Lakenheath Airmen balance life on, off the field

Published July 9, 2015
By 2nd Lt. Kellie Rizer
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The opportunity to represent the Air Force in a national competition against other U.S. military branches is offered to a select few athletes.

What's even rarer is when two Airmen from the same base are given the chance to defend an Armed Forces Championship title.

"To have one of my own Liberty Airmen on the team was an amazing opportunity," said Lt. Col. Derrick Weyand, former 48th Security Forces Squadron commander. "The great thing about Miles is that he knows who I am as a commander; he didn't really get to see me before as a coach. When I'm coaching, I'm just "coach."

Weyand, the U.S. Air Force soccer team head coach, and Staff Sgt. Miles Gravage, a member of the team, traveled to Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif., to compete in the 2015 Armed Forces Soccer Championship, May 12-21. The Air Force played against Army, Navy and Marine Corps teams to earn 2nd place with a 2-2 final record. Despite an early setback in the tournament with the team's leading scorer sidelined with a knee injury, the Air Force team remained resilient to the end.

"We finished with silver, which is an absolute honor and privilege," Weyand said. "The boys did brilliantly. We were the stronger team and did everything we physically could, but the Army pulled off an absolute miracle."

The Armed Forces Championship was the second time Gravage played for "Coach" Weyand. In 2013, they traveled to Germany for the European Indoor Soccer Championships to play other NATO nations as Team USA.

"As a coach, Lt. Col. Weyand treats everyone like they are professional athletes," Gravage said, former 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron activity security manager, "You eat, drink and sleep soccer. It's a business when you play for him. He takes it very seriously."

The team's dedication to the sport is balanced by ensuring the mission and home life remain top priorities. Weyand was offered the assistant coach position for the Air Force team in 2009, but deferred due to a scheduled deployment. He accepted the offer to be the assistant coach in 2010 and transitioned to head coach for the 2011-2012 seasons, leading the team to back-to-back golds.

"The most challenging part of being a coach is balancing the need to win and family requirements, just like in leadership," Weyand said. "You need to find the right balance between winning and life because at the end of the day, it's just a game."

Both Airmen attribute their success on the field to the support from their team at home. Gravage's wife, Melanie, flew to California to support her husband, and Weygand maintains his game-day tradition of always wearing the same pair of shoes that his 9-year-old son designed for him.

"I have a great bond and relationship with my returning players because we have been through a lot together," Weygand said. "Whether it's the birth of a child or assignment change, they can call me for anything, and I'll be there for them."

"The best part of the game is the camaraderie you get from playing as a team and coming together," Gravage said.

Soccer will continue to be a fixture in the lives of both Weyand and Gravage, as their talents will soon travel to different areas of the world on new assignments. Gravage, who recently became a technical sergeant select, is looking forward to integrating the opportunities the Air Force has allowed him through soccer into his next position as a recruiter.

"I've been to two Defenders' Cups, played in the European indoor tournament for the All-Air Force team and had the opportunity to be stationed in England," Gravage said. "I'm going to hang up my Air Force jersey in my office and use my unique experiences as a tool to show potential recruits what's available to them through the Air Force."

Weyand will move to another U.S. Air Forces in Europe base and has been selected to be assistant head coach for the USA men's team at the 6th Military World Games Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea, Sept. 30-Oct. 11.

"We are really looking forward to Korea because we have five to seven guys from each service going and we get to attract those professional athletes who choose to serve their country and reward them with the chance to represent the U.S. at a championship like the World Games," Weyand said. "With coaching, I get to focus on something I truly love, which is representing the Air Force or my country at the highest levels and then, when I come back, I'm totally re-blued."