Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Capt. Jamie Pecha, the brigade preventative medicine officer from 725th...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, were part of the All-Army teams that earned the gold medal at the 2013 Armed Forces Volleyball tournament by winning the men's and women's indoor championships May 8-12, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
U.S. Army Capt. Jamie Pecha, the brigade preventative medicine officer from 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4-25 ABCT, hailing from Pueblo, Colo., aided the women’s team to a perfect 6-0 record, while U.S. Army Pfc. Brandon Nichols, the chaplain's assistant for 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4-25 ABCT, a native of Orlando, Fla., was on the men’s team finishing 5-1.
The championship was arranged with each team playing one another, with the best record at the end being named the winner.
The women were crowned champions by defeating each contestant three times. The men’s only loss was to Navy. They were able to reclaim their victory later in the tournament.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Pecha. “People are always amazed that we play together for only two weeks, yet we’re stationed all over the world.”
Pecha was named to the Armed Forces team and continued on to play in the USA National tournament.
This is Pecha’s second time competing and winning the gold medal. She was also selected to the all-tournament tournament team in 2011, but was unable to continue on because of an upcoming deployment of the Spartan Brigade to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XII-XIII.
To make the team, applicants were sent to a three-week training camp at Fort Bragg, N.C., where the field was cut from 20 down to 12 for each team.
After a grueling week and a half tryout, Nichols was chosen by 2012 Army Coach of the Year Sgt. Angel Rivera to be a member of the final team.
“It was a great opportunity to represent the Army and PFAR … I look forward to being able to do it again in the future," said the Orlando native.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2013 19:37 |
| Story ID: | 108559 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Hometown: | ORLANDO, FL, US |
| Hometown: | PUEBLO, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Spartan paratroopers bring home the gold, by CPT Eric-James Estrada, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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