Most U.S. forces deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom have access to American Forces Radio and Television Service broadcasts.

The Air Force Broadcasting Service provides radio and television service to those assigned within the U.S. Central Command areas of operation in Central Asia, Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa.

“For the most part, every single soldier, sailor, Marine and airman serving in Central Asia and Southwest Asia, including Iraq, have access to our services,” said Michael Kinchen, director of Air Force Broadcasting Service here. “Of course, the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq change frequently and some of our U.S. forces who move around may not always have direct service, but all of the major troop concentrations are being served.”

Several types of television-signal distribution systems are offered, the most common being the TV-receive-only. “This system consists of a single satellite dish and one decoder, feeding one television,” Kinchen said. “These systems are in common-use areas, like dayrooms, recreation tents, dining facilities or other large-gathering areas.

There are 336 TV-receive-only systems in Iraq, with plans to transmit at six major troop locations there. “We are currently working to provide AFRTS service to all U.S. forces in Iraq, at their bases and recreational areas,” Kinchen said.

“This time of year, when college and professional sports get underway, there is a hunger for lots of sports on radio and television,” Kinchen said. “News from home, seeing or hearing about the ‘home team,’ and enjoying top music hits or favorite television shows are big morale boosters for our freedom fighters. And we will not be satisfied until they have all our services.”