WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, D.C. –
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – Endurance and perseverance are both characteristics of outstanding athletes. On Jan. 18, 2019, Armed Forces Sports – the program that serves between 800-1000 U.S. military athletes annually – showed its endurance and perseverance as an organization by conducting its 300th council meeting.
Originally established as the Inter-Service Sports Council Nov. 21, 1947, after the creation of the Department of Air Force, the Armed Forces Sports program is a culmination of each branch of services’ sports and fitness program participating and conducting national and international championships each year.
“[This is a historic event for us, and I’m honored to be part of it],” said Steve Dinote, U.S. Armed Forces Sports Secretariat and U.S. Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Chief of Delegation. “[To have endured and evolved as a program over these past 70-plus years is a testament to the strength of this organization and the recognition of its importance to the men and women in uniform it serves].”
Among the topics discussed at the meeting was this year’s CISM championships in China, a military-to-military competition featuring athletes from 138 different nations, including the U.S.
Presiding over the meeting was the Armed Forces Sports Council Chair, Mr. Ed Cannon, Director, Fleet and Family Readiness for the U.S. Navy. “[This program has tremendous value because it supports readiness, recruitment, and retention among the different branches of the military and allows us to promote goodwill and a positive image of the Armed Forces through sports.]”
Following its first meeting in 1947, General Omar Bradley (then Chief of Staff of the Army), signed the Articles of Agreement officially establishing the Inter-Service Council. Today, the Council continues to meet quarterly and serves as the governing body of the Department of Defense Armed Forces Sports program.
-----
Meeting #1 Participants:
Army: BG Russel Reynolds and COL Joseph Harriman
Navy: CDR Slade Cutter (USN) and Maj Paul Bratten (USMC)
Air Force: Brig Gen Edwin B. Lyon and Col Robert Caldwell
Meeting #300 Participants:
Navy: Mr. Edward Cannon (SES), Council Chairman; Mr. James Senn
Army: Mr. Paul Burk (SES); Mr. Darrell Manuel, Mr. John Patten
Marine Corps: Mr. Kenneth Hedgecock; Mr. Jim Medley
Air Force: Colonel Caryn Kirkpatrick; Mr. Steve Brown
Coast Guard: CWO3 Mark Durning
Armed Forces Sports: Mr. Steven Dinote, Secretariat; Mr. Kenneth Polk, Deputy Secretariat; Mr. Steven Rosso, Legal Advisor
Office of Secretary of Defense: Ms. Kristen McManus