Operation Seasons Greetings brings holiday cheer to overseas Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Air Force Print News
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) --  What do you get when you cross a country music star, a latin pop sensation, a comedian and some cheerleaders? Ask Airmen here and they'll say a star-studded holiday tour called Operation Season's Greetings, which performed for the base's residents today.

"It was cool," said Airman 1st Class Bryce Kester, a C-17 loadmaster who attended the event. "It was a real morale booster to know these people came over here just to entertain us. It was fun."

Fun is what Operation Season's Greetings is all about. Now in its tenth season, the event is an Air Force Reserve Command and United States Air Forces in Europe-sponsored tour designed to bring some hometown entertainment and a little holiday cheer to Airmen stationed and deployed overseas.

"We want to bring a touch of home to these Airmen," said Maj. Chad Steffey, OSG technical director and commander, Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. "We want to show them that people back home are thinking of them and appreciate what they're doing ... especially during the holiday season."

This year, the event consists of performances by the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, country music star Jamie O'Neal, latin pop sensation Melina Leon, comedian Dick Hardwick and several cheerleaders from the New England Patriots, a professional football team. For some of the acts, this is their first time with the tour. For others, this is a repeat performance.

"I think it's important to visit the troops this time of year," said Ms. O'Neal, who is on her third tour with OSG. "It's great for their morale and it gives us the opportunity to show our thanks for everything they do."

However, putting on a show of this magnitude is no easy task. The event uses over 90,000 pounds of equipment and the efforts of 80 people to manage, plan and set up or tear down each show. Ensuring the tour goes smoothly is a cooperative effort, consisting of assets and personnel from several commands.

"This is the largest event to visit the [Middle East] each year and it wouldn't be possible without help from units outside of the Reserve command," Major Steffey said. "There's nothing else like this tour in the Air Force."

Still, the show's size doesn't detract from its quality.

"Operation Season's Greetings puts on a show that's on par with any high-dollar concert tour," said Dave Ballengee, deputy director of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. "This Air Force tour group brings state-of-the-art sound, stage and lighting equipment and will put on a show that our troops will never forget."

Incirlik was the first stop on this year's tour, with additional performances scheduled for several locations in Iraq, Great Britain and Germany.