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Out in Oklahoma City, the All-Army men's softball team stood with hands on their chests during the national anthem at the 2024 Armed Forces Softball Tournament.
Among them was a key team member, Staff Sgt. Jennifer Simmonds, who wasn’t there to play but to help the U.S. Army win — as the team’s Athletic Trainer.
Simmonds, a healthcare specialist from Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, joined the Army at 29 after working as a waitress in the Virgin Islands.
“I wanted financial stability for me and my kids.”
Her brother-in-law, an Army recruiter, suggested she become a 68W healthcare specialist. She soon found herself stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, where she rekindled her love for softball and joined the All-Army women’s softball team in 2018-2019.
Her expertise didn’t go unnoticed.
“One of the All-Army men’s coaches saw me coaching the CRDAMC team. He saw how I interacted with my team, knew I was a 68W and asked me to be their trainer."
All-Army sports teams use healthcare specialists in place of Athletic Trainers. But her role goes beyond treating injuries; Simmonds monitors her players closely for any signs of distress.
“When a team plays for 12 hours a day, leg injuries, shoulder injuries, heat exhaustion aren’t uncommon. I always notice when something’s off."
Simmonds doesn’t aim to bench players but to manage their injuries so they can keep playing.
“A lot of things that happen to them, I was specifically trained to treat.”
She added that she’s learned additional skills like sports taping and strength and conditioning to keep her players in top form.
“It means everything for me to be a part of this team. Being the All-Army softball team’s trainer is a perfect fit for me.”
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