Tag Archives: Kuwait

Saving Abel – Coming to Ustream this Thursday!!

Posted on February 28, 2010 by | 3 Comments

Be sure to tune in on Thursday when the Saving Abel USO concert at Camp Arijan will be broadcast on Ustream at 10 pm EST/7 p PST!!

And check out the latest pics as their tour continues through Kuwait…

Saving Abel's Scott Bartlett shares a light moment with Marine Corporal Randy Callaway, 25, of Tyler, Texas, during a USO meet and greet at Camp Arifjan on Feb. 23, 2010. In the region to extend their gratitude to troops, the band will visit three countries in just eight days. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

More than 1,700 troops stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait flock to the stage for an up close look at Saving Abel as they perform a USO concert on Feb. 23, 2010. As part of their eight-day, three-country USO tour to the combat zone, Saving Abel will visit multiple military bases and perform numerous concerts. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

At Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, as part of their first USO tour, Saving Abel's concert will be broadcast on Ustream in early March. To view the USO concert visit http://www.ustream.tv/savingabel. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

More than 1,700 troops stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait rock out in excitement as one of their favorite bands, Saving Abel, performs a no holds barred USO concert Feb. 23, 2010. Known for such songs as “Addicted," 18 Days” and “Drowning (Face Down),” Saving Abel are avid supporters of the U.S. military and have made multiple appearances on bases stateside. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

Rock band Saving Abel performs for more than 1,700 troops stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait on Feb. 23, 2010. In the region as part of their first USO tour, the concert will be broadcast on Ustream in early March. To view the USO concert visit http://www.ustream.tv/savingabel. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

Saving Abel front-man Jared Weeks performs for troops stationed at Camp Arijan on Feb. 23, 2010. Performing such hits as "Addicted," "18 Days," "Drowning (Face Down)" and "In God's Eyes," the USO concert will be broadcast on Ustream in early March. (USO photo by Mike Clifton)

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Posted in Celebrity Entertainment, Centers, Southwest Asia

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The USO’s Board of Governors Visit Centers in Southwest Asia

Posted on February 27, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Two members of the USO Board of Governors recently toured Kuwait as part of a three-day trip. Dennis Swanson and Sue Timken were accompanied by Sue’s husband William Timken, former US ambassador to Germany, and representatives of other major USO partners, including Sally Ann Zoll, CEO of United Through Reading; Steven Nardizzi, CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project; Mary Louise Austin, CEO of USO Georgia; and Bruce Nitsche of the Wounded Warrior Project.

The overall mission of the trip was to give the board and major stakeholders a chance to see the USO in action.  The tour kicked off with an in-depth look of the Wounded Warrior Unit at Camp Arifjan, where they all got a chance to meet with service members in recovery.  Day two of their journey brought them to Camp Ali Al Salem where USO center director Val Burnham and a few duty managers presented the group with a rundown of the special USO programs, which have started there and are actually implemented at various centers across Kuwait.

After Camp Ali Al Salem it was off to Camp Buehring, where they got a chance to see the difference a few miles make since the two bases are only about 25 miles apart. That night the board members wanted to take some of the USO volunteers out to dinner as a thank you. The last day of the tour the group visited Camp Virginia. At Camp Virginia they got a chance to see the base and what it’s really like for the soldiers there.

We’d like to thank all of these guests for spending time at our centers in Kuwait.  You are welcome back any time!

USO BOG

Dr. Seuss continues to unite family members half way around the world. Sally Zoll CEO of United Through Reading discusses a service member’s book selection while he waits to read to a love one at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Sally was part of a three day USO Board of Governors tour of Kuwait. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

Even after volunteering 30 hours in three days, this USO volunteer still has a smile on his face as he poses with members of the USO Board of Governors, Dennis Swanson and Sue Timken at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

USO Board of Governors member Sue Timken gets a chance to get in on the action when multiple people came up to the USO front desk counter as she checks in service members at USO Camp Buehring. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

USO Board of Governors member Sue Timken (center) gets a chance to feel as confidant as most soldiers do. Timken along with other board members took time to thank service members for all they do while serving in the Persian Gulf. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

