The arm of the Defense Department responsible for feeding the troops has sent roughly 49,000 pounds of chicken wings, 46,000 pounds of frozen pizza, 11,000 pounds of mozzarella sticks, and 2,200 gallons of chili to Afghanistan for the U.S. military to munch on while they watch the Super Bowl.
Anthony Amendolia, Europe and Middle East region chief for subsistence customer operations with Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, says:
"DLA plans well in advance to provide these favorite and tasty finger foods for the Super Bowl, ensuring that more than 200 locations throughout Afghanistan are adequately stocked on time for February."
As far as beverages go, DLA shipped more than 9,800 cases of nonalcoholic beer for the football-watching troops to enjoy.
Making sure there's actually something on the television screen for service members around the world to watch on Super Bowl Sunday is a bit of a technical marvel. The Raytheon Company teams up with American Forces Radio and Television Service and the U.S. Air Force to provide a video feed of the Super Bowl to troops, using the same technology used to deliver video from unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. It's called Global Broadcast Service.
Terry Hill, operations and maintenance product manager for Raytheon’s Intelligence and Information Systems, says making sure service members stationed far from their families get to watch the big game is a big deal:
“It’s more than just watching a football game. For a few hours, our troops get to forget the miles that separate them from home and just enjoy the camaraderie of their crew.”
So, who are YOU rooting for? The 49ers or the Ravens?
