Match to Serve is proudly sponsored by The Transcend Basis.
Many People grew up figuring out 5 branches of army service – Marines, Military, Navy, Air Pressure, and the Coast Guard. In 2019, a sixth department was added with the creation of the House Pressure, whose function is to safe the nation’s curiosity in, from, and to house.
There had been discussions about establishing a House department of the army going again to post-World Struggle II, however now it’s established and rising at a speedy tempo. Being a member of the House Pressure means to be part of American historical past as a result of the work they do now can influence generations to return. That isn’t misplaced on USSF Lieutenant Natalia Nicks, who’s an energetic Guardian for this new department.
“We’re building things as we go along that work for us as a cyberspace unit,” Nicks defined. “We get to call the shots, and nothing is set in stone for us. I love that we are able to set the mold that will be in service for years to come. It’s very exciting.”
Nicks grew up in Pensacola, Florida and had no earlier army connections earlier than she started her service, however she was an avid athlete who performed a number of sports activities. She excelled at basketball and within the classroom. Her objective was to be within the Air Pressure Academy. Each of her dad and mom had been bold, and she or he inherited that reward from each of them.
“From there, it was about staying sharp,” stated Nicks. “The standards there are insane.”
After commencement, she discovered her solution to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Touring for faculty was not widespread in her household, and she or he was pleased with with the ability to say she may and did.
“The Academy changed the trajectory of my life.”
Health is a should to be a Guardian
Throughout her senior yr on the Academy, she and different cadets heard in regards to the House Pressure, which was creating at the moment. After doing a little analysis on her personal, she utilized and was chosen to turn into a House Pressure Guardian. She is at the moment stationed at Patrick House Pressure Base in Melbourne, Florida.
Nicks and different Guardians are required to be in wonderful bodily form as all servicemembers in all branches are. A key distinction along with her department is that their health exercise could be tracked as a result of they put on Garmin smartwatches, that are getting used as a two-year research to supplant bodily health assessments.
“It tracks all of our physical activity,” stated Nicks. The watches monitor each cardiorespiratory health and bodily exercise. The watches doc that exercise and verifies that the Guardian carrying it’s match for obligation.
“We don’t have to take the fitness tests as long as we comply with the watch’s surveys,” she stated. “This holds you accountable 24/7. I love this.”
It will not be exhausting for Nicks to be constant as a result of health is one thing that she has a powerful reference to personally.
“I can go hit the weights or go on a run, and it fills my cup.”
Guardian and GridIron
Nicks by no means gave up her athletic ardour, and she or he doesn’t solely have to take care of it throughout her profession. Whereas she was in Colorado, she found the Girls’s Nationwide Soccer Convention, a ladies’s deal with soccer league. She stated she watched her brothers and cousins play and at all times needed to, figuring out it was inconceivable at the moment. This league re-opened that door due to tryouts for the Denver Bandits, and she or he was glad to stroll by.
Nicks recalled, “I went to tryouts on a Saturday and fell in love.” She finally discovered her solution to Biloxi, Mississippi, the house of the Mississippi Panthers. Nicks performs exterior receiver for the Panthers, they usually concluded the 2024 season as league champions.
“We picked up the national championship in June. Our receiving core is incredible.”
The 2025 season would be the league’s sixth, and the Panthers will go into that season because the hunted as an alternative of the hunters. Nicks isn’t apprehensive and appears ahead to being again on the sphere. Her coaching for the House Pressure will assist her keep sharp for subsequent season due to being part of the Guardian Resilience Workforce (GRT), an initiative targeted on establishing a Holistic Well being program for his or her department, much like the Holistic Well being and Health (H2F) program that the U.S. Military has.
“GRT crafts training and nutrition plans, they stretch us out, and our programs are way more functional,” she defined. A part of that coaching could embody sled pushes, squats, and different workout routines that each meet the standards for his or her watches and transfers to the soccer area.
“It’s awesome because they go hand-in-hand.”
A Totally different Sort of Service
Nicks is a constructive instance that exhibits individuals with goals of athletics don’t should sacrifice them for service. You could be within the army and excel in sports activities at a excessive degree. She is pursuing a Grasp’s diploma as properly. Nicks hopes that her instance exhibits children that they don’t have to offer one up for the opposite, and they need to not put limitations on what they suppose is feasible. Whether or not it’s by army service or group service, she hopes younger People will do their finest and provides their finest when their turns arrive.
“I’m just trying to connect to that young community, pour into them, and let them know that there is no limit to what we can do,” she stated confidently. “There is no reason why we can’t do anything we set our minds to.”
Study extra in regards to the House Pressure click on right here.
Take a look at the WNFC by logging on to.
M&F Senior Army Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
