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Memorial Day


PSU 305 prepares to leave
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JTF GUANTANAMO
Commander:
Nla Pear a.in Da..id M Thomas Jr
Joinl Task Force Command Masler
Chief:
JNa y" Masler Chief P-ll, Offiicer Scoll
A Fleming
Office of Public Allairs:
Director:
Ila ) LI Cnidr Br.ck De\A/all i992..
Deputy Director:
Arm, Plal Diana Hainie 99_I
Supervisor:
am-., 1 SQ Shellie Le'. is 3i6-1

The Wire
Executive Editor:
Arn-i, 1 LI Chris Cudne -'1 1
Command Inlormalion NCOIC:
Ainiv Sgl 1 Class Mirnael Grnolsiorn M.51
Editor:
Arm, Slaff SlQ Emrril J Pussell 359l
Associate Editor:
rmni, SIaff Sql Bai3r H-usdiens 35.9-
Slall Writers:
arnm, Sal Carmen -. tn n .-
Arnm) Sa9 Mi:hael Ballz 35.9
arn-m Sal Emil, Greene ....9
trnm) Sp.: Jan-es Corn,.ell ..I950
"rnm Sp.: april de arn-,ma 33?.-
Arm, Sp: Da id P..1Lean 330-I


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COVER:
The colors are raised at Cuzco
Cemetery during a Memorial
Day ceremony. May 25. ITF
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TROOPER-TO-TROOPER I FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009


__ I


PAGE 2 1 THE WI\IRE














































Safety a concern for summer months


Army Staff Sgt.
Blair Heusdens
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

June is National Safety Month and the
focus at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay
is Trooper safety. The naval station and
Joint Task Force Guantanamo recently
held a Safety Stand-down, May 21,
to raise Troopers' awareness of safety
issues.
According to the National Safety
Council, in 2005, 117,809 people died
due to unintentional or accidental injuries.
Many of these injuries could have been
prevented by observing proper safety
techniques.
As the summer months approach,
specific safety concerns come along with
the warmer weather.
"It's getting hotter and hotter every
day," said Army Capt. Robert Flores-
Martinez, the Joint Task Force safety
officer. "Troopers need to make sure to
wear protective clothing and sun block and
to drink plenty of water."
In addition to hydrating and wearing
protective clothing, when spending long
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 | MISSION


periods of time outside or going to the
beach, Troopers should always use the
buddy system.
When in the water, Troopers should
always swim with a buddy. Boaters should
also exercise caution while operating
watercraft, especially in areas where
swimmers or divers are present.
With warmer weather also comes
destructive weather. Thunderstorms and
severe weather can threaten at a moment's
notice. When lightning strikes, stay indoors.
Check with your chain of command to
ensure you know your unit's procedures for
destructive weather and who to contact in
case of an emergency.
"Don't wait until the last moment to
make preparations for hurricane season,"
said Flores-Martinez. "It's everybody's
responsibility to be ready."
Another safety concern in the summer
months is alcohol use. Troopers should
remember some simple tips for drinking
responsibly:
Eat before and during drinking.
Before you celebrate, designate.
Identify a responsible driver or use public
transportation.


Don't chug your drinks; drink slowly
and make your drinks last.
Alternate between alcoholic and non-
alcoholic beverages.
Remember the word HALT. Don't
drink if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or
Tired.
Do not lose control of yourself.
Remember, it's always OK not to drink.
Avoid binge drinking or other high-
risk drinking behaviors.
"Troopers need to be aware that their
choices can reflect on everybody," Flores-
Martinez said.
Always know who to contact in
case of an emergency. At Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Troopers can contact
the Morale, Welfare and Recreation taxi
service at 75586 or 90435. In case of a
medical emergency, contact the naval
station emergency room at 72690 or call
911. For any other emergencies, contact the
base police office at ext. 4105.
Simple precautions can prevent
many injuries. Always use good safety
practices not only at home, but also while
participating in recreational activities and
while you are working. 0
THE WIRE I PAGE 3





































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Army Spc.
April D. de Armas
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David
Shearman, with Port Security Unit 305,
performs left-seat, right-seat training with
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1t Class Pete
Loreaux, with Maritime Safety Service Team
91101, May 13, 2009. JTF Guantanamo
photo by Army Spc. Cody Black
PAGE 4 I THE WIRE


