October 3, 2014• VOL. 71 • NO. 38• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 011-5399-4090
CNRSE Visits Naval Station Guantanamo Bay
Lcdr. David Moore, Port Operations Officer, briefs Rear Adm. Mary Jackson, commander Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) on the daily operations of his department during her site visit, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3. Kelly Wirfel Public Affairs Officer
ear Adm. Mary Jackson, commander Navy Region R Southeast (CNRSE) and staff toured Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3. The visit was part of Jackon’s initial site visit since taking the helm on July 18. Accompanying her on the visit was CMDCM Michael Jackson who recently assumed the duties and responsibilities of Commander, Navy Region Southeast Command Master Chief. During her visit to NS Guantanamo Bay, Jackson toured numerous Naval Station facilities to include the Navy Exchange, Port Operations, the desalination plant, power plant, Fire Station, Water Plant and solar farms. She also tour the Migrant Operations Center, U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay and Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. “This entire trip has truly been an eye opening experience for me,” said Rear Adm. Jackson. “I was able to really get a genuine appreciation for how different Guantanamo Bay is from the rest of the bases in the region and also learn first-hand about some of the unique challenges you face here.”
During her visit Rear Adm. Jackson and CMDCM Jackson dedicated time to eat breakfast with twelve Naval Station Sailors and Marines and hear about their biggest quality of life concerns about the base. “It was so nice to have the Admiral and Master Chief sit and listen to our concerns,” said GM1 Rodriguez Mitchell, NS Guantanamo Bay Weapons Department. “You could tell that they both sincerely cared about the service members and want to make Guantanamo Bay a better place to be stationed.” Rear Adm. Jackson also addressed the department heads during a roundtable discussion. “Please listen to me when I say, thank you,” said Rear Adm. Jackson. “I appreciate what each of you do every day. I know that Guantanamo Bay can be a challenging place to live and work but your efforts and hard work do not go unnoticed. Commander, Navy Region Southeast exists to support the installations so please do not hesitate to reach out to my staff for anything you might need to enable to you better carry out the mission.”
PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
NS Guantanamo Bay Executive Officer, Cmdr. Colin Caswell congratulates MASA McCormick on his selection as Sailor of the Week. ■Job/Department: NAVSTA Security/Patrol Supervisor ■Age: 20 ■Hometown: Ashland, KY ■Hero: Father and Mother ■Favorite Hobby: Working out ■Favorite GTMO Restaurant: Windjammer ■Goal: Make First Class Petty Officer, relearn how to play cello ■Passion: Ultimate Frisbee ■Favorite Movie: Star Wars Saga ■Favorite Quote: “A brave man acknowledges the strength of others” – Veronica Roth ■Sailor of the Week Because: MASA McCormick completed all requirements for Patrol Supervisor and is actively standing the watch as an E-2. He is working on his qualification for Watch Commander. His attention to detail and ability to supervise multiple calls makes him an asset to the Security department. Although he has only been in the Navy a short time, he has dedicated himself to the mission and sets the example for all new Master-At-Arms. He is a rising star within Security Department. He has earned the confidence of his supervisors and peers alike.
MASA JACOB MCCORMICK
VOL. 71 • NO.38
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 900.
October 3, 2014• PAGE 3
Women’s Health Month
U.S.N.H. Guantanamo Bay
I
n October Navy Medicine and the Military Health System focuses on the importance of Women’s Health Care in the United States. At USNH Guantanamo Bay we are partners in Women’s Health focusing on comprehensive healthcare for women. We see and treat women through all phases of life from newborn to adolescent, childbearing to menopause and beyond. Of utmost importance in this care is a strong patient-doctor relationship. At yearly exams women receive screening, counseling, and immunizations depending on the patient’s age. Two of the most important areas we focus on in women’s health during the annual exam are breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening. Both of these diseases have screening programs designed to identify disease at an earlier stage in order to allow for earlier and less invasive treatment.
