Making it (almost) Feel Like Home

Photo By Spc. Eric Liesse | Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Cuzco Barracks housing complex holds a large number of JTF junior enlisted personnel. The units are trailers divided into two separated living quarters with a shared bathroom, providing all needed furniture for the trooper. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detained enemy combatants, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released. JTF Guantanamo conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the Global War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. JTF Guantanamo conducts planning for and on order responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

10.31.2008

Story by Pfc. Eric Liesse 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

From Joint Task Force - Guantanamo Bay

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – When a soon-to-be Joint Task Force Guantanamo Trooper first gets his or her notice of temporary duty here, the same important questions always come up: What will my housing be like? Where will it be in comparison to my office, the gym or the Navy Exchange? What sort of things will be given to me? What will I have to purchase or bring?

Navy Lt. Joseph Singer, JTF housing officer, ensures all JTF troopers living outside of Camp America have their basic housing amenities, whether they are new officers staying in the Windward Loop housing complex or junior enlisted heading to the Cuzco Barracks neighborhood.

"My job is to make sure people are as comfortable as possible," said Singer. In addition to Cuzco and Windward Loop, Singer also oversees the JTF housing areas of Tierra Kay and the senior enlisted housing area of Bay Hill.

"If they're happy where they live, their morale is better; if their morale is better, they'll work better," said Singer, who took the position about six weeks ago and has a background in engineering.

In total, Singer controls 520 housing units. While Cuzco and Bay Hill all house one Trooper per unit, Windward Loop may house up to four per unit, and some Tierra Kay units hold up to six troopers per apartment. Singer said the exact trooper-to-unit numbers vary with individual deployment times and rotations.

Within all communal housing neighborhoods, Singer pointed out the need for keeping in mind common courtesies. He stressed a "friendly reminder for people to pick up their trash and to keep the noise down," noting posted quiet hours at housing complexes are from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. every night.

With items bought by JTF, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's Combined Bachelor Quarters employees hold scheduled drop-off times for JTF troopers to receive basic cleaning supplies such as sponges, toilet paper, air fresheners and other small items. These free-for-trooper supplies can be picked up at the delivery truck with just a signature and then used to help keep all living areas in good condition.

"We try to get all the comforts of home we can give them," said Singer. At Cuzco, new residents are furnished with a television, mini-fridge, microwave and bedding. Tierra Kay troopers have one – usually two – full-sized refrigerators for their apartments.

When a newly-opened unit doesn't hold all the basic amenities, CBQ maintenance is tasked by the JTF to remedy the situation.

Some renovation and small construction projects are currently in the works. Tierra Kay housing units have been under renovation for some time and are set to be finished in mid-December. Also, some roads around Cuzco and Bay Hill are in the works to be paved – especially the road leading up to and down from Bay Hill.

Singer added that it takes time for pavement projects because he must work with both NAVSTA and JTF Engineering offices because JTF doesn't have complete control of all the roads and parking lots in those housing areas.

Around Cuzco, three new pavilions are set to be erected on the southern outskirts of the housing complex. These will allow Cuzco residents to enjoy the sun and weather away from the Cuzco decks and possibly disturbing their neighbors.

Recently, Singer said he has seen repairs needed on small items around housing areas as a result of vandalism.

"It does suck up repair time, and it costs money," said Singer.

The troopers who live there during the next rotation are the ones who are most affected by the illegal and unneeded actions as they "are the ones who'll end up paying for it in the end," he said.

www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

• Date Taken: 10.31.2008
• Date Posted: 11.03.2008 08:56
• Story ID: 25846