For the first time since the 1990s, multiple troops from Fort Campbell will try out for the same All Army sports team.

Five post Soldier-athletes will travel Monday to Fort Benning, Georgia, for the 2016 All Army Men’s Soccer Trial Camp.

“The last time Fort Campbell supported this many athletes being chosen for one sport, was when track and field was still an active All Army sport. They were very diversified, not specialized as is soccer,” said Roy J. Dickerson, Fort Campbell Morale, Welfare and Recreation sports and fitness director.

Vying for the 2016 team will be Sgt. Will Arnell, Warrant Officer Kareem Carrington, Spc. Ernesto Aldana, Staff Sgt. Richard Lee Martin and Spc. Tyler Smith.

To qualify, each Soldier submits a packet to the All Army Sports Program, which requires an extensive resume of past accomplishments in soccer before being selected to attend trial camp.

At trial camp, Soldier-athletes from all across the Army will be judged on their soccer skills, fitness levels and team play during the monthlong trial period.

If selected for the All Army Men’s Soccer Team, these Soldiers will compete against the other armed services in the Armed Forces Men’s Soccer Championship May 6-14 at Fort Benning.

Seasoned veteran

Growing up in an Air Force Family, Sgt. Will Arnell started playing soccer as a child in England and has played all over the world.

His passion for soccer started at age 4 and continued into adulthood when his Family moved to Nashville. A Brentwood High School graduate, Arnell played for a while at the University of South Carolina. He left college to play soccer in Holland, before joining the Army.

For the 5th Special Forces Group automated logistic specialist, this year marks a milestone in his Army career and soccer ambitions. If selected, it would be the third year the 37-year-old has played on an All Army soccer team.

Arnell represented the Army on the team that won silver in the 2012 Armed Forces Tournament.

Last year, he was on the All Army team that captured the Armed Forces Soccer Championship – and the gold medal – after a week of competition at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California.

“To win back-to-back championships would be good. This is my last year in the military so it would be really sweet to go out on top,” he said.

Arnell said winning the gold medal in 2015 was great, but it was not easy. He and several teammates suffered injuries during the tournament.

In the semifinal game against the Navy, Arnell fractured his right ankle.

“[It was] a bad tackle by one of the Navy players at the top of the box. … The bottom of his cleat shaved the pointy part of my ankle off,” he said. “I kept playing. It was tremendous pain. The coaches were noticing I wasn’t sprinting as fast. … [Then,] I showed them my ankle. By then it was the size of a softball.”

Arnell was taken to a Naval hospital in nearby San Diego for treatment. He was released later in the day. Although, his tournament play was over, the team persevered.

“We lost like four veterans in four games and we were still able to pull out the gold. The gold meant a lot more, I think, than it would have [because of] the guys that we lost [to injury],” he said.

Arnell returned to Fort Campbell wearing an orthopedic boot on his foot. He soon started aggressive rehabilitation and therapy to regain his strength and mobility.

A year later, Arnell said he’s completely recovered and may be in better physical condition than before he was injured.

Arnell said for the last six months he has played on several local soccer teams to get back in shape. The past two weeks, he has been training with some of his former teammates near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

“I’m in much better shape – probably the best shape I’ve ever been in,” he said.

As a two-time veteran of All Army soccer, Arnell said Soldiers who make the team must be fit, have strong skills and be team players.

“You can be an individual star, but if you’re not a team player … it’s not beneficial to the team,” he said.

Arnell said he feels confident about the Army’s chances to retain the Armed Forces tournament title.

“I believe we’re going to repeat – hands down,” he said. “Just the talent that I know is coming to camp and hearing about a lot of the new people who are coming, and knowing the guys who recommended them, I think this may be one of the most talented teams we’ve ever had.”

Strong defender

When he’s not working or working out, Warrant Officer Kareem Carrington is usually playing soccer on one of four area teams – for fun.

“Ever since I could walk, I started playing,” he said. “My dad, my whole Family plays pretty much.”

Carrington grew up in the Caribbean, where soccer is the sport of choice for children everywhere. The Trinidad native moved to Queens, New York, when he was 15. He played soccer in high school and then on the Alabama A&M University team. He joined the Army in 2002.

Along with Arnell, Carrington won the silver medal playing on the 2012 All Army team. Now, he wants a chance to play for All Army again to win another medal – of another color.

“We got the silver last time. I want the gold this time,” he said, smiling. “We need to repeat and I need to get the gold.”

The 35-year-old Soldier assigned to A Company, 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, said he trains four to five days a week to get into shape for the trials.

“I go to the gym. I get on the [stationary] bike. I ride a lot,” Carrington said. “Half of our game is 45 minutes, so I ride 45 minutes. Then, I’ll go 20 minutes for heartbeat – to get my heart level up. Then, do short agility and ball work.”

Although Carrington works out regularly, he admits he hates to run.

