has been coming to NSGB for ten years. During their week-long visit, the six wounded warriors and two support personnel participated in ten dives at different locations to include Blue Beach. Other events included a community beach party, Fence Line tour, and a tour of Radio GTMO. (Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr, NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay PAO)
NSGB MWD Kennel Top Dogs in NRSE PAGE 6• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
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By MA1 Meagann Foster, NSGB PAO
very year, one military working dog (MWD) kennel out of 16 Commander Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) kennels is selected as the Kennel of the Year. This prestigious award for the period of January-December 2016 goes to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s own MWD Division. NSGB MWD has consistently scored and performed at the highest level, earning Security Training, Assistance and Assessment Team (STAAT) scores of 98 percent, 98 percent, 97 percent and 96 percent, in the categories which they were assessed. Even more astounding is their 100 percent score on the fiscal year
17 Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART). For those of us not lucky enough to work with the MWDs, we may not be aware of the long hours and effort put into being a part of a MWD team. These K9s and their handlers are some of the hardest working members in the military community. Maintaining their qualification is no easy feat and scoring as well as they did on the STAAT Assessment is a true tribute to their handlers, Kennel Master and kennel support personnel. From all of us here in Guantanamo Bay, Bravo Zulu to all the kennel staff, support personnel and MWDs in earning this accomplishment.
Commander Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar presents the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Military Working Dog staff the 2016 Kennel of the Year during a visit to the kennel, June 15. (photos by MC1 John Philip Wagner, Jr, NAVSTA PAO)
Sure Start Field Trip
June 16, 2017• PAGE 7
Members of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Sure Start class from W. T. Sampson Elementary and High Schools visited the Leeward Air Terminal, May 12. During thier tour, the children visited all aspects of the terminal including the hangar, tower, fire department, and a ferry ride across the bay. Every child had the opportunity to sit in the pilot’s seat and learn about the controls of the aircraft. (Photos by MC1 John Philip Wagner, Jr., NAVSTA PAO)
EOD Makes Impact at NSGB
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s (NSGB) Weapons Department Sailors and contractors, Navy Divers and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Detachment Mayport conducted an ordnance disposal exercise. (Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr, NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay PAO)