'If you can dodge a wench you can dodge a ball'

Photo By Sgt. Michael Camacho | Spc. Allen Esposito, member of team "I'm On a Boat" of the 37th Engineers Battalion, grabs a rolling dodgeball during the 80th Ordnance Battalion Dodgeball tournament held, Aug. 15.  

BALAD, IRAQ

08.15.2009

Story by Spc. Michael Camacho 

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — It is the spirit of competition that drives Soldiers to test their limits and push themselves harder than their peers in sports — continuing the legacy of dodge ball.

Teams from the units serving Joint Base Balad took part in the 80th Ordnance Battalion's Joint Base Balad Dodge Ball Tournament in the East Circuit Gym, Aug. 15.

"Dodge Ball is a very coordinated game," said Staff Sgt. Terence Sparks, tournament coordinator with the 80th Ord. Bn. "You have to have good eye and hand coordination and be agile on your feet. You need cat-like reflexes, kind of like a cheetah."

The tournament was held to give service members at JBB an afternoon to relax and enjoy their time in during breaks from their often stressful work weeks, said Sparks.

Sparks said dodge ball is a way for service members to decompress from day-to-day missions, spend quality time with their unit and build team cohesion, all while getting good physical training.

"If you can dodge a wench, you can dodge a ball," he said.

Of all the teams that participated in the event, it was the Average Joes from the 37th Engineer Battalion who took the trophy home at the end of the day.

"This is a fun game," said Pfc. Charles Carillo, a member of the Average Joes. "It's a good morale boost and it makes being here better. It's a good thing they put together."

The 80th Ord. Bn. plans to hold other such events for the morale and welfare of JBB service members, to ease stress and keep them ready for the mission at hand, said Sparks.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2009
• Date Posted: 08.23.2009 17:18
• Story ID: 37866
• Location: BALAD, IQ