Bands bring tour to Europe, deployed troops

  • Published
  • By Steven French
  • Air Force Reserve Command
Bands from Air Force Reserve Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe join up with guest artists to entertain families and troops in late November. 

Country music artist Jaime O'Neal, entertainer of the air waves Delilah, John Popper of the platinum-selling group Blues Traveler, and the New England Patriots cheerleaders will tour USAFE bases and Southwest Asia deployed locations from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2. 

"The combined effort serves as a good reminder of how Air Force reservists partner with the active-duty Air Force and the Air National Guard to create the Total Force," said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, chief of the Air Force Reserve, Pentagon. "We're working together on this tour to boost troop morale and let our people overseas know their Air Force family cares about them." 

Operation Season's Greetings will perform shows at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Ramstein AB, Germany; and deployed locations in Southwest Asia. The troupe will also visit with patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. 

Performing as the opening act, the combined Air Force bands will play well-known pop and contemporary favorites. 

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

Jaime O'Neal's newest CD - "Brave" - delivers her country songs, "Somebody's Hero," and "Trying to Find Atlantis." This album follows her pair of No. 1 hits "There is No Arizona," and "When I think about Angels," from her last album. 

The performers, technicians, support troops and about 40,000 pounds of equipment will get a lift from an Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft and a KC-10 Extender refueling and cargo aircraft.

The Incirlik concert is sheduled for 2 p.m., Nov. 22 inside of Hangar 4.