Public Affairs Soldier achieves standing

Photo By Maj. Gretel Weiskopf | Pfc. Eric Liesse, a photojournalist with the 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, stands with the tools of his trade, a Nikon D2H camera, a notepad and pen. Liesse was recently named Trooper of the Quarter for the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. 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.  

08.29.2008

Story by Sgt. Gretel Weiskopf 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

By Sgt. Gretel Sharpee
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Every three months, Troopers can be found studying pages and pages of military facts from important military historical events to current news topics and countless rules and regulations. For this quarter it wasn't any different, except for who won the junior Trooper of the Quarter title - for the first time in two years it was not a Coast Guard Trooper, or a Military Police Trooper but a Public Affairs Trooper.

"Basically, six weeks ago, my first sergeant and my squad leader told me they wanted me to study and compete for Trooper of the Quarter," said Pfc. Eric Liesse, photojournalist for the 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. "They said they tried to think of someone who was always willing to volunteer and help out in our unit and from that they picked me."

Each quarter, Troopers from around the Joint Task Force Guantanamo compete for junior and senior Trooper of the Quarter by answering questions in front of a board. The board consists of six senior enlisted leaders from the JTF and across all branches of service.

"I was told that while it is important to answer the questions correctly, it is more important to have good military bearing and be confident in your answers," said Liesse, who has been in the Wisconsin National Guard 16 months.

Before entering the Army, Liesse completed one semester of college at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, studying film.

"I have always been a big movie geek- film and music have been some of the only things I have really been passionate about," said Liesse.

But when asked why this film student wanted to join the Army, a different passion subtly surfaced.

"I thought about joining the military ever since I was a teenager, but when I started hearing on the news about Soldiers younger than me being injured in Iraq, it really hit me that I was in a rut and needed to make a change," said Liesse.

When Liesse isn't studying for the next board, he can be found writing the movie reviews and other various articles for the JTF publication, The Wire.

"This board has given me more confidence in everything I do and I think that will help me in everything I do in my military career."

• Date Taken: 08.29.2008
• Date Posted: 09.04.2008 15:14
• Story ID: 23207