Photo By Spc. Justin Malone | JTF Commander, Brig. Gen. Jose Monteagudo, gives a speech and teaches JTF Troopers a...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The Airmen of the JTF, anchored by the 474 Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, better known as the Base Engineer Emergency Force, coordinated a unique birthday party at Philips Dive Park, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Sept. 18.
When the BEEF 17 first arrived, they were asked to plan a combat dining in, said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Todd Kirsch, the senior enlisted leader for the BEEF 17. Having experienced combat dining-ins before, Kirsch knew what it took to make it happen and knew he could not do it alone.
It took an entire team of dedicated people to put something like this together, said Air Force Capt. Amanda Chivers, the current operations division chief for the J6, communications directorate. It is really cool to celebrate the Air Force’s birthday with all the other branches, she continued.
The dress code consisted of any military uniform and guests were encouraged to add a few extra accessories, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Rose, a BEEF supply noncommissioned officer.
Rose wore water wings, reflective belts, a saber and a few water guns.
After signing in, troopers gathered and conversed casually before one water balloon was launched, causing a massive water fight.
“There were tons of water balloons everywhere,” said Chivers. “We went through about 1,000 water balloons in 20 minutes.”
Troopers laughed as they ran around chasing each other with water guns, throwing water balloons and spraying hoses at each other. Service members from all branches and of all ranks joined in the fun.
“I was minding my own business and suddenly someone is pouring a trash can full of water on me,” said Kirsch. “For the first hour it was open aquatic warfare. It was meant to be a good time; let people cut loose and have some fun.”
After a cease-fire had been announced, the attendees formed in the mess area for the formal portion of the combat dining in, which not only toasted to the leaders of our nation and the heritage of the Air Force, but also honored Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Remembrance Day. Afterward, the mess was seated in preparation for dinner and the ceremonial grog.
The grog is where you go if you were penalized for infractions of the mess, said Kirsch. To get to the grog, violators maneuvered through an obstacle course, which proved to be difficult for many troopers. The course consisted of Troopers putting their head on a bat and spinning around six times, otherwise known as the “Izzy Dizzy”, before moving on to a short mini-bike course. Next, Troopers walked across a balance beam, all while being sprayed relentlessly with water gun fire. To finish, they low-crawled through a tunnel and jumped over a barrier.
After laughing, eating and watching many brave individuals take on the grog and the obstacle course, troopers listened, as JTF Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jose Monteagudo gave a speech on the Air Force’s history.
The National Defense Act of 1947 opened up not only the Air Force but other agencies, said Monteagudo. The Air Force’s birthday, also coincides with the day the Central Intelligence Agency started.
“The Air Force mission is flight, fight and win and we are going to do that in the air, space and the cyberworld,” said Monteagudo. “We need all of you guys, not just in the Air Force, but all of the branches to continue what you’re doing. It’s not a single service anymore."
There hasn’t been a story where the Air Force wasn’t supporting the Army or Navy, so it’s really is a joint fight out there and we are doing a great job at it.”
As the ceremony concluded, Monteagudo thanked everyone for coming and officially concluded the dining in.
“We had a pretty great combat dining in,” said Rose. “The best part of the night was watching everybody go to the grog, well between that and the water fight in the beginning. We had a lot of participation, everybody had a good time.”
Rose and the JTF troopers wished the Air Force a happy 68th Birthday, after having created many great memories.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2016 15:22 |
| Story ID: | 191166 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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