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Patriots Cheerleaders visiting Pacific bases

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mattie Fuller
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Six cheerleaders for the NFL’s New England Patriots will bring cheer to American troops overseas April 5-18.

Headquarters United States Central Command at MacDill, AFB, Fla.; Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command here, are sponsoring the Patriot World Tour.

Appearing at four PACAF bases, one USAFE base and three locations in Southwest Asia, the show will feature country-legend Lee Greenwood, along with six cheerleaders, country-rockers Restless Heart and comedian Dick Hardwick.
“The Patriots Cheerleaders’ performance is really exciting, dancing to some great classic rock and roll, country and Top 40 music,” said Tracy Sormanti, coach of the squad. “Our show always includes a great deal of audience participation and is sure to keep everyone laughing and having fun.”

Members of the cheerleading squad have entertained military troops in more than 20 countries since 9/11.

The Patriotic World Tour will perform shows at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Kadena AB, Japan; Kunsan AB, Korea; Misawa AB, Japan; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and three deployed locations in Southwest Asia.

“The most important message is that the troops have not been forgotten,” said Kristen O’Neil, a cheerleader whose grandfather was in World War II. “We are all very thankful for their dedication to our country.”

The tour will cover about 25,000 miles round trip. The performers, technicians, support troops and about 40,000 pounds of equipment will get a lift from a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and a KC-10 Extender refueling and cargo aircraft.

“The Patriotic World Tour is exactly what the chief of staff of the Air Force prioritizes for Air Force bands,” said Dave Ballengee, deputy director of the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Robins AFB. “We’re going to forward and deployed locations for the morale of the troops and their families.”

Members of the USAFE, PACAF Reserve bands as well as the United States Air Force Band will perform together as the opening act for the show – playing well-known rock-and-roll and contemporary favorites. The combined band serves as a reminder of how Air Force reservists partner with the active duty and Air National Guard to create the Total Force.

Known as “Citizen Airmen,” Air Force reservists are frontline troops actively engaged in worldwide missions. Air Force Reserve Command has about 75,000 reservists on full and part-time duty in almost every job specialty, contributing to nearly every Air Force mission.