The U.S. Coast Guard Port Security
Unit 305 leaves soon but there is still one
very important thing to do before they
can pack their last bag and head home to
Virginia. They must train their relief.
Maritime Safety and Security Team
91101 from Seattle, Wash., will be taking
the helm and will head-up port security
at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for the
next six months. During their first couple
of weeks, the MSST will ride along with
PSU 305 and get hands-on training that
will help them carry out their mission.
The Coast Guard serves a very important
mission for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
They provide security for the waterways
into and out of the naval station.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class
Michael Conley is one of the Coast
Guardsmen with PSU 305. He is assisting
in some of the training the new unit is
doing.
"I will be giving a general briefing
to the new unit," said Conley. "I will
provide them with information about
some of the different units they will be
meeting and working with at Joint Task
Force Guantanamo, such as the Joint
Detention Group and the Joint Visitors
Bureau."
Conley said the information and
training the new unit receives over the
next few weeks will prepare them for the


ongoing mission here.
Coast Guard ChiefPetty Officer Joshua
Mann is one of the newcomers with the
MSST and has been with the Coast Guard
for 13 years.
"I am excited to be here," said Mann.
"I am ready to get started so we can
complete our mission and maybe have
some fun while we are here."
The MSST spent several months
preparing for their deployment to
Guantanamo Bay.
"Along with the active duty members
of our team, we activated several
reservists, so we had to make sure
everyone's qualifications on the weapons
and the boats were current," said Mann.
Mann feels his team is well prepared
and ready for their mission.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class
Floyd Campbell is a member of PSU
305 and is also involved in training the
MSST.
"I will be giving them a water tour
of the bay area and off-shore sites," said
Campbell. "I have enjoyed my time here
but I am ready to pass the wheel to the
MSST."
Both Campbell and Conley said they
have had a lot of fun with their jobs here
but are ready to go home and be with
families and friends.
Campbell and Conley both feel the
MSST will be fully prepared to handle the
mission given them as they take over port
security at Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay. 0
MISSION I FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009


















































Army Master Sgt. Eustaquio Antonetti, the non-commissioned officer-in-charge of transportation and maintenance,
conducts preventive maintenance checks and services on a JTF vehicle, May 26. JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz


Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


The transportation and maintenance section in J-4 continues the
ongoing mission of maintaining Joint Task Force Guantanamo's
vehicles and licenses.
"We are here formaintenance," saidArmy Master Sgt. Eustaquio
Antonetti, the non-commissioned officer in charge of transportation
and maintenance. "It is mostly preventive maintenance."
The majority of the issues Antonetti and his shop handle are
accident cases, which can be prevented.
"Troopers need to make sure they conduct weekly preventive
maintenance checks and services," Antonetti explained. "By doing
this, there will be a limited number of accidents.
"Our mission is not only to maintain vehicles," Antonetti
continued. "It is also to encourage safety habits."
The transportation and maintenance section is also responsible
for issuing licenses to all Troopers at JTF Guantanamo.
"Everyone has three qualifications," said Army Pfc. Tania
Torres, a unit level linguistic system ground dispatcher. "Everyone
can drive a 10,000-pound commercial vehicle and below, a 15-
passenger van and below and a 1-1/4 ton vehicle and below."
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 I MISSION


Torres is also responsible for fuel keys, transporting vehicles
to and from contracting companies that perform assigned work
orders and keeping track of vehicles' mileage.
The shop is also responsible for dispatching the vehicles.
"We dispatch or re-dispatch the vehicles every 60 days," said
Carol Hale, a dispatch agent. "This is done for maintenance reasons
and to keep track of the vehicles."
When the main driver validates the dates, the vehicle control
officer is contacted.
"Every week I send out a 10-day 'heads-up' report," Hale
continued. "The report tells which vehicles are out of dispatch or
need to come in to be re-dispatched."
There are over 40 loan vehicles that have to come in on a weekly
basis for inspections and mileage updates.
According to Navy Lt. j.g. Kelly Schoenly, there are random
roadside inspections every two months to ensure that JTF vehicles
are being properly maintained.
The transportation and maintenance mission at Joint Task Force
Guantanamo continues to play a key role in the ongoing success of
conducting safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody
of detainees.
"I am very proud to work here," said Antonetti. "My Troopers
know their job." O
THE WIRE I PAGE 5









































Troopers from Joint Task Force Guantanamo and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay participated in the Morale, Welfare and
Recreation Memorial Day 5K, May 25. JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz


