I got my next duty assignment to GITMO - do you have experiences to share?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 02:32:07 -0400

Has anyone been there or know someone who has? Have they even released the ban off Cuba?

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 26 at 2015 2:53 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 26 May 2015 02:53:43 -0400

Don't drop the soap. Just kidding. I know several Soldiers who recently came back from their. They said its very nice. You have your AAFES fast food places, nice rooms, and of course you get the internet.

Response by SFC Osvaldo Vazquez made May 26 at 2015 5:59 AM

SFC Osvaldo Vazquez — Tue, 26 May 2015 05:59:49 -0400

I would have to ask what is your MOS. but having been a medic there I don't think I will ever have a BEST duty assignment ever!... To me it's the best kept secret in the army minus the restrictions but with being able to take leave mid tour is not a big deal. Spear fishing, scuba, fishing and living in the TK (actual houses in 4 person per house- 4 bedroom house) is like "the real world GTMO".

It's al what you it but I had an awesome time...

Response by SPC David Hannaman made May 26 at 2015 8:05 AM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 26 May 2015 08:05:03 -0400

Sounds like an awesome PCS to me!

Response by CSM Michael Evans made May 26 at 2015 6:18 PM

CSM Michael Evans — Tue, 26 May 2015 18:18:03 -0400

Took my entire company there in early 2002 for a few months working in the camp. Great time shared by all and beautiful area. Learn to scuba dive....its simply beautiful there. Enjoy!

Response by PO2 Curtiss Johnson made May 26 at 2015 7:59 PM

PO2 Curtiss Johnson — Tue, 26 May 2015 19:59:33 -0400

I spent 2 weeks there in 1978, so quite awhile ago. A lot has changed since my Cold War days of following Russian Task Forces sailing into Havana. Good luck and be safe!

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 26 at 2015 8:19 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:19:44 -0400

My son seems to have enjoyed it. You could do a heck of a lot worse!

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 8:58 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:58:44 -0400

I've been there a few times... The booze at the PX was insanely cheap. Not a lot to do there. We used to go to cable beach and grill, have a few beers, swim and feed the iguanas. If you like to golf there was a course there that was green about two months out of the year (rainy season)... The rest of the year the grass was crunchy brown... Lol.. It not bad there... And definitely beautiful

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 26 at 2015 10:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 26 May 2015 22:21:26 -0400

Sounds like an adventure. Good luck.

Response by SSgt Christopher R. made May 27 at 2015 11:53 AM

SSgt Christopher R. — Wed, 27 May 2015 11:53:16 -0400

Spent 8 months there in 2007 - 2008, we built the legal complex on the old runway.
Best/cheapest place in the world to get all SCUBA certification levels you want. Tons of other MWR facilities and I think they just recently renovated the football/soccer field. If you like water sports, get a boating license early and start logging hours to get a faster/better speed boat. I found the best way is to get a group who want to go boating to all chip in to offset the costs.

A nice AAFES Mall and there are a few good places to eat, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway. They also just opened an Irish Pub before I left, and if it is still open, eat at the Jerk House as often as you can!
If you're pulling prison security, when I was there, I talked to a few security personnel that said it could be stressful some days for some of the inmates, but overall the duty wasn't too bad.

Overall, one on my favorite deployments. Lots to do if you take advantage and get out and explore.

Response by PO3 Kyoshu Jordan made May 27 at 2015 12:28 PM

PO3 Kyoshu Jordan — Wed, 27 May 2015 12:28:01 -0400

Its not a bad place to go depending on what your role is there. Its like a mini-vacation. I went there apart of Joint Medical Group. Working Medical wasn't bad at all. 12 hour shifts 3 on 2 off. The guards shifts might be a bit much. Outside of work there is a lot of stuff to do if you like fishing and stuff. MWR does a lot of things. Its always nice and sunny for the most part. I was there 2007-2008. It rained 2 times while i was there (Tropical Storm and Hurricane). But its not bad depending on what your job is going to be.

Response by PO3 Kyoshu Jordan made May 27 at 2015 12:30 PM

PO3 Kyoshu Jordan — Wed, 27 May 2015 12:30:31 -0400

I was there from 2007 to 2008. Its not bad at all. Depends on what your role is going to be down there. I went apart of Joint Medical Group. 12 hour shifts, 3 on and 2 off. Guards shifts might have been a bit more. There are a lot of things to do. MWR does a great job of offering different activities. Its great if you like fishing and other things. It was like a mini-vacation for me. Just depends on your role. Im pretty sure they have more things to offer than when i was down there. Its always nice and sunny. Make sure you get a lot of sunscreen. The sun is always beaming.

Response by Maj Lacy C. made May 27 at 2015 1:51 PM

Maj Lacy C. — Wed, 27 May 2015 13:51:23 -0400

I was there 18 months ago and loved it. If you're assigned to the camps, it can be a difficult job at times, but your off time can be enjoyable. If you don't already scubadive, look into it once you get there. There is some great diving there! It's s a full up Naval base with all the things you'd expect to find at a base. You are restricted to base though for now. That may change with all the changes with US/Cuba relations. I'd go back in a heart beat. Good luck!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 2:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 14:34:17 -0400

I spent 6 months from 2005-2006....LOVED IT!!! I have several friends there now. Get your SCUBA certification and eat at The Jerk House...amazing food. Don't hit any iguanas if you're driving, it's a $10K fine and beware of the Banana Rats! Other than that, make the most of it. The water is beautiful and so are a lot of the beaches.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 4:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 16:51:07 -0400

