By Petty Officer 2nd Class Cheryl Dilgard
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affaiirs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander Rear Adm. Buzby awarded trooper of the Quarter recognition to Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class John Shriver on Jan. 29. Shriver arrived in Guantanamo in December, 2007, and has already risen to distinction in the ranks of the Joint Task Force.
When asked what set him apart from the others that applied for the trooper of the Quarter Shriver's humble response was "I don't know, honestly we are just a group of hard working people."
Shriver is a Coast Guard reservist from the Seattle area and while happy to be there, acknowledges missing home and family.
The other thing he misses is his favorite bar, a place where everyone knows his name and he can relax after work with a cold one. However, he is not missing the cloudy, rainy weather Seattle is famous for.
"I love the sunshine" he confessed with a beaming smile. In his civilian life, he is a construction contractor, but in the Coast Guard he serves as a boatswains mate, and is an accomplished coxswain. When asked what he enjoyed most about the Coast Guard, Shriver replied, "There is no greater enjoyment in the Coast Guard than driving a boat".
After high school Shriver found himself considering his options. His family had a varied history of military service. Growing up hearing his father's Coast Guard stories helped him make his decision. After talking with many recruiters from various services Shriver said the Coast Guard was indeed a good fit. "I enjoyed the mission of the Coast Guard," he said.
Shriver has served with Port Security Unit 313 since joining the Coast Guard six years ago. This is Shriver's second deployment in six years. From February, 2003, until August, 2003, he was with PSU 313 in Kuwait. There he became interested in Arab culture, which spurred him to obtain a bachelor's in Islamic studies from the University of Washington, where he also learned to speak Arabic. John confesses that his Arabic is rusty but he practices on his spare time. Eventually Shriver hopes to pursue a master's in either near-eastern studies or Islamic studies.
While on the job, Shriver spends time working on qualifications and training with his crew. He admits that an important part of his job is "getting people up to speed and advancing their careers."
Shriver enjoys his time here and says the best part of being in Guantanamo "is being coming to the island, he replied, "use it as an opportunity to improve yourself because you have nothing but time."
Upon returning to the Pacific northwest, Shriver hopes to find an east coast unit so his wife can pursue her master's degree at a college there. His long term goals for the Coast Guard are still undetermined. He is torn between his love of the Coast Guard and a strong desire to work for a non-government organization helping those who are less fortunate.
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