PASADENA, Calif. – Capt. Matt Pratt and his wife Lisa lived the dream of the Army Family Covenant on Feb. 1 in Southern California.“It’s like it has come full-circle for us. There are a lot of emotions that are going into it, but I couldn’t be happier seeing her doing what she’s good at doing and what she loves doing.”

Lisa Pratt earned an all-expenses-paid trip to record a three-song demo CD at DMI Music’s Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena by winning the 2009 Operation Rising Star singing contest, one of hundreds of programs the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command provides for Soldiers and their Families.

After her first session in the recording studio, Pratt sang the praises of the Army Family Covenant, which pledges to support Soldiers and their Families with resourced programs that deliver a quality of life commensurate with their service and sacrifice to the nation.

“The Army Family Covenant, this is what it is,” Lisa said before departing the recording studio to attend The Jay Leno Show in Burbank, where she got to meet one of the world’s most famous comedians. “It really is awesome. It gives the Families high-quality programs at home and around the world.

“I never knew that Operation Rising Star was going to open all these doors for me.”

For Lisa, the journey to serve as an ambassador for FMWRC’s Army Entertainment Division had just begun. For Matt, who redeployed from Mosul, Iraq, last autumn and accompanied his wife from Fort Carson, Colo., to Hollywood, the Operation Rising Star winner’s journey reaffirmed his belief in the Army’s promise to support Soldiers and Families.

“I’m trying to take it all in, but it’s an emotional time for me because I get to see Lisa do what she absolutely loves doing,” said Matt, a 2006 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. “For the past year while I was in Iraq, she was supporting me and what I was doing. Now the Army has provided me the opportunity to sit here and support her with what she does.

Matt never had the opportunity to sit back and watch his wife of nearly four years perform until she took the stage to compete in Operation Rising Star, a program best described as American Idol for the military.

“In church, I play the guitar and she sings,” he said. “But to see her under the lights and me be on the receiving end as part of the audience, I’d never had the opportunity to do that. I’ve always been out on a field exercise or deployed. So when I came out to see her at Fort Belvoir and be there when her name was announced as the winner, that was the first opportunity I’ve had to be there, no kidding, instead of hearing about it on the Internet or seeing it in photos.”

Matt knew that Lisa had won a recording gig, but he had no idea what level of professionalism awaited them in Pasadena.

“To come into a place like DMI Studios and see the setup they have – the professional musicians and the services they are providing – it’s all sort of unraveling real fast what is really involved,” he said. “That’s part of the magic. It’s overwhelming to see the level that she’s at and to see her basking in it. It still seems very surreal.

“I asked her, ‘Is this really happening?’ And she said, ‘I don’t think it is,’ so I think both of us are sort of caught in some sort of hyper-reality right now.”

Lisa is not the only Pratt singing the praises of the Army Family Covenant.

“I told my Soldiers the day before we flew out here to Los Angeles that for the next week I was going to be in Los Angeles with my wife and she’s going to be in a recording studio and we’re going to get to enjoy the sights and take it all in,” Matt said. “But we’re not just going for a vacation; the Army’s sending us. So if anybody ever tells you the Army this-and-that and there is a downside, you know, there’s also an upside to it.

“So here we are in sunny Los Angeles right now, and the Army Family Covenant is the reason we’re here, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

The Pratts believe it is only a matter of time before more Army Families will experience the promise.

“For folks like Lisa and I, we understand that it’s real because there is something tangible for us to touch right now,” Matt said. “For those that it hasn’t impacted yet, it sort of seems like another ad campaign. But I would say as time goes on and more people buy into this Army Family Covenant, especially people in key leadership positions, I think more Soldiers will figure out the realness of it..

“I’m at a battalion level right now and I say it’s getting there because Lisa and I have been able to tell people about it … as opposed to just being another thing that looks good on paper and preaches well at the Pentagon.

“It’s making its way down, I think, slowly but surely. As more programs touch more Soldiers, you’re going to find it making its way into everybody’s vocabulary.”

Matt said this was the Pratts’ best Family experience since they said ‘I do,” and he redeployed from the Middle East.

“The only thing I would compare this to, as far as the level of emotion I feel, was walking into the gym and seeing Lisa for that first time after I came back from Iraq,” he said. “This is up there. It’s on par with that sort of feeling of surreal. This is one of the most exciting times since Lisa and I have been together.”

Matt then hustled away and drove Lisa to meet Leno.

Shelly Osbey

Singing/Music is my passion and what; I love to do.

“If you don’t know me, then you better ask somebody!!!”

Catch me prforming live at Boston’s House of Jazz and Blues in Beautiful Greensboro, NC

Kickin it with the band 

Here are a few quick details on the photos…
 
Dragons Tail 2006 - 3 day trip, went with another guy an R1, location speaks for itself
 
Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2007 - no photos
 
Laguna Seca GP 2007 - won free weekend passes in a contest on Yamahas website for modified R1’s so I flew out with a friend for the race. Saw Scott Russell, Rossi, Hayden, Colin Edwards and a few others but no autographs. Photos with Ben and Eric Bostrom!!
 
Out West 2008 - 12 day trip, 10 states, 4500 miles (on the Harley). Badlands, Mount Rushmore, The Rockies, Crazy Horse, Independence Pass, Beartooth Pass, etc. Amazing trip!!
 
Indy GP 2008 - won free weekend passes again in a contest on Yamahas website for modified R1’s so rode there with a friend for the race. Also got tickets to Team Yamahas private dinner where Rossi, Edwards, Lorenzo and Toseland were walking around, taking pics, and signing autographs. I took my solo seat cover and was fortunate enough to get Rossi and Edwards to sign it for me.