I was in guantanamo last year 2013/2014 and the ban was not lifted. My overall experience was great, when it's time to work you work but when you're off they have 1 club and 2 bars. They offer scuba diving classes and they have 3 gyms.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 5:53 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 17:53:10 -0400

I just got back in Nov of 14. I worked on the JTF and Navstation. What were you wanting to know?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 7:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 19:01:43 -0400

Yea...pack light according to your orders & use Space A travel to go back & forth to NAS JAX/NORFOLK; the windjammer is the on post club & humidity is a beast. If you can see if you can get a room at the cuzcos instead of the TKs (trust me) but plan to work out, go to school, drink (if you do) & go to work; focus on yourself for that year & enroll in school prior to if possible, kinda hard to get things there but its been since '08 so that may have gotten better. Enjoy the tour & don't hit an iguana (10K fine) Dont GITMO' better lol

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 7:02 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 19:02:53 -0400

I know of 2 people who have gone there and one enjoyed it and the other hated it. I think it will be what you make it. I've been trying to go there myself.

Response by SGT William Fell made May 27 at 2015 7:17 PM

SGT William Fell — Wed, 27 May 2015 19:17:27 -0400

I was there with a BDE unit in 2003 and loved it! I did a lot of Scuba Diving, Mountain Biking, and Drinking. They even had a Bowling alley with KFC in it. Housing was decent. If your single there were a lot of beautiful Navy Females at the Hospital.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made May 28 at 2015 12:09 PM

SGT Jimmy Carpenter — Thu, 28 May 2015 12:09:42 -0400

Definately learn to scuba or at least snorkel. Don't feed the iguanas and banana rats are everywhere (not really rats, more like possums).

Response by PO3 German Corea made May 28 at 2015 8:07 PM

PO3 German Corea — Thu, 28 May 2015 20:07:42 -0400

One advise I can give you is: don't be a hermit crab. Go out! There are a ton of things you can do! You can get diver certified, life guard certified, bus driver license, rent a boat to the inner islands (you do need to get licensed for boat driving). I believe they recently opened the go-kart track, golf if you're into that, Frisbee golf, just have fun (responsibly). I was a guard in one of the camps from 2010 to 2011 so I remember a lot of stuff.

Response by PO3 German Corea made May 28 at 2015 8:10 PM

PO3 German Corea — Thu, 28 May 2015 20:10:42 -0400

Response by MAJ Montgomery Granger made May 29 at 2015 2:33 PM

MAJ Montgomery Granger — Fri, 29 May 2015 14:33:26 -0400

It's been a long time since I was there, but I remember it well! Check out my book (even have your local library order it!), "Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior." Depending on your job it could be intense, but there are plenty of ways to get the heavy stuff off of your mind. My favorites? The outdoor movie theater, The Jerk House, beaches, and fishing! I never went into the water due to rumors of hydroids that can cause a nasty rash, but I hear the SCUBA can't be missed. Sunsets are fantastic! Good luck, God bless, and if you want to chat my email is [login to see] . Hooah!

Response by SGT(P) Jason Gaudry made Jun 1 at 2015 7:22 AM

SGT(P) Jason Gaudry — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 07:22:05 -0400

You should enjoy the experience....you aren't a MP ;) PM this guy on Facebook( Liu Zi X ) and tell him I sent you asking....he was the same MOS as you when he was there with me in 2012/13. His name is SGT Liu and he could probably give you some good insight.
No release of the ban that I know of and that's probably a good thing, as of now. Get a passport. You can still get the opportunity for passes to Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Enjoy

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 7:41 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 07:41:15 -0400

The travel ban has been lifted but you still can't leave base. It's nice here but boring and the Internet is way over priced and slow. Everything else is pretty cheap and there are tons of events going on every weekend, if you get involved with the community you will have a good time.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 7:57 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 07:57:55 -0400

Best duty station ever, stay away from Marine Hill.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 1 at 2015 9:41 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 09:41:46 -0400

No a bad assignment at all. Run JPJ hill a few times if you get bored.

Response by Cpl John Murray made Jun 27 at 2015 2:48 PM

Cpl John Murray — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 14:48:21 -0400

It is by far the greatest duty station I ever had. I was part of our RSC windward and the camaraderie and brotherhood that was created there was absolutely amazing and will last a lifetime. One piece of advice when you are not posted on the fence line and in the rear always have your gear ready for a react force because it will happen when you least expect it so get your ass ready to move at any given moment. And stay away from post 46 when you're on react duty

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 2:43 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:43:13 -0400

2013-2014 I was there, what you want to know?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 7:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:34:00 -0400

I did those pillars.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 7:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:35:44 -0400

But the best advise is to be careful in the Tiera Kays famously known as the TK's. Stay away from the windjammer but if you do happen to go there don't get to drunk.

Response by Rick Wiseman made Jul 17 at 2015 8:43 PM

Rick Wiseman — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 20:43:08 -0400

I was there for 6 months in 92. We had a great time (except when we were dealing with the Haitians. Swimming, cooking out, and movies were all a part of the fun. Cable Beach is awesome and the water is great. Have a good time!

Response by PO2 Nathan Meyer made Jul 24 at 2015 10:29 AM

PO2 Nathan Meyer — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 10:29:07 -0400

I just got back from there. I never saw the ARI sign go past 7 days. That being said article 15s are handed out like water.

It was a fun place as long as you don't drink yourself to oblivion because the navy MA's there will take you in for drunk and disorderly in a second.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 2:51 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 14:51:53 -0400

It is not the worst place but it is not the best place. The experience is what you make of it!