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Pride and



professionalism


Army Sgt. 1st Class
Miguel Bonilla
JTF H H C First Sergeant

Being a professional requires something \l. *
Ittakes more than skills, capabilities or expert ie n.e .
and may not represent business as usual It
may even be different and not necessarily \\ li.i
everyone else does. It means you may hat .c to
set yourself apart and even encourage othel It -
a frame of mind and exercise of good jud-iinci n
Above all, it is a code of behavior that dri cs us 10
display the best skills a leader possesses.
As we look back to the proud past of iei UI S
Armed Forces, years before the Bill of Righlts took el fct
long before Thomas Jefferson penned the DcLi.iIlonl
of Independence and even before the 13 oniiiiull
colonies raised a flag, there were great Amernic.in
fighting for freedom. These Americans weie i
not Soldiers by trade; they were everyday
people: farmers, blacksmiths, doctors and
even shopkeepers. But to protect their
new homes, they joined hands and came
together in times of common danger. They
were ordinary colonists who could be called
upon at a moment's notice to defend theii
homes and their land. It is a proud heritage
that includes many great men like Paul
Revere, Ethan Allen, John Hancock, and
Presidents George Washington, Abraham
Lincoln and Harry S. Truman. These men
are a few great examples of leadership and
professionalism.
We in the U.S. military are very proud
of our commitment to defend out ilion
but in the end, it falls on all ihi sciiioi
personnel to guide their Troops to hc l nc\t
level; to take that new, younlr' TlOOlpi
out of basic training or boot camnp and
give them the knowledge to slun I c\
both in and out of combat. linlid of
every good leader is the pridc comuaii'c
and commitment to have flcii fello"\
Soldier, Marine, Sailor, or At iintan ic.adi
at all times and that feeling is oIn thaLu
could be found deep inside tlic oldckki
traditions and customs of iei Ainied
Forces. As the old motto s;i\ Lcead
the way." We lead the way c\lcn dal
with our actions. As leaders \\e c'liould
strive for excellence and reflect tihat to
all our Troopers in order to nakc illc in
better as the future generation of lc.adcis inI
the Armed Forces.
I would just like to add to all lc.adci S out
there that non-commissioned olficcis e i
the "backbone" of each of oui biancllels nd
as leaders we should alwa\i be %\tcllful
of each of our Troopers and jlso takec the
initiative to look out for Tioopc lS in oilici
branches. HONOR BOUND) TO DEFEND
FREEDOM. 0


PAGE 2


JTF GUANTANAMO
Commander:
I a1 P-ar .. nmi Da .1 ,,1 Tn.:.mas Jr
Joinl Task Force Command Masler
Chief:
-ir For.:.r Cnief Ulasler Sl1 Brian T
S: ne.na ,re
Office of Public Allairs:
Director:
la.., LI Cmndr Br..ook Devall '9-.
Depuly Direclor:
-rn-iy ,,1a Diana Ha,nie 997
Supervisor:
rni, 1-' S31 Snh lli Le iS 3d-4

The Wire
Executive Editor:
rni', 1 LI Cnris CLii. ne 1 71
Command Inlormallion NCOIC:
Irnl S.l1 1 Class Micrha l Gnh.islon 6.5 1
Editor:
arn-m StlaI S31 Emil, J PusS-ell .59-L
Associate Editor:
rnr,1i Stafl Sq. Blair Heus.-en;- 3.94
Stalf Writers:
rn., S.1 Pli.:na-l Ba1 z 3 ...9
rnm, S.1 Emil, Greene '35...9
mrni, Spc: lril 1- j rman 3?.0-
-rnm, Sp.: Da id F,1:Lean 3304-


Contact us

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COVER:
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2"d
Class Adam McNeil. an aviation
maintenance technician with
AVDET GTMO. prepares to wash
the jet turbines after a patrol
around GTMO and Caribbean
waters. .Int: T3as Fo:,i:e
Guannam ht:I: L, : C:.
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TROOPER-TO-TROOPER I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009







































Sailors with the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion discuss operations in Camp 6 as one Sailor conducts visual checks
on detainees. JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Spc. David McLean


Army Spc.
David William McLean
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


The Navy Expeditionary Guard
Battalion at Joint Task Force Guantanamo
strives to perform their mission of fair, firm
and impartial treatment with the highest
sense of professionalism. This month, the
current force will be training a group of
new Sailors in mission essentials.
The newest Sailors began their training
at Fort Lewis, Wash., and are now in the
right-seat, left-seat phase of training. The
right-seat, left-seat training process allows
the new Troopers to acclimate to the job,
and then allows them to take over from the
more experienced Sailors. The training is
especially important at the NEGB because
Sailors filling these positions may not
have had previous experience in detention
operations.
The NEGB guard force comes from a
wide array of job specialties in the Navy.
They are a mixture of aviation, surface sailor,
and master-at-arms ratings; they are sonar
techs, culinary specialists, electricians,
welders, and even ordinancemen. Over 60
ratings are represented, and they are trained
as one team with one common mission.
Navy Master Chief Petty Officer
Edward Moreno, command master chief
for the NEGB, said the NEGB mission is
comprised of four basic duties which allow
for consistency and security.
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 | MISSION


The first of these duties is the consistent
observanceofstandardoperatingprocedures
that create an environment where there are
no unknown responses to situations. The
procedures have to be flexible enough to
handle any and all situations that arise, and
give guidance to all Sailors in this group.
"Knowing it is the same procedure for
the same situation regardless of where you
are is a reassuring concept," said a petty
officer 1st class. "The training we received
at Fort Lewis helped us to anticipate what
to expect in this environment."
One duty in which the SOPs are
especially important is searching detainee
quarters and public areas. This ensures
both the guard force and the detainees
remain safe by eliminating anything that
may endanger them.
"We search for weapons, contraband
and ordinary items in their area to see if
they are being used properly," said a male
petty officer 2nd class. "They will try to use
just about anything they can get their hands
on."
Searches may be initiated by the regular
visual checks of detainees. Every guard on
a tier or a block will have eyes on a detainee
regularly, looking in on the detainees to
make sure they are safe and the environment
around them is safe. These checks ensure
not only that the detainees are safe, but help
the Troopers guard information that may
compromise OPSEC.
Operational security measures in and


around the detainees is the fourth and
ongoing basic duty. For their safety and the
safety of others, the Sailors protect certain
operational maneuvers and practices, as
well as personal information about each
other the detainees should not know.
"The less the detainees know about us,
the more impartial and fair we can be,"
said a female Petty Officer 3rd Class. "You
never know what information they would
try to use against us or our families."
Moreno said he expects this right-seat,
left-seat phase to go smoothly and that the
experienced Troopers will bring the new
Troops into the team.
"I haven't been disappointed with any of
the training yet," Moreno said. "The teams
that have been here kind of just put that
final edge on things and get them through
so they can be part of the team."
To focus on becoming a team, Moreno
said he wants the new company to focus on
three important things.
"We need to have consistency, need
to be able to communicate, and most
importantantly, we need cohesion,"
Moreno said. "It's not just a commitment
or a contract; you have to know that you're
here for something bigger than yourself."
Sailors' names have been omitted to
ensure operational security and the safety
of the guard force that work in the camps.
JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane,
legal and transparent care and custody of
detainees. 0
THE WIRE I PAGE 3







































A Detention Operations Center escort instructs a detainee during the process of transporting him to a legal visit. JTF
Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz


advisor for the escorts. "They are then
properly trained on how to be an escort."
The escorts are broken into teams, and a
dispatcher assigns the team's task.


In order to ensure safe, humane, legal "When I come into the office, I lay out
and transparent care of the
detainees in custody at Joint Task
Force Guantanamo, Troopers are
assigned to escort detainees to
medical appointments, lawyer
appointments and commissions.
The Navy Expeditionary
GuardBattalionconducts detainee
escorts at JTF Guantanamo as part
of the ongoing detention mission.
They also escort contractors ,
who come into the camps to do .
enhancement projects.
"My mission is to support
detainee movements," said Navy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian,
non-commissioned officer-in-
charge for Detention Operation
Center escorts. "We also escort
contractors throughout the
camps."
Most of the Troopers who are Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers escort a
escorts were guards in the camps to an appointment, ensuring the safety of the
for several months until earning and the escorts. JTF Guantanamo photo by A
the opportunity to become Michael Baltz
escorts.
"They normally work in the camps for a plan for the day," said Navy Petty Officer
a few months until they learn about the 2nd Class Tyler, an escort dispatcher. "There
environment," said Navy Senior Chief are [many] detainee movements every day
Petty Officer Glen Porter, senior enlisted and it is imperative to make sure everyone
PAGE 4 I THE WIRE


