Photo By Darriel Swatts | Spc. Luis Torres swings for a homerun during a softball game on Camp Taji, Iraq, April 16.... read more read more
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade work tirelessly to accomplish the mission of providing full-spectrum aviation operations throughout the country of Iraq. As hard as they work, they play just as hard during their off hours.
The 40th CAB is a National Guard-led unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. The brigade headquarters is at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad. While Camp Taji is austere in many respects, it does offer soldiers a variety of sports and recreational activities.
“The soldiers here are giving it their all every day,” said Capt. Keegan Smith, a battle major for the 40th CAB, and a native of Carmichael, Calif. “At the end of the day, the sports the soldiers are playing is helping them with their physical fitness, helps them create and strengthen friendships, and it helps with morale in the unit as a whole.”
Basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball tournaments have attracted plenty of players and spectators on post and some competitive sports play during the evening hours. Dodge ball and kickball games have also been popular, not to mention ping pong tourneys, weightlifting competitions and water polo matches at the post pool.
“Playing sports is a great way to get your mind off everything happening here,” said Spc. Alexis Bell, aviation operations specialist for the CAB, and a Fresno, Calif. native. “Not only is it a great way to de-stress, it’s also a great way to build stronger bonds with all your friends and it gives you a chance to meet new people and become friends with them too.”
“We offer a variety of different sporting activities to the soldiers here at Camp Taji,” said Zywia Weinberg, Morale, Welfare and Recreation coordinator and events planner at Camp Taji. “We are always looking for ways to entertain the troops and are constantly taking suggestions for other events too, and we do all of it just to put smiles on the soldiers faces.”
The sports available to soldiers are played for fun but oftentimes are coached by someone who has coached the sport before.
“I’ve been coaching volleyball for more than 16 years,” said Smith. “If someone who has never played before wants to learn, people like me can help teach them the basics and sometime we volunteer to be coaches.”
The soldiers often attend practice during the week to help hone their skills for their upcoming games.
“I’ve played almost every sport offered here, and it hasn’t interfered with work at all,” said Bell. “When I get off work, I go back to my room right away and get ready for practice most days.”
“Being the coach of the softball team, I’ve got to see everybody come together so much better from the beginning of the season to now,” said Sgt. William McFarland, brigade supply sergeant, and a native to Santa Rosa, Calif. “Every time they go out there, you can see their morale increase 100 fold, and that built up morale transfers into the work place, and produces a better work ethic and a better product.”
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2011 09:47 |
| Story ID: | 71525 |
| Location: | CAMP TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,476 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Work hard, play hard: Sports in Iraq keep morale high, by Darriel Swatts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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