Fort Walker celebrates reopening of paintball course with cookout, epic grudge match

By Chris HallApril 22, 2024

Breland Allen and Marsha Beazley from the Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation stand ready to welcome excited participants at the entrance of Fort Walker’s paintball course.
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Breland Allen and Marsha Beazley from the Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation stand ready to welcome excited participants at the entrance of Fort Walker’s renovated and re-opened paintball course on 17 Apr. (Photo Credit: Chris Hall) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cody Limbrick of the Department of Public Works fires a bright blue paintball at his opponent at Fort Walker’s grand re-opening of their paintball course on 17 April.
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cody Limbrick of the Department of Public Works fires a bright blue paintball at his opponent at Fort Walker’s grand re-opening of their paintball course on 17 April. (Photo Credit: Chris Hall) VIEW ORIGINAL
Matt Dean of Fort Walker’s Department of Public Works takes careful aim before he takes his shot at the grand re-opening of paintball course on 17 April.
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Matt Dean of Fort Walker’s Department of Public Works takes careful aim before he takes his shot at the grand re-opening of paintball course on 17 April. (Photo Credit: Chris Hall) VIEW ORIGINAL
L to R, Troy Thomas, Jones Bolt, Bobby Martin and Cody Limbrick all enjoy an outdoor barbecue lunch cooked by the Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation outside paintball event.
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – L to R, Troy Thomas, Jones Bolt, Bobby Martin and Cody Limbrick all enjoy an outdoor barbecue lunch cooked by the Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation on 17 Apr, at the Fort Walker grand re-opening of their paintball course. (Photo Credit: Chris Hall) VIEW ORIGINAL

SPLAT!  Paintball rounds flew back and forth in the old-growth woods of Fort Walker’s recently-rejuvenated and reopened paintball course.

In a morale-building soft opening, teams of four from across the installation paired off on either end of the sprawling, 2-acre course riddled with natural and man-made cover elements.  Equipped with brand-new paintball guns and safety faceguards, the teams quickly, but carefully, stalked each other until in range; then the barrage began.

While the paintball games were off and running, the fantastic Department of Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation staff were grilling a wonderful barbecue picnic for the Fort Walker staff on a beautiful spring afternoon.  Employees from all directorates, and some installation tenants, came together to socialize and enjoy the food in perfect weather conditions between exciting rounds of paintball action. The Fort Walker community is small in number but, in events such as these, gather together as family to share fellowship and bond as family.

The Garrison Commander, Lt. Col. Jason Duffy, was very enthusiastic about not only hosting but taking part in the event as a player.  As a result, the lead up to the event involved good-natured interservice rivalry banter among some former sister service members-turned- civilians and their Army commander, which set the stage for a rousing all-American match.  The end result, naturally, saw Army handily defeat a woefully deficient Marine Corps showing.

Of the event, Duffy had to say, “Bringing people together, whether by breaking bread or splattering paintballs, means a lot to me, our Garrison employees, and our tenant partners.  The more we come together and get to know one another, the better our Garrison functions during day-to-day operations.  Our MWR team is doing a phenomenal job hosting community events, and I look forward to seeing what they have planned next to keep morale, espirit de corps, and productivity at an all-time high.”