NHB sailor earns chance to play for All Armed Forces team

21 Nov 2003 | Airman 1st Class Amy Perry

A Naval Hospital Beaufort sailor is currently competing at Charleston Air Force Base to become one of 12 athletes selected to play on the All Armed Forces Basketball team.
If selected, Seaman M. Heson Groves will travel with the team to compete in the World Military Games in Catania, Sicily, which are held every four years since 1995.

One hundred twenty-seven member nations participate in the games that showcases 15 different sports, and is the second largest world-sporting event outside of the Olympics.
Groves said he is enthused to have this opportunity.

"This is the ultimate privilege," said Groves, who was a member of this year's All Navy team. "I wish others could experience the opportunity that these 12 guys are going to experience."

To make it to the All Armed Forces team, players had to be on their respective service's team, and representatives from each team had to vote on the players who would get the chance to represent the Armed Forces team at the games.

Since the All Marine Corps Basketball team won the Armed Forces tournament, two Marines are taking their first steps toward the World Military Games as coaches of the All Armed Forces Basketball team.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Antonio Robinson, a food technician from Headquarters and Services Company from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., also known as "Coach Rob," is the head coach this year. James Jones, known as "Coach Red," is this year's assistant coach. He is a captain from Camp Lejeune, N.C., who coaches Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Base Cherry Point, N.C., and takes his team up and down the East Coast to play basketball.

The two coaches have been in charge of the All Marine Corps team for the last two years, and this is their first year together as the All Armed Forces coaches.

Coach Rob describes their relation in comparison to bookends.

"We work well together," he said. "I'm the calm one, and Coach Red is always excited. But we also talk and communicate. Sometimes he sees things I don't see."

"Coach Rob has a very calm demeanor, and that helps on the court," said Coach Red. "I try to let the coach relax, so I take care of the [little] stuff that comes out. It's like good cop, bad cop on the court. Very rarely do I see him get upset."

The coaches attribute their success on the court to their opposite attitudes during games.
During practice, the story's different.

"During practice time is when you get excited," said Coach Rob. "You get into the discipline there. That's our time."

Coach Rob said their opposite game-time attitudes were not planned, they just turned out that way.

Another key strategy of the coaching duo is their emphasis on defensive man-to-man coverage. Coach Red said this year's All Marine Corps team was the best defensive team he's ever seen.

"[The Marine Corps] played better as a team," said Eddie Goad, All Armed Forces project officer. "They showed unity, and they never quit. The leadership on the floor was great."

The opportunity to mentor the young Marines, airmen, soldiers and seamen is what drew both of them into coaching the Armed Forces squad.

"We try to instill the traditions of basketball into these guys," said Coach Rob. "We're in the 'And One' generation, where everyone thinks about themselves."

"I want to emphasize the fundamentals of basketball: sportsmanship, working hard and working as a team," said Coach Red.

Right now, their one goal is to concentrate on picking the 12 players to go for the gold at the WMG.

"Winning the gold, that's the bottom line," said Coach Rob. "There's nothing better to these guys than doing what they like best, and they all like basketball. We're going to make history this year, because we haven't won the gold yet.

"We [coaches Rob and Red] can't stand to lose," he continued. "When you lose, you can't wait to play the next game to win again. It's like we didn't do our job, and you let the team down."

The opportunity for the players is once in a lifetime.

"There will be college and pro scouts at the games to watch the guys," said Coach Rob.  "The most important part is representing the Armed Forces. There's nothing like the U.S."

Another advantage this year is the core group being made up of friends.

"I'm spoiled," said Coach Rob. "A couple of times, I've turned this [job] down. You see the staff you are going with, and you have to get along with that team.

"This is like a family reunion this year," he continued. "The players, assistant coach and project officer are all great. Eddie Goad [project officer] is one of the most important people [for this event]. He's got a passion for the game."

"Eddie Goad goes the extra mile," said Coach Red. "His attitude is to make sure when we get here, we only worry about basketball. He takes care of everything."

Both coaches expressed their thanks to the commands for allowing the players this vast opportunity.

"It's just an honor for me," said Coach Red. "When I talked about it to my command, I told them what an honor it would be to wear U.S.A. on my chest."

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