Placing others before self

Courtesy Photo | Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Yvette Jackson, leading petty officer for Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Detainee Operations Center. Jackson, leads the JTF's United Through Reading program which allows deployed service members to read children's book on video and have it sent home for families to enjoy. 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.  

01.09.2009

Courtesy Story

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

By the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs Office

In the military, we can be influenced by those around us, whether it be good or bad. Navy Master at Arms Petty Officer 1st Class Yvette Jackson is one of the positive influences to those around her.

Here on a permanent party tour since August 2006, Jackson has seen changes in both Joint Task Force Guantanamo's infrastructure and troopers.

"I've seen the transformation from the Army to the Navy, Camp Six opened up – which is a good thing – and I've seen good people come and go," Jackson said. She first came to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for a Navy Individual Augmentee mission from March until October 2005, for a change of pace after spending time as a dog handler.

"I actually volunteered, I wasn't volun-told. It's a big change, but I actually wanted to come here and wanted the change," Jackson said.

Jackson starts her days at 6 a.m. compiling slides for the daily JTF leaders' meeting and ensuring that the information is accurate, clear and concise.

Each week, Jackson performs an equipment custody check, making sure that all equipment is properly accounted for. As the lead petty officer for both the Detainee Operations Center and Escort Control, she also wears an administrative hat by dealing with award submissions, leave paperwork and other administrative duties.

With her ever bubbling personality, Jackson says she tries to approach each day with a smile and attempts to make everyone else's day around her a little better. She puts out candy and makes sure that coffee is out for everyone that comes in to help in making their day a little brighter.

"I'm like the mom almost, because I know that if they're having a bad day, I'm probably going to have a bad day," Jackson said.

Jackson's Navy career has spanned 16 years, and her main goal is to make chief and help those junior to her. In her down time, Jackson tries to better herself and others by attending college, studying for the Navy Chief's exam and mentoring junior personnel.

Another of Jackson's focuses is the United Through Reading program, where troopers can be video-recorded reading books to their families. The recording is then put on a disk and sent home with the book for them to enjoy.

"[The program] is for all branches, I don't discriminate. I love the people that come and do the readings, because it's for a really good cause," Jackson said.

Jackson said sometimes she feels that she focuses more on helping others than she helps herself, but trying to be a good role model is very important to her. Jackson figures to stay in past the 20-year mark if she feels she can still help any up-and-comers.

"My advice to anyone is to never let anyone tell you that you can't do something," Jackson said. "Research it and find out for yourself, then make your own decision."

• Date Taken: 01.09.2009
• Date Posted: 01.14.2009 15:04
• Story ID: 28839