Expeditionary Americans

Published Dec. 10, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Kidron B. Vestal
Chief of Public Affairs, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- U.S. servicemembers and music performers joined forces in a deployed environment recently, for patriotic invigorance and morale enhancement that went both ways.

Various artists of the U.S. performing industry, members of the Band of the Air Force Reserve, and more than one thousand deployed Airmen and Soldiers realized that the entertainment was just as much for the troops as it was for the guests.

Comedian Carlos Mencia said, "It's a life-altering moment," seeing the faces of a military audience taking in a performance.

"I feel like it's so little to give back .... I almost feel like I'm cheating. I feel like I'm getting praised and rewarded for almost doing nothing," the Honduras-born performer said in an interview, before signing a t-shirt for the fiancé of a deployed Airman.

Inspiration abounded throughout the open-air arena, as Kid Rock beckoned his audience if they were unconvinced that "America was the greatest country in the world!" The response was uproar in camaraderie for Lady Liberty.

Backstage, other performers regaled their thoughts on the day of flightline touring and their impressions of the U.S. Air Force in general.

"The Air Force is classy," said country-music singer Jesse James, a 21-year old daughter of an AF colonel, and an opening performer for Kid Rock and the Twisted Brown Trucker Band.

"I love and support all military--everybody." She added, "How do you girls do it?" in terms of balancing girly-grooming standards with deployed conditions.

An expeditious lifestyle is assumed by thousands upon thousands in the contingency environment overseas. Performers also abide in the thick of theater comfort, and share their gratitude for homegrown needs.

"America is the best place to be. I'm not home-sick, I'm America-sick," surmised James, of her first time performing overseas.

Guardmember Staff Sgt. Angie Long exclaimed, the U.S. Air Force is a "Pretty powerful team!" Sergeant Long is a member of the 571st Air National Guard, the Band of the Central States. She deployed with the Band of the Air Force Reserve, a unit made up of active duty forces.

The young vocalist is also an aspiring performer in Nashville, Tenn., and anticipates distribution of her first album Sweet Magnolia in 2010. Recently married to musician Bobby Johnson, the artist will soon take his name.

Sergeant Long, a daughter of a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, sees first-hand the progression of the Air Force toward a total force initiative--the building-up of manpower from active duty, reserve, and guardmember components.

In a pre-deployment send-off, half the room was composed of guardmembers, she said. "There's just too much to get done without utilizing all of the forces ... If guardsmen and reservists can take some of load of the active duty, I think that's part of being a team," said the five-time traveler to the area of responsibility.

At the end of the day, the crowds slowly waned. No one wanted to leave, but all knew the mission must continue. The band would continue their touring.

The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing supports Operations ENDURING and IRAQI Freedom, with aerial refueling, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.