Currently the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends breast self-awareness for all patients, which means if they identify a persistent lump or abnormality they should be seen by their PCM. In addition patients have a clinical breast exam every 1-3 years and mammograms starting at age 40. The new recommendations for cervical cancer screening are that pap smears begin at age 21 for all women and should occur every 3 years until age 30. At that point they will be done every 5 years if co-testing for HPV is done, as long as the results are normal. Testing can be discontinued at age 65 if results have been normal previously. Women should continue to have well woman exams each year which allow them to address other concerns such as fertility, contraception, menopausal changes, etc. The PCC and OB/GYN Clinic look forward to seeing you for your next appointment.
CNIC Signs Domestic Violence Month
Ed Wright Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
Navy Installations Command (CNIC) took action Oct. 1, by hosting a short ceremony for its headquarters staff to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During the small event to raise awareness, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Vice Adm. William French signed a Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation. “We need to be sensitive of the folks we work with and look for the indicators of violence,” said French. “This is an integral part of what we do to take care of each other, “. According to the proclamation, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is intended to inform and engage the community about preventing domestic violence throughout the Navy. Domestic violence occurs when people find themselves in stressful situations without community resources and unaware of how to cope. “The right voice at the right time to the right person can open somebody up and you can find out things that you didn’t know,” said French. “But in many cases you find out things and can help them from there.” Navy Installations Command has a wide variety of resources to support Sailors and their families and wants everyone to know about those services that may be of help. Support services are for family members and not exclusively for someone who is in trouble. Many times an individual may know of someone who needs help and can provide a tremendous amount of support by knowing where and how to get them in touch with the right person or program. “Navy Family Advocacy supports the prevention of domestic violence through clinical counseling, new parent support programs and workshops that support family resiliency in dealing with the stress of naval service,” said Matt Straughan, CNIC family support program director.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: * Nearly 20 people per minute are victims of domestic violence by a domestic partner in the U.S.,10 million women and men per year. * One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within his or her lifetime. * One in five women and one in seven men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in his or her lifetime. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime. In domestic violence homicides, women are six times more likely to be killed when there is a gun in the house. * Three to 10 million children are witness to domestic violence in their homes, and research has shown children who witness domestic violence and do not get help are more likely to become victims or perpetrators of future abuse. * Nearly three out of four Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Installation Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC’s) located across the Navy both within the United States and overseas, have licensed clinical counselors who can provide services and support to help couples build their relationship skills and work through common relationship problems, for example, parenting challenges through every stage of a child’s life. When domestic violence occurs the Family Advocacy Program supports victims and also provides treatment for offenders. For more information about where to go for assistance, individuals may call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.thehotline.org
The Depths of the GTMO Dive Locker
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Pittman AFN Guantanamo Bay
C