is on time."
The escorts pick up the detainee at the
camp, where he has already been informed
of an appointment.
"We go pick up the detainee as a team,
then safely transport him," Porter
said.
The detainee has the right to
refuse to be transported. They
are never forced to attend an
appointment of any sort.
S "If they refuse to go, we cannot
force them," Tyler said. "If it is
an appointment that is important,
someone will visit them at their
location."
The escorts are also responsible
for maintaining the flag program.
This program supports Trooper
morale by affording the opportunity
to have a flag flown over Camp
Delta. After the flag is flown, the
individual for whom the flag is
flown receives an official certificate
for the flag.
The Troopers of the DOC escort
etainee program work hard and have daily
etainee struggles like many others who are
my Sgt. deployed, but that doesn't change
their focus on the mission.
"I think we are doing what
needs to be done here," Tyler said in
regards to the mission at JTF Guantanamo.
"I am proud to be here during this historical
period." O
MISSION I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009


Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


d(
d
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Laissez le-s-bontem


roulez, GT


Army Spc.
David William McLean
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Brian
T Schexnaydre, the Joint Task Force
Guantanamo command master chief, is
soon leaving the JTF Guantanamo family
and a new command chief will be taking
the reins.
Schexnaydre says that when he
arrived, this was his first true joint service
assignment. He said he had great confidence
in the abilities of his Troopers.
"As long as I could empower the Troops
below me, and trust thembecause we trained
them, my job was going to be quite easy,"
Schexnaydre said of his time as chief of
operations for the 474t Expeditionary Civil
Engineering Squadron at Camp Justice.
In Dec. 2008, Schexnaydre was asked
to become the acting command chief
for the JTF, and in Jan. 2009, an official
announcement confirmed he would be the
new command master chief. Troopers have
looked to him for leadership throughout his
time here.
"He has done a phenomenal job," Air
Force Tech. Sgt. Jeanette Gooch, with 474h
ECES, said. "I'm going to miss his work
ethic. He always had an open-door policy
and I knew I could go in and talk to him."
The position of command master chief
will be filled by Navy Master Chief Petty
Officer Scott Fleming when he arrives here
in a few weeks. Air Force Senior Master Sgt.
Michael Withrow will fill the position as
acting command master chief until Fleming
arrives.
Withrow said he has big shoes to fill
with Schexnaydre leaving at this time in
the JTF mission.
"The thing I will miss most is the ease
in which he made things happen," Withrow
said. "He made it look easy. My goal will be
to maintain the efforts that [Command Chief
Master Sgt. Brian] Schexnaydre has put into
place as it relates to the Troopers and also to
ensure that we all are working to fulfill the
mission requirements that Rear Adm. David
M. Thomas Jr. has entrusted us with."
Schexnaydre says he has faith in the
abilities of his successors and knows the
job will be done right.
"I'm highly confident that between Air
Force Senior Master Sgt. Michael Withrow
and Command Master Chief Scott Fleming,
things will continue in a positive fashion,"
Schexnaydre said.
Schexnaydre said he wants to give his
thanks to each and every Trooper who
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 I MISSION


served with him. He said everyone from the
admiral down to the lowest enlisted Trooper
has given him an education in how to be the
best professional Trooper he can be.
"I was put in a position to reinforce the
fact that a well-taken-care-of Trooper is
the heart of the success of the mission,"
Schexnaydre said. "I'd like to tell the
Troopers that if it wasn't for each and every
individual Trooper out there, I would not
have been afforded the opportunity to sit in
this seat. Whether they saw me as a success
or as a failure, hopefully I'm walking out as
being successful. The overall experience is
something that I will remember and cherish
for the rest of my career and my life."
Schexnaydre said he feels this is a good
time to leave. He has a daughter he said he
wants to see and make up for lost time. His
next assignment will allow him to take his
daughter with him to Andrews Air Force


Base, Md., as the acting civil engineering
manager for the Air National Guard.
Following this temporary assignment, he
said he hopes to settle into a traditional Air
National Guard role with his 159t Fighter
Wing, Civil Engineering Squadron in his
home state of Louisiana.
Schexnaydre said he has a special place
in his heart for each Trooper and memories
that will last a lifetime.
"This is a family I will never forget
for the rest of my life," Schexnaydre said.
"Thanks for the professionalism and the
success, and it could not have happened
without the input and performance of every
single Trooper."
Rather than a more typical, "Hasta
la vista" as a farewell to the Troopers,
Schexnaydre, a Louisianan, concluded,
"Laissez les bon temps roulez," or "Let the
good times roll, GTMO!" Q
THE WIRE I PAGE 5








Tourney timc

Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

The Coed Indoor Volleyball League
season is over and the 2009 volleyball
tournament is underway at Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay.
Justice Served was crowned as the
league champions with a 9-1 record. They
were awarded a first-round bye in the
double-elimination tournament as a result.
The GTMO Latinos finished second in the
league standings at 8-2, while Bumps and
Dinks rounded out the top three with a 7-3
record.
"The season was a lot of fun," said Air
Force Staff Sgt. Wedler Harry, a GTMO
Assassins player. "Volleyball is a great way
to meet new people, whether people from
[Joint Task Force Guantanamo] or people
at NAVSTA."
In early round play of the tournament,
the 4th-seeded team, PPI, defeated the 5th
seeded team, Side Out. In the other half of
the bracket, the Assassins, the 6t-seeded
team, upset the 3'r-seeded team, Bumps
and Dinks, in a game that went back and
forth. The 2nd-seeded team, GTMO Latinos,


A Bumps and Dinks player (left) attempts to spike the ball on the GTMO Assassins
(right) May 4. The Assassins defeated Bumps and Dinks in the first round of the
volleyball tournament. JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz


continued to do well by defeating the 7t-
seeded team, the Goat Locker.
The tournament began May 4 and will


come to an end with the championship
played May 18, at7:30 p.m. in G. J. Denich
Gym. O


Softball: beginning to warm up


Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


Morale, Welfare and Recreation has
organized several leagues to suit the needs
of Troopers at Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay and Joint Task Force Guantanamo
including the 2009 Captain's Cup Men's
Softball League and the 2009 Captain's


Cup Women's Softball League seasons,
which are currently in progress.
MWR sports encourage a positive
lifestyle for Troopers.
"It is good exercise," said Navy Seaman
C.J. Foster, the Lady Doc's shortstop. "It
gets you out of the house and keeps you out
of trouble."
As of May 5, the men's standings are
as follows: the USCG Mariners are in


PAGE 6 I THE WIRE


front with a 7-1 record followed by the
Antagonizers (6-1), Untouchables (6-2),
GTMO Latinos (6-2), USNH (5-2), 480th
MP's (4-3), MK9 (4-3), the BEEF (3-4),
Violators (3-5), Biohazard (1-7), W.T.
Sampson Pirates (0-7), and NAVSTA
(0-8).
As of May 6, the women's standings are
as follows: the NAVSTA Pink Ladies (3-0),
W.T. Sampson Lady Pirates (2-1), the Lady
Docs (1-2), and GTMO United
(0-3).
The men's softball league is
ongoing from Tuesday to Friday
starting at 7 p.m. at the Cooper
Sports Complex.
The women's softball league
plays games on Tuesdays at
7:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and
Thursday at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
on the Cooper fields.
If you have any questions
regarding MWR sports, call ext.
2113 for more information. Q


Navy Seaman C.J. Foster, a
Lady Doc player, swings at a
pitch during a game against
the NAVSTA pink ladies, May
5. JTF Guantanamo photo
by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz
LOCAL SPORTS I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009









































Army Sgt.
Emily Greene
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

Big Brother is watching, or so this tale
of government conspiracy and looming
alien invasion would have one believe.
"Race to Witch Mountain," Disney's
reimaginingg" of the 1970s children's
movies "Escape to Witch Mountain"
and "Return from Witch Mountain," has
overtones of distrust and loathing of big
government. It opens with a minutes-long
montage of newspaper clippings and fuzzy
photographs of government cover-ups of
alien life, followed by a cliche group of
agents in black suits and ties racing to the
scene of the latest crash.
This band of shady government spooks,
led by Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds), is
pursuing a pair of teenage aliens named
Sarah and Seth (AnnaSophia Robb and
Alexander Ludwig) who are on a mission to
save their planet. If they save their planet,
they save Earth as well.
The kid-aliens manage to choose ex-
convict cab driver, Jack Bruno, (Dwayne
Johnson, aka The Rock) to get them to their
objective and help fight off the alien bad
guy. Along the way, the group picks up an
astrophysicist (Carla Gugino) who is able
to do most of the thinking on the human
side.
"Witch Mountain" is full of not-so-
witty one-liners and blonde kids using a

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 | MOVIE RECON


vocabulary suggesting intelligence beyond
their years, or light-years as the case may
be. The combination of the children's
extraterrestrial smarts and the tough guy
practicality of their chauffeur is sometimes
amusing, but mostly stilted.
Disney does try to teach us all a lesson,
as is traditional in these films. This one
is environmentally-based and is so weak


a link to the plot, it hardly gets the point
across.
Strangely enough, the saving grace of
this flick is Johnson's performance. While
the script is less than stellar, he manages
to pull off his character's cheesy lines and
limp action scenes with a certain amount of
grace. He doesn't take himself or his role
too seriously.
Special effects are limited to a magical
hidingplace inthebasementofanabandoned
house and a few decent car chases. Even
the teens' space ship is uninspiring,
reminiscent of a Star Wars vessel with few
of the expected neat gadgets.
The two sets of bad guys, alien and
human, are not as scary as one would hope.
The alien Siphon is somewhat intimidating
until it becomes obvious he'll never catch
up. The government agents are mainly
concerned with covering up the incident
and never cross the line to become truly
evil.
The original "Witch Mountain" films
struck a chord with young viewers with
their schmaltzy fun and nerdy intrigue.
This one hardly manages to entertain its
audience beyond the opening scenes. The
result is a disappointingly unadventurous
adventure, with characters aO events that

PG
99 minutes
Rating: ***


THE WIRE I PAGE 7






Page
Missing
or
Unavailable






Page
Missing
or
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Influenza



but

* What you can do to
prevent the flu

Army Staff Sgt.
Blair Heusdens
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


People around the world are watching
closely as a strain of the influenza virus
continues to spread across continents,
leaving many sick and dead in its wake.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the H IN 1 influenza
virus is a respiratory disease of pigs caused
by the type A influenza virus which causes
regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not
normally get this flu, but human infections
can and do happen. At Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, there are currently no
documented cases of H1N1, but service
members should be prepared and take steps
now to stay healthy and stop the spread of
germs.
"The most important thing is not to
panic," said Navy Lt. Stacy Hoffman, Joint
Task Force force health protection officer.
Service members and residents of the
naval station are encouraged to follow
simple steps to prevent the spread of
disease and promote a healthy community.
To prevent the spread of influenza and
other illnesses transmitted by coughing or
sneezing, you should:
Avoid close contact with people
who are sick.
If possible, stay home from work,
school and errands when you are
sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Wash your hands often or use
alcohol-based cleansers.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth.
Practice good health habits such
as getting plenty of sleep, being
physically active, managing stress,
drinking plenty of fluids and eating
nutritiously.
H1N1 influenza, commonly referred
to as swine flu because of its origins in
swine, cannot be transmitted through food.
Eating pork products, cooked in a safe
manner, does not pose a risk of contracting
the illness. H1N1, like many other strains
of influenza, is however, passed through
person-to-person transmission by the
coughing or sneezing of people infected
with the influenza virus. People may
become infected by touching something
PAGE 101 THE WIRE


