Nellis Airman proves spectacular athletes aren't just in the pros Published May 19, 2010 By Senior Airman Michael Charles Nellis Publis Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Many citizens in the United States have the perception of military servicemembers being as they are portrayed on television: tall, muscular, natural born killers whose sole thought process is how to defeat any enemy placed before them. However, military members aren't robots who are just trained to be killing machines. In reality, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are members of the community who, aside from volunteering to protect the ideals of the Constitution, offer themselves as positive role models in a variety of ways in order to better themselves and the people around them. Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases are home to many individuals who give back to the community in various ways and continue to excel by bettering themselves and representing the Air Force, not only in the Las Vegas community, but around the world. Earlier this year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released a commercial which stated 20,000 student athletes will be going professional in something other than sports. This philosophy holds true for many individuals in the military. The military has about 20 all-services sports, which have their own superstars who have decided to put service before self and represent the armed forces in a different capacity while protecting the country. "Basketball is my passion, just like it is for a lot of my fellow Airmen," said Staff Sgt. Marico Gray, 99th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist. "I think there are lot of individuals I have played with that have NBA caliber skills, but choose not to pursue them in order to devote service to a country they love and believe in so much." Sergeant Gray is an example of how military members have the capacity to represent their country and excel in sports. In 2007, Sergeant Gray was recognized as one of 48 individuals chosen to participate in tryouts for the All-Air Force Basketball Team. As part of the All-Air Force team, Sergeant Gray participated in the Armed Forces Basketball Tournament, which offers the same level of play that some might find at the NCAA tournament held every March. The Air Force has won four straight times. "Most of the individuals playing in the Armed Forces Basketball Championships also played in the NCAA Championships tournament at some point in their lives," Sergeant Gray said. "The only real difference between the armed forces tournament and its NCAA counterpart is we haven't formally been invited to the White House yet." Sergeant Gray not only participated on the All-Air Force team, he also had the opportunity to represent the military in many Olympic-style tournaments overseas as part of the U.S. Armed Forces Team. "It's a spectacular feeling to reach out to other countries and build friendships," Sergeant Gray said. "It is a big deal to them. We play in their biggest arenas, meet all their government leadership and all their fans come out and support. It's Olympic-style basketball in their eyes, and I know we love that competitive nature, which makes playing overseas so much more joyful." This year, the U.S. Armed Forces team has placed bronze in both the Conseil International Du Sport Militaire and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe tournaments overseas. Sergeant Gray doesn't let his success on the basketball court get to his head, though. He tries to give back to the community and bestow what he has learned upon the next generation of athletes in the local community. Sergeant Gray is trying to become a role model for children in the local community who are trying to achieve the success he has attained. "My grandmother would say a role model is someone who has been where you are trying to go, has done what you are trying to do, and has seen what you don't know exists," Sergeant Gray said. "I have only about half of that down so I am still trying to get to her level." Currently, Sergeant Gray organizes workouts with local youth who would like to go to college, but don't have anyone to mentor them in honing their skills, both on and off the court. "I try to get individuals who want to go to college but have experienced a misstep in going, whether it be school or just hanging around the wrong people," Sergeant Gray said. "As long as these individuals show the dedication to achieve their goal of getting better, I want to be that positive influence that can help them in the right direction." During the summer, he normally trains all ages, but he is trying to take a more active role in mentoring younger children by holding two individual youth camps in collaboration with the Nellis Youth Center. The first will be held for children ages 7 to 10 at the Youth Center gymnasium June 7-11. The second will be for children ages 11 to 13 June 26-28. Sergeant Gray is one of the people in Air Force who continue to strive for excellence, not only in service to his country, but also in service to his community. For more information on the upcoming Nellis basketball camps please contact the Nellis Air Force Base Youth Center at 652-9307.
