Finance Soldiers have some fun

Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Shantese Ratledge, a Nashville, Tenn., native, and military pay non-commissioned officer in charge, attached from Alpha, 9th Financial Management Detachment to Headquarters 208th Financial Management Co., 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, gets her team off to a good start during a softball game.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.14.2009

Courtesy Story

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - The Army has often relied on team-building events and activities to develop leadership skills, promote esprit de corps, and foster unit cohesiveness. Sometimes it just feels good to accept a challenge and give it all that you got.

Headquarters, 208th Financial Management Company, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, is just a few days away from finishing its sixth month in theater. Now that the Army Physical Fitness Tests have been conducted and all of the Soldiers have passed and are in regulatory compliance, some wonder what to do for the next six months.

Many Soldiers of the 208th are attached from various units. The unit was challenged to come up with a weekly event which would allow maximum participation, and would not only promote physical training, but also allow Soldiers from different sections and schedules an opportunity to interact and get to know each other.

Out of several sensing sessions, most Soldiers agreed that a weekly sporting event would accomplish the goal of developing leadership skills and fostering a more cohesive unit. Spc. Denetra Johnson, the operations clerk, and native of Oklahoma City, Okla., said, "Sports such as soccer and flag football break up the same old push-up, sit-up, and two-mile run routine".

The company has two platoons with three squads each. Every week, the squad leader will solicit ideas from the squad, and will coordinate the proper equipment and location. Staff Sgt. John O'Connor, the finance operations NCOIC, and native of Sacramento, Calif., advised "get your equipment early, other units are doing the same thing."

For this moment in time, Headquarters 208th FM Co., will continue to have sports day, at least until it's time to prepare for the next record APFT. Staff Sgt. George Drakakis, native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and the unit safety officer said, "It's okay to be competitive, but the point is to have fun".

• Date Taken: 07.14.2009
• Date Posted: 07.14.2009 10:11
• Story ID: 36351
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