CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – Service members gathered to celebrate Labor Day at Contingency Operating Base Basra with a barbeque hosted by Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Division at the Red Bull Life Sustainment Area Sept. 5.
“We’re going to rotate monthly to sponsor this event or have a battalion-type party to blow off some steam and have some fun,” said Capt. Nickolas Wry, company commander, HHC, 34th Inf. Div. “Because it’s the holiday weekend and we’ve got new units ripping in and because we’re division headquarters, we decided to open it up to all people on the COB.”
The festivities included food, beverages, volleyball, horseshoes, football and a live band. One significant difference to this barbeque was the band was not on a time schedule.
“Normally the band plays from this time to this time, but for this event the band will play as long as there is a crowd or until they tire out,” said Wry, a resident of Fargo, N.D.
Another difference in this event was the introduction of root beer floats and the outreach of advertising the event.
“We reached out verbally and physically to the entire COB, which has never been done before,” said 1st Sgt. Kevin Bauer, senior enlisted leader, HHC, 34th Inf. Div.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation events are a good motivator to service members, according to Wry.
“MWR events play an important role,” he said. “They boost morale, allow Soldiers to let some steam off and have some fun. It also improves working relationships. They get to spend time together outside of work.”
For Bauer, this event was important for relationships throughout the COB.
“(These events) bring other units together,” he said. “We are all one COB and one team. Events like this show it doesn’t take competitive sports to develop that team.”
