Malmstrom's 2015 intramural basketball championship game a success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  It's been said to call ourselves a team is good; to actually become one is nothing short of amazing. While the title of "team" can easily be applied to many things, to truly cultivate the camaraderie, trust and confidence that a real team possesses is a very special thing.

In the military, teamwork is the backbone that allows the mission to be accomplished. Without it, everything would fall apart.

Mission excellence is the standard. And for the Airmen performing the mission, cultivating team excellence is just as important as the mission itself.

"Intramural sports are provided as an alternative activity for Airmen to get involved in with their friends and their units," said Senior Airman Justin Ruiz, 341st Force Support Squadron alternate sports director. "The sports program promotes espirit de corps, unit camaraderie, teamwork and relationships between different squadrons on base. It also serves as a way for airmen to relax and unwind doing physical activity."

For many Airmen, having the ability to play in organized sporting events such as Malmstrom's 2015 Intramural Basketball League is one of the greatest ways to bring out the best in themselves, and their fellow wingmen.

Recently, Malmstrom's Fitness Center hosted its 2015 intramural basketball championship game between members of the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron and 341st Civil Engineer Squadron.

For members of the 741st MSFS basketball team, Feb. 18 will go down in history as the day they won the 2015 championship game, and became the base's four-peat intramural basketball champions.

"This win means a lot," said Senior Airman Darius Gordon, 741st MSFS member. "I play with these guys all the time. Outside of our squadron team, we became friends and rivals, always competing against each other."

While on duty, everyone comes together to achieve a common goal, supporting the mission. Off duty, competing in everything from basketball to volleyball gives these Airmen an outlet to break free from their day-to-day activities and unwind.

For these team members, it's not so much about the sport as it is being able to spend quality time with friends and family. People first, mission always is the motto, and the mission will always succeed when the team works as one.

"The game of basketball means the world to me," Gordon said. "Intramurals gives us a chance to be in a competitive environment and gives us a goal to work for.  It feels good to be playing with these guys and continuing a winning tradition in the 741st MSFS with our fourth straight championship. Like myself and others this was our last championship, so it feels good to go out as a champion."