This week, Stephen Colbert took his show, “The Colbert Report,” to Baghdad as part of a U.S.O. tour. Sending entertainers to perform for the troops overseas has been a long-time American tradition.

Maintaining good troop morale is essential to a successful military mission. What does it take to do that, especially in the face of multiple deployments?

We asked current and former servicemembers, a historian and the spouse of an Army officer for their thoughts.

We also invited several comedians — Gary Brightwell, Keith Alberstadt, Sarah Tiana, Dave Mishevitz, Tom Foss, Leighann Lord — who have toured with Comics on Duty in Iraq and Afghanistan to tell us what they learned and the jokes that brought down the barracks.

Build Morale Back Home

Jim Murphy and Bill Murphy Jr. are fellows with the Truman National Security Project. Jim Murphy, a Marine Corps officer in Iraq in 2003, works for Activision Blizzard, a videogame publisher. His brother, Bill Murphy Jr., was an officer in the Army Reserves and is the author of “In a Time of War,” about West Point’s class of 2002.

It was a great gesture of solidarity for Stephen Colbert to get his head shaved during his televised U.S.O. morale-building tour in Iraq. But there was another moment that was more motivating.

In one of his monologues, Mr. Colbert casually used the all-purpose Army slang, “hooah.” His audience did what soldiers do in that situation: they called it back to him, loud and proud, several hundred men and women in uniform shouting a single, slurred syllable: “HOOOAAAAHHH!”

Mr. Colbert seemed startled, and his reaction symbolized the barrier between military and civilian society, which is part of what he went over to address in the first place.

Read more… By getting American civilians to notice and care about the war again, Colbert motivated the soldiers we still have on the ground. The U.S.O. is a fantastic organization with a storied history, but Mr. Colbert’s effort this week stood apart, because it was as much about boosting the morale of civilians back home as it was about boosting the morale of the troops. Getting American civilians to notice and care about the war again can’t help but have an impact on the motivation of the 130,000 or so soldiers we still have on the ground. Not to get all Matthew-Broderick-in-“Election” here, but there is an important difference between morale and motivation. If you’ve ever been on a large U.S. base in Iraq and seen eight kinds of ice cream in the dining hall: that’s for morale. If you see a platoon of dirty, tired, proud soldiers or Marines returning together from a successful mission: that’s motivation. Motivation is basic, it’s a soldier or Marine’s knowledge that they’re doing an important job and doing it well. Were Mr. Colbert’s jokes all hilarious? Well, the troops laughed politely at military themed jokes they’d heard variations of before, perhaps understanding that for Mr. Colbert’s character and his civilian audience, they were brand-new. We’re reminded of some Army specialists and Marine lance corporals we’ve known whose keen observations and acute sense of irony could put most Hollywood comedians to shame. But what Mr. Colbert did was important. He tried to affect civilian morale, and he did it in an honest way that the troops themselves could see. And that’s pretty motivating.

It’s All About Trust

Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling has served in the United States Army for 34 years. Most recently, he commanded the First Armored Division in Germany, and from October 2007 to December 2008, he commanded Task Force Iron — a force of 30,000 servicemen and women — in northern Iraq.

How do I keep up troop morale?

All commanders are responsible for the morale of their soldiers, and they execute this in a variety of ways. Commanders must ensure that their troops are properly trained and disciplined, and they must provide rewards and ensure that spouses and family members are cared for while their soldiers are deployed.

Commanders also need to ensure that their soldiers have access to things like appropriate food, adequate quarters, clean hygiene facilities, mail delivery (including phone and Internet access), and rest. But there’s much, much more.

Read more… When a commander is present during the toughest of times, morale is high. When a commander is present during the toughest of times; when soldiers know their leaders won’t ask them to do anything they won’t do themselves; when “the brass” live in the same conditions their soldiers do; when those in authority dole out fair discipline and at the same time appropriately reward those who have gone the extra mile, morale is high. When soldiers know their leaders are agonizing over battle plans, working and reworking them and then rehearsing them with the appropriate rigor until risks are mitigated and dangers are brought to the lowest levels; when a commander is out in the scorching heat or the torrential rain or the extreme cold with their soldiers; when a leader shares a meal, a wet bunker and a dark night, talking with the troops, spending time with them, morale is high. When there is trust between the leader and the led, morale is high. U.S.O. shows raise morale, and so do the occasional steak dinners in the field, care packages from home or a great handwritten letter. (And by the way, handwritten letters are always better than an e-mail because you can carry it around and read it over and over; plus it holds perfume much better than an e-mail.) While all those things are great, I believe the best way to keep up morale is to do the very best I can — as a leader — to ensure soldiers know they are taken care of, that they are part of a high-performing team that we have built together, and that they know they can trust me to do my very best to bring them home to their loved ones.

