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Deployers speak "international language"

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Emily Alley
  • 451 AEW Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Flyers will soon be papering Kandahar Airfield advertising the scheduled competition, Kandahar Idol. The contest was initiated by the United States Air Force, but is open to any contestant, from any country deployed to the Airfield through the end of March.

"What a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together through music," said Staff Sgt. Julie Bascoe, 451st AEW knowledge operator, who is helping to coordinated the competition. "It's the universal language."

Although several countries are represented at Kandahar Airfield, they are often separated by few feet of cement and barbed wire, which can mean little interaction between groups who are working for a similar cause.

"We're all here, but segregated," added Tech. Sgt. Ochshalay Davis, 451st AEW knowledge operator, who is working with Sergeant Bascoe to plan the competition.

The two sergeants are part of the 5/6 Council, an association of Air Force noncommissioned officers in the 451st AEW, that is sponsoring the event. Volunteers from the council may help tally votes, set up and tear down equipment. Sergeant Bascoe mentioned she has had no shortage of volunteers to judge; she has already selected three, but will plans to keep the identities secret until the opening night. One has a degree in music, another she describes as very animated, but honest.

"He's the Simon of it all!" she exclaimed.

Judges aside, the audience will choose the winner by pog vote. Pogs are small, coin shaped, cardboard disks with monetary values printed on them. They are used in lieu of metal coinage at deployed locations. Sergeant Davis plans to price one vote at 25 cents, although she welcomes participants to vote as many times as they would like. The council has not yet determined what the money raised will go toward, although a portion will count towards a prize for the winner. The rest may support future morale activities, or even one of several charities supported by the 5/6 Council.

Morale is not bad at Kandahar Airfield, Sergeant Bascoe concluded, but she suggested that anywhere people live within a warzone they could benefit from more recreational activities.

"They can come sing their hearts out," she offered, for the opening night. "They can even step up on stage that night."

Sergeant Bascoe would prefer to hold an RSVP list of contestants, who can contact her beforehand to sign up. Auditions for the first round of Kandahar Idol are scheduled for March 1-5 at 6 p.m. in the Fest tent at Kandahar Airfield. The competition will begin Sunday, March 6, and run from 6 p.m. to 9 p. m. and every Sunday in March. Each night will have its own musical theme, such as rock, R&B and country. The grand finale, March 27, will be a Michael Jackson tribute.

Someday, Sergeants Davis and Bascoe would be interested to watch an Afghanistan Idol, if other bases around the country would be interested to compete- maybe a Kabul Idol or Bastion Idol who wanted a challenge. For the time being, however, they are content to simply plan Kandahar Idol and offer a handful of countries who are fighting together, a chance to sing together.