For today's post I want to talk a little bit about the United Service Organization, or USO. On previous deployments I haven't really taken advantages of the services they offered. The concerts weren't that appealing, no one very interesting seemed to come to visit the locations I was at, and I didn't really get what they did. I thought the best thing about them was that they provided service members a place to sit and relax in airports while waiting on an airplane. Their airport lounges are awesome, with free snacks and drinks, books, movies, telephones, the whole nine yards, all free to service members. Some airports are better than others, but they all make you feel very welcome and at home.
Here in Iraq the USO has really stepped up its game in the past few years. For example, about a week after I got here, Toby Keith came to town. He gave a great show, even though the base was hit with rockets literally 5 minutes before he took the stage. A lesser entertainer might have not come on stage, but he did, and basically called out the insurgents for shooting rockets when he was trying to put on a show. Toby sang all my favorites (I know a lot of people don't like him, but I think most of his stuff is pretty good, especially his older songs). He sang a couple that I'd never heard before that had a particular relevance. Here are the links to YouTube if you want to listen:
The Ballad of Balad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHLYn8b4PA
The Taliban Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BttTesmLglc
They were even better live, surrounded by people who have lived these songs for the past 10 years.
Aside from bringing guys like Toby Keith to the theater, the USO has areas set up in our passenger terminals where people getting ready to travel can jump on the internet, watch a movie, play video games, or even call home for free. Before I left for Al Udeid I was able to call my mom and dad from the phones and it was nice not having to watch the clock like I do in the office during morale calls, and not having to use a phone card. So, I'm glad I started taking advantage of the USO, and if you ever wondered what they did or what their purpose was when you saw the signs in the airport, now you know.
They're really some great Americans. My next post will be about the mood I've observed regarding drawdown. Until then...
Here in Iraq the USO has really stepped up its game in the past few years. For example, about a week after I got here, Toby Keith came to town. He gave a great show, even though the base was hit with rockets literally 5 minutes before he took the stage. A lesser entertainer might have not come on stage, but he did, and basically called out the insurgents for shooting rockets when he was trying to put on a show. Toby sang all my favorites (I know a lot of people don't like him, but I think most of his stuff is pretty good, especially his older songs). He sang a couple that I'd never heard before that had a particular relevance. Here are the links to YouTube if you want to listen:
The Ballad of Balad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHLYn8b4PA
The Taliban Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BttTesmLglc
They were even better live, surrounded by people who have lived these songs for the past 10 years.
Aside from bringing guys like Toby Keith to the theater, the USO has areas set up in our passenger terminals where people getting ready to travel can jump on the internet, watch a movie, play video games, or even call home for free. Before I left for Al Udeid I was able to call my mom and dad from the phones and it was nice not having to watch the clock like I do in the office during morale calls, and not having to use a phone card. So, I'm glad I started taking advantage of the USO, and if you ever wondered what they did or what their purpose was when you saw the signs in the airport, now you know.
They're really some great Americans. My next post will be about the mood I've observed regarding drawdown. Until then...
Please keep the posts coming. Stay safe.
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