Service and Support to the JTF: a Behind the Scenes Look
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Published in the interest of personnel assigned to JTF Guantanamo and COMNAV Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “ Honor Bound to Defend Freedom ” Volume 3, Issue 23 Friday, May 9, 2003 Service and support to the JTF: A behind the scenes look Story & photos by the type of behind-the-scenes serv- Sgt. Erin P. Viola ice and support that impacts our daily lives. They are among the Imagine what it would be like many unsung heroes of Guan- here without water or electricity. tanamo Bay, who make our lives Imagine what it would be like easier and better every day. here if you couldn't get the sup- Allan Robichaux is a civilian plies you needed to get your job employee for the Public Works done. Imagine walking every- Department, and oversees the oper- where - no vehicles. Imagine ation of the desalinization and having no ammunition for your power plant that provides water and weapons. Things would be a bit electricity to the base. He has been challenging to say the least. working here for 10 years, and dur- Thanks to the service members ing that time he has seen many who are behind-the-scenes pro- improvements. viding service and support to Although the plant is called the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, we desalinization plant, that process is can wake up tomorrow morning, no longer used. A new system was take a shower, get some eggs at put in place in January 2000. "The the chow hall and carry a fully water production is made through loaded weapon. reverse osmosis. It is a water Department of Defense con- extraction process, where we take tractors at the desalinization sea water and actually put it plant, the Joint Task Force J4 and through a high pressure system and NAVBAS Weapons and Muni- membranes and extract the potable tions Department are just a few Spc. Jeremy Heckman repairs a bus seat that will be used in a Joint organizations here that provide Task Force vehicle used for transporting detainees. See SERVICE, page 4 Inside the Wire... Time for a check-up Hootie visits JTF Pedaling their way to fitness Page 6 Page 9 Page 11 Friday, May 9, 2003 Page 2 From the Top else proud. We hear about Individual integrity also and night – without complaint troopers who serve their nation plays an important part in the and often without recognition - because they want their family, overall success of our mission Surovey helps others because their friends, or their fellow here. The structural integrity it’s the right thing to do. More- American citizens to take pride of the JTF depends on individ- over, he has instilled that same in their accomplishments. Yet, uals making the right decisions attitude in the younger troops what about that individual and making a positive differ- who work with him. He has trooper? What makes them ence, thanks to their own per- not asked for accolades, but he proud of themselves? sonal integrity. A trooper’s works hard to make things run Integrity. Knowing they are integrity sets the foundation for smoothly. MG Geoffrey D. Miller doing the right thing - not the entire JTF. We don’t always see every- Commander because they are told to do it or The Maritime Safety and thing that goes into making the JTF Guantanamo because they want someone Security Team 91102 Coast JTF successful, but we cer- else to know of their accom- Guardsmen who work in the tainly benefit from the positive When things run smoothly plishments - but because deep four-person maintenance sup- effects of each individual. At here in Joint Task Force Guan- down, within themselves, they port section have taught them- the end of the day, when you tanamo, we don’t always see know it’s the right thing to do. selves the most efficient, time look in the mirror, only you can the intense behind-the-scenes Integrity may be one of the saving systems and they have decide what kind of person work that our service members Army values, but it’s certainly gone out of their way to obtain stares back. Be proud of who and NAVBAS personnel put not exclusive to soldiers. additional training. Not you are and what you do. By into ensuring that the JTF suc- Integrity is an essential quality because they were told to, but doing the right thing, you can ceeds. Day in and day out, they of any successful service mem- because they felt they should. take pride in yourself. Thanks do what’s right – even when no ber, regardless of branch. Navy Chief Ed Surovey works to your integrity, the JTF suc- one is around to see them. What troopers do when no one behind the scenes to make ceeds. Often, troopers do what’s else is looking is what truly medevacs and emergency Honor Bound! right