Photo By Spc. Therell Frett | Joint Task Force Guantanamo Deputy Commander, Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Stevenson,...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — The Joint Detention Group conducted its annual 2.5-mile Fun Run, June 26. JDG Commander, Army Col. Stephen E. Gabavics, and Joint Task Force Guantanamo Deputy Commander, Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Stevenson, led the formation of Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers as part of Gabavics’ final day in command.
JTF Troopers in attendance shared why the event was important to them as Soldiers and members of the JDG.
“It’s a farewell to our JDG Commander and a show of esprit de corps—a changing of the guard that’s necessary for group cohesion,” a JTF Trooper said. “And what better way to say farewell than with some high-speed Army training?”
“Yes, we had to get up early,” another Trooper shared, “but it’s a great chance to say goodbye to Col. Gabavics. Plus, we don’t get to do things as the entire JDG often, and it’s empowering to just run and have fun with each other.”
Following the run, Gabavics gave an informal farewell to the Soldiers of the JDG.
“First off, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming out here for a little run this morning,” Gabavics said. “I want to take the opportunity, also, on my last day in command, to thank you all for what you do every single day. It has been an absolute honor and privilege, these last two years, to serve as the Joint Detention Group Commander and work with fantastic Soldiers like all of you.”
“What you do every single day is incredibly important to our Nation on a strategic level, by maintaining the detention facilities here,” he continued. “What you do every single day is incredibly important and I thank you.”
“More than anything else, having had the opportunity to be here for two years, I’ve been able to have about 3,800 Soldiers rotate through the Joint Detention Group,” Gabavics said. “I only wish I could have gotten to know you all, because it is an honor to serve with every single one of you…I want you to be proud of what you do every single day. Some of you just got here, some of you have a couple months left—you are all away from home and you are all making a difference.”
“It’s been an honor. Thank you very much,” Gabavics concluded. “Now, if you all want to go have some additional physical training with your unit—it’s your call.”
Gabavics’ final remarks were met with shouts of “Hooah!” and apprehensive laughter.
The JDG will bid farewell to Gabavics and welcome incoming JDG Commander, Col. Steven G. Yamashita during a change-of-command ceremony, June 27.
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2018 13:27 |
| Story ID: | 288937 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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