HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- It was a high-scoring Association of the U.S. Army military appreciation night for the Huntsville Hammers on June 20 as they beat the first-ranked Columbus Lions 60 to 57 amid a cheering crowd celebrating the beginning of Armed Forces Celebration Week.
But the real winners were the 19 recruits who took the oath of enlistment on the indoor arena field at half-time, being sworn in by Maj. Gen. Jim Richardson, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command.
"When I was your age some years ago, I remember raising my right hand. It was the best thing I ever did," Richardson told the recruits during a meeting with them before the half-time ceremony.
"We're proud of you. You will be a changed person when you come out of basic training. You all will make it. It's all about the team, not individuals. It's just like a team sport."
Prior to the kick-off, the Redstone Arsenal Color Guard presented the U.S. flag while the National Anthem was sung by Staff Sgt. Richard Scarlett of the Army Materiel Command. Richardson then flipped the coin for the opening kickoff.
"This is a great time to serve in the military. This is a great way to kick off Armed Forces Celebration Week," Richardson told the crowd of more than 3,500.
The Hammers honored the military by wearing military themed jerseys and naming the point-after-attempt the National Guard Extra Point. The team's dance crew, the Hammerettes, wore cammo costumes during their half-time dance. The crowd included many military retirees and active duty service members who enjoyed free tickets to the game thanks to the Redstone/Huntsville AUSA. Game sponsors included Redstone Federal Credit Union, COLSA, Still Serving Veterans, KLM, Window World and Yulista.
Richardson spent about 15 minutes talking to the recruits prior to the half-time ceremony. Thirty-three years ago, Richardson took the Oath of Enlistment, starting a journey that wasn't easy and was always challenging. He urged them to make friends, to do what they are told by their Army leadership, to never tell a lie, to be loyal and to never quit. Success, he said, is based on persistence, determination and the will to win.
"When you go through something hard together, it makes you a better team and a better person," Richardson said.
"There will be lows. How do you get through those lows? You get through them with your buddies."
He asked the recruits what jobs they wanted to do in the Army. "UAV pilot. Combat photographer. Supply specialist. Helicopter mechanic," were some of the replies. Several raised their hands when he asked if anyone was going into the Army infantry.
"I came in the Army just like you did," Richardson told them, adding that the Army gave him the discipline and sense of purpose that he needed as a 19-year-old man who wanted to take something on that was tough and challenging. He graduated from basic training in July 1980 as an E-1 and then received his commission upon graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1982.
"Bottom line, have fun … There's no better Army than the Army of the United States of America," he said.
Just as the recruits readied to go on the field at half-time, Richardson told them he was honored to lead their Oath of Enlistment.
"You're taking a big step and you made the right decision," he said. "You will be part of an elite force no matter what you do. And we're proud of your decision."
The crowd seconded that comment as they gave the recruits a huge round of cheers and applause after the enlistment oath. Richardson and the recruits answered back by dropping for a quick round of pushups.
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