Airmen supporting JTF in Cuba

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  • By Master Sgt. Tammy Cournoyer
  • Air Force Print News
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba --  A handful of airmen are among those supporting Joint Task Force-Guantanamo charged with supporting the detainee mission here.

More than 2,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and airmen are supporting the war on terrorism by providing humane treatment and care to approximately 660 detainees, including three juvenile enemy combatants, from 42 nations. Although airmen make up only about 2 percent of the joint task force, they are an important part of the mission.

“The Air Force is a contributing service like the other services,” said Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, commanding general for the task force. “They bring a special skill set. They’re part of our intelligence capability. They’re part of our communications capability. They come together with other parts of the joint task force to be able to leverage their special skills to make us that much better.”

One of those serving in Cuba is Airman 1st Class Everett Brown, a services worker from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Currently in his first month of a four-month deployment, Brown is one of several people responsible for preparing culturally certified detainee meals and serving them within the detention facilities of Camp Delta. He has become used to coming face-to-face with the detainees.

“Since we know what happened with the terrorist attacks and everything, it’s sort of awkward at first, but you get used to it,” Brown said. “(You) just don’t talk to the detainees when you serve them.”

Talking to the detainees is forbidden for most people, but one of those whose job it is to speak with the enemy is a lieutenant known only as Mohammed for security reasons. Born and raised in Iraq, Mohammed came to the United States as a refugee a year after the 1991 Gulf War. Now an Arabic linguist in the Air Force, Mohammed spends most of his 12-hour shifts dealing directly with the detainees in the camps. He said he is not the most popular man on the cell block.

“What strikes me is that some of them are young, but they have a lot of hate in their heart,” said Mohammed, who fields detainee questions and takes requests for such things as medical attention, books and magazines. “Some of (the detainees) get upset with me. Some of them consider me as a traitor.”

The abuse was hard on him at first.

“In the beginning, I was really angry because of the things I heard from (the detainees) and the way they treated me,” Mohammed said. He looked to other joint task force people for support and guidance. They urged him to not take the taunts personally and gave him tips for handling them. “I’m following those guidelines they gave me, and I think I’ll be successful.”

Living and working in a joint environment is a new experience for many of the airmen.

“You get to learn a lot about the other services,” said Staff. Sgt. Todd Cook, who is deployed from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. His job is to in-process newcomers as part of the Joint Personnel Reception Center. “You get to see how what you do in the Air Force compares to the other services and how they go about their day-to-day business.”

For 1st Lt. Audra Lyons, also deployed from Wright-Patterson AFB, this is her first deployment, and she said it is helping her become a better officer.

“I love the joint environment, and I’m learning from it,” said Lyons, who is the deputy chief of the reception center. “There is a fantastic team dynamic, and I’m learning a lot about leadership.”

The importance of the overall mission is not lost on the troops serving the joint task force. Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. John VanNatta believes the mission is not only important for America, but for people worldwide.

“One, it’s removing terrorists from society where they cannot do acts of self-harm,” said VanNatta, who in the civilian world is a correctional facility warden in Indiana. “Second, it’s providing intelligence and information that has stopped a number of terrorist attacks that would have occurred worldwide.”

VanNatta said the mission can serve as a preventive measure for those people thinking of taking part in a terrorist attack. He believes the task force proves there is a force to be reckoned with, and the enemy can be pursued and removed.

Capt. William Vivoni, a budget officer deployed from Los Angeles AFB, Calif., volunteered for duty here.

“This is a very unique mission with the detention operations,” he said. “For me, it’s been an honor, and I’ve been very proud to do this.”

Task-force life is rewarding for Marine Private 1st Class Mike Mullen, a mortarman deployed from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“It’s a good feeling to be working together and actually doing something,” he said. “It just feels like you’re making a difference.”

While the work is satisfying, many task force troops are enjoying the conditions off duty. Tents have given way to hardened structures, including some renovated Navy family housing units, and there are plenty of activities on the island to keep people busy.

For Airman 1st Class Charity Horina, deployed from Kirtland AFB and doing administrative work for the mission, her first deployment could have been worse.

“I think it’s way better than being in the desert somewhere,” said Horina, who is finding time to take college courses and enjoys island life. “Look around, it’s beautiful!”

The base offers endless beaches and the warm water of the Caribbean Sea. Deployed servicemembers can enjoy sailing, snorkeling, surfing and scuba diving among other off-duty activities.

Quality living is one benefit the commanding general said he believes the people deserve. Task force operations have come a long way since starting in January 2002 with bare-base facilities.

“… We worked very hard to ensure that our commitment to the (troops mirrored) their commitment to winning the global war on terror,” Miller said.

The 40-plus airmen at Guantanamo Bay who are helping develop intelligence and detaining enemy combatants are earning that support by making the mission a success.

“… The Air Force personnel here are key and essential elements of ensuring that success,” Miller said. “We get better every day, and the airmen bring special skills to help us do that. That’s the value they bring. Lots of energy. Lots of dedication. We’re enormously proud of them. They make a difference for us every day.”