ACC Airman to compete in Military World Games

by Staff SSgt. Candice Page
Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs

3/30/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- An Air Combat Command Airmen is set to compete at the 6th Conseil International du Sport Military (CISM) World Military Games in South Korea, Oct. 2-11, 2015.

The CISM Military World Games is a multisport event that is held every four years and one year before the Olympic Games. This year they are expecting 110 nations and 6,500 military athletes to compete in the games.

Senior Master Sgt. Spencer Mims, ACC A4 Logistics, and seven more members of the U.S. Men and Women Armed Forces Golf team will be the first U.S. Armed Forces golf team to play at the CISM World Military Games. Golf was added to this year's schedule because it will now be played in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Golf has not been played in the Olympics since 1904.

The team recently competed in the 8th CISM World Military Golf Championship on Bahrain, Nov. 13-21, 2014 where they won their 7th gold medal and found out they would be heading to the World Military Games.

During the golf championship in November, Mims won an individual gold in the Men's Senior Division during the championship.

"My passion for golf is driven by the challenges and being able to improve every time you go out and apply yourself," Mims said. "Some days you will have it and some days you won't."

Mims who joined the Air Force in 1993 as an aircraft maintainer for the A-10 says he was stationed at his first duty station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. when he fell in love with golf.

"It was 1996 and a couple of guys from work took me out to the course and I have been hooked ever since," Mims said. "Having a new challenge every time you come to the course is what made me fall in love."

Mims has won many trophies during his golf career and he credits that to his competitive nature.

"My drive to be successful comes from my competitive nature and if I am taking time away from my wife and kids I better make them proud," Mims said. "I have full support from my family."

Becoming a player of the Armed Forces team took some hard work from Mims.

"I got on the Armed Forces team because I played well enough on the Air Force team last year which gets you invited to the camp the following year," Mims said.  "You have to qualify in the top six to make it to the Air Force team and once on the Air Force team we go to Armed Forces camp and you have to finish in the top six as well to qualify for the Armed Forces team which then earned the team an invite to the World Military Games this year."

Mims says his goal in the World Military Games is to go there play well and represent the U.S. Armed Forces and the Air Force. They team is also looking forward to bringing home their 8th gold medal.