Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Cheryl Dilgard | Jeff Agan assists in instructing scuba students working on their advance open water...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA – "When I was here the first time Cable beach had a lot more beach and better swimming. There was actually a diving board on the slab of concrete that is out there. Over the years and through the tropical storms the rocks have fallen and changed the landscape," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Agan.
Agan has been deployed to Guantanamo Bay three times. Over the years he has seen a number of changes in leadership, command structure and landscape. For a diver such as himself, possibly the most personal changes are the oceans landscape.
His first tour in Gitmo was in 1991 with the Haitian migration. In 2002 he deployed again to Gitmo to assist in the development of the detainee camps and the establishment of the Joint Task Force mission that is carried out today. His efforts from 2002 are still present here, where he finds himself once again deployed. This tour began for him in March. He is the non-commissioned officer in charge attached to the commission support group.
Agan, a soldier with 22-years of service under his belt has served on active duty, and as a reservist. Now he is full time with the reserves as active guard reserve. Prior to coming to Guantanamo he and his family were residing in Minnesota where he was a recruiter. Agan a father of three grown children and husband enjoys diving here and at home.
"I began diving when I was 13," said Agan. "Diving is something I thoroughly enjoy."
Agan, a member of Reef Raider's dive club, set a goal for this deployment to upgrade his scuba certification level. Currently he is working on his open water dive instructor license. He is scheduled to complete it this fall. Currently he is assisting in dive instruction. Over the years he has found that diving is a great way to see the wonders of the world while relaxing and leaving daily cares and stressors behind.
"Diving keeps me sane," he said.
Diving has given Agan a chance to see things others only dream about. His favorite dive spot is featured in the movie, "The Deep". "The Deep" was filmed in the British Virgin Islands at the site of the 'Wreck of the Rhone', a ship that sunk of the British Virgin Islands in 1867. The Wreck of the Rhone is noted throughout the British Virgin Islands as a great dive site.
"It's a challenging dive, but it is amazing there is so much to see," said Agan.
Back home in Minnesota Agan instructs divers although his adventures diving there are less desirable.
"My least favorite dive site is probably Square Lake in Minnesota, on a good day visibility is only about seven feet," said Agan.
When he is not diving Agan may be found working on homework. The life long student is completing his 3rd bachelor's degree, giving him a bachelor's degree in psychology, business and law enforcement.
Agan a career soldier isn't considering retirement yet. He is active and enjoying his deployment, and looking forward to his next dive.
http://www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2008 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 20914 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 165 |
This work, Diving with Jeff Agan, by PO2 Cheryl Dilgard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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