Delivering boosts and smiles

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth | Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christian Jackson calculates postage for Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tania Gedeon at the Camp America post office, June 1. The post office provides mail services to Joint Task Force Guantanamo service members. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

06.04.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Justin Wheeler 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- Every day service members can look forward to receiving a piece of home through a service provided by the Joint Task Force Guantanamo postal clerks. Mail keeps morale up and gives service members an added push to stay focused on the mission.

The JTF post office in Camp America provides mail services for service members six days a week.

"Our overall mission is to supply all [service members] with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Marine Corps with an opportunity to stay connected with their family and friends," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Terry Alexander, JTF post office lead petty officer. "Our mission helps the overall JTF mission."

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class CaSaundra Montgomery considers postal service a necessity for service members.

"Mail builds morale," Montgomery said. "It shows that they're loved. For example, when [service members] receive a care package from someone they don't know with a message reading 'thank you.'"

Though postal clerks consistently work weekends, Montgomery feels rewarded knowing she brings happiness and excitement to her fellow service members.

"It's not bad to work on the weekends," Montgomery said. "Sometimes people are not able to make it to the post office the day prior, so they feel relieved to actually have another chance to send their mail. So it makes us feel good, too. It also makes the time go by faster while deployed."

Since she's been in the Navy, Montgomery has especially enjoyed her time at the JTF Guantanamo post office, providing a valuable service to the service members.

"I love it!" Montgomery said. "This is the best command I've ever worked for. We're really trusted to do our jobs efficiently."

Service members at the JTF are thankful for these services provided. Army Pfc. Kyle Wojcik, 525th Military Police Battalion, agrees that correspondence from home helps with deployment.

"It's a definite morale booster," Wojcik said. "Mail makes you feel a part of what's going on at home."

Since he's been with the 525th MP Battalion, Wojcik has received an assortment of goodies such as letters, pictures and food delivered from home.

"A remote control truck was my favorite thing that has been mailed here," Wojcik said. "I received it in March from my wife. She knew I wanted one and bought it for me as a surprise."

Mail is convenient, sometimes surprising and generally very helpful. In addition to boosting morale, mail services give the option to ship items that can't be found or purchased on island.

"It's convenient to have postal services," Alexander said. "If you can't buy something you want in GTMO then you have to buy it online. Those items come by mail."

• Date Taken: 06.04.2010
• Date Posted: 06.09.2010 10:46
• Story ID: 51123
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU