Combat Outpost Shocker receives new entertainment system

Photo By Sophia Klevemann | Soldiers of the 41st Fires Brigade assemble the Mobile Electronic Gaming System inside their Combat Outpost Shocker Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center Dec. 1.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

12.04.2008

Story by Spc. Allison Churchill 

Multi-National Division-Central

By Sgt. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Patrons of the Combat Outpost Shocker Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center have a new game system to take their minds off being deployed this holiday season.

Representatives of the United Service Organization and Multi-National Division – Center delivered a Mobile Electronic Gaming System to the combat outpost Dec. 1.

"We wanted to bring [the Soldiers'] living room to them,' said Jeff Hill, USO regional vice president.

The $6,000 system includes Xbox 360; four games, one of which is Guitar Hero; a projector screen and speakers; and is DVD compatible.

Upon delivering the case containing the system, Kevin Meade, USO vice president of operations for Southwest Asia, challenged the Soldiers in the MWR tent to beat the Air Force set-up time of 15 minutes.

The team of Soldiers quickly had the system up and running, and began playing. "Kind of ironic, isn't it? We're at war, and they're playing a war game," joked 1st Lt. Nick Albini, of Tampa, Fla., 1st Platoon leader, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade.

Before the leadership and USO representatives left, the Soldiers took the opportunity to show off their Guitar Hero skills. Non-commissioned officers said they were glad Soldiers would have another reason to get out of their contained housing units and socialize.

"This should be a stress reliever," said Sgt. Larry Mellette, Visalia, Calif., Company C, 589th Brigade Support Bn., 41st Fires Bde. medic. "This is available to everyone, not just the people who have systems in their rooms."

Command Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Hughes, 41st Fires Bde. senior enlisted leader, escorted the team to COP Shocker, where almost 30 of the brigade's Soldiers have been working since August.

"It's an honor to take individuals out... so they can see the excitement in the Soldiers' eyes – it gives them the feeling of being cared for," Hughes said. "Anytime we have Soldiers out there at remote locations, it's the leaders' responsibility to check on them and provide whatever we can."

The 41st Fires Bde. leadership received three MEGS – one of the remaining two will remain at the Forward Operating Base Delta MWR, and the other will go to a joint security station.

• Date Taken: 12.04.2008
• Date Posted: 12.04.2008 04:26
• Story ID: 27167
• Location: AL KUT, IQ