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Soldiers enjoyed live music from the 101st Airborne Division rock band, “Out of Uniform.” They performed for the first time here April 10. The band, led by Army Staff Sgt. Carlos Llanes from Miami, played everything from rock and hip-hop to country and Latin.
“Our mission changes when we are deployed; instead of the Army Band doing ceremonies and historic events, we are here to support our troops and bring ‘home’ to them,” Llanes said. “I was surprised how the chains of command had fun with the soldiers and, for one moment, forget that we were in Afghanistan. This was a great opportunity to support our deployed soldiers.”
“I enjoyed putting on the show and having the crowd respond. It is a nice way to support troops,” said Army Spc. Jessica Krzmarzick, the group’s lead female vocalist.
"Affording the soldiers of Task Force Pacemaker and other members of FOB Sharana a little down time at the 14th month in their deployment was a great morale booster,” said Army Maj. James Delapp, the Task Force Pacemaker executive officer.
“These soldiers have worked extremely hard constructing new facilities for soldiers throughout [Regional Command East] and deserved to let their hair down and have some fun," Delapp said.
In addition to hearing live music and eating good food, Task Force Pacemaker soldiers also played flag football and soccer games, and had a chance to dunk their leaders in cold water. Soldiers also rode a camel and had the opportunity to get their picture taken on it.
Task Force Pacemaker provides general engineering services, assured mobility, and survivability operations to coalition forces in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and Afghanistan. The task force is getting ready to transition the mission to 62nd Engineer Battalion, from Fort Hood, Texas.
(Army Cpt. Kenya V. Saenz is assigned to the Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office.)
