Team Building Is Important in Building Resilience and Taking Care of People

Teamwork is what makes the U.S. military No. 1, said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Raul A. Almendarez.

As the senior supply system advisor in 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Almendarez emphasizes teamwork not just on duty, but off duty, as well.

As such, he dedicates much of his free time to coaching JBLM's soccer team, the JBLM Football Club, which he describes as a family.

The team is a diverse mix of soldiers, airmen, family members, retirees, Defense Department civilians and a few women who compete on the predominantly men's team. They compete against local colleges and semi-pro teams in the area.

"We're well rounded with the players that we have, but we are always looking for talented players. We welcome everyone to our training sessions," Almendarez said.

He explained that if a player's skills aren't at the required level, the coaches work closely with them to improve. In the past, three women played on the men's league because they were able to keep up with the level of play. The team also has a wide age range; the oldest is 40 years and one of the fastest on the field.

The team participates in two major military soccer tournaments annually: the Regional Commander's Cup, hosted by Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Defender's Cup, hosted by Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio.

"We are preparing to head out to Defender's Cup, a national military tournament where roughly 40-44 military soccer varsity teams compete," he said, noting that the JBLM club came in second last year.

"Our program goes beyond soccer, fostering professional growth among our players. Many of our team members have advanced to become officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers with many completing Ranger School, Sniper School, winning Soldier of the Month, NCO of the Month, Soldier of the Year and other prestigious accomplishments," he said.

How does the team deal with defeat?

Almendarez acknowledged that losing is part of the game. "Winning isn't always going to happen. Mistakes happen on the pitch, but our guys bounce back quickly. If we lose, we don't let it hold us down. We move on and work on fixing our mistakes during practice," he said.

The team's inclusive nature extends across all ranks, with the highest-ranking member once being an Army lieutenant colonel. "No one knew he was an O-5 at the time. I met him during the Iraq war. Having that senior leader perspective really helps the team. The professionalism these guys bring is unmatched. We have privates talking to captains, majors, colonels, senior NCOs. It builds camaraderie, and some players even reconsider the path forward, choosing to stay in the Army," Almendarez added, noting that reenlistments within the team have soared.

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