As the Garudas of Electronic Attack Squadon (VAQ) 134 reached the midpoint of their deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan, the MWR Committee recently took charge with a series of events to help break up the daily routine.

Known as the “Garuda Olympics,” the events consisted of a series of competitions and culminated with a squadron barbeque and a pie toss raffle where Sailors nominated the people they felt would most benefit from catching a pie in the face.

The Olympics drew nearly 50 members of the squadron into heated competition in both individual and team events and provided a much needed boost to morale as the squadron entered the hottest month of the Bagram summer.

The week of events included basketball, pound-for-pound weightlifting, table tennis, billiards, horseshoes, poker and a spades tournament.

Aviation Electricans Mate 3rd Class Jeremy Melendez, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 3rd Class Mark Joseph Santiago, Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Keiyia Jones, and Aviation Machinists Mate 2nd Class William Wells repeated as victors in the basketball tournament.

Aviation Structural Mechanic Equipment 3rd Class Clark Fox out lifted the competition again to win the pound-for-pound, and horseshoes was taken again by AE3 Jeremy Melendez and AE3 David Greer.

AD2 William Wells took first place in ping-pong, squadron executive officer, Cmdr. Lee Jackson, won the billiards tournament, Lt. Luke Brown and Lt. Ana Ortiz took care of the foosball tournament and poker was taken by AD2 Travis Stillions with the spades tournament victory going to Wells and AD3 Nicholas Beeson.

The MWR committee was able to raise $985 for the MWR fund. 

In an environment where you must constantly battle against heat and fatigue, distractions like the Garuda Olympics help ease the monotony. As the Garudas prepare to complete the final months of their scheduled deployment, events like the Garuda Olympics will continue to help the squadron alleviate tension and remain mission capable.