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A little teamwork

  • Published
  • By Dean Siemon
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Last year, the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron dominated the different events during McChord Sports Day, but they were edged out from receiving the trophy by the 10th Airlift Squadron based on "spirit" points.

Fast forward to this year's McChord Sports Day Sept. 3, and there was no shortage of spirit as different members of the 5th ASOS created their own uniforms on their way to the overall title. Out of the four different teams representing the unit, Team 1 was probably most responsible for showing the most spirit -- thanks to tie-dyed T-shirts featuring a cat on the front wearing sunglasses.

"Our motto is 'Death on call,' so we wanted to counteract that," said Glenn Wilderman, who was instrumental in the design of Team 1's uniform.

They also won two of the individual sporting events in ultimate Frisbee -- which is a lot like football and rugby combined without the contact -- and dodgeball.

The competition also featured sand volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, tug of war and a 5K fun run that kicked off the day of activity that took place over a variety of locations around McChord Field. There were opening rounds of a kickball tournament played at St. Helens and Baker softball fields, but rain flooded both fields and put an end to kickball.

Yet with just as much enthusiasm for all of the other sports that were played throughout what would have otherwise been a normal day of work before the Labor Day holiday weekend, people still wanted to play on what once was a softball field and had become more like a swamp.

"It just shows how competitive they are," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Siegele of the 627th Forces Support Squadron, the unit that was tasked with coordinating this year's events that attracted about 400 service members.

It was a combination of competitiveness and the excitement of having an entire day away from the airfield, offices and other Air Force work stations throughout McChord Field. There were units, like the 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron, that brought as many as seven different teams competing in as many sports as possible.

Then there were the members of the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron who represent a competitive unit and are very active in the JBLM intramural sports scene -- most notably flag football, soccer and basketball. Not everyone was able to come out, but those who did were focused on their task for the day.

But all of the sporting events around McChord Field Sept. 3 were focused on having fun, but not forgetting the big picture.

"This is an alternate duty location, and we're working to win a trophy for the squadron," said Gavin Reid. "But the mission is still going on."

There was spirit on the sleeves and on the field. Not a bad way to end the workweek.

"You get to see guys from different squadrons, even in intramurals, you don't get to see everybody play," said Luis Santana of the 627th Civil Engineers Squadron.