MAR. 30, 2012 • VOL. 69 • NO. 12 • NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 011-5399-4090 USS Elrod (FFG 55) Visits Naval Station Guantanamo Bay USS Elrod (FFG 55) visits Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for water, fuel and re-supply services. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate is conducting counter narcotics operations, supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF) in the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. MC(SW/AW) Justin Ailes Operation Martillo (Spanish for ‘Hammer’) is a U.S., Gazette Editor European, and Western Hemisphere partner nation effort U.S. Naval ship, currently supporting Joint Inter- targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along A agency Task Force South (JITF) counter narcotics the Central American isthmus. U.S. military participation operations in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is being led by JIATF South, a component of SOUTHCOM. area of responsibility visited Naval Station (NS) Guanta- Operation Martillo is a component of the U.S. government’s namo Bay, Mar. 27-30. coordinated interagency regional security strategy in sup- The USS Elrod (FFG 55), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class port of the White House Strategy to Combat Transnational frigate, was in port for fuel, water and re-supply services. Organized Crime and the U.S. Central America Regional The crew was also provided opportunities to enjoy Mo- Security Initiative. Fourteen countries are participating: rale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) activities and shop Canada, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, at the Navy Exchange. Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pana- “Elrod is deployed to the Fourth Fleet area in support ma, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. of Operation Martillo, a joint and inter-agency effort to JIATF is a multiservice, multiagency national task force stem the flow of drugs through the littorals of the -Ca which conducts counter illicit trafficking operations, in- ribbean,” said USS Elrod Commanding Officer, Cdr. John telligence fusion and multi-sensor correlation to detect, Callaway. “Visiting Guantanamo Bay is a great oppor- monitor, and handoff suspected illicit trafficking targets; tunity for crew rest and logistics in a port with superb promotes security cooperation and coordinates country MWR facilities. We appreciate the hospitality and tre- team and partner nation initiatives in order to defeat the mendous support available here.” flow of illicit traffic. PAGE 2•THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE GTMO’s Red Cross Host Ridgeline Hike MC2(SW/AW) Justin Ailes The 170th formed a group called the Trail Gazette Editor Blazers and took the lead in clearing and merican Red Cross station person- cleaning the trail. Anel and volunteers at Naval Station “The group has collectively contributed Guantanmo Bay Cuba, in coordination approximately 300 volunteer hours cleaning with Joint Task Force GTMO’s 170th Mili- and maintaining the trails,” Brock said. tary Police Battallion held a community More than 70 base residents participated hike, Mar. 24. in the hike, with approximately 50 volun- The three mile hiking event, held at the teers providing water throughout the course base’s Ridgeline Trail and was a little over and serving as trail safeties. three miles, provided community mem- “We wouldn’t have been able to host this bers an opportunity to show their support event without the volunteer and commu- SEAMAN PERSONNEL SPECIALIST for Red Cross services and to recognize nity support, and the assistance of event co- NYOME March as American Red Cross Month. organizer Army Sgt. 1st Class James Scott,” ALGARIN “The hike also introduced many of the said Brock. “The feedback we’ve received secondary trails, in the Ridgeline trail sys- from the hike was that the participants en- n Job/department: ESO/ tem to members of the community,” said joyed the course and had a great time hiking Milpers Clerk/Personnel Support event co-organizer Army Sgt. Dora Brock. through some challenging trails.” Detachment n Age: 19 n Home State: South Carolina n Hero: Mom and Grandmother n Quote: N/A n Favorite sports team: N/A n Favorite hobby: Cooking and shopping n Favorite book: A Walk To Community members participate in GTMO’s JTF 170th Military Police Battalion and American Red Cross Ridgeline Trail hike, Mar. 24. Remember The over three mile hike supported Red Cross services and invited participants to recognize March as American Red Cross Month. n Favorite movie: The Note- book called “Sex Signals.” n Favorite GTMO restaurant: GTMO CO Signs Sexual Sex Signals is a sexual assault prevention presenta- Cuban Club tion that