1. How do I apply to Armed Forces Entertainment?

Anyone interested in touring for our troops and family members overseas must apply online by uploading an electronic press kit, which includes the following items: biography, photographs, mp3s, video, and corresponding background material.

2. How quickly will I know if I’ve/the group’s been accepted?

Armed Forces Entertainment reviews applications on a regular basis. A letter informing the applicant of acceptance/non-acceptance will be e-mailed approximately within 10 days. If selected, your application will be placed on file until an opportunity arises for you to tour. Applications will remain on file for one year. All applicants must re-apply annually to be considered for a tour. 

3. Where does Armed Forces Entertainment send tour groups/entertainers?

Armed Forces Entertainment supports six different regions: Western Hemisphere, Mediterranean, Europe, Balkans, Southwest Asia and the Pacific, to include Alaska. This equates to over 350 military installations serving Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel.

4. What is the mission of Armed Forces Entertainment?

To provide live, quality, professional entertainment to troops and family members overseas, with priority to remote and isolated locations.

5. How often will I be able to tour with Armed Forces Entertainment?

Requirement for entertainers is driven by the supported commander’s needs. With that said, it is possible to have more than one tour in any fiscal year, however, entertainers are not authorized to tour in excess of 45 days per fiscal year.

6. If I’m selected to tour, what happens then?

The appropriate Circuit Manager will contact you to determine your availability to support a specific entertainment request. If you are, the Circuit Manager will explain all the tour details. There is quite a bit of paperwork involved so communication between you and the Circuit Manager is crucial.

7. Will I need a passport?

Entertainer(s) are highly encouraged to obtain personal passports. Having a personal passport facilitates the process for touring. Only in extreme cases will no-fee passports be arranged and issued.

8. What are the transportation arrangements?

Depending on the locations you’ll be touring, you may fly commercial or military airlift. Your Circuit Manager will inform you of the mode of transportation. Once on the ground you may be transported by bus, train, trucks or automobiles. Circuit Managers and site points of contact (POCs) will arrange transportation requirements.

9. How are entertainers paid?

AFE pays an honorarium of $125 ($250 for comedians) per person/per day, to include departure and return days. You will receive a percentage of the total honorarium before you depart to help offset costs you will incur while on tour, such as lodging and meals. The remaining percentage will be paid once you submit a final pay package.

10. Are there other expenses Armed Forces Entertainment reimburses?

There are several costs Armed Forces Entertainment will reimburse entertainers for: lodging, baggage tips, local travel costs (i.e. travel to/from the airport, tolls, short term parking), mileage to/from the airport, immunizations, postage (for documents mailed to Armed Forces Entertainment), passport and/or visa photos, passport processing fees (for no fee passport applications only), and customs or country departure fees.

11. Is lodging provided?

Designated country and site coordinators will arrange for lodging. When available, lodging on the military installation will be used. In some areas, you will be lodged off post. With valid receipts Armed Forces Entertainment will reimburse hotel costs up to the amount authorized by the Joint Travel Regulations.

12. Are meals provided by the hosting installations?

You will be provided Invitational Travel Orders (ITOs), which may allow you, access into military facilities to include the installation dining facilities. Each individual is responsible for paying his or her meals. The advance payment of the group’s honoraria is intended to defray the cost of meals and lodging.

13. How is excess baggage/equipment handled?

When contracted to tour, Armed Forces Entertainment will calculate excess baggage costs once based on the equipment list you submit. Your Circuit Manager will advise you on the quantity and size of excess baggage you will be authorized. This does not include your authorized personal and carry on luggage. Tour groups will receive Miscellaneous Charge Orders (MCOs) for equipment, which will be used at the airport upon check-in.

14. Does Armed Forces Entertainment provide personal and/or equipment insurance?

No, however, you are highly encouraged to purchase health and equipment insurance for the tour. If you become sick or injured while on tour, the military installation may provide emergency care, however you may be responsible for payment of services rendered. Medical facilities treat life-threatening emergencies. Circuit managers must be informed of entertainers with medical conditions which may require treatment while on tour.

If your equipment is damaged by the airlines a claim must be submitted with the appropriate airline within 24 hours of the incident. Equipment claims for damage while on a military installation will be submitted to the local Claims Office. Your local point of contact should be able to assist with that information.

15. Can I sell CDs and other merchandise while on tour?

No, AFE tours are provided free of charge for troops and their family members. Your Circuit Manager will provide additional funds for the purchase of “give away” items such as T-shirts or demo CDs.

16. What happens if we miss a flight due to illness or weather?

On occasion, entertainers do get sick or injured. Armed Forces Entertainment is also aware that weather plays a factor especially during typhoon/hurricane season. You will have a list of Points of Contact for each area you are traveling to. Should an unplanned event occur, you should immediately contact the appropriate Site/Country or Regional Coordinator and inform them of your situation. Performances missed at no fault to you will not be decremented from your remaining honorarium. Flagrant disregard for the tour schedule and performance dates/start times may result in a reduction of payment and/or early termination of the tour. The Circuit Manager will be informed of changes in the tour schedule and will make travel arrangement/adjustments as needed.

17. How is the type of entertainment and tour locations determined?

Every January Armed Forces Entertainment distributes, through official channels, a “call” for entertainment requests for the upcoming Fiscal Year. Commanders project their requirements and submit their requests through their appropriate Site and/or Country Coordinator to the applicable Regional Coordinator. The Regional Coordinator will review, consolidate and prioritize the requests and submit the proposed Fiscal Year Entertainment Plan to their assigned Circuit Manager. The plan is finalized at the annual Armed Forces Entertainment conference held in the March/April timeframe and distributed back through official command channels.

18. How can I request entertainment for my location?

You are encouraged to contact your Commander and/or local Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) representative to make special requests. Your Commander and/or MWR office should consider all requests for inclusion in the annual Entertainment Plan. Please note that Armed Forces Entertainment attempts to fill as many requests from the Commands as possible but the large quantity of requests received, and the limited funds Armed Forces Entertainment receives to operate the program, prohibits Armed Forces Entertainment from fulfilling all requests that are submitted to this office.

19. Is there a minimum age limit requirement?

Yes, in order to tour for Armed Forces Entertainment the members must be at least 18 years old.