NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Building Unity Through Competition

By Spc. Nathaniel Smith

4th BCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD - The players came from different cultures, from different sides of the globe; they didn't speak the same language, yet they had fought and bled together to achieve a common goal.

Despite having virtually nothing in common, Soldiers from of 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, and the 'shurta,' or police, of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, had already built strong bonds. Thus it was on a windy afternoon Feb. 24 at Forward Operating Base Falcon, the two groups continued to show unity through a simple game of soccer.

The 'Tuskers' of 4-64 Armor, deployed from Fort Stewart, Ga., are currently attached to Multi-National Division - Baghdad's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, which deployed from Fort Riley, Kan.

Capt. Henry Munoz, a native of Fresno, Calif., who serves as the commander of Multi-National Division - Baghdad's 47th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, tries to juke his way past a defender from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division during a soccer match Feb. 24 at Forward Operating Base Falcon. The U.S. Army team won the match 3-1.

The game was a good way to demonstrate the bond between the Soldiers and police, said Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson, a Tampa, Fla., native, who is the commander of 4-64 Armor.

"It's an honor to be able to get this game together and show camaraderie and teamwork," Johnson said. "For the last three months, we have worked very well together. Our units have made a lot of progress in West Rashid."

The U.S. team won the match 3-1, but the outcome of the game wasn't important to the players, said Capt. Mark Miller, communications officer, 4-64. Instead, building on already strong relationships was the point of the game.

Policemen from 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division soccer team (left) and a team of Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, and the 47th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, meet together Feb. 24 Following a fun, hard-fought soccer game at Forward Operating Base Falcon.

"Everyone understood the purpose of why the game was scheduled," said Miller, a native of Normal, Ill. "Sports are an easy way to build partnerships that get forgotten, but I saw a lot of friendships being built on that field.

"Any time these guys can get together in a non-working environment," he added, "without all the body armor on, is a great opportunity."