Army Sgt.
Michael Baltz
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

Whether it is the desire to win a medal,
the joy of running or in the spirit of
Memorial Day, numerous Troopers from
Joint Task Force Guantanamo and Naval
Station Guantanamo Bay participated
in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Memorial Day 5K, May25.
Air Force 1t Lt. Ryan Silva was
barely able to hold off Navy Lt. Patrick
Saluke during the race. Silva won by a
two-second margin with a time of 17
minutes, 37 seconds. Saluke's time was
still better than the time he posted in last
month's victory at the Chief Petty Officer
Association 5K at 17:39.
The two junior officers said that their
friendship enables healthy competition.
"When I came out here, I was
looking for redemption," Silva said.
"Pat damaged my fragile ego during the
CPOA 5K and I have been crossing the
days off my calendar for this run," he
joked.
The third place finisher was Chris
Duplessis with a time of 19:00. The top
three women were: Kristen Wallace with
19:47; Karen Appel with 23:08; Janitsa
Rodriguez with 23:30.
PAGE 6 I THE WIRE


Even though Silva and Saluke enjoyed
the event as a competition, it was much
more than that.
"These runs help maintain good
camaraderie for [service members],"
Silva said. "It is cool how we can all come
together and run for an important cause
like Memorial Day in support of all the
men and women before us."
MWR strives to host a 5K on a monthly
basis.
"We know most people look forward
to these runs," said Ryan Rollison, MWR
fitness coordinator. "We like to do 5K's
on people's days off, so everyone can
participate."
This is Rollison's first year living on a
military base.
"I have never lived on a military base
before," Rollison said. "So everyday feels
almost like Memorial Day."
Rollison has family ties to the military
and gratefully appreciates all those who
serve our country.
"It is an honor to support the [Troopers
here]," Rollison stated humbly.
MWR has several fitness events
scheduled for the upcoming months.
Events include a 300 Challenge and a bench
press competition. For more information
regarding MWR fitness events, call Ryan
Rollison at ext. 75576. 0


LOCAL SPORTS I FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009










































Army Sgt.
Emily Greene
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

There is an informal rating scheme for
movies; movies that must be seen on the big
screen, movies that you watch in the theater
if a friend wants to see it, movies you wait
and buy on DVD, movies you rent, movies
you watch on TV. "12 Rounds" falls into
the category of imo\ ic'. you wouldn't
watch if someone gave it to you."
Directed by Renny Harlin of the second
"Die Hard" movie, this film takes the
silliest sequences from every other action
flick and mushes them together to create
a cheese-fest of chase scenes and bad one-
liners.
John Cena stars as Danny Fisher, a New
Orleans cop who single-handedly thwarts
goofy criminal mastermind, Miles Jackson
(Aiden Gillen) and puts him behind bars
forever or so he thinks. Once Miles breaks
out of prison, steals Danny's girlfriend and
blows up his house he spends the rest of the
movie running to stop a variety of moving
vehicles, crashing cars and fire trucks and
looking really stressed out.
Gillen's performance as the villian is less
than impressive. The viewer is expected to
believe that this annoying little guy with a
weird hybrid American/Irish accent has not
only the New Orleans PD, but the FBI out
smarted. He arranges a series of highly
implausible tests for Danny to win back
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 I MOVIE RECON


his girl, all the while scheming to make out
like the bandit he is.
In all fairness, however, actors can only
work with what they are given in a script.
This one, written by Daniel Kunka, didn't
give the cast much leeway. Not only can
all the big lines be heard in just about any
other action film chosen off the Blockbuster
shelf, they weren't that good the first time
around.
The saving grace of this movie should
have been the disaster sequences. After
all, you can normally depend on an action
film to have a few satisfying crashes,
something will blow up, and someone will
hang from a helicopter as it circles above
the city. "12 Rounds" has all of these
and even throws in a trolley and a chase
through a random house, whose occupants
are mildly surprised to see a bunch of guys
run through. However, none of these de
rigeur scenes manage to excite. This may
be because there is one every 5 minutes or
so and all of them are awkwardly written
into the plot. Pity.
"12 rounds" of this arbitrary nonsense
is enough to cause any viewer to take
special interest in the weather, what is on
the news, or might even inspire someone
to suddenly decide she needs to wash her
hair. However, annoying as this little
film was, at least the viewer had a gauge
to measure just how much longer they
had to endure the silly test of smarts (and
brawn). O


