'Rough Rider' Shines at Rugby

Photo By Sgt. James Geelen | U.S. Army Spc. Amber Payne, (center), a petroleum supply specialist, 59th Quartermaster Company, Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade powers through opposing players during the inaugural Women’s Rugby Championship in Wilmington, North Carolina. Payne and the All-Army Women’s Rugby went undefeated and won the gold medal. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Spc. Amber Payne)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

08.16.2019

Story by Sgt. James Geelen 

4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

FORT CARSON, Colo. –Athletes from all over the United States travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado to train for excellence. They come to Colorado Springs to train at the Olympic Training Center because of the high elevation.
For U.S. Army Spc. Amber Payne, a petroleum supply specialist, 59th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division being stationed here has helped her with her rugby career. Payne was a starter for the All-Army Women’s Rugby Team, as a forward prop, that recently won a gold medal at the inaugural Women’s Rugby Championship in Wilmington.
“Being on this team took precedence over everything else, once I found out that my application was chosen,” Payne said. “Obviously I still had my Soldier duties and work to take care of but my mind was rugby, rugby, rugby! I wanted to succeed and show my potential and be a part of something bigger than myself.”
Payne has been playing rugby since she was 14 years old, growing up in Bremerton, Washington.
“I had a three year hiatus from playing when I joined the Army,” Payne said. “I finally found a team to play on after I moved to Fort Carson. I’m trying to stay consistent with my training and being prepared to play whenever the opportunity arises.”
Payne’s hard work and dedication has gotten noticed by her leaders.
“She’s definitely a role model to the other Soldiers,” said 1st Sgt. Hector Rodriguezpabon, first sergeant, 59th QM, 68th CSSB, 4th SB, 4 ID. “She balanced her time between being a petroleum specialist and practicing rugby almost every day in preparation for the tournament. This puts her ahead of her peers for a leadership role.”
For the first-ranked Army, the experience left the team excited, but also aware of the work involved in getting to this point.
“It’s great, especially since this is our first-ever women’s rugby competition with Armed Forces Sports,” Payne said. “I trained hard and prepared myself the best way I knew. The coach told us her expectations, including conditioning. The team worked hard at Fort Bragg, doing two-a-days, yoga classes, and aqua-spin classes.”
The three-day tournament was fought among all five service branches.
“We scored 158 points over the course of those three days and only gave up 14 points,” Payne said. “Being a part of this team is a dream come true. I’ve learned so much as a player and a teammate from the women I was surrounded by. For such a short time they made a big impact on me.”
Payne has displayed that maturity since returning to Fort Carson.
“Payne has a lot of potential as a Soldier,” Rodriguezpabon said. “She got back from the tournament and was sent to Fort Knox, to support a mission and didn’t complain about it at all. The 59th QM is definitely happy and honored to have her in our formation. We’re looking forward to seeing her develop as a Soldier and as an athlete.”

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• Date Taken: 08.16.2019
• Date Posted: 10.17.2019 17:30
• Story ID: 336599
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US
• Hometown: BREMERTON, WA, US
• Hometown: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US
• Hometown: MANSFIELD, PA, US