in order to make someone defines their characters. leaves happen. Working day From the Field Do I need to be concerned about anti-terrorism when going on leave or pass? Avoid spending any delays in your travel in unsecured areas of room drapes. Keep your room neat and orderly, so if someone the airport. Do not hesitate to report suspicious or unusual activ- enters your room while you're out, and looks through your per- ity, and limit your conversations with other passengers to topics sonal effects, you will be able to notice what’s out of place. Secure that are not related to your military duties, where you are sta- doors and windows when you're not in the room, and use the dou- tioned, your mission, etc. Avoid long layovers, and never travel in ble lock on the doors when inside the room. Make it a point to uniform. observe the uniform and equipment that the hotel security guards Keep your military travel documents and identification in your wear, because sometimes terrorists will use the uniforms of staff, bag, and not on your person. Use civilian identification when pos- or other official looking uniforms to gain entry into areas where itive IDs are required. Your military ID should only be used at others cannot go. Finally, use only taxis that are called for you by military installations or when needed for official travel. the hotel staff to ensure that the taxi companies you use are legit- In your hotel, know the location of the emergency exits, stair- imate. If you have any questions, call 5061/5057. (Answer provided wells, fire evacuation plans, and emergency phones. Close the by Staff Sgt. Jeffery Agan, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection NCO) JTF-GGTMO Command The Wire Staff Contact us: Commander: The Wire NCOIC & Layout Editor: 5239/5241 (Local phone) 5426 (Local fax) MG Geoffrey D. Miller Staff Sgt. Stephen E. Lewald Joint Information Bureau/HQ Annex Joint Task Force CSM: Sports Editor: Online: CSM George L. Nieves Sgt. Bob Mitchell http://www.nsgtmo.navy.mil/jtfgtmo Public Affairs Officer: Staff writers and design team: Lt. Col. Barry Johnson Sgt. Benari Poulten The Wire is produced by the 362nd Mobile Public Affairs Deputy PAO / 362nd MPAD Commander Sgt. Erin P. Viola Detachment assigned to the Joint Information Bureau at Maj. Paul J. Caruso Spc. Delaney T. Jackson Joint Task Force Guantanamo. This publication is Command Information Officer / Editor: Spc. Alan L. Knesek printed under the provisions provided in Army Regulation Capt. Linda K. Spillane Spc. George L. Allen 360-1 and does not reflect the views of the Department Circulation: 2,100 copies Spc. Mark Leone of Defense or the personnel within. Page 3 Friday, May 9, 2003 Seabees provide a constructive boost to the JTF Story by Sgt. Benari Poulten more sched- uled." The Naval Mobile Construction Battal- Yeoman ion 21 (NMCB-21) Detachment, better 2nd Class known around these parts as the Seabees, (YN2) Tim has been hard at work building upon the Burkheiser, the solid foundation of Joint Task Force Guan- Seabees' tanamo. Quite literally. administrative As the JTF continues to make improve- petty officer- ments and expand, the Seabees have lent a in-charge, helping hand, assisting with construction believes that and support. A reserve unit based out of his unit not Lakehurst, N.J., the NMCB-21 Detach- only helps con- ment provides construction support for the struct the phys- entire Naval Base. Additionally, they ical landscape would help provide security, should the for the JTF, but need arise. So far, they have already had also con- a productive impact on the JTF's ability to tributes to the quickly and efficiently make improve- JTF's overall ments. morale. Most recently, MG Geoffrey Miller, "I see the Photo by JOSN David P. Coleman Equipment Operator Chief (SCW) Chris Walaszek uses a dumpy level to survey the Commander of the JTF, honored the Seabees as a topography of the bus turn around across the street from Camp Delta at Naval Base Seabees' contributions at a ceremony morale boost Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. EOC (SCW) Walaszek is a Seabee attached to Naval Mobile unveiling the just-completed deck of Camp for the JTF. Construction Battalion 21, a reserve unit based in Lakehurst, N.J., deployed to Guan- tanamo Bay for one year. The bus turn around is scheduled to be completed by mid- America's newest recreational facility - We just fin- August 2003. "Club Survivor." ished the deck The Seabees' own Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ron project, which will provide JTF members a did such a terrific job. They finished it in Gruzeksy enjoys the cooperative relation- place to relax and "kick-back" after work. about two weeks and it is top quality.