Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class William Weinert | Navy Ensign Cayanne McFarlane squats over two hundred pounds during her routine...... read more read more
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By Petty Officer 3rd Class William Weinert
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – In the world of young officers, a few distinguish themselves quickly because of their life achievements. A fine example of one of these accomplished young people is one Guantanamo's most finely tuned athletes, Navy Ensign Cayanne McFarlane.
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, McFarlane is the oldest child of two free-spirited hippies that named her after the cayenne pepper. Her wandering parents traveled to Alaska over 30 years ago and built an A-frame house as a temporary winter residence. They ended up staying for 29 years. McFarlane's only sibling is a younger brother who attends St. Andrews University in Scotland.
"My family is not military but they are very happy, excited and supportive of my career," said McFarlane.
McFarlane has been extremely athletic since childhood, competing in both basketball and track throughout her formative years.
"I was supposed to go to Florida to play basketball but tore my ACL in my junior year of high school," said McFarlane.
After her basketball dreams fell through, McFarlane weighed other college options that could highlight her athletic ability. That's when the Navy called.
"The Naval Academy recruited me for their track team and I thought of the free school and the guaranteed job afterward, so I jumped (no pun intended) at the chance," McFarlane said.
Looking back on her time at the academy, McFarlane commented, "It was definitely not your normal college experience because I ran varsity track for four years."
In track, McFarlane's original calling was as a sprinter, but she converted her skills into that of a thrower. With her success in the 20 pound hammer events, McFarlane's athletic ability pushed her to the top, as she became the track team's captain her senior year.
After graduating from the Naval Academy in May, 2006, McFarlane moved to her first duty station at the Navy Information Operations Command in San Antonio. There she immersed herself in the world of information operations. When she heard about the opportunity to serve as a member of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, McFarlane volunteered for the mission and is currently midway through a six month tour as an individual augmentee.
When her time here finishes, McFarlane plans to continue her education at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
In the future McFarlane hopes to transfer the skills she's learned during her military service to a career in government service. While weighing her post-military employment options, McFarlane does not exclude the option of staying in the Navy and has aspirations of one day becoming an admiral.
In her spare time, McFarlane is the ultimate physical fitness machine. She lifts weights six days a week, dances, runs and even participated in last month's bay swim, finishing in two hours. Her regular workout routine consists of swimming laps in the morning and lifting weights in the evening. She also enjoys 'talking smack,' making others laugh, and playing any sport she can, including basketball – her first love.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2008 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 15308 |
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| Web Views: | 3,562 |
| Downloads: | 338 |
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