By Senior Airman Christian Clausen
The USO brought heavy-metal band Disturbed to Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to meet the airmen behind the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) mission and perform the base’s first-ever concert on Oct. 23.
“The music is meant to empower,” said David Draiman, lead vocalist of Disturbed. “It’s meant to strengthen people; it’s meant to strip away fear and to give you the gumption you need to triumph over adversity.”
The band was welcomed to Creech by base leaders and then walked through a mission brief, during which the band learned how the roles RPA airmen play in executing the persistent attack and reconnaissance mission.
Each band member also had the opportunity to fly training missions with the 432nd Operations Support Squadron’s MQ-9 Reaper flight simulator, both as sensor operators and pilots. With simulator experience in the books, Disturbed met with airmen for lunch and a meet-and-greet event where airmen took photos with the band and brought in personal items for signing.
“It was amazing! Disturbed was actually one of the first bands I listened to when I was six and I was hooked ever since,” said Senior Airman Tanner, a 12th Air Force Persistent Attack and Reconnaissance Center weather forecaster. “It feels great that a big band like Disturbed took notice of what we do here at Creech and they think it’s important to show support.”
.JPG)
Dan Donegan, guitarist for the band Disturbed, receives a bite from a military working dog during a demonstration at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, October 24.
Members of the band Disturbed meet Air Force families during a tour of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, October 24.
Members of the band Disturbed tour the 57th Wing Eagle Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, October 24.
.JPG)
Members of the band Disturbed take a photo with an Airman during a tour of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, October 24.
David Draiman, Disturbed lead vocalist, performs for Creech Air Force Base airmen Oct. 23.
Later, Disturbed performed a concert in a maintenance hangar and the band dove into their performance with classics and songs from their brand new album, “Evolution.”
Approximately 700 airmen, veterans, family and members of team Creech attended.
The next day, the band visited nearby Nellis Air Force Base, participating in a military working dog demonstration and getting an up-close look at military aircraft on base. After visiting various units, Disturbed performed a second show for airmen and their families.
“I think that this is an incredibly important part of our Armed Forces,” Draiman said. “What you guys do is an amazing thing, it keeps our troops on the ground safe and is a very integral part of the machine.”
Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
