Soldiers shoot hoops in Ghormach

Photo By Spc. Jazz Burney | A soldier with C Battery, 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, goes for a lay-up on the unit's basketball court at Combat Outpost Ghormach, Afghanistan, April 18. Basketball games give soldiers an opportunity to build cardio endurance and relax after a long workday.  

COMBAT OUTPOST GHORMACH, AFGHANISTAN

04.14.2011

Story by Sgt. Jazz Burney 

170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

COMBAT OUTPOST GHORMACH, Afghanistan- For a few hours, after a long day of combat patrols and duties around their outpost, C Battery soldiers’ center of attention is not the mission, but ensuring their team wins on the basketball court.

“Cold Steel” soldiers with C Battery, 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, enjoy full court basketball games that build cardio endurance and provide leisure during their personal time.

When they arrived at the outpost, Cold Steel soldiers inherited two, NBA regulation basketball hoops and basketballs from the unit they replaced.

For soldiers who patrol insurgent hot spots, playing five to six games after dinner allows them to decompress while conditioning their bodies for climbing Ghormach’s steep hills.

“The court gives us an opportunity to relieve stress by putting what happened on our patrols behind us and getting back to being ourselves,” said Staff Sgt. Byron Roulhac, a Cottondale, Fla., native, now a gunnery sergeant with 3rd Platoon, C Battery.

“After running up and down this court for four or five games, after a while, when we hit those hills it’s like nothing to get up there,” said Roulhac.

“What I like about this court is it actually gives me something to look forward to, other than [rest and recuperation leave] and leaving here alive. As long as this is here, our morale will remain high regardless of what happens,” said Pfc. Thomas Pillings, a Taunton, Mass., native, now a radar operator attached to C Battery, 1-84th Field Artillery.

Leaders also capitalize on the team building aspect basketball offers.

“In basketball there are five men on a team, this is very similar to our squad elements during our dismount missions,” said Staff Sgt. Warees Kee, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, now a section chief with 2nd Platoon, C Battery.

“By us constantly playing basketball, it helps our soldiers learn our voices and the voices of their battle buddies. So if we happen to get into a fire fight, our soldiers will be able to distinguish between the noise of battle and our voices,” said Kee.

• Date Taken: 04.14.2011
• Date Posted: 04.25.2011 06:39
• Story ID: 69305
• Location: COMBAT OUTPOST GHORMACH, AF