Eastern Michigan Athletics
Chris Creighton Takes Part in Tour to Support Troops Overseas
3/22/2016 1:00:00 PM | Football
Creighton joined two others, including 49ers head coach Chip Kelly on foreign tour
Watch Creighton Talk About the Trip | Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan Head Football Coach Chris Creighton spent a week in February touring American military bases in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, visiting six nations on three continents.
A group of 15 travelers in total, whose movements were not disclosed for security reasons, departed from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga, and traveled a total of 19,126 miles, visiting Ramstein Airbase and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, NSA (Naval Support Activity) and ISA Air Base in Bahrain, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and Aviano Air Force Base in Italy.
Coach Creighton joined fellow coaches Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Chip Kelly (San Francisco 49ers) along with Global Football President and former Notre Dame quarterback Patrick Steenberge on the tour, which was conducted by Col. Al Hunt, USAF (Retired) and organized by Military Appreciation Partnerships (MAP) in Association with Armed Forces Entertainment.
"We do these tours in order to communicate a positive message of awareness to our troops and other overseas personnel that the American people appreciate and support their service to our country," explained Mike Whalen of Military Appreciation Partnerships.
Coach Creighton's participation came as a result of his association with Patrick Steenberge of Global Football, with whom he traveled to Tanzania in 2011 to play the first-ever game of college American football on the African continent and led his Drake University squad on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
All of the travelers were given the opportunity to observe a takeoff and/or landing from the flight deck of the C-17.
Ramstein Air Base
More than 100 people formed a line before the group's arrival, seeking autographs, photos and conversation at the largest American military community outside the United States. Approximately 50,000 troops, dependents, and DoD support personnel reside there under the command of Brigadier General Jon "Tye" Thomas, Commander of the 86th Airlift Wing.
The group visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, an overseas military hospital operated by the U.S. Army, which is the largest military hospital outside the continental United States. More than 250,000 individuals have been treated there from down range and it is usually the first stop for injured military members returning from the Middle East and is also the major medical center for all of Europe.
General Frank Gorenc, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, U.S. Air Forces, Africa; Commander, Allied Air Command, headquartered at Ramstein (NATO) met with Kelly, Calhoun, Creighton and Steenberge before they departed for the Middle East.
ISA Air Base and NSA, Bahrain
The party of 15 total travelers then headed for the home of the United States Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Team MAP started the day at ISA Air Base, near a Patriot Missile base protecting Bahrain, where an NFL-style combine, was conducted for the local troops. Each combine included bench press reps, broad jump, high jump, pro shuttle and the 40-yard dash, with this being the first of four such events on the trip, and it did not take long to recognize the exemplary energy, leadership and enthusiasm that overflowed from the coaches who organized and conducted the events. The ISA Base combine was held on the sand and outdoor basketball court, while at NSA an artificial turf field welcomed the participants.
Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
Djibouti is located on the Horn of Africa, around 6 miles from Somalia and eight miles from Yemen and hosts Camp Lemonnier, the primary base of operations for U.S. Africa Command. Approximately 5,000 U.S. joint, and allied military, civilian personnel, and DoD contractors occupy the camp, where the group was privileged to spend some time with Captain Geoffrey Colpitts, the Commanding Officer. He gave a good insight into the operations and underlined the sacrifices by the troops who serve there. Their deployment is usually for a year, and they are separated from their families for that term.
Following another combine, four teams competed in a 7-on-7 flag football tournament as Kelly's team beat Calhoun's squad in the championship game.
Aviano AFB, Italy
This NATO base in northeastern Italy, located at the foot of the Southern Carnic Alps, provided a beautiful sight with snow in full view and there were two highlight events at Aviano. The coaches were invited to participate in a leadership discussion hosted by Brigadeer General Barre Seguin, the Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, the only permanently assigned USAF fighter aircraft wing in NATO's southern wing. Participants included his senior officer commanders and senior enlisted leadership, his staff, the coaches and Patrick, as well as former Congressman Jim Marshall and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Bill Anderson.
