Wanted: Entertainers for War Zone. Helmets Provided.

Army Seeks Stars to Visit Bases in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan is heating up, so it must be time for the wrestling divas.

And what better way to boost the spirits of troops dining on MREs and dodging IEDs than some abbreviations with more pleasing associations -- such as NASCAR and NFL?

Over the next five months, the U.S. Army is preparing to reinforce troop morale with "Entertainment from the Home Front," a string of touring entertainers and athletes that will include World Wrestling Entertainment Divas, National Football League cheerleaders and players, NASCAR drivers, and professional rodeo participants.

The program calls for 10 tour groups to travel separately to Afghanistan for 10-day periods, according to a Nov. 14 solicitation by the U.S. Army Europe that seeks "professional and reputable tour promoters to provide the type of entertainment services required."

Military leaders have long recognized the necessity of bringing a piece of home to their troops to relax them and take their minds off the trauma of conflict. The list of entertainers they are now seeking, which they hope will reflect what the troops watch on TV, and the meticulous attention to detail offer a unique window on the broad diversity in the 21st-century Army and the venue in which it is fighting.

Outside the bases where they will perform, the entertainers will face the same constraints the troops live with. For example, as a nod to cultural sensibilities in Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have increased as much as 30 percent this year, the entertainers are being asked to observe dress codes that will not offend the local population.

So it is that the divas and cheerleaders whose work outfits are designed to expose maximum flesh are reminded that "some of the countries visited are very sensitive about body appearance." They are told: "During all non-performance times, the body shall be fully clothed. Shoulders shall be covered. Hips, buttocks and upper legs shall be covered to the top of the knee," according to the solicitation.

Furthermore, before the trip, "pre-approved autograph cards" with photographs must be supplied to make sure they are "acceptable by persons of alternate religions and faiths as not to offend the host nation population."

Standards of good taste are listed in the solicitation almost as commandments:

"An acknowledged deity will not be referred to in a manner that would offend a follower of any religious faith.

"Profanity, vulgarity, or connotations of sexual depravity and perversion will not be used.

"Military, racial, religious, or national groups will not be defamed, and individual deformities will not be ridiculed."