2 In April 2021, U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll Commander Col. Jeremy Bartel stood before a group of newcomers at an island orientation. The employees had traveled thousands of miles to serve the Army mission in every sector of range and base operations. Now, their tour was just beginning as his grew short.
Bartel shared an overview of the Kwajalein mission an endeavor he and garrison contract partners had supported without fail for two years. Then, he gave them some advice about time management.
“Get out there and do stuff,” Bartel said to the newcomers. “Most of your contracts are for one year. That’s 52 weekends. By the time you knock out illness, you’re at 48. Subtract the holidays, mandatory social events, calls home, bad weather and work, and you’re down to 25 weekends to do things you bragged you’d do when you moved to Kwajalein, whether that’s diving, fishing, snorkeling, golf or getting in shape.”