By Shayne Harrell
In December of 1946, my grandfather, Private First Class Peyton E. Harrell, received a letter of appreciation from Colonel Percy E. LeStourgeon, commander of the 349th Infantry Regiment. The letter recounts the outcome of the 88th Division Football Championship. On a field in Allied occupied Italy, my grandfather and the rest of the 349th football squad battled the division artillery, losing by a slim margin. Despite the loss, Colonel LeStourgeon conveyed esteem for the football squad who displayed the “inner strength to play best in adversity combined with a highly developed spirit of sportsmanship.” He described a team made up of “brain and brawn, alert and aggressive, welded into a fine unit of teamwork.”
Today, the US Army still desires to create teams to the standard Colonel LeStourgeon describes, but we rarely employ sports to accomplish this goal. While many units have brigade competitions once a year during their “division week,” few soldiers participate in the activities. Organizations often limit regular sports PT to an officer and senior enlisted morale event. Throughout the training calendar, it seems leaders often discourage companies, platoons, and squads from playing sports regularly due to risk of injury and the perception that playing a sport for PT is merely fun and not “getting after it.” Superiors may express reservations towards implementing sports regularly into a PT plan and suggest battle rhythm squad competitions instead.
While these activities have their place, I would refer skeptics to the letter written to my grandfather. Athletics, sports, and games are more than just fun. They are powerful and proven tools that make teams more effective. The elevation of sports PT to a battle rhythm event can enhance the squad, platoon and company you lead or will lead. Playing sports for PT supports mission command within a formation and can give a sense of pride to a unit that transcends time.
