August 11, 2017• VOL. 74 • NO. 47• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 757-458-4520
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Congratulations to the NAVSTA Sailors and Civilians of the Quarter for the 3rd Quarter 2017
CS1 Rodney Johnson, Sailor of the Quarter
ND2 Gordon Brown, Junior Sailor of the Quarter
BUCA Logan Weber, Blue Jacket of the Quarter
David Herman, NSGB Fire Department Training Chief, Senior Civilian of the Quarter
VOL. 74 • NO. 47
COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
Guantanamo Bay Gazette
CAPT. DAVID CULPEPPER CMDR. DENNIS MOJICA CMDCM (SW/AW) THOMAS MACE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER PHOTOJOURNALIST EDITOR/LAYOUT
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
MS. JULIE ANN RIPLEY PO2 JOHN PHILIP WAGNER, JR. PO2 JOHN PHILIP WAGNER, JR.
The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. 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 535.
CPO 365 Phase 2: Initiation Has Begun
August 11, 2017• PAGE 3
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Monique K. Meeks, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs
On August 3, the wait was over for first class petty officers throughout the Navy. One by one, many began receiving the news that they had been selected to the rank of chief petty officer. Rating exams were now a thing of the past, but these Sailors were just beginning to learn that the real tests lie ahead of them, not behind. On that day here in Guantanamo Bay, Hospital Corpsman First Class Katherine Kahele, Hospital Corpsman First Class Steven Moore, Information Systems Technician First Class Christopher Strysick, Master-at-Arms First Class Brian Speight, and Master-atArms First Class Daniel Wiggs were the ones to receive that news. “These outstanding Petty Officers were chosen by the Navy to join our coveted senior enlisted ranks as Chief Petty Officers. Over the next 6 weeks, they will be physically and mentally tested, before ultimately being accepted as not only an E-7, but as a Chief. That is when the hard work begins,” said Command Master Chief Tom Mace, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Command Master Chief. With that happy news comes more – more training, more expectations, and more responsibilities. To prepare these Sailors for the demands they will face and will be expected to meet with the same success as many Chiefs who have come before them, they are all required to complete CPO365 Phase II, a six-week training process that is led by current chief petty officers. The goals of CPO 365 Phase II include congratulating, welcoming, inspiring, improving, instilling trust, and motivating the CPO selectee while simultaneously teaching leadership, building esprit de corps, promoting unity, building teamwork, and occasionally having some fun in the process. Selectees join group physical fitness routines (moving to CPO Pride/Navy Pride cadence calls), construct charge books, read about our naval heritage, and participate in core values discussions, civic and community projects, and various leadership and
teamwork training efforts. The season ends with a formal advancement ceremony on September 16 each year. In Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John M. Richardson’s cover letter to the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy’s (MCPON) CPO 365 Guidance he recognized the ability of the program to not only build future chief petty officers, but also to make the current chiefs’ mess and all Navy leaders better. “Three parts of the guidance particularly resonate with me: the call to be humble and confident, the call to always be learning, and the call to be our own toughest critics and to be self-correcting,” said Richardson. “The centrality of the Chief’s Mess in setting the example is amazingly important. More than anybody else, our Sailors look first and most often to you to see how things should be done.” In his FY18 CPO 365 Guidance, the MCPON pointed out that this year would be the first year in 14 years that “initiation” would be allowed as a term to define the process. “We are initiating new Chief Petty Officers, and providing a roadmap for people to be successful in life – whatever the course,” said Steven S. Giordano, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. While providing guidance for future training, Giordano highlighted the importance of remembering where the Chiefs had been and how they’d come to earn the reverence that exists today. “The traditional reverence ascribed to Chief Petty Officers exists only as a result of the attitude and performance of those Chiefs who have gone before us, and we owe it to them and successive generations to maintain the ability to continue this vital process,” said Giordano. “CPO 365 gives us an avenue to impart the true weight and responsibility of a Chief Petty Officer, knowing our true legacy is determined by those we lead today.”
NSGB Celebrates the United States Coast Guard Birthday By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr.
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Joint Task Force Guantanamo Maritime Security Detachment (MARSECDET) and United States Coast Guard Air Operations Detachment (USCGAVDET) celebrated the USCG’s 227th birthday at the very first Coast Guard Ball at NSGB’s Windjammer ballroom, Aug. 5. The USCG has had many missions over the years, including acting as Revenue Cutter Service, Bureau of Steam Ships, Bureau of Lighthouses, search and rescue stations and missions, counterterrorism and counter-narcotics operations, as well as numerous other missions that have all morphed the Coast Guard into what it is today. The USCG began under the direction of the Department of the Treasury because their primary mission was to build revenue, transitioned to the newly-formed Department of Transportation in1967, and then in 2003, they transitioned to the Department of Homeland Security. “We were excited to show off what the Coast Guard does, and let people know how we protect U.S. waterways,” said Chief Storekeeper David Knapp, USCG Air Operations Detachment, Guantanamo Bay. “I was excited to be part of this opportunity here at Guantanamo Bay. Knapp explained that between the wide array of
missions NSGB’s Coast Guard contingents provide and their frequent personnel rotations, they haven’t had the chance to have a ball here before. “This past weekend was the first-ever Coast Guard ball at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,” said Knapp. “You will see a lot of the same traditions as any other ball here, but with a Coast Guard spin.” The permanent party AVDET and the MARSECDET joined forces to highlight the mission of the USCG. “The Coast Guard was created by Alexander Hamilton by an act of Congress so that we could collect revenue from ships that were pulling into port, originally called the Revenue Cutter Service because our job was to collect revenue,” said Knapp. “More recently we have done more law enforcement and joint operations, but we still stick with the old traditional mission.” In the first part of 2017, the Coast Guard at NSGB has seized more than 20,000 pounds of interdicted drugs (mainly cocaine and marijuana) and have transported more than150 Coast Guard detainees to the United States for prosecution. “I feel that Naval Station Guantanamo Bay supports us,” said Knapp. “Our ships are out sailing the Caribbean and NSGB assists us with providing fuel, and maintenance capabilities. It’s always nice to pull into a friendly port, and it’s definitely friendly thanks to port operations and the other base entities.”
