COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- “I’ve been playing my whole life,” said Staff Sgt. John Woods, a defender assigned to the 14th Security Forces Squadron. “To be able to do that at the same time while I’m in the military, it is amazing.”
Two Airmen from Columbus Air Force Base were selected to play for the U.S. Air Force basketball team this year: Woods and Staff Sgt. Darien Donald, assigned to the Columbus Medical Group.
The journey began in April with a weeklong tryout that brought together players from across the service. After securing their spots, Woods and Donald engaged in three weeks of training before competing in the 2026 Armed Forces Basketball Championship against teams from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
“I’ve been a part of it three other times; this was my fourth,” Donald said. “Each time, it has been a blessing to be able to come out and compete.”
Qualifying for the team requires a high standard of physical readiness. Both Woods and Donald used their military training and the community they built at Columbus AFB to prepare.
Woods credits his success to a go-getter mentality. He maintains a disciplined mindset, pushes himself hard and stays in peak physical condition no matter the circumstances.
Donald shared a similar experience, highlighting the mental aspect of training.
“Mentally, you have to be tougher and take care of your body on a different level than before,” Donald said. “I’ve still played basketball with the people that I grew up with. Iron sharpens iron. Playing with overseas players and college players from around the area definitely helps.”
Both Airmen stated they felt empowered by their community at Columbus AFB to reach their highest potential, both on the court and in their careers.
“This community is close-knit,” Woods said. “You are just so close to your commander or so close to someone around you that has the same interests as you. I feel like God put all the right people in the right place to help me get where I am at. The people around me help me sharpen and hone my skills, especially Staff Sgt. Donald.”
“It feels great; not many people get the opportunity to do that," Woods added. "It feels good to be able to play at a high level while still being able to serve in the military. I really enjoyed my time here.”
As the season comes to a close, both Airmen said they hope to continue competing on the U.S. Air Force basketball team next year. They look forward to building on the pride, camaraderie and competitive spirit they developed both on and off the court.