Munitions crew chief competes in Armed Forces Games

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  A precision guided munitions crew chief assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing recently returned from providing a helping hand to an Air Force team more than 7,000 miles away, Sept. 14-18. 

Staff Sgt. Kristina Bodley, 8th Maintenance Squadron crew chief journeyed to the Air Force Women's Softball camp held at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to try-out for the women's Air Force Team.

To no one's surprise here, Sergeant Bodley made the team and also made her Lady Wolf Pack Softball teammates proud by helping to bring a championship to the service. 

"She is what any baseball purest would call a five-tool player," said Master Sgt. Kelly Hill, 8th Fighter Wing Ground Safety manager and coach of the Lady Wolf Pack softball team. "She can hit for power, hit for a base hit, great base runner, the most accurate arm on the base, and she's a great fielder." 

Sergeant Bodley trained for weeks before the Air Force try-outs; normally hitting around 100-balls, working on throwing and strengthening. 

"I have been her supervisor since April of this year," said Staff Sgt. Gregory Johnson. "She would get up early and hit the softball field for practice and work on her hitting and fielding before work." 

The Air Force Softball Women's Camp lasted a little more than one week for try-outs, according to Sergeant Bodley, and once she was selected for the Women's Air Force Team, she trained with 15 Airmen for two additional weeks. 

"Playing next to new players was challenging but we came together quick," Sergeant Bodley said. 

She competed with her Air Force Women's Softball teammates against the Army, Navy, and Marines during the women's armed forces games at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., playing a total of nine games. 

The team won seven games out of the nine games played, taking the lead and becoming the winner of the 2008 Armed Forces Softball Championship. 

"It was a good experience probably one of the best experiences I've had while I've been in the Air Force," said the sergeant.