Considering that WWE has gone overseas to visit the troops for 7 consecutive years, initially, we were disheartened to hear that we would not be filming our annual Tribute show in Afghanistan with the troops. Needless to say, I was honored and thrilled when I was asked to be a part of a small group that would pay a visit to the servicemen and women overseas.
Our crew consisted of myself, Kelly Kelly, the Big Show, Vince McMahon, and our photographer Craig. I was definitely anxious and a little nervous before embarking upon our mission overseas. This was my first time in Afghanistan, and, from what I had heard, the war has a different climate than what we witnessed in our previous trips to Iraq. We started at JFK airport, where we were escorted through security and onto our Qatar Airlines flight. I was very impressed with Qatar Airlines. From a comfort perspective, it beats the military cargo planes by a long shot!
For security reasons, I can’t mention the names of any bases or exact locations that we visited on this trip. Upon our landing in Qatar, we stayed and did a meet-and-greet at a local base before heading off to Afghanistan the following day. We were met by Whitney and Ahmad, and for some reason Big Show and Whitney just loved to crack jokes on one another. It’s pretty entertaining to watch a giant get so emotional! We ate at the DFAC (dining facility) in the morning, and then headed to the military airbase for departure to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, they were not able to get us an aircraft until later in the afternoon, so we went to the base gym, which was one of the nicest I’ve seen! After a great workout, I showered up and headed back to the airfield with everyone else.
We took off on a C-130, which is smaller (and slower) than the C-17s we’ve flown on in the past. It is loud and uncomfortable to say the least, but it gets the job done. Let’s just say it made me wish for a middle seat next to a crying baby on a commercial flight. The flight was about 5 1/2 hours, and we were starving when we arrived! Upon landing, we could tell right away that we were somewhere very different. The base was dusty and dry, but at least the sun was shining. From my understanding, in Iraq, where we had occupied many of the locations for nearly ten years, there was a lot of money put into refining the infrastructure of the bases. In hopes that we will not have to inhabit these bases in Afghanistan for quite so long, they are not investing as many resources into these once Russian owned military compounds. The rough conditions of the bases and the surrounding territories are just one aspect of the war that makes me appreciate our troops and their sacrifices.
We went straight to the DFAC to eat where, again, we noticed a remarkable difference in the quality and availability of food for the soldiers. A subtle reminder that a war is being fought and there are sacrifices to be made. The crew that took care of us was awesome. They went above and beyond to make us feel safe and comfortable in what would otherwise have been a tough time in the sand box.
The next day we got suited up in our body armor that weighed more than Kelly Kelly herself, and took off on Black Hawks to visit two other FOBs (Forward Operating Bases). These are the guys and girls who truly are in the middle of nowhere! Flying in the Black Hawks is such an exhilarating experience, and it gives you a birds eye view on what is going on. It was incredible to see the ‘housing’ in parts of rural Afghanistan. There are cities that are made of basically huts and mud. It’s amazing how these conditions can make even the poorest parts of the U.S. seem luxurious. Visiting the FOBs is my favorite part of these trips. The soldiers welcome us with open arms, and they are super pumped to have us there. We took pictures, signed autographs, and gave hugs, I even agreed to a wedding proposal! (still haven’t gotten my ring). It was great to speak to the leaders of the bases, and hear the pride and confidence in their voices as they talked about the progress that is being made. The variety of expertise, trades, and professions in the military always impresses me. It is awesome to witness young men and women who are passionate about what they do, and I was honored to have them show me the ins and outs of their critical tasks.
When the bulk of our mission was over, and we finally made it back to Qatar after another long flight in a C-130, we were stopped at customs for nearly three hours. Three hours when your hungry feels like eight hours. When you’re Big Show and hungry it feels like 12 hours. The reason for the hold up was insignificant, but luckily Big Show answered a game of 21 questions with the guards, and we eventually got out of there and into the DFAC to eat. Kelly Kelly and I found it funny that most of the men on this trip (especially the local men) would basically run us over to swarm around Big Show! Luckily he has a heart of gold and is always a good sport.
This was the first trip during which I was able to really talk to other female soldiers. We even named our “Deployed Divas” Rai Rai and Debs, who were the amazing women that helped coordinate our stay. We talked about girly things, and I even went through an “Evelicious Workout” with Debs at the gym. We discussed what it is like to be overseas with children at home, long distance relationships, and being a wife deployed with a husband at home. Surprisingly, with the Diva’s crazy traveling schedule, I could actually empathize with some of the difficulties they experience. I developed a profound respect for these women, and the additional burdens they experience when deployed overseas.
It was a brief, but astoundingly meaningful trip. Both for those of us who visited, and for those who were reminded that they are appreciated and missed back in their home countries. It is an eyeopener to witness how different life in the military is from the average American/civilian lifestyle. Being able to choose what to eat, what fun activities you do on any given day, and what friends or family you spent time with – these are all luxuries that are not part of daily life in the War in Afghanistan. It is important to remember that every person there is there because they volunteered to be. They made the choice to be there so that you and I may not have to. Regardless of our political views, whenever we have the opportunity, we should show our support and appreciation for the troops that serve our country.