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Implementing Preventive Health Practices in Daily Life Lt. Mark Debano, NHGB Optometry/Radiology Department Head
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In today’s busy world, it’s easy to forget about taking care of the body. Preventative health measures can be put into place from sunrise to sunset. They can also be practiced in all places and at all stages of life. For many, the early morning routine include eating breakfast. When preparing a meal, remember fruits and vegetables should make up half the plate and half of grains consumed should be whole, unprocessed grains. Sugars and fats should be kept to a minimum. Eating healthy portions and selecting healthy foods are good habits that assist in avoiding obesity or being overweight. Those conditions makes a person susceptible to many other health conditions such as asthma, heart attack, high blood pressure and cholesterol, COPD, sleep apnea, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Adding moderate-intensity aerobic activity to healthy eating habits also provide substantial benefits for overall good health and mood. Exercising for 150 minutes per week, which can be done in as little as 30 minutes a day for five days has been proven to be beneficial. Another early morning preventive health routine should include brushing teeth. A healthy mouth can lower the risk of bad breath, cavities, some cancers and gum disease. All forms of tobacco and vaping pose significant risks to good health and should be stopped. The American Dental Association recommends flossing daily and brushing teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day for two minutes. During the day, Guantanamo Bay residents can enjoy the sunshiny warm weather, however, being closer to the equator can create an increased risk to some cancers
due to the intensity of the sun. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer mostly attributed to overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light, is the sixth most common cancer and will impact nearly one in 30 people. To decrease the risk, limit time outdoors during peak hours of the day, wear a long sleeve shirt, pants and a hat to cover most of the skin. Apply at least SPF 15 sunscreen to any exposed skin. Be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after getting wet. Preventative health measures can even be implemented at bedtime. Healthy sleep habits include getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night, limiting naps to less than 20 minutes during the day and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon. Also be sure to turn off technology and blue-light emitting screens at least 30 minutes before bed. Following these bedtime tips will lead to focus, improved cognition, memory formation and mood while decreasing levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Vaccines help save millions of lives each year and can be one of the most reliable ways to avoid contracting certain diseases. Children should receive a series of immunizations according to the recommendations of a pediatrician. Males and females between 11 and 12 years old are recommended to be vaccinated against HPV, a virus which has been shown to cause multiple types of cancers. People of all ages should receive their annual influenza vaccination prior to the start of the flu season, which can strike as early as October. Be sure to discuss with a doctor important age and genetic preventative health measures during annual wellness exams. This might include a pap smear, mammogram, prostrate exam or colorectal cancer screening with a colonoscopy. Guantanamo Bay will not be in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. However, residents will witness a partial eclipse, approximately 70 percent between 1 pm and 3 pm on Monday, August 21. At no point during the eclipse will it be safe to view the eclipse with the naked-eye, sunglasses, binoculars, or a telescope. Doing so can lead to serious eye damage or blindness. If you wish to view the eclipse, please do so indirectly with specially made ‘eclipse glasses’ or with a pin-hole projector. For additional information contact Dr. Debano, Optometry Clinic at 72250.
Preparing for the New School Year
August 11, 2017• PAGE 7
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr., NSGB Public Affairs
On August 28, children at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay will begin classes at W.T. Sampson Elementary/ High School. As parents and teachers alike begin to prep for the upcoming school year, the School Liaison Office (SLO) is busy making sure that the students in the community have all the learning assets they may need at their disposal. One of those learning assets is the academic resources room at the Chapel Annex on Chapel Hill. The academic resource room is a collection of materials that are available to everyone to augment a student’s needs, whether they be just starting preschool or already in college. “People are allowed to go and use the material during the day, or they can check out resources almost like a library,” said Bill Mittenzwey, School Liaison Officer. As the school year kicks off, there are a few other things parents should know. If you are currently looking to enroll your children into W. T. Sampson Elementary/ High School, here is a list of things that you need to have with you when you enroll your child: Registration Package, SF 50, passport, immunization records, orders,
birth certificate and housing letter. If you are looking for Sure Start information, the registration/application is at the school office and students must be four years of age by Sept. 1. There is a scheduled Open House, Aug. 24, 3:30pm to 5:30pm. For more information on anything school-related, make sure you visit Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s website and click on the School Liaison Officer link under the Fleet and Family Readiness tab or click here for direct access to the page: https://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/ installations/ns_guantanamo_bay/ffr/school-liaison.html
Are You Ready for the Solar Eclipse Across America?
ON AUGUST 21, A SOLAR ECLIPSE WILL ENVELOP THE NATION. HERE’S THE BUZZ: This will be the first total solar eclipse to touch the U.S. mainland since 1979 and the first to cross from coast to coast since 1918
The partial eclipse will last between two and three hours, and the total eclipse (within the path) will last just under three minutes
Tens of millions of people will experience total eclipse, while hundreds of millions more will see the partial eclipse
The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. will occur on April 8, 2024
THE AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION (AOA) OFFERS THESE TIPS TO SAFELY VIEW THE CELESTIAL EVENT OF THE DECADE: DON’T look directly at the sun without eye protection, even briefly, except during total totality
DO consider purchase of specially made ‘eclipse glasses’ or other ISO-certified filters
DON’T use sunglasses, photographic film, neutral density filters, smoked glass or other materials
Learn more by visiting aoa.org/2017Eclipse or eclipse.aas.org.