Out West 2010 - headed to Utah and Arizona, Grand Canyon, Wyoming…about 4200 miles and again about 12 days…photos to come

                                                 SSG Noel B. Min

Soldiers are Warriors and Marines are…… Well let’s put it this way, these guys were tough enough to be featured on the (AKO) Army Knowledge Online Website. A picture is worth a thousand words. Hey Army….Soldier Up!

SSG Noel B. Min, a utilities chief for Regimental Combat Team 7, wearing a black gi used in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, sits next to his fellow Marines after a session of grappling aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan 26. Min, a 3rd degree blue belt in BJJ and Marine Corps Martial Arts black belt instructor supervise their grappling and teaches fellow Marines BJJ. (U.S. Marine photo by Lance Cpl. Walter Marino) (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps)

Hey Soldier Up fans!

 My name is Joshua Torres, check out these images of my winter storm experience.

I sent an email to the owners of MySoldierup.com and wanted to share my story with all of you:

 MySoldierup.com,

 Here is my JEEP with the (STFU) Soldier Up decal. Sorry it took so long to get this to you; I just wanted to wait for the right moment. During this snow storm, there where a lot of people stuck in the snow. I took this opportunity to take these pictures. The other truck is the ford that was stuck. I thought it was funny. He had a big truck, lifted, nice truck. but he was stuck in the ditch, as my little oh jeep was “getting it” through the snow. If I had a partner with me, I would have had them video me while; I worked my way out of a deep ditch this morning at 0500. Thanks MySoldierup.com; I hope you like this story and pictures. Soldier Up!

       Frederick (Fred) Henderson

“I am an all around Artist. I’m a trumpet player with an art major and am involved in dance.

My first love is Jazz, however big band and concert sits well with me. From a musical perspective jazz has shaped me.

My second love is drawing, sketching and adding color to my work.

When not busy drawing; I continue to refine my musical skills, playing classical and R&B music.

I am a fan of Chris Botti, Herb Alphert and the Duke.

My greatest inspiration comes from Miles Davis. I draw and play for the joy of expression”.

Soldier Up!

Hello! my name is Danielle;

I am from North Carolina. The only thing you need to know about me is the following:

I’m Strange,

I’m Evil,

I’m down to earth and love to ride my motorcycle.

Thanks for taking a moment to stop by as; I hang out with the fellas. I love my Ducati and can’t wait to get on the track this summer and kick some butt. Check in on the MySoldierup.com event calendar to see my race schedule.

I can’t drive 55 but will ride “45″ everyday of the week. My fiance has trust in me. Soldier Up!

We love our toys and there is nothing like our Pocket Rocket. The girls love it because it’s easy to ride and loads of fun. Sound a bit Extreme?

Oh cum on, Get over it. Soldier Up!

Hello my name is Jason Sorum, President and Founder of Power House Mafia; I just wanted to share a few pictures with you and remind you that the complete story of how Power House Mafia came to be, visit us on the Mysoldierup.com Motorsports page for the complete story.

There is nothing like having a hoby and doing the things you love to do. Stay tuned to the MySoldierup.com event calendar for upcoming races and other sports events The Power House Mafia will attack.  Soldier Up!

  Yamaha FX Nytro sled is bad ass…..Op’s…… Did I say that?  ”Well it’s the truth Soldier Up!”

Can’t stand the cold…….Then get out of Wisconsin…! This is how we do it.

 Waiting for snow is not as bad as it seems, The Power House Mafia has toys galore. We make cutting grass look like it’s own stunt show…..Momma, close your eyes.

Hello my name is Jason Sorum, President and Founder of The Power House Mafia Race Team; I just wanted to say a little bit about who we are and  how the team got it’s start in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

                               (Newjack, Sorum, Trent, Josh,) 

I have always had a love and passion for motorsports and powersports, so much that; I have taken it upon myself to crawl under the hood of pretty much anything that has an engine or motor to see how it works.

I am known for taking lunch brakes while sitting under the hood, eating pizza with one hand and turning wrenches with the other.

Momma Jeanette, would often visit the shop delivering hot and fresh, mouth watering Monkey Bread. Hell yeah it melts in your mouth!!!  Yummy! and hands down the best Monkey Bread in the Nation.

When it’s race week…Yeah! who has time to do anything else, especially when the car, truck, or sled has to be in top shape to run and earn the victory at the end of the day. Working and eating is a must. Thanks Momma.

The Powwer House Mafia Team, is made up of a bunch of friends who share in the love, thrill, ups and downs of the sport and are the same people that created the spark needed for me to put the team together. We have raced in areas around Minneapolis, St Paul and New Richmond , Wisconsin

 I started building a Dirt Oval Track Super Stock Race Car, and needed to have a name for the team. Power House Mafia became and is our name.

Josh kochsiek, who is a personal friend of mine and who happens to be the Vice President/Co-Founder of MySoldierup.com was building a 2004 Chevy Truck for off road. We now compete together in mudding competitions and short track races and have not looked back.

Seasons change, as do the events our team is involved in. Power House Mafia has grown to compete in many different areas of competition and is involved in some sort of race event throughout each year.

Family, fans and good friends, are what makes this all worth while. Our main goal is to simply have fun and practice safety to the best of our ability.

The Power House Mafia Team, would like to thank our sponsor Six Feet Deep Clothing and the folks at Monster Energy for the much needed boost during the long hard days and a big thank you to the folks at MySoldierup.com for doing all you do for us and the United States of America.  My little brother dreams of  getting his chance at the race scene as well. Soldier Up!