Players’ attitudes, harsh weather take competition up a notch

Fun and games? That depends upon who's playing. And where. And when.

Sports played by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan sometimes test not only the athletic ability but also the toughness and tolerance of those who participate.

"There are some very competitive guys" serving in Iraq, said Army Capt. Brett Prillaman, an alumnus of Midlothian High School and Virginia Military Institute. "Anytime you get together with a bunch of young, competitive soldiers who are trying to vent some combat stress, it can get pretty rough."

Prillaman exercises prudence when searching for an opportunity to compete. "I'm nearing 30, so I try to avoid things like boxing," he said. "Just the other day, I saw a guy knock a heavy bag off its chain."

Army 1st Lt. David Bhatta, another Midlothian and VMI graduate, says he frequently played gatorball, a sport he describes as "a cross between football, rugby and ultimate Frisbee" while serving on a forward operating base in Iraq. Contests that involved teams drawn from the same unit were particularly belligerent, he said, because typically "that meant that you were competing against your buddies. We were all very athletic and competitive when it came to gatorball. It got ugly sometimes."

This level of intensity isn't unique to gatorball. Army Capt. William Angle, who attended Goochland High School and VMI, served in Iraq for 15 months as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. Leagues were formed in softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer and flag football, he said.

"Most units," Angle said, "would create a team for each sport. The competition became very heated."

An individual's rank isn't altogether ignored, but it is rendered somewhat irrelevant once a contest begins. Army Capt. Paul Belmont, from Benedictine High School and VMI, said pickup basketball games in Afghanistan are fierce.

"My battalion commander was a decent player and he was the kind of guy that didn't ever want to lose at anything," Belmont said. The commander would play hard, and so would the others. "It was a way for some of the guys to blow off frustration with the boss. I'm not sure if he knew people were gunning for him and let it happen or if he was just that much of a competitor. Probably both."

Prillaman is serving his second tour in Iraq and is familiar with the nation's climate. During the rainy season in November to February, conditions are suitable for outdoor competition "almost any time of the day." But from late May through September, heat becomes a significant factor. Midafternoon temperatures in July can reach 150 degrees, he said.

"You do not sweat," he said. "The sweat evaporates almost as soon as it is secreted. I've seen a few stubborn soldiers, despite the heat advisories, have to get a 500-milliliter IV after jogging during the hottest part of the day."

Then there is the dust.

A gunner riding in an exposed position atop an armored vehicle frequently returns from a mission "looking like a gray snowman," he said. The dust in Iraq "permeates the air conditioners and builds up on your bed and your floor, over your towels and toiletries. It gets into your ears and nose. It dries the skin and makes the eyes water." And because there is no escaping it, Prillaman said, "it must be endured by any soldier wanting to enjoy the benefits of sport."

Contact Vic Dorr Jr. at (804) 649-6442 or .