PG-13
108 minutes

Rating: **


THE WIRE I PAGE 7






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* "Missing man" tables
honor MIA/POWs

Army Sgt.
Emily Greene
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

You pass it every day at the galley.
Maybe you have taken a moment to pause
and read the words in the frame, or stopped
to pay a small tribute. Maybe you have been
reminded of the service members missing
from our midst.
In galleys around Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay there are small tables that
serve to remind Troopers of their comrades
in arms who are prisoners of war or missing
in action. Set for one, the tables symbolize
members of the military profession who
are unable to join us in the breaking of our
daily bread.
The script in the frame placed on
each table reads, "This table set for one
is small, symbolizing the frailty of one
prisoner alone against his oppressors.
The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the
purity of their intentions to respond to
their country's call to arms. The single
rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the
families and loved ones of our comrades-
in-arms who kept the faith awaiting their
return. The red ribbon tied so prominently
on the vase is reminiscent of the red
ribbon worn upon the lapel and breasts
of thousands who bear witness to their
unyielding determination to demand a
proper accounting of our missing. A slice
of lemon is on the bread plate to remind
us of their bitter fate. There is salt upon
the bread plate symbolic of families' tears
as they wait. The glass is inverted, they
cannot toast with us this night. The chair,
the chair is empty, they are not here."
Romeo Izon, facilities manager at
Seaside Galley in Joint Task Force
Guantanamo, said it is a Navy tradition to
have POW/MIA tables at galleys world-
wide.
"Although there are people who cannot
join us for meals, this is one small way we
can remember them," Izon said. "They are
still with us in spirit."
Navy Chief Petty Officer John Poole, a
master-at-arms withthe Navy Expeditionary
Guard Battalion, is familiar with the tables.
He said he has seen them throughout his
career.
"They are a good way to remember
our fallen, wounded and missing service
members," said Poole. "It is important that
we never forget them."
Army Pfc. Emmanuel Santiago, a
military policeman with the 480 Military
Police Company, said whenever he sees the

PAGE 101 THE WIRE


The "Missing man" table at Seaside Galley, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay
stands in remembrance of missing service members and prisoners of war. JTF
Guantanamo photo by Army Sgt. Emily Greene


table at the Seaside Galley it reminds him
to pause for a moment and remember.
"Thinking about the sacrifices other
people have made makes me so proud,"
Santiago said. "I am proud of past heroes;
proud to wear the same uniform."
Army Staff Sgt. Jose Serrano, also a
military policeman with the 480' MP Co.,
said when he passes the empty chair and
the glass turned down he is reminded of
how blessed he is.


"There are people who are still missing
and who would love to be here where I am
today," Serrano said. "I am able to go home
and see my family and they are not."
"Missing man" tables are an important
part of military tradition and are a small,
but significant way for service members
to remember their brothers in arms. They
are a way to ensure that the brave men and
women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for
their country are never forgotten. Q


FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009
























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Army Staff Sgt.
Blair Heusdens
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs

They come from different countries, their deaths spanning the more than
100 years since the first U.S. presence at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
They were U.S. service members, Cubans, exiles from other countries,
workers who supported base operations and babies of those stationed here.
Each grave marker at Guantanamo Bay's Cuzco Cemetery has a unique
story, many long forgotten except by those left behind.
Each year on one day Memorial Day the otherwise undisturbed
cemetery is open to the public for a chance to remember those buried there
and all of those who've died in service to their country.
Service members from Joint Task Force Guantanamo and Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay gathered in the early morning, May 25, to honor the
sacrifices of service members past and present who've given their lives in
support of freedom.
Memorial Day is historically observed on the last Monday in May to
commemorate those who died while in military service. The holiday was
originally enacted to honor Union Soldiers after the American Civil War
but was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any
U.S. military conflict.
The National Moment of Remembrance was established by Congress
in 2000, asking that at 3:00 p.m. local time, all Americans "voluntarily
and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and
respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or
listening to 'Taps'."
The poem, "In Flanders Fields," written during World War I by Canadian
physician and officer, John McCrae, inspired the selling of poppies to fund
veterans associations and projects and is often read in Allied countries to
commemorate Memorial Day, otherwise known as Decoration Day. The
poppy is also a common symbol of Memorial Day in many countries.

