Moore Helps to Cheer up the Troops

Central Coast native, now NFL Cheerleader, helps spread joy

Righetti alumni Courtney Moore, center right, has been helping the troops overseas by working with an entertainment group that visits US military personnel all over the world.

Courtney Moore’s dance skills has taken the Righetti grad to places few are ever lucky enough to experience. 

Since graduating from Righetti in 2003 Moore has built a wonderful life in Seattle, Washington.

Making a living as a concierge and dance choreographer, Moore has also spent the last four seasons as a member of the Sea Gals, the dance squad that appears at all home Seattle Seahawk football games.

The daughter of longtime former baseball and tennis coach and retired teacher at Righetti, Doak Moore, Courtney was a cheerleader at the school and has been involved in dancing since she was just four years old.

Adding even more substance to the glitz and glamour of her life as a cheerleader, is her education. Moore also earned a degree in history from UCSB.

She was voted the Sea Gal of the Year in 2009 and has performed all over the world promoting the Seahawks organization.

In the last two offseasons, Moore has done something as a member of the Sea Gals that has given her a better understanding of the armed services.

Earlier this year, Moore and seven other Sea Gals, along with fourth-year Seahawks cornerback Roy Lewis and comedian Brian Ricci, went on a 10-day tour of three bases to entertain the troops as part of the Armed Forces Entertainment Organization.

According to its website, Armed Forces Entertainment is an official Department of Defense agency which provides entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas, supporting soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors by bringing them a little taste of home while abroad.

Entertainment has long been one of the biggest morale boosters for all the United States. military personnel serving overseas. Just ask the USO.

“We had 13 flights in 13 days,” Moore explained recently in a phone conversation. “But it was well worth it.”

Last year, Moore and her group performed at some bases in Europe, but this time, the trek took them to Kosovo, Bahrain and Djibouti on the continent of Africa.

“We spent three days at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo,” Moore said. “It was five degrees and we arrived under blizzard conditions.

“The barracks that we stayed in were basically storage units and the morale was pretty low.”

But Moore and her troupe proved they were troopers too. The show went on and the soldiers couldn’t have been more thankful to have the entertainment.

“Visiting with all the soldiers really makes you feel proud to be an American,” Moore said. “I will never take for granted the luxuries we have here in the States and it’s all because of the sacrifices of our military people who perform a selfless act defending our country while being away from their families.

“It was nice to be able to bring a little bit of home to them and help boost morale.”