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Volume 6, Issue 46 www.jtfgtmo.southcom. mil Friday, February 17, 2006 15 Minutes of Fame, pg. 11 GTMO welcomes incoming troops By Spc. Seth Myers JTF-GTMO Public Affairs Office A new rotation of HHC Troopers and Navy Provisional Guard arrived here Feb. 10. This wave is one of the fi rst here rep- resenting the new rotation, which will soon take the reigns and responsibility of the JTF mission. It is not only a time for these Troop- ers to begin their GTMO experience, it is time for the veterans to welcome them to the GTMO family and impart the knowledge they have gained during their time here. “By now, you should be 50 percent complete with your left seat right train- ing and have made your way around Photo by Spc. Seth Myers the island at least one time. Your head New Sailors arrived here Feb. 10. These Sailors will replace the previous should be spinning in circles with all rotation of Navy Provisional Guard Bravo Company. the information your counterpart is try- ing to give you. Just know that what you off duty, refl ect not just on you, but on prepared for this mission in every way: are feeling thousands of troops have felt our nation and its people. We cannot the mission, their morale and welfare. in the past. Our mission here is vital to accept anything less than total profes- Explain the meaning of the slogan that our nation and the Global War on Ter- sionalism here in the JTF. Be that pro- has been adopted here and why it is ror and you will make an impact on it. fessional,” said Jones. spoken. You have become part of a professional Yet, amidst all the work that will be “Honor Bound to Defend Freedom. organization that is like no other in the required of new Troopers, there is much Think about those words, they are pret- world, be proud of the JTF, your service on the island to keep them motivated. ty deep and as each day goes by they and of yourself,” said Army Sgt. Maj. “Gitmo has lots to offer to troops. En- will have more of an impact on you and Chris Jones, J3 Operations Sergeant joy your deployment and do something how you perform your duties. By the Major. for yourself. Get out and enjoy what time you leave here (don’t start think- This is a crucial mission and requires this island offers, go to college and take ing about that quite yet) these words a steady hand, discipline, hard work a correspondence course,” said Jones. will be forever engraved in your mind, and, most of all, professionalism. As the incoming troops get settled, heart and soul. Honor Bound and wel- “As you know, we are in the world’s keep a few things in mind. Guide your come to Gitmo,” said Jones. spotlight and your actions, both on and counterparts and make sure they are PAGE 2 | TROOPER-TO-TROOPER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | THE WIRE JTF-GTMO Command “Engaging” the media Commander: Maj. Gen. Jay W. Hood By Maj. Gen. Jay Hood Joint Task Force CSM: JTF-GTMO Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Angel Febles Director of Public Affairs: “I hate newspapermen. They Lt. Col. Jeremy Martin: 9928 come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as 326th MPAD Commander: facts. I regard them as spies, which Maj. Jeffrey Weir: 3713 in truth, they are. If I killed them all Command Information Officer: there would be news from Hell before Lt. Angela King-Sweigart: 3651 breakfast.” … General William Te- 326th MPAD First Sergeant: cumseh Sherman Sgt. 1st Class David Zerbe: 3649 One wonders what General Sher- man would have had to say about Circulation: 1,200 the Defense Department’s hugely successful media embed initiative in Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the fact The Wire that we’ve had over 500 members of the national and international media visit Joint Task Force Editor: GTMO since operations began here about 4 years ago. Sgt. Jessica Wilson: 3594 Americans consistently list the armed forces among the most respected of their institutions. Troopers here at JTF GTMO are honored members of another great generation of military profes- Managing Editor: sionals who are conducting their mission with diligence and discipline, and keeping the public Spc. Seth Myers: 3589 informed concerning the progress that we’re making. Layout Editor: You are writing history here at Joint Task Force Guantanamo with your sacrifi ce and your Spc. Ian Shay: 2171 commitment to service. As the President of the United States said last week to a national audi- Photo Editor: ence, you are “standing watch over the world’s most dangerous terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, Sgt. Todd Lamonica: 3589 Cuba. You are serving with courage and determination – and you’re