Commander’ s Cup
The Commander’ s Cup, brainchild of Chris Rangel, founder and captain of Veteran’ s Militia, has become a staple at World Cup in recent years. More than just a paintball club, Veteran’ s Militia seeks to provide a refuge for active military service members and veterans alike to network with others who have lived similar experiences, foster camaraderie, and cultivate a sense of family within the sport of paintball.
Its mission is to create a positive environment for veterans to connect, build networks, and support one another, while also competing at various levels and raising awareness for veteran suicide prevention and mental health initiatives. And they have showcased the organization each year with an exhibition tournament on the Pro Field at World Cup.
This year, the competition was expanded to include veterans from Europe as well with the U. S. facing France in a qualifying round that was dubbed the Statue of Liberty match. The format got raucous, as sideline coaching was not only allowed, it was encouraged. The US won that match, but it is entirely possible that has as much to do with the consumption of libations as it did actual skills.
In the prelims the returning champion Marines beat up on the Air Force with a 7-4 win. And the Army-Navy game turned into a slugfest, literally. Navy did come out ahead 5-4, winning a spot for a rematch against the Marines.
The Marine, however, proved that they were the best idea that the Navy ever had, and they would triumph yet again with a monster 8-4 win. What a way to celebrate The Marines birthday yet again.
PbM
Photo By John McGloughlin
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