Taking the Field

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Omari Bernard
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Stadium lights silhouette a checkered ball as it flies through the air and rolls along a green field. Players in jerseys race up and down a field in pursuit. A player wearing a white jersey with the number nine on his back dribbles the ball.  The ball is passed to a teammate as he is challenged, he races past and the ball is passed back.

The defender freezes, looking for the offside flag from the referee, now there is only one last person between number nine and the goal.

1st Lt. Aaron Zendejas, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron air battle manager, shoots and scores.

The 27-year-old mid fielder has been in love with soccer since childhood.

"I have been playing soccer since I was 2 feet tall," said Zendejas. "As soon as I could walk I had a ball at my feet."

Zendejas' passion for the game began in Germany. In fact, he was born there and as a military brat he would play with his three brothers.

"Ever since I was a kid I always had people to play with and against," he continued. "We have a really tight family unit being a military family. I attribute a lot of my soccer to that."

While living there he was constantly surrounded by the national sport. It was a family affair, his mother played it and his father coached, even though he was more into football.

Zendejas said, "Soccer wasn't a thing in his mind until my mom forced him to coach us as kids. I guess I just learned from all my coaches growing up."

As Zendejas grew up, so did his skills. He would go onto to play in the Olympic Development Program, other middle school clubs and even at Kadena High School from 2002 - 2006. After he graduated he went on to play at the college level for Northern Illinois University.

"It's one of the top 25 division one schools in Chicago," Zendejas explained. "I had a blast there."

After graduation, Zendejas found work like most of his peers. As time at his job progressed, he yearned for two things; to give back to his country and to play the game he loved.

"I wanted to do something with my time, my youth and my leadership," he said. "Something that was bigger than me, so I started looking at the military. I got my officer training school package together, submitted it and never looked back."

While waiting for the go-ahead to go to work for the Air Force, an opportunity of a lifetime appeared. The Chicago Fire, a men's professional soccer team, were hosting tryouts. This was his chance to play professional soccer. Unfortunately, it ended because of an injury.

At OTS, Zendejas made close friends who had similar interests in soccer. One of those was 1st Lt. Andrew Stokes, 961 AACS air weapons officer. Together they graduated in June 2012.

"On and off the field, two words come to mind to describe Lt. Zendejas' work ethic: dedication and perseverance," Stokes explained. "When he doesn't know the answer he will work until he finds one.  Then he will work until he finds the perfect answer.  If he fails at something, he quickly dusts himself off and makes sure the same failure never happens again."

Zendejas' dedication on the field is mirrored in his drive to be the best at execution and strategy at work.

Stokes explained how soccer relates to their work.

"On the jet this means making the perfect radio call at the right time to drive the best weapons employment tactics," Stokes said. "On the field, it means making the perfect pass or shot while fitting all players' strengths and weakness into the best team possible."

Zendejas said air combat control is like playing soccer.

"A lot of what we do is about staying ahead of the timeline," he said. "A good soccer player has to think four or five passes ahead of the game to be effective. It definitely helps with your teamwork. Like soccer, we need everyone on that jet working as one to make our mission successful."

While stationed here, Zendejas never missed an opportunity to continue playing the game he loved.

"I promised myself that I would find a way to play and be around the game even if I joined the Air Force," Zendejas said.

And he did. Zendejas joined the U.S. Air Force Men's Soccer Team in 2015.

"This Air Force Soccer Team has been a huge dream of mine since I joined," he continued.

In order to join the team, forms were completed, references made and packages were submitted to the coaches for review. The application to the team is open to both enlisted and officers throughout the entire Air Force. Out of these, coaches can only select 38 applicants to attend the three week camp leading up to the All Armed Forces Soccer Tournament.

From day one of arrival cuts are made. Only the best from each service survive.
"You're hanging on for dear life," Zendejas explained. "You train three sessions a day, eat together -- do everything together."

As the tournament arrived, the best 18 service members were left on each team.  The Air Force took home the silver medal with a 1-0 loss to the Army, who took the gold medal in the championship match.

"The Army had a really good team," said Zendejas. "They threw everything they had at us and found a way to win. That being said, I still think it was our tournament to win and before it started I had the taste for gold in my mouth. But maybe I was tasting it for next year, because I will be back."