Afterwards, the coaches conducted another NFL Combine with personnel from the 31st Security Forces Squadron. Finally, the MAP team met with more than a hundred military children and their parents in a youth center gym to receive photos, shirts, and autographs from the coaches. Once again the genuineness and the warm personalities of the coaches were in clear view as they reached out to the youngsters.
Traveling Football Personnel:
Chip Kelly is currently the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Before joining the 49ers, Chip was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015. Prior to coaching in the NFL, he was the head coach for the Oregon Ducks from 2009 to 2012, and led them to four consecutive BCS bowl game appearances.
In 2007, Troy Calhoun embraced the mission of the Air Force Academy to accomplish what was once considered nearly impossible: building a service academy program that often earns a postseason bid while playing in one of college football's best conferences. In seven of Calhoun's eight years, Air Force has been to a bowl.
Chris Creighton is the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University, a position he has held since the 2014 season. Previously, Creighton served as the head coach at Ottawa University in Kansas from 1997 to 2000 and at Indiana's Wabash College from 2001 to 2007 before moving to Drake University in Des Moines for the 2008 through 2013 seasons.
Patrick Steenberge is a former quarterback who played at the University of Notre Dame. He is currently the owner and operator of Global Football, which organizes competitive events for amateur athletes worldwide, allowing them the chance to experience the Global Classroom and play in the Global Stadium. During the past two decades, Global Football has been the largest exporter of American football, having produced games and events in 25 countries on 6 continents since 1996.
About MAP: MAP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity dedicated to taking the Best of America to those who defend it. Military Appreciation Partnerships' seasoned leadership team enables troops unusual access to memorable, one-of-a-kind events including performing arts, celebrity appearances, comedy, collegiate and professional sports, and motivational presentations. MAP's management team is composed of career professionals with vast planning and logistical resources who have produced thousands of national and international tours, events, and broadcast coverage for tens of millions of military and public attendees
About Armed Forces Entertainment: Armed Forces Entertainment is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. For more information visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan Head Football Coach Chris Creighton spent a week in February touring American military bases in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, visiting six nations on three continents.
A group of 15 travelers in total, whose movements were not disclosed for security reasons, departed from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga, and traveled a total of 19,126 miles, visiting Ramstein Airbase and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, NSA (Naval Support Activity) and ISA Air Base in Bahrain, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and Aviano Air Force Base in Italy.
Coach Creighton joined fellow coaches Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Chip Kelly (San Francisco 49ers) along with Global Football President and former Notre Dame quarterback Patrick Steenberge on the tour, which was conducted by Col. Al Hunt, USAF (Retired) and organized by Military Appreciation Partnerships (MAP) in Association with Armed Forces Entertainment.
"We do these tours in order to communicate a positive message of awareness to our troops and other overseas personnel that the American people appreciate and support their service to our country," explained Mike Whalen of Military Appreciation Partnerships.
Coach Creighton's participation came as a result of his association with Patrick Steenberge of Global Football, with whom he traveled to Tanzania in 2011 to play the first-ever game of college American football on the African continent and led his Drake University squad on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
All of the travelers were given the opportunity to observe a takeoff and/or landing from the flight deck of the C-17.
Ramstein Air Base
More than 100 people formed a line before the group's arrival, seeking autographs, photos and conversation at the largest American military community outside the United States. Approximately 50,000 troops, dependents, and DoD support personnel reside there under the command of Brigadier General Jon "Tye" Thomas, Commander of the 86th Airlift Wing.
The group visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, an overseas military hospital operated by the U.S. Army, which is the largest military hospital outside the continental United States. More than 250,000 individuals have been treated there from down range and it is usually the first stop for injured military members returning from the Middle East and is also the major medical center for all of Europe.
General Frank Gorenc, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, U.S. Air Forces, Africa; Commander, Allied Air Command, headquartered at Ramstein (NATO) met with Kelly, Calhoun, Creighton and Steenberge before they departed for the Middle East.
ISA Air Base and NSA, Bahrain
The party of 15 total travelers then headed for the home of the United States Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Team MAP started the day at ISA Air Base, near a Patriot Missile base protecting Bahrain, where an NFL-style combine, was conducted for the local troops. Each combine included bench press reps, broad jump, high jump, pro shuttle and the 40-yard dash, with this being the first of four such events on the trip, and it did not take long to recognize the exemplary energy, leadership and enthusiasm that overflowed from the coaches who organized and conducted the events. The ISA Base combine was held on the sand and outdoor basketball court, while at NSA an artificial turf field welcomed the participants.
Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
Djibouti is located on the Horn of Africa, around 6 miles from Somalia and eight miles from Yemen and hosts Camp Lemonnier, the primary base of operations for U.S. Africa Command. Approximately 5,000 U.S. joint, and allied military, civilian personnel, and DoD contractors occupy the camp, where the group was privileged to spend some time with Captain Geoffrey Colpitts, the Commanding Officer. He gave a good insight into the operations and underlined the sacrifices by the troops who serve there. Their deployment is usually for a year, and they are separated from their families for that term.
Following another combine, four teams competed in a 7-on-7 flag football tournament as Kelly's team beat Calhoun's squad in the championship game.
Aviano AFB, Italy
This NATO base in northeastern Italy, located at the foot of the Southern Carnic Alps, provided a beautiful sight with snow in full view and there were two highlight events at Aviano. The coaches were invited to participate in a leadership discussion hosted by Brigadeer General Barre Seguin, the Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, the only permanently assigned USAF fighter aircraft wing in NATO's southern wing. Participants included his senior officer commanders and senior enlisted leadership, his staff, the coaches and Patrick, as well as former Congressman Jim Marshall and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Bill Anderson.
Afterwards, the coaches conducted another NFL Combine with personnel from the 31st Security Forces Squadron. Finally, the MAP team met with more than a hundred military children and their parents in a youth center gym to receive photos, shirts, and autographs from the coaches. Once again the genuineness and the warm personalities of the coaches were in clear view as they reached out to the youngsters.
Traveling Football Personnel:
Chip Kelly is currently the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Before joining the 49ers, Chip was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015. Prior to coaching in the NFL, he was the head coach for the Oregon Ducks from 2009 to 2012, and led them to four consecutive BCS bowl game appearances.
In 2007, Troy Calhoun embraced the mission of the Air Force Academy to accomplish what was once considered nearly impossible: building a service academy program that often earns a postseason bid while playing in one of college football's best conferences. In seven of Calhoun's eight years, Air Force has been to a bowl.
Chris Creighton is the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University, a position he has held since the 2014 season. Previously, Creighton served as the head coach at Ottawa University in Kansas from 1997 to 2000 and at Indiana's Wabash College from 2001 to 2007 before moving to Drake University in Des Moines for the 2008 through 2013 seasons.
Patrick Steenberge is a former quarterback who played at the University of Notre Dame. He is currently the owner and operator of Global Football, which organizes competitive events for amateur athletes worldwide, allowing them the chance to experience the Global Classroom and play in the Global Stadium. During the past two decades, Global Football has been the largest exporter of American football, having produced games and events in 25 countries on 6 continents since 1996.
About MAP: MAP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity dedicated to taking the Best of America to those who defend it. Military Appreciation Partnerships' seasoned leadership team enables troops unusual access to memorable, one-of-a-kind events including performing arts, celebrity appearances, comedy, collegiate and professional sports, and motivational presentations. MAP's management team is composed of career professionals with vast planning and logistical resources who have produced thousands of national and international tours, events, and broadcast coverage for tens of millions of military and public attendees
About Armed Forces Entertainment: Armed Forces Entertainment is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. For more information visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com.
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