Remember the Families Left Behind

Melissa Seligman is the author of “The Day After He Left for Iraq” and the host of “Her War,” a podcast for military wives.

Walking through the airport, hand in hand with my husband, an Army officer dressed in his battle fatigues, I can’t help but notice the stares, the curious looks and the sympathy of strangers. Within each person’s eyes, I see the desire to help. To fix him. To wipe the tears from my children’s eyes and to show support and compassion. People stop him, wanting to shake his hand. “Thank you,” they say, over and over again, unable to say more.

What more can be said? The hole in his heart will continue to grow with each deployment. That can’t be helped. But it is possible to ease his pain.

Read more… Boosting troop morale doesn’t always involve looking overseas. It also involves looking next door. Soldiers have always enjoyed care packages, letters of support, banners of encouragement and celebrity visits. But one thing often haunts them: they feel guilty for leaving their families behind. They vow to die for those they have never met, yet they are rarely home to protect, touch and defend their families. The answer to boosting their morale doesn’t always involve looking overseas. It involves looking next door. A small nod of encouragement to his children as they ride their bikes. The willingness to open the door while his wife juggles the groceries and small children. Returning her empty trash can from the curb. A quick phone call to “check in.” Taking the time to simply offer to help with the lawn. Or, just lowering your gaze long enough to acknowledge the child carrying the weight of a war. The small things do matter. The next time you see him at that airport, struggling with his goodbye, you can do something to help. You can’t mend his broken heart, but you can remember it by reaching out to a military family in his absence.

What Soldiers Need to Hear

Richard H. Kohn is professor of history and peace, war, and defense at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A former president of the Society for Military History, he is co-editor of “Soldiers and Civilians: The Civil-Military Gap and American National Security.”

During the American war for independence, the drill master Friedrich von Steuben complained that American soldiers had to have the war explained in order to motivate them. That was one reason why Abraham Lincoln spoke frequently to Union soldiers eighty-some years later, and why at the beginning of World War II, George C. Marshall asked the famed movie director Frank Capra to produce training films for the troops, which resulted in the now-iconic series “Why We Fight.”

Those armies were composed overwhelmingly of recruits or draftees who served only for the war: “citizen-soldiers.” Today’s military is peopled by much more highly trained men and women who think of themselves not only as citizens but as professionals even though many will serve only one “hitch.” They are led by much more professional officers and above all by skilled, experienced, long-service non-commissioned officers who are in many respects the backbone of the armed forces.

Read more… Morale rests to some degree on soldiers’ sense that America’s goals are praiseworthy. Soldiers today –- including National Guard and Reserves — are volunteers, older, often married, better trained, more experienced, and more ethnically diverse than in the past. Yet morale still rests to some degree on soldiers’ sense that America’s goals are praiseworthy. Other factors have also influenced morale like confidence in their political and military leadership; belief that the strategy and tactics being employed are smart and will succeed; faith in their equipment; unit pride and cohesion; and the conditions of service, from food and living conditions to the belief in the fairness of their treatment. Also important is their expectation that the government and the people care about them, will care for them and support what they are doing and how they are doing it. That’s the overriding message of Stephen Colbert’s visit beyond the sheer entertainment value: that famous Americans care, and that the American people respect and support their service and sacrifice.

A Little Escapism

Gary Brightwell, a stand-up comedian, is a writer for the television show “Country Fried Home Videos” on CMT.

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan were probably the best audiences I have had. I can’t count how many times a soldier would tell me and the other comedians how much they liked having a two-hour escape from the daily pressures of fighting these wars. What did the troops find funny? They liked jokes about things that were part of their daily experience, like:

I would like to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for the thermostat in our tent that regulates the temperature. It has two settings… HANG MEAT… and BAKE A CAKE!

And those waste-cleaning trucks:

I love the “crap” trucks that come by everyday to clean the Port-A-Potties… You get all excited when they come around, don’t you? They are like the ice cream truck back home. In fact, they should play a jingle like an ice cream truck — that way you would know the toilets were clean. You would hear that jingle and say, “Hey the crap truck is here! New blue juice! HOORAH!

