The world famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing a slice of home to U.S. troops based overseas with an extended holiday tour of international U.S. military bases – the 15^th time in the past 13 years that the "Ambassadors of Goodwill" have entertained U.S. troops overseas.

Made possible by Navy Entertainment and Armed Forces Entertainment, the 17-game tour, beginning this week, will feature shows on U.S. military bases in Europe; including stops in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Highlights of previous military tours include the Globetrotters' first-ever visit to Afghanistan in November 2012, tours of Iraq in 2009 and 2006, a visit to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2005 – and games on four active-duty U.S. aircraft carriers, including a performance on the U.S.S. Eisenhower in the Persian Gulf in 2006.

"It is an extraordinary honor to have an opportunity to entertain the men and women who make such great sacrifices in the name of freedom," said Globetrotters star Bull Bullard. "It's the courageous efforts our troops make that allow the Harlem Globetrotters to travel the world in this our 91^st year."