Photo By Staff Sgt. David Beckstrom | Soldiers with U.S. Army Central dance to “The Cha-Cha Slide” by Mr. C at the...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - People clad in colorful masks with matching beads strung around their necks are common at Mardi Gras festivals.
Service members with U.S. Army Central donned their masks and played carnival games to unwind during the Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Mardi Gras Carnival at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Feb. 7.
Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world from Belgium to Brazil and Sydney to New Orleans. These celebrations can range from small get-togethers to citywide parties.
“The MWR wants to give Soldiers a place to relax after work,” said Brenda Thompson, the Camp Arifjan MWR events coordinator. “The carnival is an event that lets them come and get free food, play games and earn prizes. We are proud of our service members and want them to remember that they have people who are here for them.”
In a study published in 2010, the American Psychological Association found that social interaction could prevent depression during times of separation from loved ones. USARCENT and the MWR use events like these as a support system for service members, especially while deployed.
“The Soldiers are away from their families and they need a place they can interact with others in a social setting,” said Thompson. “If they only stay in their barracks, they will have nothing but time to think about their loved ones back home and how hard it is to be separated from them. We use these events to not only get them out and about, but to boost their morale and potentially prevent depression and suicides.”
Mardi Gras gave service members an outlet to focus on something other than being deployed, said Spc. Quinton Parker, a parts clerk with 551st Medical Logistics Company. Going out with friends to events like this one helps us cope with the stresses of deployment and builds our team.
“This event was not mandatory for anybody,” said Capt. Ingrid Hansen, an officer with the 10th Combat Support Hospital and volunteer with the Red Cross. “The patrons are here because they want to get out, socialize and have fun, while having the chance to win great prizes.”
Volunteers from the USO and Red Cross worked the carnival game booths and gave out prize tickets to the participants. They worked the booths as a way to build friendships and companionship with all involved.
“There are a lot of groups that are volunteering their time to help make this event great,” said Hansen. “We all care about each other and want the deployed service members to feel like we are one big family. We try to build this sense of family by building trust and friendship through volunteer opportunities.”
The MWR is always looking for feedback about its programs in order to make them better in the future. Participants can fill-out program surveys and drop them in the feedback collection boxes in the MWR buildings with suggestions and recommendations.
“I hope they enjoyed themselves, because they are the reason we are out here,” said Thompson. “If there is anything that we could do better, we are always open to feedback.”
For more information about future events, contact the MWR at DSN: 318-430-1234.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2016 09:50 |
| Story ID: | 188723 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Arifjan Mardi Gras Carnival fosters resiliency, by SSG David Beckstrom, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT