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2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike” wins 2012 Week of the Eagles Dodge Ball Tournament

Written by Specialist Jared Houke

Fort Campbell KY, 101st Airborne DivisionFort Campbell's Week of the Eagles

Fort Campbell, KY – The Week of the Eagles has been a Fort Campbell tradition for over 70 years. This tradition brings not only Soldiers, but also their family members and Veterans of the Screaming Eagle family as well.

The events started in 1970’s  to build the cohesion of Soldiers. Over that span, the events have evolved not just for Soldier participation, but also former Screaming Eagles and family members alike. The week is a highlight for some.

Fort Campbell- Strike’s dodge ball team made of Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), poses with Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo J. Smith, command sergeant major of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, after winning the Week of the Eagles 2012 Dodge Ball tournament at Fort Campbell, Aug 15. The Dodge ball tournament is a new event for Fort Campbell’s Week of the Eagles, which is held to build cohesion within the brigade teams throughout the division. (U.S. Army photo by SPC. Jared Houke, 2nd BCT PAO, 101st ABN. DIV)
Fort Campbell- Strike’s dodge ball team made of Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), poses with Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo J. Smith, command sergeant major of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, after winning the Week of the Eagles 2012 Dodge Ball tournament at Fort Campbell, Aug 15. The Dodge ball tournament is a new event for Fort Campbell’s Week of the Eagles, which is held to build cohesion within the brigade teams throughout the division. (U.S. Army photo by SPC. Jared Houke, 2nd BCT PAO, 101st ABN. DIV)

“It’s pretty awesome, said Private 1st Class Alan Roach, an infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd  Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “It gets you out of the company to have fun.”

In its infancy, the new event of dodge ball has been added to the Week of the Eagles, here in Fort Campbell. Originating in Africa over 200-years ago, the game first started when tribesmen would throw large rocks that would try and incapacitate or injure the attacking skirmishers. Much different from how it is played today. The game of dodge ball now plays a big role in the bringing of cohesion and building team skills.

“Dodge ball is very important because it’s a huge team sport, said Private 1st Class Phillip Seward, an infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. “I joined the team because it’s fun.”

The dodge ball tournament is played over a three-day span of time, beginning August 13th and the finals being played on the August 15th. There is only one team that will take the glory and the bragging rights for their brigade.

“We are definitely going to win, we’re bringing this to 2nd  Brigade,” said Private 1st Class Alan Roach also with  Company  B, after defeating the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in the semifinals by a score of 2-0. “Strike is going to win the dodge ball tournament.”

The game starts off with a blow of a whistle and two teams, eight on each, go head to head. If a player fails to catch a ball, that player is knocked out. When the opposing team hits a player with a ball, regardless of where on the body, the player is out. The team with personnel still standing at the end of the fight are the victors.

The team with the best score out of three games advances. The dodge ball tournament is a new and permanent event to the Week of the Eagles, with Soldiers, past, present, and family members to watch the cohesion and traditions of the Screaming Eagles way of life.

“It brings everyone together pretty well, said Spc. Justin Baylee an infantryman with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, after his team won the Dodge ball tournament. “It brought not only the people from the company together, but the battalion as well.”

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