with flu viruses on it and then touching
their mouth or nose.
People often mistake a common
cold for the flu, explained Hoffman. Flu
symptoms include fever, sore throat and
coughing that last for more than 72 hours.
With these symptoms, patients should stay
home. If certain emergency warning signs
develop, however, a trip to the nearest
medical facility would be appropriate.
Seek immediate medical attention if you
experience any of the following symptoms
along with normal flu symptoms: chest pain
or pressure, vomiting and inability to keep
liquids down, fever (greater than 100.5
degrees Fahrenheit) with a rash, signs of
dehydration, loss of responsiveness or
confusion, rapid breathing or trouble
breathing, convulsions, seizures or bluish
skin color.
Though H1N1 influenza is not currently
a threat to Guantanamo Bay, public health
officials and senior leadership from both
the Joint Task Force and naval station are
prepared, should an outbreak occur. There is
a plan in place for an outbreak or pandemic
scenario.
To prepare for a possible outbreak or
pandemic, service members and residents
can put together an emergency supply kit,
should there be a need to stay indoors for


an extended period of time. An emergency
supply kit should include: a 5-7 day supply
offoodandwater, abattery-powered or hand
crank radio, flashlight with extra batteries,
first aid kit and a supply of prescription
and over-the-counter medications. This kit
should be kept at all times and restocked
as appropriate, especially with hurricane
season on the horizon.
The flu vaccine that is available each
year is not made for H1N1 influenza, but
can be helpful in staying healthy. The
yearly flu vaccine is targeted toward three
specific strains of flu each year. A new
vaccine should be available when regular
flu season starts in the fall.
Additional measures such as sneezing
or coughing into a sleeve or tissue and
using antibacterial or disinfectant wipes
to sanitize surfaces may be helpful in
preventing the spread of disease.
For medical emergencies on Naval
Station Guantanamo Bay, dial 911 or visit
the emergency room at the Naval Hospital.
For medical inquiries or non-emergency
questions, Troopers can call the Navy
Hospital at ext. 2360 or the Joint Troop
Clinic at ext. 3683.
For more information on H1N1
influenza, visit www.pandemicflu.gov or
www.cdc.gov. O
EWS & NFOMATON I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009





Air Force Senior
V P Airman Ryan
McClung, a Joint
Task Force heating,
ventilation and
air conditioning
technician, checks
the batting roster
with fellow volunteer
coach Air Force Staff
Sgt. Aaron Rule. JTF
,uantanamo photo
Ly Army Sgt. Carmen
Gibson














Army Sgt.
Carmen Gibson
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

Far away from their own families, Joint Task Force Guantanamo
Troopers unfortunately miss out onthej oy ofwatching their children
toss around the ball in the backyard. Their lengthy deployments
also prevent them from attending baseball games and other
childhood sporting events. Thanks to Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay Morale, Welfare and Recreation however, Troopers can still
be a vital asset in instilling that sense of teamwork and pride in
other children.
Several JTF Troopers volunteer their time in the evenings to
coach children in the base little league.
At least 60 of Guantanamo Bay's youngest residents took part
in this season's youth baseball league opener. This was the first
time the league has been able to utilize the new baseball facilities
at Cooper Field. A combination of ball park concession favorites,
soft red dirt and cheering fans conspired to bring America's
favorite pastime to the installation. From early April until the end
of May, two divisions, ranging in ages from seven to 14, will go
head-to-head with an opposing team. At the first game
of the season, the Mud Cats took on the Bees, and the
Yankees battled the Rangers.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Orlando Quintero, a
JTF combat cameraman, sees coaching the Rangers as
a way to pass on the true values of baseball in young
military dependents.
"The program teaches them the value of teamwork
and good sportsmanship," Quintero said. "The main
objective is not to win every game, but to learn the
value of working together."
The JTF volunteer coaches also try to maintain a
sense of encouragement and sportsmanship with the
youngsters, without adding the pressure of striving for
victory. That's why the seven- to 10-year-old teams do
not even keep score. Instead, their performances are
gauged by examining their motivation, participation
and skill level.
"I'm impressed," said Army Sgt. Michael Baltz,
with the Joint Task Force public affairs office. "They
knew it was game time."
Over the next 11 games, the coaches hope their
teams will grow together in camaraderie, improve their
individual skills and above all have fun. 0
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 I NEWS & INFORMATION THE WIRE I PAGE 11







