Dyess, Abilene to host Armed Forces soccer tournament Published Jan. 28, 2009 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The best men's soccer players from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps will battle for the 2009 Armed Forces Soccer Championship title at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium Feb. 2 to 7. The Air Force squad is the defending Armed Forces Champion. Since 2000, the Air Force and the Army have split the soccer championships three times each. The Armed Forces Soccer Championships are conducted by the Armed Forces Sports Council. The purpose of this program is to promote understanding, goodwill and competition among the Armed Services through Inter-service sports competition. Sports competitions involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are conducted for men and women in the sports of: Basketball, Wrestling, Bowling, Marathon, Volleyball, Softball, Cross Country, Golf, Triathlon, Rugby, Boxing and Soccer. Participants for each sport are selected at highly competitive training programs and trial camps by each of the respective Services. At the conclusion of the Armed Forces competitions the best players are selected to represent the U.S. at International Military Sports Competitions hosted worldwide or at U.S. national championships. The 2009 Men's Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Continental Soccer Championship will also be hosted by Dyess and the City of Abilene at Shotwell Stadium Feb. 18 to 28. This year, teams from Brazil, Barbados, Canada, Suriname and the United States will compete for the international military soccer title.