ASK THE CHIEF MAC(SW) Richard DeMille Assistant Security Officer "Drink responsibly. Look out for your shipmates and avoid conflict with those Gaze tte who elect not to drink responsibly." my* Vol. 53 No. 35 Friday, September 6, 1996 New chief's club product of group effort helped and all are welcome." J02 Mitchel Bone During this massive self-help project, the volunteers retired the kitchen, Gazette put new carpet in the main room and moved a 700-pound bar from Marblehead Bowling ,xxx The Goat Locker officially opened its doors for business last night Lanes. On top of all this, every inch of the after only three weeks of preparation. The Goat Locker is the new Chief facility was painted and thoroughly cleaned Petty Officer's club located in the by crews working after work and on the Windjammer Community Center. weekends. The new club was remodeled, "What we did with this new club really redesigned and constructed from a shows how the chiefs here can come together completely volunteer work force of asacmuiy, icelsad W e chiefs, civilian equivalents, spouses very ambitious goal and met it. A lot of and a few children. people were surprised we could pull it off . In three short weeks, they but we weren't." CMC(SCI9 Ross turned the unused dining room and The project was completed on a rush Culbertson NMCB 7, kitchen of the old Pizza Salubre res- schedule for several reasons. Mitchell said taurant into a functional recreation the new facility allows Gitmo's chiefs to have unit at the Goat Locker. facility for chiefs, civilian and con- a place to come together as a community. tractor equivalents and spouses. The new facility will also serve as the forum for the rocking reception JOC(SW) Doug Coulter and Evertonof Gitmo's eight chief selectees on Sept. 16. EOC(SCW) Chad Mitchell, Chief Not only was the construction and cleaning of the club done with an Petty Officer's Association presi- bartendercelebrates opening all volunteer force, but the daily operation of the club is also conducted by dent and vice president respectively, night at the Goat Locker volunteers. estimate over 1,600 hours were de- Mitchell said all the employees, from the manager to the clean-up crew, voted by volunteers to the club over the past weeks. will be working solely for tips. "But, this was not a CPOA group and it is not a CPOA run club," "We'll have two tip jars in the club. One strictly for the bartender, and Coulter said. "It is a chiefDs project that CPOA initiated and all chiefs one for everyone else to share," Coulter said. Naval Base Gitmo awarded Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Special Operations Service ribbon Guantanamo Bay - U.S. Na- grants and provided refugee assis- training superior fleet support. forcement Administration and U.S. val Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba tance to over 40,000 Cubans flee- The SOS was extended to in- Coast Guard resulting in the inter- was recently awarded two Coast ing political persecution and eco- clude the time period from Nov. 5, diction of millions of dollars of il- Guard decorations: the Meritorious nomic deprivation in communist 1994 to Feb. 8, 1996. This is an legal drugs and contraband. The Unit Commendation (MUC) and the Cuba. Additionally the Naval Base extension, not a new award. Those base performed flawlessly in con- Special Operations Service ribbon directly aided U.S. Coast Guard previously authorized to wear the tributing much needed radar sup- (SOS). cutters operating in the Caribbean SOS for service during this time port, a holding facility for suspected The MUC is a new award pre- in support of Operations Able Man- period are not now authorized to add trafficers and aided in search and sented to the base for its exception- ner, Able Vigil, and Support De- a star. During this time, the base seizure of suspected drug carrying ally meritorious service in support mocracy, which were highly suc- demonstrated unwavering vigilance, vessels. The resounding success of of essential operations of utmost im- cessful in the interdiction of Haitian dedication and professionalism in this operation is a direct result of the portance to the interests of the and Cuban Migrants and enforce- support of U.S. Coast Guard opera- dedication of the Naval Base. United States from June 1, 1994 to ment on the UN embargo sanction tions in the Caribbean area of re- COMNAVBASE, CAPT Jim Feb. 8, 1996. During this time, the against Haiti. The Naval Base was sponsibility. The base provided Cannon, said at quarters that base base was responsible for construct- also commended for its unwavering around the clock counter-narcotics personnel stationed in Guantanamo ing and maintaining a humanitarian effort to provide the best possible tactical and logistical support to the Bay during the stated times are au- relief center for 15,000 Haitian mi- support to U.S. policy while main- U.S. Customs Service, Drug En- thorized to wear the decorations. GITMO Stolen Goods I intend to start publishing the description and serial numbers of Here now. all gear stolen on the base. We are also looking into x-raying or pre- sealing inspections of all packages shipped off the base. This has re- the news ally gotten out of hand. Fax ma- chines, TVs, radios, computers, . are all missing, and I intend to catch CAPT(Sel) Carl Albury, the thieves. I could use your help. Chief Staff Officer, If you buy gear, you need to check Naval Base serial numbers first. If you buy it, and it is "HOT" then you are deal- ing in stolen goods and will lose the gear and face possible charges. Heroes of the Week Think before you buy. If you see The Ordnance Department did a super job on the Explosive Safety anything suspicious, please call se- Inspection last week. It was major task to get ready but the inspection curity. team gave the base all thumbs up for a job well done. Just a few weeks ago this same team failed a major base in the states. Great job guys. Base Closure Information Following right behind is the Port Services Department that has made a There will be a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, and I encour- major turn around in the condition of small craft. Again well done on age you to attend and ask questions. It will be at the Windjammer and all your inspection. department heads and tenant commands will be represented. Just a few words on base closure/downsizing; we have fought to do what is right for Bumper Cars/Trucks the base and its people for nearly two years now. It has not been fun, but Another week and more carnage on the highways of Gitmo. I know we have not given up nor will we. Are there cuts coming? Yes. Will they that government vehicles do not belong to you, but you are responsible for affect you? Maybe but we will work to minimize the impact. The trick is damage to them. Look before you back or pull out. Stationary objects are to downsize without sending people home against their will. We can do not to play bumper cars with. One of our real experts in the collision much of it by not filling jobs as they become vacant and some by reduc- derby of a few weeks ago will be paying big bucks for his fun. tions in temporary hires. Military downsizing will come at rotation time. How much and when is still up in the air? Our job is to make it as Less Fights and More Responsibility painless and smart as we can. Ideas and suggestions from you are solic- It looks as though the presence of senior personnel in the Barrel Club ited. and the actions of responsible personnel have quieted the place for the present. Keep it up. By the way, it has been a few months since I spoke Back From Jamaica of the removal of intoxicated personnel from flights. Well I guess last The weather was fine and the sea great. Seventeen hours to get there Friday two personnel were removed from the AMC flight and escorted to and nineteen hours back. Climbed the falls and road the rapids. Sold the the brig because they were too drunk to fly. I understand that the flight people on Icehouse beer and bought trinkets. Did not purchase any is- was a rough one, and we prevented them from getting sick all over the lands but am looking at a great deal. Natives friendly and industrious. plane on the way to Norfolk. As it turned out, their transfer was delayed Recommend others visit. a few days. Colas paving Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, schedule The Naval Base First Class Petty Officers Association held a canned food and clothing drive for needy families on base at the The following is the upcoming Navy Exchange Atrium last week. The FCPOA would like to thank schedule of paving projects. everyone who donated to the cause. Your donations immediately went to use. For those of you who did not get a chance to donate and PSD/PWD Parking Lot would like to do so, you may take any items to the Navy Family Sept. 2 - 10 Service Center or contact me at 5000. This program is a great way to Bldg 740 Parking Lot show our support to shipmates who need our help. Again, thanks to Sept 11 - 12 all those who donated and all those who volunteered their time to Parking lot at AV 33 collect these items.