May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

In 1992, Congress designated May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The month of May
commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the
anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was
constructed largely by Chinese immigrants. The 2009 national theme is "Leadership to meet the
challenges of a changing world."
II **t


NEWS & INFORMATION I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009


PAGE 12











































U.S. Coast Guard Lt Matt Laughlin, aviation commander with AVDET GTMO, patrols the water from Guantanamo Bay
Naval Station to the Haitian border. JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Spc. Cody Black


Boots on the Ground
How do you have fun without drinking at GTMO?


by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz


Army Spc.
Timmy Dawson


Army Spc.
Christine Moorehouse


Army Warrant Officer
Nelson Bigas


Army Spc.
Manuel Rios


"I go scuba diving and
watch Sports Center."


"1 read books: lots and
lots of books."


--cuoa giving. --Kent a movie. ouy some
popcorn and have a
blast."


FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 I VOICE OF THE FORCE


THE WIRE I PAGE 13










Sn i M


Navy Lt. Cmdr.
Clint Pickett
ITF Coninani CIhaplaain

Ho\\ aid\ cnuii ous aic \ou NIc l iiin-\\ cbstic i dtI:i ioiinn dic, in s ad\ cliimIc
a ii Id Iitic i k il hiu 1 III!-, i tai iaii IId 11 0'' ii ii k Bcc~ i a Lc I C 1110' N ii i ii\ 2
s ln ndll lll kiin in1\ ol\ 111' d-elll,' i ,lld illlnkll O\\ I laik.S Bei ILi I inlo *i. ilnllll','
Sy111. \\ ilc Oiic boLiL iilli. II collcciioii of ,ilhini_' ioii (c( O)i of Iic sloiic i

,lotllld Ilt \\o ld Ti li cc \\oLildi L ISt foI liC 0I O I III IIilI n \\ 11h no stopW pphing
a.lld InO I l J)JJl
Ilic.T s\aiild southL fioli Eilihnd alouLnld he i C ap of Good Hope southll of
N ~cLHiitndI and hn onIi to 1 apc Hom fi Tcii H finally. tlks ,outld cltial oili to
i~tiliPh~b~I1XEJd L Eiidt ir 111111 Ic; a 11iitl iiioiiilll[licl 11101111101i o 0IIiIt outj\'
o0n saTB'iisli i iK iacc Sii Robin Kiio\-Joihn lioii the iic othlicgs dioppecd out
of lie lace foi oinic tcasoin oe other. Sailing around the world certainly qualifies
aIs ail adti CniI Lifte LsAii't caube an adventure!
Did \ oti c\ i lluink about prayer as being an adventure? A pastor and author
in imicd E iti.ic Pcte' son laud this to say about prayer: "Praying is a daring
li\c i.ituiic' Tiiiink abouli \\ w t is actually happening when we pray. When we
pi' \\ c iiiiiic'l out \ oitds \ th God's living Word. We are involved with a holy
God, who wills our holiness. Eugene Peterson also talks about caution when he
says, "Be slow to pray."
When we pray, we open ourselves up to the eternal. Things happen in prayer,
but the things that happen are usually surprising. Because, as Peterson says,
praying most often doesn't get us what we want but what God wants. Prayer is a
daring adventure.
Sometimes as a chaplain I am asked to offer a little prayer. But if you think
about it at all, there is no such thing as a "little" prayer. There are short prayers
sometimes only a few words long that take only a couple of seconds. When
we pray, we step into God's presence and open ourselves to him. What happens
when we pray can often be life-changing.
How adventurous are you? Sailing can be adventurous, but I am talking
about a different kind of adventure. I used to ask my confirmation students in the
Parish what kind of relationship they had with God. It was multiple choice, and I
would give them four statements to describe their relationship with God. Which
Statement best describes your relationship with God?
h 1) Just be there
2) Help me when I ask
3 a 3) Really know me
4) Lead and change me
Which one did you choose? If you are at all like me, you may like to think
that you would want God to lead and change you, but that can be a very scary
thought. Just praying that one little line can be a risky adventure. We want life on
our conditions, not on God's conditions. But when we pray, we put ourselves at
risk of getting involved in God's conditions and God's will. When you pray, you
never really know where you are going to end up.
It isn't easy to open ourselves to change on God's terms, but when we do, we
open our hearts and our minds to hear God's voice. In the end, that is always a
good thing. So pray, and pray boldly! 0



Catholic Mass Protestant Worship Bible Study
Sunday: 7 a.m. Confession Sunday: 9 a.m. Sunday: 6 p.m.
7:30 a.m. Mass Spanish Protestant Wednesday: 7 p.m.

