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    Troops play Ultimate Football to celebrate Armed Forces Day

    Troops play Ultimate Football to celebrate Armed Forces Day

    Photo By 1st Sgt. Jessica Barnett | The 573rd Clearance Company, 1st Engineer Battalion, came out on top as the champions...... read more read more

    CONTINGENCY OUTPOST BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

    05.16.2010

    Story by Spc. Jessica Barnett 

    135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Armed Forces Week was celebrated with an Ultimate Football Tournament held by the Provost Marshal's Office, Headquarters and Headquarters Operations Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, at the stadium on Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, May 11 - 15.

    This year's Department of Defense theme for Armed Forces Week was "United in Strength." Sports tournaments encompass that slogan by promoting pride and team work, thus Ultimate Football.

    "Ultimate Football for Armed Forces – It gives you unit cohesion, bringing everybody together. A little friendly competition helps take a break from the everyday stresses from the job that you have. It's good cohesion and lifts morale for the Soldiers," said Cpl. Jeremy S. Obermiller, a native of Blue Hill, Neb., and team leader of the dismount element for the Security Detachment, DSTB, 3rd ID.

    Seven teams competed in a week-long tournament for one of two spots in the championship game held on Armed Forces Day, May 15.

    In the end it was team "Legion," DSTB, 3rd ID, out of Ft. Stewart, Ga., versus team "573rd Outlaws," 573rd Clearance Company, 1st Engineer Battalion, out of White Sands Missile Range, N. M., that competed for the title.

    After a grueling 30-minute game of military athleticism, 573rd Outlaws captured the title of "3rd ID Ultimate Football Champs," as they finished the double-elimination tournament undefeated.

    "We brought together the best of the competition that we had in Ultimate Football," said Sgt. John O. Taylor, a native of Rocoe, Ill., and team leader of an area clearance platoon for the 573rd Clearance Co., 1st Eng. Bn. "As Combat Engineers, 573rd Clearance Co., we rose to the occasion. Our opposition was great … we played a tough game. In the end, team work and dedication played out along with communication."

    Sgt. 1st Class Peter A. Thens, a native of Pittsburgh, and the Division Investigative Task Force noncommissioned officer in charge for the PMO, HHOC, DSTB, refereed the Ultimate Football tournament, which embodied this year's Armed Forces Day theme.

    "Ultimate Football allows Soldiers to show off their athleticism, helps build teamwork, provides a good workout, and gives them some bragging rights for the Soldier and their unit," said Thens. "All that tied together is just a good way to celebrate Armed Forces Day."

    Armed Forces Day is in its 60th year, the first celebration was held on May 20, 1950, after Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced its creation in 1949.

    "Every branch in the Armed Forces - Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines - pull together here in Iraq to accomplish the common goal to protect America's rights and freedoms that we have," said Obermiller. "The Armed Forces make that possible."

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.16.2010
    Date Posted: 05.16.2010 16:03
    Story ID: 49769
    Location: CONTINGENCY OUTPOST BASE SPEICHER, IQ

    Web Views: 246
    Downloads: 192

    PUBLIC DOMAIN