OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea -- U.S. and Republic of Korea senior non-commissioned officers took to Mustang Field Oct. 16 for a friendly soccer match to encourage team building and galvanize the strong alliance between U.S. and ROK partners.
"Events such as today's soccer match, allow us to strive toward our mission of interoperability between U.S and ROK forces. Our ROK counterparts are just as enthusiastic about these events as we are. We plan to have more combined sporting events in the future," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jose Villarreal, senior enlisted advisor of 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Joining 35th ADA Brigade on Mustang Field were senior non-commissioned officers from 7th Air Force as they joined forces to challenge the ROK Air and Missile Defense Command senior NCOs.
Events such as combined sports provide a venue for military esprit de corps and create opportunities for U.S. and ROK forces to meet one another outside the confines of military exercises, said Master Sgt. Christopher McMullen, chief food operations manager at 35th ADA.
McMullen participated in the soccer match and came away with a positive experience from the competition.
"The change of pace this afternoon was great. Our opponents were excellent and good sports throughout the game," McMullen said. "The shaking of hands and the speeches by both senior leaders after all was said and done summed up the event perfectly and proved that we do indeed go together like the U.S. Forces Korea motto says."
In the end, the ROK Air Force came away victorious with a final score of 4-1, but the groundwork was set for a rematch in the near future with softball serving as the instrument of choice to forge another link in the chain of successful U.S./ROK engagements on the peninsula.
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