Soldiers help to build ESPN studio in Kuwait

Stars and Stripes ^ | September 13, 2004 | Jason Chudy

[Former Military Chick]

When ESPN starts its weeklong “Salute the Troops” live broadcasts from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Tuesday morning, they’ll not only thank the troops for their service, but for the entire SportsCenter studio.

Soldiers assigned to this camp had their hands in nearly every aspect of the Kuwaiti SportsCenter studio and offices — from construction to camouflage.

“It was a collective effort,” said ESPN senior coordinating director Dave Weiler. “I think it’ll look great and give a flavor of what life is like here.”

Soldiers from Company B, 448th Engineer Battalion of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, spent five days building a 40- by-60-foot stage, EPSN’s wooden office complex, and camera platforms in one of Arifjan’s large warehouses.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Figueroa, who designed the SportsCenter studio facilities, actually does set construction in San Juan. “We do props, sets and special effects for TV and films,” he said.

Figueroa and his wife, Zina, started their company, The Prop Hunters Inc., 20 years ago. “When they told me that they needed a stage I thought it was odd, like God put this in our path," he said.

All together, 21 soldiers from the 448th helped build the studio. “They’re young, dedicated and talented,” Figueroa said. “I told them all to promise not to be my competition when we’re back.”

Their dedication and construction talents were definitely noticed by the ESPN crew.

“I’ve said this before, the people we pay money to help us aren’t as helpful as the people here,” said ESPN senior coordinating producer Mike McQuade.

Soldiers also decorated the set, creating corner bunkers, a mortar position, tent and sandbagged anchor’s desks.

“It’s how you’d see it in the field, but not to scale,” said Master Sgt. Brian Washington of the Area Support Group Kuwait, who along with Master Sgt. Herbert Almond and Sgt. 1st Class David Dismukes oversaw the soldiers’ work.

“We’re trying to make it look good,” said Spc. Lucas Monahan of the 175th Maintenance Company, an Army Reserve unit from Fort Jackson, S.C. “[ESPN] put in their input, we put in ours, and this is what we got.”

Nearly two-dozen soldiers from the area support group worked to clean and decorate the stage, plus set up dozens of Army cots for seats, said Washington. A large bank of bleachers was towed in for additional seating.

Washington, the support group’s operations sergeant major, said that soldiers from the camp’s facilities engineering department and director of installations office also helped out.

“Soldiers can do anything,” said Dismukes. “They make a lot happen; just tell then what you want and give them the resources to do it. This is the proof.”

[Former Military Chick]

Courtesy of U.S. Army
From left, Pvt. Camron Craw, Spc. Michael Curtis and Spc. Lucas Monahan, act out their own version of ESPN's SportsCenter as they were working to build the set last Thursday. Dozens of soldiers took part in creation of the studio and ESPN offices for SportsCenter's live broadcasts next week. Craw, from Minersville, Utah, is assigned to the 32nd Transportation Company; Curtis, from Miami, is assigned to the 50th Area Support Group, and Monahan, from Andalusia, Ala., is assigned to the 175th Maintenance Co.

Jason Chudy / S&S
Soldiers work to set up Army cots in the warehouse being used as the ESPN SportsCenter studio. The cots are being used as benches. Dozens of soldiers took part in the construction and decoration of the studio and EPSN offices.

[Former Military Chick]

Military news *ping*!

[TexasCajun]

If these soldiers have time to build ESPN a studio, then they need to have their ass in Bagdad, helping their brothers in arms!

[Spackidagoosh]

Not all soldiers are in combat positions.

[Chieftain]

The Marines in Fallujah and soldiers in Baghdad would call these guys "REMFs". However, they will be happy if they can get back in the rear to see it and 'chill out' for awhile.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Not all troops in theatre are in Baghdad. You should know that being former military, chick. But then, you were Air Force, so you wouldn't really understand how the Marines or Army operate.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Sorry - that was directed to TexasCajun. Got a little over zealous.

[Former Military Chick]

Was about to kick some, well you get the message. Then I read the following post where you clarified yourself, thank you.

Not that it matters, daughter of a fine USMA graduate, who did decide to use his talents in the Air Force. Married to a fine Army artillery officer.

So in the end, I might just know a few things about the military (services).

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

At this point, it sounds like you know a lot more than me about the military. ;) - not to mention I've just made a maroon of myself.