See HONORING/12
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 I NEWS & INFORMATION


THE WIRE I PAGE 11







































































Flags from different countries mark the
nationalities of those buried at Cuzco
Cemetery. The flags were placed in honor of
Memorial Day. JTF Guantanamo photo by
Army Staff Sgt. Blair Heusdens
PAGE 12 I THE WIRE


Honoring from 11

In Flandersfields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flandersfields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
Ifye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, ;hI. ,1i poppies grow
In Flandersfields.

Guantanamo Bay is steeped in history due to its strategic location in the
Caribbean. The first American casualties here occurred during the 1898 invasion
of Guantanamo Bay during the Spanish-American War. On June 6, the U.S. cruiser
Marblehead, captained by Commander B.H. McCalla and an auxiliary ship, the St.
Louis, moved into Guantanamo Bay. U.S. Marines established a camp here and,
together with Cuban forces, defended the camp from the Spanish. Six Americans
were killed at this time: Pvt. William Dumphy, Pvt. James McColgan, Assistant
Surgeon John Blair Gibbs, Sgt. Charles H. Smith, Sgt. Maj. Henry Good and
Pvt. Goode Taurman, becoming the first U.S. casualties of the war. The base at
Guantanamo Bay was used throughout the war and, five years later, in 1903, was
acquired by the U.S. through a formalized lease agreement.
Cuzco Cemetery holds many of the keys to the base's rich history and continues
to be a place where those who have supported its operations are laid to rest. The
cemetery is maintained by the Sailors at Guantanamo Bay's naval hospital so the
medical personnel who watched over their patients in life can continue to care for
them after they've gone.
A slow rain kept the mood somber as those gathered left through the gates,
leaving behind the gravestones of those whose final resting place lies on an island
where battles were fought and history was made. O
NEWS & INFORMATION I FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009





































PSU 305 hands over responsibility to MSST 91101
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Andy Zavanelli, executive officer for Port Security Unit 305, announces a transfer of
authority for the anti-terrorism and force protection mission during a ceremony at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay,
May 28, as Rear Adm. Dave Thomas, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo stands by. Coast Guard Marine
Safety and Security Team 91101 is assuming responsibility for the anti-terrorism and force protection mission here
from PSU 305, which has been assigned to the JTF since November. JTF Guantanamo photo by Coast Guard Petty
Officer 2nd Class John D. Miller



Boots on the Ground by Army Sgt. Michael Baltz

What is the best movie you have seen at GTMO?

Navy Petty Officer 1"' Class Navy Lt. Cmdr. Army Spc. Army Staff Sgt.
Dale Senter Shane Marion Waddell Tollison Luis E. Ortiz Medina







"! "-


"Star Trek! "


"Quantum of Solace."


"Braveheart."


FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 I VOICE OF THE FORCE


THE WIRE I PAGE 13










Opportunity Costs


Navy LCDR
Clint Pickett
JTF Command Chaplain


Most of us spend more or less time
taking a look at how our checking account
is doing, or maybe how our retirement
fund is coming along. I often wonder,
however, how many of us take time
out to calculate our opportunity
costs. What are opportunity
costs? I am glad you asked .
Whether we think .boum it oi
not, we all deal with oppoiUiniun L
costs each and every di\ Tlhe
NetMBA Web site has iliis
to say about opponummi
costs, "Scarcity of
resources is one of ilic
more basic concepts of
economics. Scare il\
necessitates trade-olff
and trade-offs result III
an opportunity cost
Basically, the opportunity
cost of a decision we nul.k
is based on what ius.
be given up as a rcili
of our decision. An\
decision that involves
a choice between two
or more options has
an opportunity cost.
If we take $1,000
out of the bank
to invest in the
stock market, the
opportunity cost
is the interest we
could have made
if we had left the
money in the bank.
Hopefully, the stock market will be a better
deal in the long run, but we know what can
happen nowadays.
In talking with a lot of different people,
and in looking at my own life, I deal a lot
with the idea of opportunity costs. Most
of the time it isn't about finances. Money


isn't the only scarce thing we deal with
in our lives. Time is definitely a limited
resource. I don't care if you are rich or not,
all of us have just 24 hours in a day. Once
it is gone, it is gone. Like when someone
leaves a movie and says, "There
goes two hours of my life I











