Photo By Joshua Cox | Former New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister (left) and U.S. Air Force Gen....... read more read more
Subscribe
By Ensign Giovanna Lina De Vito
Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola welcomed the USO Summer Tour June 27-28. Hosted by U.S. Air Force General John E. Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS), the event was the first in-person USO tour since the beginning of COVID-19.
The NAS Pensacola USO visit was first and foremost about thanking the men and women in uniform and their families for the sacrifices they make for our nation. The Sunday night concert featured country music duo LOCASH, Miss America Camille Schrier, comedian Taylor Williamson, DJ J Dayz, and Michael Lewis and Deuce McAllister with the New Orleans Saints. Active duty service members from NAS Pensacola as well as their families enjoyed the entertainment and celebrated together after many months without in-person activities. The evening included exciting moments such as learning to walk and wave like Miss America, laughing with Williamson, and singing along with Hyten on stage.
“After the past 18 months we have had, we are very grateful to the Vice Chairman and the USO for choosing NAS Pensacola as a stop on the USO Tour. This tour gave our Sailors and Marines the opportunities to engage with A-list talent and show what we do on a daily basis,” said Capt. Tim Kinsella.
The day after the show, the group visited Rescue Swimmer School, Air Traffic Control School, and Naval Air Technical Training School. The engagement allowed Hyten and the USO guests to witness the training that occurs on NAS Pensacola firsthand. Each year, approximately 60,000 service members train onboard NAS Pensacola.
The group also had breakfast with the naval aviation students and instructors that allowed the Sailors to share their experiences in aviation. From ground school to flight operations, the aviators described their training pipeline and their most memorable flights.
The USO tour was a way to thank service members and to show appreciation for their tireless dedication to keeping America safe. Sunday night’s concert and Monday morning’s troop engagement boosted spirits and the service members were grateful to celebrate. The USO tour, led by Hyten, was a positive and uplifting event for the service members at NAS Pensacola.
“The men and women of Naval Air Station Pensacola are integral to the defense of our great nation,” said Hyten. “As the Cradle of Naval Aviation, their efforts make an impact on operations around the world each day. It’s an honor to partner with USO to let the service members at Naval Air Station Pensacola know that we care about their service and are proud of the hard work day in and day out to ensure the mission gets done with precision and professionalism.”
A special thank you to the USO, USO Northwest Florida, and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Pensacola for supporting this visit.
The USO was founded in 1941 by President Franklin Roosevelt, and is the only military support organization chartered by Congress. For nearly 80 years the USO has provided a vital connection between service members, their families, and the American people.
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2021 14:23 |
| Story ID: | 400123 |
| Location: | PENSACOLA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Naval Air Station Pensacola Hosts USO Summer Tour, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT