CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – The new Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facility located at the Red Bull Life Sustainment Area on Contingency Operating Base Basra opened for Soldiers after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 4. The facility, which will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, offers Soldiers the opportunity to come and hang out with friends while enjoying some luxuries Soldiers do not usually have access to here, said Staff Sgt. Julie Lewandowski, MWR noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
The facility is currently equipped with televisions with Armed Forces Network connections, movies, video and board games, books, a foosball table and a massage chair. According to the Minneapolis resident, more is expected to arrive, such a pool table.
“It’s getting toward the middle of the tour, and it’s really important to build morale,” she said. “We wanted to go ahead and open it up for the Soldiers to enjoy.”
She said the MWR is somewhere Soldiers will be able to go and relax outside of their rooms.
“I’ve seen a lot of gloomy faces since I’ve been here,” she added, “but since Soldiers found out about this project, they seem excited.”
“Some Soldiers work 12 hours a day. So, at the end of their shift, they don’t necessarily want to be in their rooms,” said Spc. Matthew Gallagher, a mechanic with the 34th Infantry Division. “This is a place Soldiers can come to relax and kick back to build morale.”
“Everything we have built on the COB is based on the morale of the Soldiers,” the Montgomery, Minn., resident added, “the more they have to do, the better.”
“I’m just sad we couldn’t get more,” said Lewandowski, “but, it’s a start right now.”
