Crash course: Care for your very own 'GTMO Beater'

Photo By 2nd Lt. Christopher Garibay | A member of the Auto Skills Shop changes the brakes for a Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, resident. While mechanic services are offered to those interested, the auto shop's goal is to teach troopers and residents who will leave GTMO and save themselves hundreds of dollars a year.  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

01.29.2016

Story by Sgt. Christopher Garibay 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - With a rotation of new troopers at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, the glitz and glamour of what GTMO has to offer, may allow one’s imagination to run wild. One moment you are determined to become a Master Scuba Diver. Next, you are dedicating yourself to becoming a golf-pro. Or you can commit some resources to a “GTMO Beater” and enjoy the freedom of the open roads of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as long as you keep it under the posted speed limit.

Before committing to the purchase of a previously-owned vehicle, there are some things troopers need to know about the NAVSTA rules and regulations, and where and how you can find maintenance resources here.

“You need to bring the bill of sale, have the car inspected at the Auto Skills Center, and insure the vehicle through one of two insurance companies,” said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Cassandra G. Anaya, master-at-arms with the Vehicle Registration Office. She said registration lasts one year and is required for all vehicles whether or not they are running.

Anaya said those interested in selling a vehicle must get a bill of sale from the Region Legal Service Office located on Admin Hill.

“Once a seller finds a buyer, they must get a bill of sale through our office,” said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ru Li, paralegal specialist with the NAVSTA RLSO.

Li said troopers need to bring the current registration, previous vehicle inspections, two forms of identification one including a signature, and they can have you out in less than 10 minutes. Li has two pieces of advice to ease the process of buying and selling vehicles. The first is, make sure the trooper brings the title and the previous bill of sale. If a title has had more than one owner, troopers may need to obtain a bill of sale as part of the registration process moving forward. The second is for troopers who are trying to sell a vehicle but are running out of time. She suggests finding a trusted friend and assigning a special power of attorney, giving them the authority to sell the vehicle on your behalf. This ensures you do not have to sell the vehicle for less than what it is worth simply to get rid of it quickly, she said.

“While there are a lot of challenges (to owning a vehicle here), it has the benefits of getting to work and using it as a resource for people in your unit,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Bess Dennis, platoon sergeant with the 525th Military Police Battalion. “If you’re willing to fix it up, invest more money into it after you purchase it, it’s usually a good investment because you can resell and generally get what you paid for it.”

There are resources available for troopers whose skills may be lacking in the vehicle maintenance department. The average cost of vehicle maintenance is $9,122 per year, based on 15,000 miles of annual driving, according to AAA. This includes fuel, insurance, depreciation, maintenance and tire wear. The Morale, Welfare & Recreation Auto Skills Center allows troopers to learn basic vehicle maintenance skills such as oil changes, brakes replacement, tire rotation and checking fluids, to help keep troopers’ costs low, according to Roger De Luna, Auto Skills Center manager.

“The main mission of the Auto Skills Center is to teach troopers to conduct basic maintenance of vehicles, saving them some money when they go back home,” said De Luna. “We hold monthly workshops on those skills, and if you come into the shop to fix your car, you can do the work yourself and we can help you.”

Dennis owns an old pickup truck she purchased here. She said prospective owners should consider investing in a vehicle if they enjoy the convenience and the extra resource it can provide to them and perhaps their group of friends or squad. Dennis, a certified master mechanic back home, does caution that getting materials can be difficult to find at the local shops, and you may have to order online. She also cautions against relying on the auto shop, as there may be backlogs in labor, causing long wait times for repairs. If you are not willing to do some mechanical work yourself, Dennis said the base shuttles should suffice for your transportation needs.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2016
• Date Posted: 03.01.2016 10:46
• Story ID: 190624
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU