FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Two Fort Campbell Soldiers are set to attend the 2015 All Army Men's Soccer trial camp at Fort Benning, Ga., in mid-April. If selected at the end of the camp, these Soldiers will compete against the other U.S. services in the Armed Forces Men's Soccer Championship in May.
Returning Player
This year marks the second time in the program for Sgt. William Arnell, 5th Special Forces Group, who participated in 2012.
"Overall it was a good experience," Arnell recalled.
The opportunity is something that the 36-year-old automated logistics specialist is looking forward to again. It is not an experience he takes lightly, however, as he said the camp is serious business.
"Every day you're trying to do your best, obviously, and you don't want to hold back, because you never know," he said. "There's some guys … who had been on the team a couple times and they didn't get picked last time."
Growing up in an U.S. Air Force Family, Arnell was born in England where he said soccer was a natural part of life. He started playing at 4 years old, and continued after his Family relocated to Nashville. Arnell graduated from Brentwood High School, before going on to play at the University of South Carolina.
"I got to play in England for almost six years before we moved to the States," Arnell said. "So that got me into it. I was pretty much hooked."
Arnell left college to play soccer in Holland, before joining the military. With his new career underway, Arnell continued to play on club teams in Japan and Germany.
"I've played kind of all over the world," he said.
Arnell submitted a packet to the All Army Sports Program, which requires an extensive resume of past accomplishments in soccer, several times before being selected to attend his first trial camp. He said meeting the All Marines soccer captain while stationed in Japan helped him navigate the selection process more successfully.
Since being stationed at Fort Campbell, Arnell linked up with his former trainer in Nashville, Earle Davidson. Arnell now travels to train with Davidson's club team several times a week.
Once Arnell travels to Fort Benning for the monthlong camp in mid-April, he hopes to be selected as a final member of the team. Then after competing at that level, his goal is to become a member of the Armed Forces team, which competes against other teams across the globe.
Arnell expects All Army Men's Soccer Head Coach Capt. Roye Locklear, Army National Guard, to "hit the ground running" with the prospective team. Camp participants can expect a rigorous two-a-day or more practice schedule, often with evening practices including games against local university or club teams.
"Typically, you do a morning session where you do tactics and maybe some technique," Arnell said.
The 12-year Army Veteran encourages all Soldiers attending the trial camp to be prepared mentally and ready to play.
"The point is to make the team. Not just make the team, you want to start. You want to play," he said. "That would be my advice to any of the new guys coming -- have that attitude. Bring your A game."
Fresh Face
Specialist Ernest Aldana, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, will be attending the All Army Soccer trial camp for the first time this year, after just two years in the military. The 22-year-old heard about the opportunity from fellow Soldier, Sgt. Hector Zapata, stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. Zapata will also be participating in All Army soccer this time around.
Aldana, who usually plays forward, was excited to find out he made it through the extensive application process.
"I was actually very excited about it," he said. "It's something that I've been wanting to do for a little bit now, ever since I heard about it. I've been wanting to try it."
Aldana also grew up playing soccer in Naples, Fla. He decided to play semi-pro for a year in Mexico before joining the Army. To play on a team like Cruz Azul, Aldana said his life was "just pretty much eating, breathing and sleeping soccer."
Since he joined the Army, Aldana has played soccer in Korea, as well as at Fort Campbell with the 160th SOAR intramural team. The Night Stalkers won Fort Campbell's most recent Morale, Welfare and Recreation Sports and Fitness soccer tournament. He also plays with the Fort Campbell club team that competes in a Nashville-based league.
Aldana is also preparing for the annual Soldier of the Year competition prior to leaving for the All Army camp. The Night Stalker not only has to study up on basic Soldiering tasks, but be in tip-top shape as well, with an emphasis on running, rucking and the PT test, he said.
Add on top of these responsibilities soccer conditioning, which also includes running, sprints and rucking.
"Then just pretty much ball control stuff, like technique stuff," he said. "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how fast you run. If you're not able to trap a ball it's not going to be any good for you."
Aldana hopes to make the final cut for the All Army team and "make a difference" for them when it comes time to compete. No matter what happens, soccer is a sport that will continue to be a passion for the Soldier and one that has helped him to connect during his military moves and in other areas of life.
"Definitely meeting new people," Aldana said of what he enjoys most about the sport. "Everywhere you go, there's people playing soccer. You meet a lot of people just by going out there and kicking the ball."
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