Warrior Soldiers build camaraderie through stress relief

Photo By Lt. Col. Allen Hing | Sgt. Michelle Beasley of Houma, La., and Spec. Noel Enriquez of El Paso, Texas, share the microphones in a karaoke duet on Aug. 24, 2008. The karaoke singers matched vocals with songs and filled the evening air while bonding with their fellow Soldiers. Both Beasley and Enriquez are members of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad.  

TAJI, IRAQ

08.30.2008

Story by Canadian Forces LCol Allen Hing 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Maj. Al Hing
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Barbecue, karaoke, Baggo ... all seem out of place in Iraq and perhaps feel somewhat strange to the digitally camouflaged Soldiers.

"Where you're going 100 miles an hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can appreciate when you can get some down time and relax," said Maj. Silas Calhoun, of Washington D.C., who serves as a signal officer for 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "There's a stress breaker when you get to watch your battle buddies relax."

Karaoke was the center point of the informal gathering, where a Playstation 2 was brought out and hooked up to a Soldier's TV, allowing Soldiers to belt out "Hammer Time" by M.C. Hammer and match notes on "I Wanna Dance with Someone" by Whitney Houston, Soldiers responded with either hearty laughter or encouragement for the microphone holder. Some just danced and enjoyed the moment.

For a couple Soldiers, the grill was the place to be. Turning steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs was a stress breaker.

"You feel as if you left Iraq for a little while; cooking just takes your mind away," said Spec. Daberto Avila, of El Monte, Calif.

The mouth-watering scent of a grilled steak wafting through the air caught the attention of several noses and dragged Soldiers passing by into the group.

"If food brings you in, then that's good; you can get to know the guys," Avila continued. "We're just taking some time to relax and get some good food."

And then there was the event that involved tossing the Soldier-made bags filled with corn through the hole of a Soldier-made platform – from 25 feet away. The game of Baggo, brings back memories for many of the participants.

The long high arcs get the bags to either land on the board for one point or three for getting the bags into the hole. The murmurings of a close shot missed, or the shout of happiness for dropping the bag into the hole filled the evening.

"We just decided that we were going to make something that we could remember from home and just play," said Spec Larry Hensley of Reading, Ohio.

"You play and you just forget the day for a little while," added Staff Sgt. Joshua Bradley of Frederick, Md.

Stress release was the theme of the day, and one that the Soldiers seemed to greatly appreciate.

"(When you come here), you feel as if it takes you away and it gives you a chance to relieve stress – even if you don't feel as if you've built up stress," said Spc. Sarrianne Albizio, of Cassopolis, Mich., who works in the brigade's topographical team. "You don't feel it, but when you go back to your (mission) you feel ready to go again."

"It's all about getting rid of stress," said Calhoun, finding a way to relax, and getting to know the team. "We don't always have the time to step back and see what is going on – and (stress) creeps up on you. This grilling and chilling gives a lot of our Soldiers a small break and they get to know their team and relieve some stress."

• Date Taken: 08.30.2008
• Date Posted: 08.30.2008 19:40
• Story ID: 23047
• Location: TAJI, IQ