FORT BRAGG, North Carolina (April 20, 2015) -- "Oh, wow."
That was the comment made by a member of another women's volleyball team watching from the sidelines as Capt. Jamie Pecha leapt up and blocked a shot from going over the net during a game at Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center, April 14.
While it's easy to see that she's an extremely skilled athlete, Pecha is seemingly just another player out there on the court. The Fort Bragg women's team she's currently a member of, Team Xtreme, is filled with excellent players. They are currently the best in the league and undefeated, 13-0. What sets Pecha apart from the rest of the team is that she was recently named the 2014 U.S. Army Female Athlete of the Year.
"I'm very humbled by it," she said. "It's quite an accomplishment."
Pecha has been playing volleyball since she was 8 years old. It's in her blood. Both her father and younger brother are high school volleyball coaches. She started playing at her local YMCA in Pueblo, Colorado, and continued playing on her school teams through middle and high school.
She said that even though both her grandfathers served in the military, she never considered joining the Army.
"(The military) was never something I was super exposed to," said Pecha. "I was recruited by West Point for volleyball and track and field. I thought it sounded good, I'd be able to compete at a Division 1 level."
She accepted the offer and attended the United States Military Academy, graduating with the Class of 2009. She said that it didn't really click to her that she was serving in the Army until the summer of her junior year when she spent 30 days at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
"That's when I realized I really enjoy doing this," said Pecha.
After graduation, Pecha's first duty assignment was at West Point, serving as a strength and conditioning coach, continuing to work with the women's volleyball team whenever she had the chance. She said that job was the best possible job for a second lieutenant, but that her job now as an environmental science engineering officer at Womack Army Medical Center's Department of Preventive Medicine is the one of the best in the Army.
"I get to help keep people from getting sick," she said.
Her department is responsible for inspecting areas across post for sanitary conditions and proper food handling procedures. These areas include all the restaurants, gyms, barbershops and schools, as well as numerous other facilities.
In addition to her job, Pecha continues to play volleyball. She played on the All-Army Women's Volleyball Team in 2011, 2013 and 2014. She missed 2010 because she was attending the Officer Basic Course and 2012 because she was deployed to Afghanistan.
She helped lead the 2014 team to victory at the USA Volleyball Nationals, taking the Division A title. Pecha was recognized as the most valuable player at Nationals and was encouraged to apply for the U.S. Army Athlete of the Year.
Her selection hinged not only on her accomplishments on the All-Army team, but also considered her military record and community service. Her community service contribution seems to mirror her contribution to her current women's volleyball team. She helped coach an 8-year-old girl's volleyball team in the Cumberland County Recreation League, the Night Hawks, to an undefeated season.
"There's really no way I would be able to accomplish this or help the team in anyway without the support I receive from my chain of command," said Pecha.
Pecha won the title and received her award from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, April 1, 2015.
Unfortunately, Pecha will not be able to compete with the women's All-Army team again this year as an upcoming move to a new duty station will conflict with the volleyball season. However, she said that she's glad the Army allows her to continue to have the opportunity to play competitive volleyball.
"In the military, physical fitness is paramount," she said. "We should all encourage our Soldiers to get out there and play sports. It's a great way to work out without really knowing you're doing it."
While work and Family life keeps everyone busy, Pecha says that making participating in local sports programs is a great way to meet people across the installation and be a part of your local community.
"There are a ton of opportunities out there to play sports on Fort Bragg. All you have to do is seek them out," she said.
To explore the different intramural sports opportunities on Fort Bragg, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com/sports/. Many of the programs are open to all interested Department of Defense ID cardholders living or working on Fort Bragg.
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