Amazing Base Races Through GITMO

Photo By Maj. Gretel Weiskopf | The first-place winners of the Amazing Base race, held April 12. From left: Clessie Simmons, Mathew Vollner and Paul Lafrain. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe and humane care and custody of detained enemy combatants. The JTF conducts interrogation operations to collect strategic intelligence in support of the Global War on Terror and supports law enforcement and war crimes investigations. JTF Guantanamo is committed to the safety and security of American service members and civilians working inside its detention facilities.  

04.18.2008

Story by Sgt. Gretel Weiskopf 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

By Gretel Sharpee
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – More than 60 Amazing Base participants raced over Gitmo Saturday, launching water balloons at Iguana Park or playing horse shoes at Kittery Beach. The event, organized through the 1st Class Petty Officer's Association, challenged each team of four to complete various tasks at stations around Gitmo to receive a clue that would move them on to the next station.

"Considering this is the 'Mecca' of MWR activities, you have to be creative," said Dean Paraskeva, one of the main organizers of the Amazing Base. "And, why not take advantage of what the base has to offer?"

The Amazing Base started with all of the teams gathered at the Downtown Lyceum for a brief reminder of the rules of the race and issuing the first clue. Once the teams had their clue, they started solving it and driving to the station it revealed.

The clues themselves challenged each team. Some clues were written in Latin, some were rhymed after the location they stated, and some were pictures cut apart into a puzzle.

Stations were scattered throughout Gitmo and varied from the statue outside the Physical Therapy clinic to Windmill Beach, forcing participants to spend the time traveling from one station to the next.

At each station an event had to be completed before the team could receive its next clue. Events included everything from completing a hand-held trivia game or spinning a hula hoop for one minute to going down the slide at the Windjammer pool and swimming one lap.

"Having to make up an impromptu song was my favorite event," commented Tony Vader, from team Haad-Yeses. "But everything was well put together and we just had a blast."

The Amazing Base event took most of the morning Saturday. The final clue led competitors to Cable Beach, where a cookout awaited.

"Our biggest concern in planning this event was safety, and my main concern was everyone having fun," said Paraskeva. "We made sure teams wouldn't have to drive through neighborhoods to get to each station."

The Amazing Base race could only accommodate 15 teams of four, and coordinators had to turn away almost five teams.

"Another Amazing Base will be coming very soon, and we definitely plan on making it just a little bit tougher," said Paraskeva.

• Date Taken: 04.18.2008
• Date Posted: 05.28.2008 11:45
• Story ID: 19878