Ah, Those Frequent Flyer Miles

Keith Alberstadt has been seen on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and is a contributing writer for both “Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

My three tours provided a wonderful opportunity not only to give back to our bravest, but to also get behind the news and be a part of their lives. Not to mention rack up some serious airline miles!

Most material about the war zone was better received if it was lighthearted rather than political or bitter. For example, “I didn’t know this until I visited the Marines there, but Djibouti Africa is only 6 miles away…from the sun.”

I often heard that they love us coming over because they sometimes feel forgotten, that many back home have moved on to other things. Or something like that; I was too busy Tweeting about American Idol and fantasy golf. I’m kidding, of course, but sometimes troops expressed a concern that the mundane narcissism of our society was forcing them to the back burner.

Their morale always seemed to be up when I was there. Whenever they want me back, I’ll go. Especially since I need another 3,000 Delta miles for a free bag of pretzels.

‘You Smell Like My Wife’

Sarah Tiana is in the movie “Comics On Duty” a documentary about the experience of four comedians in Iraq. She also plays “Carmen” on Reno 911.

I wrote jokes for every base that we visited, which was always easy because we took a tour of each base right after we landed. Correction, right after we ate. We ate before we left a base and right when we landed at the next base. Sometimes we would eat eight times a day! I probably gained 10 pounds in three weeks.

I wrote a lot of military jokes before and during my trip. But it was never the focus of my act. Those guys don’t want to think about their situation any more than we do. It’s like any job. You don’t want to be reminded of work.

For them, I represented home and companionship. I reminded them of their wives, but not in a take out the trash and do the dishes kind of way. Those flack jackets and helmets did nothing for my appearance, so I always brought a change of clothes, high heels, a portable curling iron and tons of perfume with me. I never got tired of hearing, “you smell just like my wife.” The single guys said, “will you marry me?” I don’t know. Is that an order?

The Absurd

Dave Mishevitz directs a sketch comedy show with The Strait Jacket Society and is a regular at The Comedy Store.

The troops are in a state of Groundhog Day. So when a new face appears to break up the monotony it’s exciting. We comedians get to point out the absurdity of what they see everyday, and it relates instantly. The comedy doesn’t have to come from the experience of cockpits, mess halls and mortars though. Funny is funny, unless you’re ordered to laugh.

I always asked if there were National Guard soldiers in the audience. After their hoots and claps and whistles I’d say, “‘How’s your weekend?’ You can always tell who’s in the Guard. They walk around base staring at their watch, muttering ‘It’s got to be Monday by now!'”

The different branches, though sharing in the true spirit of brotherhood, can be readily identified by their barks. “Hoo-Ah!” is the Army’s answer for everything. They take it too far, literally having ‘Hoo-Ah’ candy bars and “moist” wipes. You Hungry? Hoo-Ah. Want a candy bar? Hoo-Ah. Going to the latrine? Take a Hoo-ah.

‘Just Like Home!’

Tom Foss is a comedian who has traveled to 18 countries to entertain the troops, including four tours of Iraq and three of Afghanistan.

As a comedian I use my freedom of speech to make a living, so it’s an honor to entertain the troops. I get my biggest laugh when I tell them they make me feel like I am back at home in West Virginia. They have me staying in a trailer, I am working in a tent, its hot out and the Christmas lights are still up. Just like home!

I never go overseas with the idea that I am going to tell the troops what they are doing or what I would do if I were them. I try to bring them home for a couple of hours. I mostly tell Wal-Mart and Nascar jokes and let their minds get away from the stress of war. It’s always hard to leave when the tours are over. But I still keep in touch with many of these great troops I’ve met on my tours. Entertaining them is the best thing that I can do with the skills I have.

Taking the Heat

Leighann Lord has appeared on Comedy Central, HBO and The View. She writes a weekly humor column, “Leighann Lord’s Comic Perspective.”

My family was very concerned about me performing in a war zone, but I figured as a married woman, I could handle it. I traveled with Armed Forces Entertainment in June 2002 during Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The soldiers were great audiences. Not having a lot of first hand exposure to the military actually worked in my favor. Observations about their everyday environment got the biggest laughs:

The flies here are huge! They don’t land on you. They bump into you. I thought I’d be safe if I put on some Avon Skin-So-Soft, but apparently they like to eat that.

And: