Photo By Sophia Klevemann | Capt. Terry Sylvester, Raymond Dalinsky and Dwayne Powell, all with the Multi-National...... read more read more
By Spc. Sophia R. Lopez
Multi-National Division-Center
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Many celebrities and entertainers visit deployed troops at Morale, Welfare and Recreation centers, on pre-erected stages and through various workplaces throughout Iraq. How is this possible? Who is responsible for their trip across the desert? For Multi-National Division - Center, Terry Buckley and Mitch Thompson are those people.
Multi-National Corps – Iraq is ultimately responsible for coordinating events and making contact with the USO, Stars and Stripes and other organizations sponsoring those interested in coming over to see the troops.
From the corps' event calendar, Buckley and Thompson, the MND-C MWR committee recreation officers, can get a snapshot of who is expected to be in Iraq each month.
"From there, we can see who is going where, when and how many days they will be in that area," said Buckley, of Watertown, N.Y. Since most individuals are only in the MND-C area for a few days, they are unable to visit every forward operating base or combat outpost. This is where Buckley and Thompson must determine to which locations the tours will visit.
"We try to push to the smaller forward operating bases," said Buckley. "We're not doing so many [visits] on [Camp] Victory, because there are so many small FOBs that have nothing; no post exchange, no gym, no MWR."
"We try to concentrate on the joint security stations too, because they don't have as many amenities like [Victory Base Complex]," said Thompson, of White Mountain, Ariz.
Buckley and Thompson rotate through places that haven't had visitors in a while and track if that area has the right accommodations for the planned celebrity guests.
"We have to look for transportation requirements," said Thompson. "Depending on the equipment coming with the visitors, we will determine whether they will fly in on a fixed-wing aircraft or a [helicopter]." The FOB has to be able to accommodate that particular aircraft, he added.
It is also necessary to consider spaces on convoys and the availability of convoys for transporting visitors and equipment such as musical instruments for bands, said Thompson. Stages for bands, proper visiting area for celebrities and proper transportation in and out of the area are other considerations.
Buckley and Thompson manage each visitor's schedule with a detailed itinerary for movement, scheduled time for eating and sleeping, and ensuring they meet their flight times. They set up the transportation and lodging through the Victory Mayor Cell as well.
Prior to their visits, Buckley and Thompson retrieve bios of the visitors, so they are able to announce and advertise who is coming.
As each tour comes through, either Buckley or Thompson escorts the visitors from the time they arrive in MND-C until they are handed off to the next division.
During this past year, visitors have included actor Gary Sinese, members of the WWE, Toby Keith and recently, the Ambassadors of Hollywood; television star DeAnna Pappas, Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, and actress Christine Lakin. Many who have come to visit, such as country singers Aaron Tippin, Kenny Thomas and Craig Morgan, are prior military.
"I think that is an important connection, because they know what it was like, and they are trying to give back to those guys," said Buckley. "They really take the time to talk to them and mingle with them. A lot of them are people who come again and again because they just want to." One repeat visitor, comedian Scott Kennedy, has been to Iraq 25 times to visit the troops.
Of course, visitors aren't the only thing Buckley and Thompson are bringing to the troops. Many organizations also donate gaming equipment, phone cards and other niceties to MNC-I, and Buckley and Thompson disseminate these items to the areas throughout MND-C.
Buckley and Thompson originally thought they would be heading up an MWR or fitness center here, but they both enjoy being able to bring more to the troops.
"It's an interesting job, and it's a chance of a lifetime," said Buckley. "[It's] nothing I thought I would ever do in my lifetime."
"[We're] giving the Soldiers out there a chance to get a piece of home; change the monotony," said Thompson. "You see it on their faces, and it makes it all worth doing it for them."
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2009 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 28632 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 254 |
| Downloads: | 207 |
This work, Unsung heroes bring Soldiers' heroes to Iraq, by Sophia Klevemann, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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