incorporates improvisational comedy, educa- n Favorite musician: Katy Perry tion, and audience interaction. During the play, au- or Rihanna Assault Awareness dience members will be asked to provide solutions n Favorite TV show: Bridezillas for creating safer and healthier interpersonal sexual relationships and how they could positively intervene n Greatest passion: N/A Proclamation when they witness vulnerable situations that could n Currently working on: Enroll- Terence Peck lead to sexual assault. ing in school NS Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs Officer The play is scheduled at the Windjammer on April n How the NAVY has improved he Naval Station commanding officer, Capt. 1 at 2:30 p.m. and April 2 at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. her life: The Navy has taught me TKirk R. Hibbert signed a Sexual Assault “In addition to the three sex Signals shows in April, discipline, built my character, and Awareness Month (SAAM) proclamation, Mar. 26. some of the SAPR Victim Advocates and I will be allowed me to work with people Every year during April, activities are held na- manning an informational table at the NEX atrium,” from different walks of life tionwide to bring awareness and promote the said Susan K. Perez, Sexual Assault Response Coordi- n Sailor of the Week because: prevention of sexual violence through the use of nator, Fleet and Family Support Center, GTMO. She has a contagious ‘can-do’ at- special events and public education. The booth will be manned by Perez and two Victim titude. She strives to provide the The theme for 2012 is “Hurts one. Affects all: Advocates (VA) over three separate days to answer best service to every customer Preventing Sexual Assault is Everyone’s Duty.” GTMO residents questions related to sexual assault she comes in contact with. With- During April, the Fleet and Family Service Cen- and the SAPR Program. out her dedication, PSD would not ter will be sponsoring a number of activities to help On April 6, the booth will be manned from 2:30 p.m. have been able to administer over bring awareness to preventing sexual assaults. – 5 p.m.; April 9 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and April 400 advancement exams during the month of March One of the scheduled activities is a play 23 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. VOL. 69 • NO. 12 NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE COMMANDING OFFICER CAPT. KIRK HIBBERT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER TERENCE PECK EXECUTIVE OFFICER CMDR. WILLIAM RABCHENIA GAZETTE EDITOR MC2(SW/AW) JUSTIN AILES COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM (SW/AW/EXW) J.D. MCKINNEY, III PHOTOJOURNALIST MC2(SW/AW) JUSTIN AILES The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services with a circulation of 1,000. MAR. 30, 2012 • PAGE 3 Navy Concludes Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012 U.S. Fleet Forces fected and the potential for delays on adjacent highways and Public Affairs roads near naval installations. We also took many important he Navy wrapped up its largest annual security exer- steps to reduce the likelihood of gridlock.” Tcise today after a week of training designed to test the “I am very impressed with the professionalism and support service’s ability to respond to nation-wide threats to its instal- our Navy received from our civil partners around the country lations, units, personnel and families. The exercise, known as during this exercise,” said Adm. Harvey. “We began reaching Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield (SC-CS) 2012, was led by Com- out to state, local and tribal officials weeks ago to make sure mander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Navy In- everyone that might be affected by the exercise understood stallations Command (CNIC) and began March 19. our intentions and make them aware of how we could work “Our intent was to accurately simulate real-world conditions, together to and to assess how our forces operate in that environment,” said avoid problems. They really came through and did a superb Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., commander of USFF. “Overall, it was job!” a resounding success and a large part of that can be attributed The two exercises, each with a distinct focus, occurred si- to the lessons we’ve learned from previous years.” multaneously and trained and tested security force person- One of the takeaways from last year’s exercise was that sud- nel throughout a number of force-protection scenarios. These den increases in security could have a major impact on traffic scenarios ranged from identifying surveillance to large-scale, caused by personnel entering and exiting local bases under in- multifaceted threats originating from the sea and air.