Sports promote bonding among service members

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aja Heiden
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The Sam Johnson Fitness Center offers a chance for service members and civilians to maintain or improve physical ability and skills by joining intramural sports programs.

The intramural sports programs offered here provide members with opportunities to exercise while meeting new people.

"The intramural sports program is designed to be recreational; anyone allowed on the base is allowed to participate in the events," said Staff Sgt. Shaun Collette, Sam Johnson Fitness Center noncommissioned officer in charge. "If we have too many participants, active-duty and reserve personnel will have first priority to participate."

Members interested in joining a team can sign-up and receive schedules of game dates and times at the Sam Johnson Fitness Center.

"Base-wide e-mails are sent out about a month prior to the start of each sport allowing sport representatives for each unit to gather a team or individual players to be added to the schedule," said Collette. "Sign-up sheets at the gym are available up to the start of the first game."

Airmen can meet new people and develop a sense of community by joining a sport team.

"The number one thing members get out of being on a team is a chance to bond," said retired Senior Master Sgt. Tony Romero.

The intramural sports program gives Airmen a chance to bond with co-works, other service members, and civilian personnel.

"It is an amazing opportunity to get out of the office and get to know people," said Romero. "Our team does cook outs, every game there's food and drinks, and everyone is invited."

Although the intramural sports program offers community, it's also competitive.

"At the end of each regular season we do a single or double elimination tournament where teams will be seeded based on the record they hold, and a champion will rise out of that tournament," said Collette.

"Occasionally teams from Homestead will compete in other tournaments," said Collette. "Recently a Homestead team played in the Southern Command Summer Slam tournament on base in Doral, Florida."

Members who are passionate about softball can contact Senior Master Sgt. Michael R. Johnson, Flight Chief for Homestead Recruiting Flight, who started a softball team that went to the Military World Softball Tournament in Panama City Beach, Florida.

"Air Force Reserve Recruiting sponsored the team as a means to support base morale and welfare for the members of the 482nd Fighter Wing," said Johnson. "Team members consisted of seven active-duty members, one air reserve technician, and three civil service employees."

The team finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.

"There were over 120 teams from across the country competing in Military World Softball Championships, so this record was nothing to be ashamed of," said Johnson. "We plan to build off of this first tournament and hope to make taking part in this event a norm."

Although the winners earn bragging rights, the games aren't about the score board.

"It's all about making the best of the moments," said Romero.