CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – The arrow flies through the air, arcing with great speed and accuracy. It whistles a steady melody before the loud clunk as it sinks into the target.
Service members on Contingency Operating Base Basra now have the opportunity to take part in archery on the base. The archery range opened recently with a plethora of equipment donated by Cabela’s, a chain of sporting goods stores.
“We set up an archery range to showcase the equipment Cabela’s has donated to us,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Theis, a coordinator for the range.
The equipment donated included bows, arrows, animal targets and stands for the bows.
The range, located in the far corner of Camp Bravo, is opened 24 hours for any service member to use. There are six bows available for checkout with the key to the facility at the Red Bull Life Sustainment Area billeting office.
Theis believes this is a great opportunity for service members and hopes to see the facility used frequently.
“I believe it’s important for Soldiers to have a few more MWR options. There (aren’t) a whole lot (available), especially some folks who work nighttime,” he said. “They don’t get the opportunity to take advantage of some of the MWR opportunities and with this being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it gives the Soldiers the opportunity to come out and get some off time and kind of relax a little bit and take part in some of their past hobbies.”
Theis said service members’ ability to enjoy this range wouldn’t have been possible without this donation; he was very impressed by the items donated and appreciates the thought.
“I would really like send a thank you to Cabela’s for donating all this equipment –it’s certainly going to good use. It will definitely help pass the time and get everybody out.”
