JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Recently, the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element commander, U.S. Army Maj. Corinne Bell, asked one of her Soldiers, Spc. Timothy Scheid, 689th RPOE information technology specialist, how he would like to re-enlist.
Some ask to re-enlist on an Army helicopter or mid-flight after jumping out of an airplane, while others simply want to re-enlist quietly in the presence of family, friends and fellow Soldiers.
Scheid's reply was, "Ma'am, I'd like to re-enlist on the ice of the Norfolk Admirals hockey team ... but I don't think you can pull that off."
Scheid learned to play hockey in California at the age of ten and loved the local teams wherever he lived. He has now been playing for 11 years and since moving to Fort Eustis, Virginia, in August, has attended 15 Admirals games.
In front of a crowd of roughly 3,500 Admirals fans, Spc. Scheid re-enlisted on the ice at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, April 9.
As the crowd grew silent, Scheid repeated his oath of re-enlistment.
"I, Timothy Scheid, Jr., do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
As Scheid committed to another four years of service, the crowd took to their feet applauding the Soldier.
During the game's third quarter and the fan appreciation portion of the game, Scheid was given a standing ovation by many in the crowd for his service and his love of the Norfolk Admirals as the announcer gave the crowd a little background about Scheid and the importance of the 689th RPOE mission.
If the Admirals and South Carolina Sting Rays didn't know the 689th RPOE's role in providing rapid response in transporting cargo for national and international emergencies, they and the crowd did by the end of the game.