Soldiers rockin', relaxin' at Rocktoberfest

Photo By 1st Lt. Kenya Saenz | Army Lt. Col. Mark J. Deschenes, commander of Task Force Pacemaker, and Army Capt. Eric Parthemore anticipate the "go" as they prepare to chug down "near-beer" for during a beer chugging contest at the Rocktoberfest celebration at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, AFGHANISTAN

10.12.2007

Story by 1st Lt. Kenya Saenz 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Army 1st Lt. Kenya V. Saenz
Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - Soldiers of Task Force Pacemaker, out of Fort Lewis, Wash., took a well-deserved break from the stressful combat environment to celebrate Oktoberfest in the Pacemaker's very own way: "Rocktoberfest."

Rocktoberfest gave TF Pacemaker Soldiers a day to enjoy themselves. The Pacemakers celebrated with events from sport competitions to jalapeño and hot dog eating contests to a "near-beer" chugging contest with live music and great international food.

The 82nd Airborne Division band, "Riser Burn," played an impressive medley of songs, which set the mood for the day. Soldiers also enjoyed great international food from each of the coalition partners in the task force to include American, Korean, Polish and Afghan food.

"The near-beer drinking contest was very unique," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Turner, from Salinas, Calif. "Even though it was non-alcoholic beer, Soldiers enjoyed the event. It is very important to have events like this to keep morale high and show Soldiers that leaders care and show appreciation for their hard work and dedication to duty while being deployed."

Army Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes, the Task Force Pacemaker commander, participated in the "near-beer" drinking contest.

"I wish we could afford Soldiers this opportunity more often; they deserve it and it is an important aspect of sustaining a 15-month deployment," Deschenes said. "Soldiers need to recharge and have some fun too."

During the Rocktoberfest celebration, the Pacemaker team recognized individuals for their hard work and dedication in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Employees from Kellogg, Brown and Root and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) were presented certificates of appreciation on behalf of TF Pacemaker. It was a great opportunity to recognize them as AAFES had just recently opened at Forward Operating Base Sharana.

Although TF Pacemaker troops are supporting OEF all over Afghanistan, from Orgun-E to Logar and Jalalabad to Kushmond, each company of the task force was able to celebrate in their own way. Soldiers took a break from their everyday mission to enjoy great food and have fun.

TF Pacemaker provides general engineering services, assured mobility and survivability operations to coalition forces in support of Combined Joint Task Force-82 and Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 10.12.2007
• Date Posted: 10.12.2007 11:59
• Story ID: 12904
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, AF