“You’d be surprise how much I hate running. I really do,” he said. “Running to me is so boring. To go out and run, I have to force myself to do it. [Playing soccer] I enjoy because there’s an objective to the running.”

The 6-foot tall Carrington generally plays striker, defensive midfielder or stopper.

“The only thing you can do is go out and try your best. It’s all I do – and mostly have fun,” he said. “The coaching staff, they know what they are looking for. They’ll choose who they need to fit whatever positions they are looking for.”

Second time’s the charm

Specialist Ernesto Aldana hopes his second tryout for the All Army Men’s Soccer Team will be the charm for him.

The 23-year-old Soldier, assigned to 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, tried out for last year’s team with Arnell. Arnell made it, but Aldana was dropped in the final round of trials.

“Unfortunately, I fell a little short,” Aldana said.

The 6-foot, 4-inch tall striker has turned his disappointment into determination to make the 2016 team. Part of Aldana’s strategy is to improve his workout regiment to strengthen his body’s endurance for the strenuous 90-minute games.

“More running, more power, more explosiveness and added more weight too to my training,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gotten faster.”

Growing up in Naples, Florida, Aldana has been playing organized, competitive soccer since he was 10. Although he received offers to play in college, he went to Mexico to play on the semi-pro team Cruz Azul for a time.

Aldana’s passion for soccer continued after he joined the Army in 2013. He has played in Korea and on the 160th SOAR intramural team. He now coaches the Fort Campbell FC club team, which plays in a Sunday league in Nashville.

He credits a fellow Soldier, Sgt. Hector Zapata, for introducing him to All Army soccer and helping him prepare for trial camp. As the days approach for his second All Army tryout, Aldana remains optimistic.

“I hope it goes well this year,” he said. “I’ll try to make a difference in the team.”

Arnell said he is happy to see Aldana will be joining him again at trials.

“Unfortunately, he got dropped in the last cuts last year. He’s a tremendous player, so I look forward to him being out there,” Arnell said.

‘100 miles per hour’

As one of five Fort Campbell Soldiers trying out for the All Army team, Staff Sgt. Richard Lee Martin considers himself in good company.

“I finally know a couple of people who have gone before,” he said. “Just being invited to the tryout is an honor.”

A native of Sacramento, California, Martin said he has been playing soccer, “all my life.” Growing up, Martin played on his high school team and select soccer teams. For a time he also played for Pierce College in Washington.

“As a kid I liked to play outside. I played all sports and soccer was the one I took to the most,” he said. “I like all sports really. It’s a pure form of competition. It’s me versus the opponent. We both have legs, arms, a brain and a heart. It’s competition. It’s a hobby. I love it.”

Since he enlisted in the Army in 2000, Martin said deployments and other life issues have prevented him from applying for All Army trials.

This year was different for the 33-year-old combat engineer assigned to A Company, 21st Engineer Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Abn. Div.

“I’m not deployed,” he said, smiling. “I would do this every year if I could.”

Martin, at 5-feet, 9-inches tall, typically plays striker. He has tailored his workouts to strengthen his skills before the trials.

“My workouts include a lot of speed and power training because that’s how I like to play – 100 miles an hour all the time, every time, if I can,” he said. “Now, I’ve tailored it a little more toward endurance being that I’m going to have to go toward a more competitive level.”

‘Rookie freshman’

Specialist Tyler Smith will tie on his cleats next week for his first All Army soccer trial camp.

The 5-foot, 8-inch tall Soldier said he is excited to test his skills on this elite level as a self-proclaimed “rookie freshman.”

“I can’t wait to get out there and play,” he said.

A Salisbury, Maryland, native, Smith has been playing soccer since he was 4 years old.

“When I was 4 my mom decided to put me in sports to keep me active,” he said. “I was told I was really fast. One thing lead to another and I’ve been playing ever since.”

Smith, 25, played on traveling soccer teams since age 6. He played on his high school team and then for a short time at Lynchburg College in Virginia. Smith joined the Army in 2013.

A human resource specialist at The Sabalauski Air Assault School, Smith said he applied for the All Army team to expand his military resume and to play the sport he has loved for more than 20 years.

“I just have a love for the sport. I’ve been wanting to play ever since I got into the Army,” he said.

To prepare, Smith said he has been working out to build up his endurance.

“I’m staying in shape by running a lot in my company,” he said. “Sprints and long distance running. Ball skills. Strengthening my legs. It’s a fast-paced game.”

During soccer games, Smith traditionally plays defender.

“My best position is defense. I have good field vision, so I bring that to the table,” he said. “As far as the coaching staff is concerned, anywhere I’m useful.”

Billy Womble, Fort Campbell MWR intramural sports director, said it is exciting that five installation Soldiers are heading to the All Army Men’s Soccer Trial Camp.

“I think it is great that Fort Campbell has so much talent in soccer and its sports programs. I think it will be great if they all make it and I hope they do,” he said. “It is a great chance for the Soldiers to represent Fort Campbell and its sports programs.”