Teen center provides family members a voice

  • Published
  • By Marine Cpl. James Weatherly
  • Det. 11, Air Force News Agency
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNEWS) --  The deafening roar of an electric guitar, the crash of drums and accompanying vocals signaled the beginning of the teen center's monthly Battle of the Bands contest at Kadena Air Base. 

Kadena AB teenagers took the stage in one of the newest programs here to give military children an outlet for their creativity. 

"Because of the diverse programs we have at the teen center, we offer a little something for everybody," said Fletcher Wooden, the Teen Center Millennium manager. "And if we don't have it, we're willing to create programs to attract other kids into our facility." 

Kadena AB's services programs provide community involvement for the kids both inside and outside the base gate. 

"Sometimes we have bands from off base, and that lets us talk to managers from those bands," said Michael Teehee, a drummer for one of the teen bands featured at the monthly Battle of the Bands event. "They've (local Okinawan band managers) given us shows off base at other venues and it's given us more exposure. So through the teen center our band has gotten bigger." 

Mr. Wooden said local interaction with the Okinawan community gives kids an advantage they may not get anywhere else. 

"We've had some of the professional Japanese bands come out to the teen center and they help the kids and then the kids see the Okinawan bands in action," Mr. Wooden said. "I think the community has responded well for the people who like rock music and it's a great thing that we've added to the teen center programming." 

As participation and interest in the contests grow, the teen center will continue to provide Kadena AB's teens with an outlet for their voice to be heard.

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