Sports offered to Mighty Ninety increase camaraderie, morale, physical fitness Published May 4, 2012 By Senior Airman Mike Tryon 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Physical fitness is a must for all military members, and participating in group activities such as intramural sports is a great way to not only stay physically active, but it also aids in building unit morale and camaraderie. At F. E. Warren, the intramural sports offered to participants are basketball, softball and flag football. Active duty members, dependents, civilians, contractors and retirees -- both male and female -- are eligible to participate in intramural sports, provided they are at least 18-years-old. Intramural sports serve as an opportunity for units to build cohesiveness and camaraderie through friendly competition, said Bonnie Schwartzkopf, 90th Force Support Squadron. They act as great ways to get out, meet people and be active in something individuals enjoy playing, or learning to play. Here, intramural sports, as well as extramural sports such as golf and bowling, count toward Commander's Trophy points. The Commander's Trophy is awarded, in August, to the unit that has earned the most points throughout the year. The two categories for the trophy are large unit and small unit. Points for the Commander's Trophy are earned by participation and final standings. Also, a unit's sports representative attending sports advisory council meetings, and coaches attending coaches' meetings earn points. "While it's easy for units to earn points toward their unit's Commander's Trophy standings, it is equally easy for teams to lose points," Schwartzkopf said. "Points are deducted from units who have teams drop out after the season has begun or if participants are removed from games due to unsportsmanlike conduct." As an added bonus for those who excel in sports, there are opportunities at higher-level competitions. Those competitions are permissive temporary duty opportunities authorized, by unit commanders. F. E. Warren has had several members selected to represent the Air Force for various sports, such as soccer, triathlon, cycling, boxing and basketball, through this program. "Currently, we have a former Air Force Athlete of the Year assigned here who is part of the World Class Athlete Program," Schwartzkopf said. "He just returned to us from cycling in Europe between Ramstein, Germany and Ooskamp, Belguim." For more information on higher-level sports opportunities visit http://www.usafsports.com.