Sustainment Soldiers enjoy fun and sun in Qatar

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Adam V. Shaw, public affairs chief, 16th Sustainment Brigade, rides a camel on the Qatari coast during an Inland Sea picnic trip, while participating in the U.S. Central Command's rest and recuperation pass program, March 1.  

CAMP AS SALIYAH, QATAR

03.30.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Adam Shaw 

16th Sustainment Brigade

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — Soldiers from the 16th Sustainment Brigade found a way to unwind by taking advantage of the U.S. Central Command's rest and recuperation pass program March 2.

"The purpose of the program is to provide a much needed rest for all service members, away from the fight," said Capt. Christopher Spencer, rest and recuperation officer in charge, 350th Human Resources Company.

Since the creation of the program, nearly 180,000 service members have gone through the program.

The program offers four full days off, where service members can use the United Service Organizations, which offers a computer lab, movies rooms, world-wide defense switched network phone access and video games.

Although the USO offers troops many ways to decompress, the trips that the pass program offers seem to be the best way for service members to let their hair down.

"We have the Dhow Cruise, which is a boat ride in the Cornische that allows the service members to swim, relax, eat lunch and enjoy the water," said Spencer. "The Inland Sea Picnic is a trip to the coast of Qatar through the sand dunes to a beach resort that also serves lunch."

Spencer, a New Braunfels, Texas, native, said that the water sports trip is the most popular.

"The Water Sports is the same as the Dhow Cruise, only with jet skis and inter tube rides."

The program also offers mall trips and a Doha City tour, which exposes troops to Qatar culture and allows for shopping at local souqs.

"My husband and I went on the souq tour, mall tour, Inland Sea Picnic and went on a boat to jet ski," said Spc. Jo Ann McCue, finance specialist, Echo Detachment, 208th Financial Management Co., 16th Sust. Bde. "It was great because I was able to do stuff with my husband that was not military-related."

Jo Ann, a Houston native, and her husband, Sgt. Michael McCue, military pay non-commissioned officer in charge, Echo Det., 208th FM Co., serve together at Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Iraq, and are halfway through their 12-month deployment.

"It really feels like you're stepping out of the deployed environment," said Michael, a Cook, Minn., native. "You're able to do a lot of things you wouldn't be
able to do on normal deployments, whether its eating at Chili's, riding some jet skis, shopping or drinking a few cocktails."

Camp Al As Sayliyah has a Chili's, Popeye's, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Subway, Green Bean Coffee and a pizza place for troops to enjoy, to go along with a Connelly Award-winning dining facility.

Service members also have the opportunity to drink three alcoholic beverages per night. On tap you can find Foster's, Kilkenny, Guinness and Heineken. They also offer Corona, Carlsberg, Leffe and Tuborg. There is also a wine bar and a drink called Tawny Redbull, which is popular because of its higher alcoholic content.

Spencer offered up suggestions for service members who are coming to Qatar.

"They need to bring their reflective belt for nighttime travel on [base]," Spencer said. "They need toiletries and a towel and bathing suit, if they have it, and a desire to relax and have fun."

• Date Taken: 03.30.2009
• Date Posted: 03.30.2009 02:20
• Story ID: 31759
• Location: CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA