GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- Joint Task Force Guantanamo troopers got the opportunity to showcase their skills as Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey visited U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for the first time in Cuba, to attend the 241st Army Birthday Ball, tour various JTF GTMO and NSGB facilities and speak with troopers, June 11 and 12.
"I got to experience everything from my reception to the time I traveled around to see all the great missions that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are doing across the island," said Dailey. "It has been a great opportunity for them to really showcase their professionalism."
Dailey visited with service members from all branches of the military as part of his tour of JTF GTMO. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelley Yang, a JTF GTMO Trooper, joined several Soldiers for lunch with the sergeant major of the Army.
We are all part of the same family at JTF GTMO, said Yang. The Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Air Force all work together every day to complete the mission here.
During a luncheon with junior enlisted Troopers, Dailey answered questions and got feedback on current and possible future policies for the Army. Troopers asked Dailey questions ranging from education to changes in promotion requirements.
"We are working a lot of policies as always in the United States Army, but some of the most recent that we are working that are going to affect the Soldiers that I am really excited about is Army University," said Dailey. "It is truly going to give us the ability to give our Soldiers academic equivalent credit for the work that they do and their institutional training, as well as their technical training. We're working on accrediting them so they have a future for job opportunities in those technical skills once they get out of the Army."
Command Sgt. Maj. James Hummel, the command sergeant major for the Joint Detention Group, headed the JTF GTMO tour for Dailey along with the Joint Visitors Group.
"He met with 600 plus Soldiers and Troopers at their work places and throughout Joint Task Force Guantanamo, fielding countless questions ranging from future force structure, Noncommissioned Officers Education System, physical training and quality of life issues," said Hummel. "He met with all levels of the task force and took the time to answer every question asked of him. He even promoted a Soldier to private first class, which was once in a lifetime opportunity for the Solider and the others who witnessed it."
Not only did Dailey tour JTF GTMO facilities and work spaces, he also took a toured the Troopers housing and living areas, including the Gold Hill and the Camp America Housing Units.
"We got to get barracks here if this is going to endure," Dailey said. "That is what we need. Our Soldiers are around the world, all over the globe, doing tough missions, just like the Soldiers here in Guantanamo Bay. Their mission is a critical part of our success as the Army."
Troopers are still commenting about how much they appreciated him visiting JTF GTMO and remain impressed with how he was engaging with them, said Hummel.
"My hope is that, at every level, we follow his example of engaging Soldiers in the down to earth fashion he demonstrated, talk with them and listen to their concerns as the Soldier is our most important asset," said Hummel. "On behalf of all the Soldiers and troopers, I thank the sergeant major of the Army for spending time visiting with the Soldiers. His message of 'Readiness' is burning strong in each one of us."
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