Photo By Airman 1st Class Samantha Rossi | A a member for the Eglin Eagles basketball team guards the hoop from a member of the...... read more read more
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HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – As the final seconds ticked away on the game clock, the crowd cheered, and teammates came off of the bench to congratulate one another.
The Hurlburt Field Air Commandos basketball team had clinched yet another victory with a 76-68 win over the Eglin Eagles on Jan. 10.
This season, the Air Commandos basketball squad has added to their 11-year legacy of consistent home wins.
But, victory isn’t the only take away for the team.
“The whole point of varsity sports in the military is to build resiliency, fitness and mental health,” said the Hurlburt Field Air Commandos coach. “It brings a lot of people from wherever together; it’s like a second family.”
An Airman assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing, and starting forward for the team, said that for many service members in the Air Force, being an Airman is central to their identity. The mission is always a priority, but finding an outlet outside of work is essential.
“It 100% boosts my morale,” the starting forward said. “I look forward to this a lot of days when I have a hard day at work. The Air Force definitely pushes that career-focused attitude, but taking a break and doing something you love is just a way to relax and have fun.”
The Hurlburt Field Air Commandos are currently ranked 2nd in the Military Basketball Association and Southeastern Military Basketball Conference. The MBA, also known as the Atlantic Coastal Military Basketball Conference, offers tryouts to any reservists, guardsmen, DoD civilians and contractors over the age of 18, regardless of branch.
“I don’t feel disconnected even if we’re different branches,” said a Soldier playing as a guard for Hurlburt Field. “We’re all the same people, and they don’t treat me differently just because I'm in the Army. I learn a lot from the Airmen. Building connections and bonds with my fellow players has been a pleasure.”
The team’s diversity extends beyond service-specifics and job titles. According to the coach, the team has a wide demographic of different ages, religions, races and upbringings.
“We have a lot players from different backgrounds, but we do a lot of activities outside of the game to make our team feel whole,” said the coach. “We become a family.”
Hurlburt Field is the only DoD basketball team that competes in multiple leagues. This schedule averages 70-80 games per season against every branch across the DoD.
“I think my team definitely helps me network,” said Team Hurlburt’s starting forward. “We play against and meet so many new people; we get together for charity and volunteer events, so we’re making a bigger difference than just basketball.”
While the court focuses on competition, the impact of these intramural sports extends far beyond the game itself. For the players, participating provides a sense of purpose outside of their daily duties, fostering connections that strengthen both professional and personal bonds, added Hurlburt’s guard.
“For the people who watch, it gives you a way to come together and have something to look forward to,” the starting forward explained. “It’s cool to come home to family or friends and say ‘Hey, let's get ready and go to the game.’”
Tryouts for the team are held in September and October. Anyone interested in joining the team can reach out to the sports staff at the Aderholt Gym on Hurlburt Field.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.27.2025 09:51 |
| Story ID: | 489541 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hurlburt Field Air Commandos: Basketball’s impact on service members, by A1C Samantha Rossi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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