Some USO volunteers were so excited to have a nice dinner thanks to the USO Board of Governors who took them to the Seven Seas restaurant in Kuwait City. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

USO volunteers at Camp Ali Al Salem take time to greet USO Board of Governors members and other dignitaries on one of their stops during their tour in Kuwait. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

USO Board of Governors members spend time with troops assigned to the Wounded Warrior Unit at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. This was just one of their stops as part of a three day tour of Kuwait. (USO Photo by Duane DeVorak)

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Posted in Centers, Southwest Asia, Support

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Camp Virginia Gets Creative

Posted on February 14, 2010 by | 1 Comment

We love getting dispatches from the field, especially from our USO Centers that support Troops who are far, far from home.  Like Camp Virginia, in Kuwait – this USO Center never fails to amaze with their innovative programs, events, and activities.  We take a moment to share a few of our favorites from this month…

CakeCamp Virginia held a Black History Month/United Through Reading celebration with a beautiful cake and inspiring speech by SFC Areka Brown of the 90th HRC.

SFC Brown spoke movingly about the important contributions of African Americans throughout the history of the United States and the U.S. military.  Afterward, she cut the amazing cake (seen at right with SFC Brown), which was enjoyed by the permanent parties and transient troops in attendance.

Sock PuppetsNothing says fun in the desert like…sock puppets?  But how cool is this: on 8 February, USO at Camp Virginia held their first “Sock Puppets for the Sick” arts and craft event.   And all of the puppets were donated to a children’s hospital!

The USO supplied buttons, felt, ribbon and markers for the over 35 creative puppets.  As Duty Manager Bonnie Bachenheimer wrote us, “Socks ‘n stuff + inventive and caring troops = smiling young patients.”

Finally – and just when you thought they couldn’t top the cake and puppets – USO at Camp Virginia hosted a concert featuring Celtic Aire, a musical group composed of the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants.  Members of Celtic Aire are Technical Sgts. Joseph Haughton, Julia Brundage, and Emily Lewis, and Master Sgt. Eric Sullivan, all seen below.

Celtic AireAs Bachenheimer explains, “We were initially somewhat bewildered because we never previously had this type of group entertain at the USO.  However, it took less than one song for Celtic Aire to win over just about everyone inside the Center. The group played Irish folk songs and dance music, American Blue Grass and country, drinking tunes and bar ditties.  Between the jigs and sing-alongs, the jokes and stories, their show seemed much shorter than the 75 minutes they played.”  Awesome!

Thanks to the staff and volunteers at USO Camp Virginia for sharing these amazing stories with us.  And if your loved one has spent any time at the USO Center there, let us know!  We love to hear YOUR stories, too.

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Posted in Centers, Programs, Recognition, Southwest Asia

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Santa (sorta) Even Made it to Kuwait!

Posted on December 27, 2009 by | 3 Comments

USO Camp LSA had no shortage of holiday cheer, as service members posed for Christmas pictures at the USO Camp LSA and MWR sponsored tree lighting party.

Camp LSA also stuffed thousands of greeting cards that were sent to us from all over the US with AT&T calling cards and handed them out as part of Operation Phone Home.   Altogether, USO staff and volunteers handed out over a thousand cards.  As Duty Manager Duane DeVorak (also the photographer for the events) sais, “These photos show how we put a smile on their faces.”  Wonderful!

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Posted in Centers, Programs, Southwest Asia

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Renovation at Ali Al Salem

Posted on December 22, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Staff and volunteers at the USO Center Ali Al Salem in Kuwait decided the place could use a little renovating.  Center Manager Valerie A. Burnham explained a bit of the overhaul:

“The first 2 photos are ‘before’…The last photos are ‘after’…

We painted the walls a warm butter yellow with gray/green inlay to give our USO a more ‘homey’ feel.  We also divided the big living room into two sections, U-shaping the couches to provide a modern appearance.  We also fixed the couches and cleaned them.  We hung two TV’s on each side of the room, one over the fire place.

