Photo By Staff Sgt. Margaret Gabriel | U.S. Army Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery...... read more read more
MALACKY, Slovakia—U.S. Army Soldiers have a ball while enjoying down time during a three-day convoy mission.
At a mandatory rest point, during a three-day tactical road march, Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, played a pickup game of soccer while at Malacky Air Base in Slovakia. Soldiers were en route from Ansbach, Germany, to the Central Training Area near Varpalota, Hungary for exercise Saber Guardian.
“We definitely had fun. I think the morale over here is amazing. I think it’s been a boost to our morale,” said Spc. Omar Diaz, an air defense battle management system operator with the 5-4 ADA.
“Soccer is definitely my favorite sport. Watching these guys come out and play is pretty amazing.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Diaz says his father got him into playing soccer at the age of four and for the past eighteen-years, it’s become his favorite sport.
Usually Diaz plays goalie and even participated on a unit soccer team out of Ansbach, Germany.
“It’s just been my sport since I was young, it’s in the veins, it’s in my blood.”
He enjoys running and soccer helps him with physical fitness. Competitiveness is something that drives him, both on the field and at work.
“You have to remain competitive if you want to stand above your peers.”
Diaz first joined the Army for educational purposes, but says now he has a different perspective.
“I see the Army as a career, I love my job. My goal is to be a First Sergeant.”
After being stationed in Germany for two and half years he hopes to see his favorite soccer team, Barcelona, play. As things begin to open up due to the COVID19 pandemic, he might just have that shot.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2021 10:33 |
| Story ID: | 397761 |
| Location: | MALACKY AIR BASE, SK |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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