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McGuire Airman kicks hobby up a notch

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Martinez
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NJ. --  Many people enjoy playing sports, but not many get to do it while representing the Air Force and the Armed Forces. 

Staff Sgt. James Pastore, 305th Communications Squadron, recently returned from a trip where he not only was selected to be a part of the 2007 Air Force soccer team, but also advanced to represent the Armed Forces at the Conseil International du Sports Militaire's 2007 World Military Games in Brazil. 

A life-long soccer player, Sergeant Pastore is no stranger to Air Force soccer. In 2005, he was selected to be part of the All Air Force soccer team along with another Team McGuire member. He was disappointed when they didn't have a 2006 Air Force team, so he jumped at the chance to try out for the 2007 team. Tryouts were held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., from Dec. 28 to Jan. 22. 

"I knew what to expect, and I came in more prepared because I'd been on the team before," said Sergeant Pastore. "But I wasn't sure I would make it because two days after I got there my foot swelled up, and I couldn't play for five days." 

Out of the 40 Airmen who tried out, 18 were selected for the team, including Sergeant Pastore. Those selected stayed at MacDill until Jan. 15 training for the Armed Forces tournament held at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., from Jan. 15 to 22. 

After faring well at the Armed Forces tournament, Sergeant Pastore was selected for the all-tournament team that would go on to compete in the regional qualifier for the CISM 2007 World Military Games. 

"I was surprised; it was unexpected," Sergeant Pastore commented on being selected for the Armed Forces team. "Just to represent the Air Force, let alone the Armed Force team, was a good feeling." 

During the CISM regional qualifier held in Brazil, the U.S. Armed Forces team played games against Brazil's and Canada's military. Although the U.S. team was eliminated, Sergeant Pastore said it was still a great experience. 

"The whole slogan behind CISM is 'friendship through sport,'" he said. "We lived with the other teams and got to know them." 

Sergeant Pastore also enjoyed his first visit to Brazil. 

"I turned 28 the day we went to Brazil, so that was a cool birthday," he said. "The Brazilian team also showed us all around Rio." 

Although the experience is over for this year, Sergeant Pastore is nowhere near finished with soccer. 

"I'm going to continue to play, continue to train," he said. "Maybe I'll try out for the Air Force team again next year. I only wish that I didn't wait seven years before trying out the first time."