We painted the movie room dark green, dark purple, and maroon, added new berber carpet (donated, and volunteers removed old and installed new) that we can remove once a month and actually clean! We hung black curtains to block out light, and to give it a movie room feel.  I spent hours with the cleaning crew to clean the tile (looks brand new).

We also repainted the UTR room w/ original art work by Petty Officer Albert Lopez, one of our top volunteers.

THE COST = Less than $500.00 . .  we did all the work ourselves along with volunteers.”

Wow!  All we can say is WOW.  The renovations look amazing and we’re so proud of our staff, volunteers, and everyone else who made this happen.  Great work!

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Posted in Centers, Southwest Asia, Volunteers

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Eyes Light Up

Posted on December 15, 2009 by | 7 Comments

This poem was written by the staff at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, to capture in one simple phrase – Eyes Light Up or “ELU” – their every day experiences at the USO Center there.  We hope you enjoy…

“We love it at the USO.  We get to see that our services are offering soldiers a bit of unexpected good luck; a touch of serendipity.  It may be something small or simple, but we know we’ve done something right when we watch their eyes light up.

Soldier:  How long is the wait for the phone?
Us:  You can get on one right now.
Soldier:  I don’t have a calling card.
Us:  You don’t need a calling card; just hop on.
Soldier:  I’ve used all of my Spaware minutes.
Us:  You don’t need Spaware minutes.  Our phones are direct dial.
Soldier:  Do you mean I can sit down and call my husband right now?
Us:  Yes, ma’am. Soldier’s ELU.

Solider:  I heard you’re open until 18:00.
Us:  No sir.  We are open until zero-six, not six o’clock.
Soldier’s ELU.

Us:  Yes, sir.  The book goes home along with your recording.  Soldier’s ELU.
Soldier:  So I just take this and mail it?
Us:  No, sir.  We will mail it for you.  Soldier’s ELU.
Soldier:  So how much does it cost?
Us:  It’s free, sir.  Everything in our USO is free.  Soldier’s ELU.

Soldier:  The movie is over.  How do I find out what’s playing next in the cinema?
Us:  You are welcome to pick the next movie.  Just give us the name and number from our list.
Soldier’s ELU.

Soldier:  What time do I have to be here to do a UTR?
Us:  Any time we are open.
Soldier:  Is there a long wait? Us:  No, sir.  You are welcome to do a UTR rig

ht now.
Soldier’s ELU.

Us:  Ma’am, here’s your “cocktail.”  It’s Happy Hour at the USO.
Soldier’s ELU.

Soldier:  Are we allowed to bring food in here?
Us:  Sure.
Soldier’s ELU.

Soldier:  Do you have a deck of cards I can borrow?
Us:  [Pointing to six decks of cards on the desk.]  Take and keep as many as you want.
Soldier’s ELU.

Soldier:  How long is the wait for the Internet.
Us:  You can hop on right now. Soldier’s ELU.

Of course there as many occasions for the Camp Virginia Duty Managers’ eyes to light up:

When four troops return their Wii game and they are all laughing and dripping with sweat, our ELU.

When we find someone snoring on the couch for 90 minutes, our ELU.

When the Colonel sends UTRs home to his children or comes in to play Xbox with the Major, our ELU.

When the movie is over and 40 people exit the cinema, just like a theater in the States, our ELU.

When the Center is full and quiet with people reading, watching TV, playing board games, chatting and relaxing, our ELU.

When the CSM tells us that she has suggested to all new arrivals at Camp Virginia that they visit the USO because they will be in for a treat, our ELU.

When the Center is full and loud with people playing video games, dominoes, watching action movies and whooping, our ELU.

When everyone is watching football games on AFN and the crowd roars with enthusiasm or groans in despair, our ELU.

When a soldier finds a friend who he hasn’t seen in months, our ELU.

Any time troops laugh, our ELU.

We’re at the USO and we have the best “jobs” in the world; our goal is to make people happy.  Every day, at least a few times a day, our ELU!  Life just doesn’t get better than that.”

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Posted in Centers, Southwest Asia, Support, Troops

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