hoosing a duty station that will advance your career is vital to continuing forward in the Navy. Navy divers have a very specific road map: doing a ship’s husbandry tour, a salvage team, a special warfare tour, and a specialized tour. But where do places like the dive locker at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay that are classified as an “other” billet fit in? “Other’ tours don’t count toward career progression,” said the Chief Navy Diver Julius McManus. “It’s an 18 month tour vice a 36 month tour. It’s a way for young divers to kind of get ahead of their classmates, because from here they can go to 1st class dive school. With the 5343, 2nd Class Diver NEC, Navy Diver is an overmanned rate, but with the 5342 1st Class Diver NEC it is undermanned. This billet can facilitate people hitting career milestones and progression a little earlier than expected.” The divers in Guantanamo Bay do get an early jump on their career. Their primary mission is to maintain and use the decompression chamber housed in the dive locker on base. Without it, divers suffering decompression sickness, nine in 2013 and four so far in 2014, would have to be medically evacuated to Key West, which is an Army SOF treatment chamber. “It’s kind of rare that someone gets hurt while diving in GTMO because of all the safety training and regulations,” said Navy Diver 2nd Class James Michael Reddy. “In the event someone does come up with an injury after diving, we’re always on standby to put them under pressure and relieve the symptoms to start them to recovering.” The average ship’s husbandry locker dive team has no less than eight people, while the average Mobile Diving Salvage Unit company has twelve. Billeting in GTMO is for six divers, though they only actually have four billets filled. They need three divers to run the decompression chamber, four to run a SCUBA dive, and five divers to run a surface supplied dive. “Not having as many people here really affects the qualifications,” said McManus. “Everybody has to qualify to the maximum level in order for us to support the diversity of the mission.” Each diver must get in the water at least 4 times every six months. There are also the leave and training operations to consider, so when someone wants to visit family or go on vacation, the team is cut down by one fourth. This doesn’t stop the current diving LCPO from sending his Sailors to different schools to ensure they can provide better services to GTMO and any ships or units that come through. “It’s not as hard as you’d think maintaining manning requirements with so few divers,” said McManus. “We can use Boatswains Mates and restricted personnel to operate as our tenders and help us with our gear, and getting in and out of the water.” GTMO is a base full of special circumstances, but the dive locker faces a unique set of challenges and scenarios. They are the only U.S. Navy dive locker
to be headed up by a chief instead of a warrant officer or master diver. The most senior chief petty officer in the locker fills the role of the master diver. Chief Navy Diver Julius McManus is currently the command diving officer, and says that this unique setup allows for the locker to do as much training, and qualification dives as they can do. “There’s an abundance of work to be found,” said McManus. “We’re working with explosive ordnance disposal for Mine Countermeasure training. We’ve also worked with some of the SEAL teams to try to develop training programs to bring them down here.” There is a big difference between developing a training program, and diving into an underwater bomb range. “I’ve done pier inspections on the piers that boats coming through moor to,” said Navy Diver 2nd Class James William Lidgard. “We also help out some underwater engineering guys and assist them any way we can. We’ve also gone with EOD to some of the underwater ranges to help them find unexploded ordnance.” It’s not all explosives and ship repairs, either. The divers have also been working with environmentalists to map out underwater grids, doing assessments on coral and getting video of the wildlife native to Cuban waters. Without input from Sailors from Guantanamo Bay, Caribbean studies that include Cuban wildlife would be slightly more difficult, considering most American’s aren’t exactly allowed to hop on a plane and visit Havana. “When we work with NAVFAC environmental, we do a few different things,” said ND2 Reddy. “We look at how many fish are there, what kinds of fish, and the size of the fish. We also map currents and water temperatures, and when they come down we hand the numbers off to them, then take them out and dive with them so they can verify the data. That lets them produce environmental reports.” But why bother with mapping and checking the water health of a nation who we’ve leased land from, but we aren’t necessarily on the best terms with? Guantanamo Bay is on the southern end of an underwater stream that runs into the Gulf of Mexico, meaning precursors on water health here can help us figure out things before they happen in the Gulf. “There are discussions about expanding the environmental work we do down here,” said McManus. “We’re talking about some bay cleanups where we pull out some unexploded ordnance. We’ve also been working with the manatee group, helping them track data as well.” If all of those things, from the wide array of training uses for the base, to the expanded mission capabilities don’t sell you on the value of GTMO, consider the monetary value attached. The Navy saves approximately 30,000 dollars annually by conducting training in Guantanamo Bay instead of other Caribbean water locations. Meaning not only can service at this “other” billet give divers the jump on their careers and put them ahead of their peers, but it does this while saving the Navy a lot of money.
