Soldiers Enjoy Exchange Service 'Rodeo' in Afghanistan

Soldiers transport supplies on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for the Army and Air Force Exchange Services "Rodeo." The exchange service conducts weekly rodeos for troops stationed at forward operating bases in Afghanistan. Courtesy photo

Soldiers Enjoy Exchange Service 'Rodeo' in Afghanistan

By U.S. Army Spc. Daniel P. Kelly / Combined Joint Task Force 76

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan, Sept. 22, 2004 -— Soldiers in remote fire bases are grateful to receive the support from Army and Air Force Exchange Services employees through a program known as a “Rodeo.”

The exchange service conducts weekly “rodeos” to forward operating bases in Afghanistan, giving soldiers in remote locations an opportunity to use finance services, legal, chaplain, Reserve and National Guard affairs, retention, education and morale, welfare and recreation, and exchange service products said 1st Lieutenant Linda North, who heads the Morale, Welfare and Recreation for soldiers and Coalition Forces in Combined Joined Task Force 76 in Afghanistan.

Soldiers wait eagerly for the rodeo to arrive in Afghanistan.

“Rodeos are so mobile,” North said. “They move around, and show up from town to town. That’s what our rodeo does.”

North said although the rodeo in Afghanistan is carried out weekly, forward operating bases get visited, individually, about once a month.

North added that to many soldiers, the rodeo “coming to town” is the high point of their off time in Afghanistan.

“It’s a chance for soldiers to take care of financial issues, or any other issue that may need to be addressed,” North said.

North and a team of support elements load up palletized supplies for the rodeo on CH-47 Chinook helicopters and fly out to the forward operating bases.

After landing at the bases, trucks take the supplies, rodeo soldiers and exchange service employees to the dining facility to set up their operation.

Lt. Col. Armon Cioppa, commander of personnel for Combined Joint Task Force-76 in Afghanistan, said the rodeo makes a world of difference to soldiers serving in the most rugged and remote locations in Afghanistan.

“I had one soldier tell me it was like Disneyland to them,” Cioppa said.

Out of all the benefits afforded to soldiers, North said the exchange service is the highlight of the rodeo.

“They bring toiletries, chips, dips, magazines, video games and anything else a soldier might buy at a post exchange,” North said. “Soldiers also provide shopping lists to [the exchange service] before the rodeo, so that [the exchange service] can cater to the soldiers’ needs; like televisions and X-Boxes (video games),” she added.

Col. Chuck Cardinal, chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force-76, said exchange service employees are selfless in their service because the they volunteer to serve in Afghanistan and give service members something tangible through the rodeo program.

“I have great respect for anyone who is selfless,” Cardinal said. “[Army and Air Force Exchange Services] employees are doing it for their love of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. I think they’re very special people.”

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