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It started off like any other tour. The lines to check in at the airport, the piles of boxes and luggage, more lines through security and the anticipation of traveling for the next 24 hours until we reached our destination. The only difference between this tour and ones I have done previously is that on this one we weren't performing; we were doing a "handshake tour." I didn't really know what to expect, but I sure was excited! All I wanted was to touchdown in Kuwait and get things underway!
Arriving in Kuwait brought back memories of my two previous times in this exotic country. As we drove to the base I recalled when I was there in 2005 with the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders Showteam. We had such a great time then, but I had a feeling that this trip was about to top any I had ever experienced. More
We arrived in Baghdad via C130 military aircraft. The ride from Kuwait to Baghdad was amazing. I was able to ride in the cockpit for most of the flight. It was a priceless view! Once in Baghdad we were escorted to Camp Striker where we had another awesome "meet and greet" with the troops in one of the recreational facilities. I also was able to play some music for them, which was a very neat experience and I think the troops enjoyed it.
We stayed at Camp Victory and were escorted by SFC Matt Nelson and SGM Moore. Our living accommodations were very nice: modulars that sit right up against one of Saddam's man-made lakes. Camp Victory is one of Saddam's former palace grounds. It was a very strange feeling walking around, knowing the terrible things that had taken place there. That night we visited the PX and did a "meet and greet" at Al Fal Palace. We had a meeting with the Chief of Staff, where he awarded us with medals. He then introduced us to much of his staff and we were able to take pictures on Saddam's infamous chair. Later we ate dinner at the DFAC and had comedy hour with Amy. More
Greetings from Kuwait! On Friday evening we started off our plane ride from Washington DC on a good start. We all met at the airport for our briefing and then we were on our way! The plane ride was so fun, we were all wearing our "Sweethearts for Soldiers" outfits and many people were already asking questions. I sat next to a retired Sergeant Major in the Army, who is now a defense contractor. It's always fun to meet new people and hear their stories. In less than 12 hours, we touched down in Kuwait to a pleasant 74 degrees.
Immediately after checking into our hotel, we all packed into Tonya's room and started putting together care packages for the female troops, with products donated from our generous sponsors such as Bellacara. We wanted to ensure that our ladies in uniform know they're appreciated! Later we all headed to the Hard Rock Hotel by the water. More
Is there anything that scares a polar bear?
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In the wake of last week's article featuring the Surgeon General's study that found the Navy to be the least fit of America's Armed Services, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jay Johnson went on the record Wednesday to state emphatically that his Sailors aren't as chubby as everyone is saying.
Apparently the Navy's top Sailor isn't the only one rushing to the defense of the ice cream machine.
Indeed the ice cream dispenser, or "auto dog" has become the centerpiece of the Navy's mess deck and wardroom. "I've never seen anyone walk away from that thing without a smile on their face," remarked BMC Warren Flats of Gainesville, Florida. "And when we're talking about months and months at sea, a little ice cream and some sprinkles go a long way." More
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Florida may be best-known for seaside cities and gorgeous beaches, the Kennedy Space Center and Disney World, but at the coastal town of Fort Pierce, you'll find another gem: the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum – the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to the Navy's elite warriors. Located between Daytona Beach and Miami, just a short drive off I-95, the museum stands on the original World War II training site of the Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) – a site known as the "birthplace of the Navy Frogman."
Naked Warriors, Devils with Green Faces – the names have changed, but the mission's the same. The Navy UDT-SEAL Museum covers a lot of physical and historical terrain. It features everything from underwater and surface craft dating from World War II to the present; original steel-and-concrete obstacles used to train early elite units more than 60 years ago; Vietnam-era patrol riverboats and a Seawolf helicopter, two Apollo space capsules, two desert patrol vehicles from Afghanistan and Iraq and the high-tech SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV). (In the early days of the space program, UDTs retrieved astronauts and space capsules following re-entry.) More
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