PAGE 6• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
Chaplain’s Corner
The Fall Season – A Growth Opportunity
CDR Gabriel Mensah
NS Guantanamo Bay Command Chaplain
“Summer has come and passed the innocent can never last, wake me up when September ends…As my memory rests but never forgets what I lost, wake me up when September ends….Ring out the bells again like we did when spring began wake me up when September ends…” These lyrics from Green Day’s beautiful album “Wake Me Up. When September Ends” sum up the feelings of most people (specifically in CONUS) as we move into the first few weeks of the Fall season. Finally the long, searing heat of summer is over, and people are beginning to experience a cool down in temperature. The season of Fall is wedged between “the season of fun and outdoor activities”- summer, and the “season of dreary, damp and cold”- winter. The beginning of Fall, at least for the folks in the northern part of the United States and Canada, is absolutely gorgeous, with the change in the colors of leaves. Having lived in
Upstate New York where I studied theology, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, three assignments ago, there is nothing as beautiful and relaxing as going for a stroll in the woods on Sunday afternoons in the Fall, just enjoying the beautiful changes in the leaves. Having said all that, there seems to be a paradox with the Fall season. The end of Fall coincides with the falling of leaves, shorter daylight and much colder weather, the precursors of the dreary winter months. The end of the Fall season is also traditionally the beginning of the holiday season. The holiday season, as most of us know, is a season of anxiety and stress for some people. Should you find the Fall season and the beginning of the holidays season a little overwhelming for you, there is help. The Chaplain Department and the Fleet and Family Service Center can assist those who need help to have a normal and enjoyable Fall and Holiday season.
What a Continuing Resolution Means for Sailors
By Vice Adm. Bill Moran Chief of Naval Personnel
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e begin fiscal year (FY) 2015 under a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government until Dec. 11. A CR is short term legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President that ensures our government has the resources necessary to continue normal government operations without disruption. We anticipate no near term impacts to Navy funding for personnel. Same goes for operations and maintenance, research and development and infrastructure associated with this CR. However, until an appropriations bill is passed, uncertainty still exists. Having an approved appropriations bill would provide greater certainty and enable us to better fund the priorities of maintaining warfighting capability, procurement of new hardware, fleet readiness and Sailor training. Q1. Will the government shutdown this Oct 1 like it did last year? A1. No, the government has been funded through Dec. 11 by a continuing resolution. For the most part, operations will continue as normal. Q2. What happens to my pay, allowances and bonuses? A2. You will see no disruption in your pay and allowances. All anniversary bonus payments will be paid on time. New personnel contracts will be written during the CR period, but we will need to ensure we proceed conservatively until we have more certainty on what Congress intends to do (i.e. additional CR periods or the passing of a budget). The longer we operate under a CR, the greater the risk there is to payments being delayed until we get additional funds. We will keep you informed on the possibility of future payment slippage. Q3. How will this impact PCS?
A3. All Accession and Separation orders will be funded. We will make every effort to ensure operational, rotational and training orders are released in a timely manner so that Sailors can prepare themselves and their families to smoothly move to the next location. Our average lead time for PCS orders is currently 4 months. The longer we operate under a CR, the tighter that window may get-we will keep you updated as we know more. Q4. What is the impact on training pipeline? A4. We expect very minimal impact on the training pipeline. However, operating under CR limits our flexibility to respond to new training requirements. Sailors who experience “last minute” requirements will need to work closely with their training departments on scheduling and funding issues. Q5. What will happen to buying supplies? A5. Supplies will have to be purchased on an as needed basis. Emphasis will be on mission critical requirements during limited cash availability period of a CR. We remain hopeful that we will get an appropriations bill sooner rather than later. The President’s budget submission for FY15 reflects the money needed for Navy to continue to modernize and transition to new ships and aircraft, grow cyber and other needed capabilities, as well as carry out our current defense strategy. As we discussed in March, the size of our Navy will remain stable between 323K and 324K Sailors for the foreseeable future. This stability means that we can continue our efforts to fill gaps at sea, focus on retaining Sailors with needed skills and maintain advancement rates at or slightly above historic norms.
GTMO SHOPPER
MOVIES
E-mail classified ad submissions to
PAO-CLASSIFIEDADS@ USNBGTMO.NAVY.MIL If sent to any other e-mail, it may not be published. Submit your ad NLT noon Wednesdays 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.
VEHICLES 2003 Ford Focus ZTW station wagon, light green. Only 50,000 gtmo miles, great AC, 4 new tires less than a month, shelf for dive gear. Asking $4000, Kelly Blue book value $4950. Call 79583 or email andersonjean2003@yahoo. com
YARD SALE Yard Sale CP 1410 A on SAT, 4 OCT 10 am-2 pm. NO EARLY BIRDS!
MISC WANTED: Piano instructor for boy that has been taking lessons for five years. Current teacher PCSing soon, and we don’t want to skip a beat. Email myrna.iris@ gmail.com if you can help.
The
scoop
POWER OUTAGE A scheduled power outage will take place on Saturday, October 4 from 0800 to 1600 and will affect a number of areas. For a complete list of affect areas for both outages check the base roller.
open to all hands and the top 100 finishers will receive an official 2014 army 10 miler tshirts. They are still seeking volunteers needed for registration and water points, volunteers please arrive at the windjammer parking lot at 0530 hours. For more information please contact 1SG William C. Schultz at william.c.schultz@jtfgtmo. southcom.mil
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Thursday, October 9, 2014 Neighborhoods throughout the Nation are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities for the National Night Out Crime and Drug Prevention Event. Guantanamo Bay will be hosting ours at the Downtown Lyceum from 17002000. For more information please contact MA1 Krieg at 84294/4348
Complete Set of Golf clubs. All irons, one driver and putter. $50.00 OBO. Great set for the GTMO Golf course. Call Mike 55363
SATURDAY 8 p.m.: The Boxtrolls
Oct. 4
PG
10 p.m.: As Above, So Below R
SUNDAY 8 p.m.: Chef
Oct. 5
MONDAY Giver 8 p.m.: The PG13
Oct. 6
TUESDAY 8 p.m.: Let’s be Cops
Oct. 7
R
CALL THE MOVIE HOTLINE @ 4880
W.T. Sampson PTO collects these to help fund events and provide items to benefit the students and faculty of W.T. Sampson. Box tops and labels may be turned in to either school office or sent to school with your student.
Patio set, round glass top table with (4) swivel chairs, like new $200. Turkey cooker complete with full propane bottle $50. Small Charm Glow charcoal smoker, like new $40. M-S 75064 Evenings 79473
OUTDOOR REC.
R
PG
BOX TOPS
ARMY 10 MILER On Saturday October 11th the Army will be hosting the Army Ten-Miler at 0700 at the windjammer parking lot. They will be holding same day registration starting at 0600 hours. This is
10:30 p.m.:The November Man
THURSDAY Oct. 9 8 p.m.: Planes: Fire & Rescue
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
79527
Oct. 3
PG13
Watch dog ps4 game, $35.00 When purchasing school supor best offer. omar 77689(h) plies, please clip box tops or 8153(w) and labels for education.
ROTATOR On October 24 the rotator will operate to and from Mayport (there is an Air Show in Jacksonville). Personnel will have to check in at the Mayport AMC terminal (There is an Enterprise terminal at Mayport); passengers will be debarked at Mayport. Jacksonville is not 6 ft. Satellite Dish for Direct running a shuttle bus between TV or Sat Internet, $500, call the installations.
FRIDAY Girl 8 p.m.: Gone R
WEDNESDAY Oct. 8 8 p.m.: The Expendables
NAVY EXCHANGE The Navy Exchange and MWR will be hosting the 13th Annual Customer Apprecation Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. There are several events planned from 5K Color Dodge Ram 2500 V8 Run to the Bubba Burger samPICK UP TRUCK SHORT pling. For a list of all events BED…$4,500 OB. FMI Call: please check out the base 58814 roller.
Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag, (Xbox 360) brand new never played. $30.00 or best offer, The Dark Knight, (DVD) Brand new, Best offer. Lopez - 77586(H) or 72268(W)
DOWNTOWN LYCEUM
R
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, A/C, power windows, 140K miles. $2,500 OBO. Call 5-8800 (day) or 7-5717 (evening).
ELECTRONICS
October 3, 2014• PAGE 7
Local 24/7 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Contact #:
84578
Your Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator’s Contact #:
84577
First Class Petty Officer’s Association
Jail and Bail
October 3, 2014• PAGE 7