Wednesday: 11 a.m. Worship
Spanish Mass Sunday: 11 a.m.


LIFE & SPIRIT I FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009


PAGE 14 1 THE WI\IRE









tEEoXXD7 chDm LEOcDD




=======Iiiiiga i = h I K /\.


Air rorce .- LI. unristopner viatuszaK, warn ine Joint lasK rorce commissions support uroup, pauses ror a pnoto during
the Miwok 100K Trail Race held in Calif., May 2. Photo courtesy of Air Force 1st Lt. Christopher Matuszak


Army Staff Sgt.
Blair Heusdens
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


Running 62.4 miles makes the 1.5 mile run for the Air Force
Physical Fitness Test seem like a breeze. Not everyone can
complete an ultra-marathon, but Air Force 1st Lt. Christopher
Matuszak, the budget and acquisitions officer for the Joint Task
Force Guantanamo Commissions Support Group, recently put
himself through the grueling challenge at the Miwok 100K Trail
Race in Marin Headlands, Calif.
Matuszak finished the race May 2 in 14 hours, 8 minutes and
26 seconds, two hours under the allotted 16 hours and 30 minutes.
322 runners started the race, with just 260 finishing the full 62.4
miles.
"Basically, we just beat the crap out of our bodies to try to
finish," said Matuszak.
The Miwok 100K race is one of the most scenic races in the
U.S., stretching across the very hilly terrain of western California
and spanning approximately 10,000 feet of cumulative elevation
gain. The weather was rainy and cool for California, with an
average temperature of 55 degrees and Matuszak often had to
wade through puddles of water on the narrow trails.
Matuszak completed the race as a personal challenge. In
January, Matuszak attempted the Bandera 100K in Bandera, Texas,
but finished short of his goal. This time, however, he was ready.
"I like adventure and doing things that most people wouldn't
do," Matuszak said.
To train for the race, Matuszak runs four times a week with
friends on base and has participated in 5K runs sponsored here.
He feels that training in the heat at Guantanamo Bay made a
difference, as well as Pilates classes he takes to strengthen his
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 15 MINUTES OF FAME


back. In the future, he plans to incorporate more weight training
into his routine.
Trail running is significantly different from running on a hard,
flat surface. He says the large hills on base were similar to those
on the trail, with the largest one requiring a 45-minute climb.
Matuszak has done most of his running at Guantanamo Bay on the
roads, but enjoys trail running because it provides a more scenic,
enjoyable experience and requires different muscles to excel.
"[When you run on a trail] you're more focused on the run and
more in control of your body because you have to use more of your
stabilization muscles," Matuszak said.
Aid stations were positioned throughout the route to provide
water, food and encouragement to the runners. Matuszak's dad and
sister came to the race and met him at the aid stations to provide
moral support and encourage him along the way.
"Having my family there was extra special," said Matuszak.
"It helps when you can see a familiar face there cheering you on."
Throughout the race, runners would often group together on
the narrow track. Matuszak found that talking with other runners
helped him to keep his mind off the task at hand.
"If I wasn't having fun, I wouldn't have kept going," Matuszak
said.
Throughout the intense race, Matuszak tried to maintain a
positive attitude to help keep him going. To pass the time, he sang
songs in his head and listened to music on his iPOD. The final six
miles proved to be the hardest because the battery on his iPOD
had died and he was alone. But his determination to finish the race
made him continue.
"[I kept telling myself,] I've never made it this far, I've got to
keep going," Matuszak said.
Matuszak plans to continue to challenge himself physically and
would like to participate in another 100K run in the future. 0
THE WIRE I PAGE 15














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