helping to bring us to victory Staff Writers & Design Team: in the global war on terror.” Spc. Timothy Book: 3592 As are your comrades in arms serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, Troopers here at JTF Spc. Jeshua Nace: 3499 GTMO are our most effective spokespersons. The media is a very valuable institution of our so- ciety and we must continue to engage them to ensure that the American people have a timely and accurate picture of our mission and the progress that we are making on their behalf. It is impor- Contact us: tant that our Troopers, the brave men and women who ensure the safe, secure, humane, care and Base Information: 2000 custody of all the detainees at JTF GTMO, engage the media and help keep the public informed Public Affairs Office: 3594 or 3651 about our mission. When you (Troopers) communicate with the media, keep in mind that you are not simply speaking with a reporter across the table, but you are essentially communicating with a From the continental United States: world-wide audience. You are representatives not only of your unit, but your service, your family Commercial: 011-53-99-3594 and our country on whose behalf you are deployed. DSN: 660-3594 When communicating with the media we balance operational security concerns with the continued need to demonstrate to the American public the professionalism and readiness of our forces. The news media helps us communicate with the American people. In our current struggle Online: against a very cunning enemy who continually seeks to utilize the media to his advantage (hunger www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil strike, claims of torture), you are helping the American people gain an understanding of the new nature of our adversaries with your commitment to the truth. Don’t underestimate your media engagement contributions that have resulted in the continued overwhelming support of the Ameri- can public for our mission. The media engagement that Troopers perform on a weekly basis with national and international media, providing relevant and accurate information concerning our detainee mission, allows the American people to sift through the second and third-hand misinfor- mation and distortions often planted by adversaries to divide and deceive the public. You are performing everyday in one of the most dynamic, unique, closely scrutinized joint assignments in the history of our country. Utilizing discipline and skill you ensure that all the de- tainees in custody at JTF GTMO are treated humanely, and that their cultural and religious prac- tices are respected. Operations at the JTF are constantly in the news and are reported on around the world. Not all of the reporting on the JTF is accurate or positive, and some of the reporting is not based on fact. When you read blatant allegations sourced to detainees or third-hand informa- The 326th Mobile Public Affairs tion it might cause frustration, and that’s okay. But you have to get over it quickly, remember that Detachment, Joint Task Force- you’re a military professional deployed on behalf of the American people. Remember that the American people hold you and your service in high regard, and expect you to continue to perform Guantanamo, produces The your duties in keeping with the fi nest traditions of military service. That means that we’ll con- Wire, which is printed under tinue to engage the media with the facts as we truthfully describe the JTF mission, our Troopers, the provisions of Department of and our progress. Defense Instruction 5120.4. Honor Bound! FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2006 | THE WIRE FEATURES | PAGE 3 Fun on the water Coast Guard PSU-305 gave two families a tour of the Guantanamo Bay waters Feb.11. Photos by Army Spc. Timothy Book JTF-GTMO Public Affairs Office Roberta Ivey (left) and Jennifer Amaio (right) watch the kids and the bay from the bow of the boat. Ivey said they were moved by the fact the unit just arrived with Christmas only a few weeks away. “Being military wives, we know what it’s like when our hus- bands are away. We also wanted to give them a little back for what they do.” Laura Puchner also helped, but was not present for the ride. Amaio said they were additionally thankful for the Chief Petty Officer Dean Dillingham, coxswain, and Petty help they received from the unit with a recent boating incident. Officer 3rd Class John Tolson, boatswain’s mate, let the kids The unit came to help when the boat her husband, Tony, was on take turns at steering the boat. This was the unit’s way of overheated. He and Mark Ivey work at the Naval Hospital. thanking the Amaio and Ivey families for their time and ef- fort during the holiday season.