C,







, /


^9 e *- J


will never get back!"
The opportunity cost is what we could
have gotten done with our time instead of
doing whatever it is we decided to do. We
pass out questionnaires to JTF personnel
who are leaving and we ask them, among
other things, what they would change if they


had the tour to do over. It was interesting
to me that a number of times, people wrote
that they "would drink less." Nobody says
they would drink more.
When we spend an evening watching
a movie, or playing a video game, or
whatever, the opportunity cost is what
we could have been doing if we had
not made the choice we made. It
i isn't like there are "right" choices
or "wrong" choices in what we
do What matters the most to me
is tilinmkiii' about what the costs
.ic \hli-n we make decisions
about what to do. Too often,
\ "c don't think about it until
t i.s too late. I think of the
old saying that no one on
itihir deathbed ever said, "I
\\ ilh I had spent more time
I t \\ork."
I got the news this week
il1u the wife of a friend of
milin had been struck by a
cii and killed while she was
ouL logging. When we hear
of something like that, I think
all of us pause for at least a bit
Iand think about how limited
om0 time really is and how

\ hat is really important
in our lives. We give an
extra hug to our children
the next chance we get.
We write a thank-
you note to a friend,
or we make a phone
call to someone we
know who is going
through some tough
times.
All of us are indeed created equal in that
we have 24 hours or 1,440 minutes each
and every day. I can pretty much guarantee
you that you will be "richer" if you think
about your opportunity costs each day, and
make sure you are spending your time on
what is important Oyou!


I IT CHPLSHD LEDPRGRM I


Catholic Mass
Sunday: 7 a.m. Confession
7:30 a.m. Mass

Spanish Catholic Mass
Sunday: 5 p.m.
at NAVSTA Chapel


Protestant Worship
Sunday: 9 a.m.

Spanish Protestant
Worship
Sunday: 11 a.m.


Bible Study
Sunday: 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 7 p.m.


LIFE & SPIRIT I FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009


PAGE 14 1 THE WI\IRE




































r~~IjLjiP


Army Staff Sgt.
Blair Heusdens
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs


Air Force Tech Sgt. Sonya Faucette teaches
a lesson with Ms. Lopez's 3rd grade class at
W.T. Sampson elementary school, May 28. -
JTF Guantanamo photo by Army Staff Sgt. Blair
Heusdens
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 I 15 MINUTES OF FAME


A Joint Task Force Guantanamo
Trooper is gaining experience here
for the career she plans to pursue after
retirement, as well as volunteering
time to the children of those stationed
at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
Air Force Tech Sgt. Sonya Faucette, a
supply liaison with the Commissions
Support Group, volunteers her time
with Ms. Lopez's 3rd grade math class
at W.T. Sampson Elementary School.
With 17 years of service as a supply
specialist in the Air Force, Faucette
is pursuing a degree in elementary
education and plans to become a teacher
after retirement. Faucette is in her
junior year of school and since arriving
in GTMO in January, has completed
six additional credit hours toward her
degree.
Faucette spends her days at Joint Task
Force Guantanamo ordering supplies for
the military commissions process and in
support of housing those who support the
commissions. For one hour each week,
however, she takes time from her day to
help teach and tutor children at the naval
station's elementary school.
"For the first couple of weeks, I just
helped the kids with their multiplication
tables," said Faucette. "One week, the
lesson I had in my college class lined up


with the lesson the kids were doing and
I asked if I could present the lesson to
the class."
The opportunity gave Faucette a
chance to experience what it's like to
stand in front of a classroom.
"I was nervous before the first
lesson," she explained. "But after the
first word, I settled right into it."
In addition to teaching and tutoring,
Faucette also volunteers her time at the
naval station chapel, helping out in the
nursery and is involved with her church
back home. She says she enjoys being
around children and it helps her to deal
with being away from her husband and
4-year-old son.
"Wanting to be a teacher, I continually
find myself [doing things that put me]
in that role," Faucette said.
According to Faucette, she has
always wanted to be a teacher. She says
she has learned a lot from the children
she teaches here.
"When I was in school, we didn't
seem too eager to learn," she said. "It's
amazing how fast these kids learn and
the knowledge that is presented to them
at such an early age."
Faucette is considering teaching for
the Department of Defense so she can
travel and continue serving in a military
community.
"This experience will help me to be
more realistic on what I plan to expect
when I start teaching," Faucette said. 0


THE WIRE I PAGE 15











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Troopers frofil
525'" Military Police?
Battalion and visiting
cadets from the U.S.
Military Academy tour
a docked Coast Guard
cutter, May 24. The
cadets are visiting
iaTaoask Force
~i no to work