JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis recently returned from the U.S. Armed Forces Softball Tournament, hosted at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Sept. 18-22, 2017.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Segrue, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command security NCO in charge, has made the All-Army team six times since his first tryout in 2009, and has led the team to victory for the past two years as team captain.
“It’s such a great opportunity to represent your unit and the Army, while networking and being a part of the brotherhood,” said Segrue. “I love the competition between the services and the camaraderie that lasts a lifetime.”
During the tournament, the All-Army Men outscored their opponents 278-183, winning their sixth-straight Armed Forces gold. They left with a perfect 9-0 record for the first time in history.
With his leadership’s approval to travel each year to play a sport he loves, Segrue said the camp and tournament are more challenging one might expect.
“Those training days are longer than most people’s duty days,” said Segrue. “It’s like that every day for two weeks straight— it’s not just physically tiring but mentally as well.”
Becoming a member of the All-Army team begins with an application process. Each year Soldiers from across the Army submit an application, from which the coach selects 25 to attend a two-week tryout training camp. Following the two-week tryout period, the team is narrowed down to 15 players who will train for an additional two weeks before moving on to the Armed Forces tournament.
Segrue believes the skills he has developed throughout the years as a team member and captain have also translated into his duties at his assigned unit as well.
“Where I work we’re a small, tight-knit group and we work as a cohesive team just like in softball,” said Segrue. “Not one person is going to win or lose that game, but the team aspect is what wins or loses. If you fail at a mission, you’re all going to fail the mission together but if you work together as a team, you’ll accomplish the mission.”
Though this was Segrue’s last year participating in the All-Army Sports program, he still enjoys working as an ambassador, encouraging other Soldiers to participate as he has.
“It was an honor and privilege to have played for so many years and go out on top,” said Segrue. “It makes me really proud to know we accomplished those goals and made history together.”
For more information about the All-Army Sports program, visit https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/sports-and-fitness/all-army-sports.