18 November 2024
A group of predominantly part-time soldiers recently came together to play in the annual ADF Army Football (Soccer) Championships.
The soldiers from 2nd (Australian) Division (2 [AS] Div), who usually juggle civilian jobs with their military service, decided to take a break from their day-to-day routines and represent their division in the tournament.
In the weeks leading up to the competition, those based within the Brisbane region trained whenever they could – after work, on weekends – and even managed to squeeze in practice while keeping up with their jobs as teachers, tradies, public servants and more.
The diversity of the team made for an interesting mix, but it also highlighted what makes 2 (AS) Div special: people from all walks of life uniting with a shared goal.
Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Thomas Jesser, who manages the men’s team, said it was a great opportunity to bring people from across the whole division to showcase their sporting ability, including the ADF Reserves, who can now also participate.
“Seventeen teams, representing most formations across Army, came together to compete in a competition that is growing larger every year,” WO1 Jesser said.
“For the reservists, it wasn’t just about winning, it was about strengthening relationships and showcasing the diverse and talented workforce within 2 (AS) Div.”
'The participation in Army sport is a lesser-known benefit of serving in the Army, however, provides opportunity to foster connections with soldiers from other units all over the country.'
Captain Stephen Jackson enjoyed the experience of getting away from his civilian office role as manager of security and intelligence for Queensland Rail.
“The ability for reservists from within the division to come together from across the country to form an effective team quickly, competing against regular Army teams, has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the versatility of our people,” Captain Jackson said.
“I previously served in full-time Army for a period of 12 years; having the opportunity again, now as a reservist, to build camaraderie and mateship through sport has been something I missed about my full-time service.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams of the 2 (AS) Div have represented the division with distinction.
Combat engineer Sapper Casey Denais took time off as a senior constable in the Queensland Police Service to bring a group of women together, from various sporting backgrounds, to field a highly competitive team.
“The participation in Army sport is a lesser-known benefit of serving in the Army, however, provides opportunity to foster connections with soldiers from other units all over the country,” Sapper Denais said.
“Our 2 (AS) Div women’s team has drawn players from a variety of units including 11th Combat Service Support Battalion; 8th Signal Regiment; 25th/49th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment; 11th Engineer Regiment; and 22nd Engineer Regiment.
“In the civilian world, these soldiers come from a variety of backgrounds including university students, corrections, IT, civilian engineer, electrician and stay-at-home mothers.
“Their success over the competition, winning multiple games, shows that despite coming together at the last minute, the women have been a highly competitive side against full-time Army teams who have been training together for months in the lead-up.”
Sapper Denais said the experience embodied the Army ethos of teamwork and allowed for 2 (AS) Div soldiers, regardless of rank, to come together and compete on an even playing field.
“The division has put forward a women’s team that is versatile, resilient and will continue to be a competitive side in future competitions,” Sapper Denais said.
