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Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry Jr., Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander, swears in 29 individuals from around the Miami Valley area into the Air Force under the Delayed Enlistment Program during half-time events of a game between the Texas Southern Tigers and North Carolina Central Eagles as part of the NCAA First Four Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 14, 2018. Airmen from Wright-Patterson AFB also presented the colors and sang the national anthem as part of the tournament’s pregame ceremonies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Airmen from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, hold a large, garrison-size American flag at half court during pregame ceremonies prior to the NCAA First Four Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 14, 2018. During the game’s halftime events, Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry Jr., Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander, also administered the oath of enlistment to delayed enlistment to 29 personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Thirty-two individuals from around the Miami Valley area swear into the Air Force under the Delayed Enlistment Program during half-time events of a game between the Texas Southern Tigers and North Carolina Central Eagles as part of the NCAA First Four Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 14, 2018. Airmen from Wright-Patterson AFB also presented the colors and sang the national anthem as part of the tournament’s pregame ceremonies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Master Sgt. Alyson Jones, U.S. Air Force Band of Flight vocalist, sings the national anthem as members of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard present the colors, and Airmen from WPAFB unfurl a large garrison-size American flag during the pregame ceremonies prior to the NCAA First Four Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 14, 2018. During the game’s halftime events, Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry Jr., Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander, administered the oath of enlistment to delayed enlistment personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Col. Bradley McDonald, installation commander for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, greats Airmen before they take the court for the pregame ceremonies for the NCAA First Four Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, March 14, 2018. Airmen from WPAFB were involved in presenting the colors, unfurling a large flag at half court, and singing the national anthem. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

NCAA first four basketball events comes to a close

Published March 27, 2018
By Mark C. Lyle
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The NCAA® First Four ®Division I Men’s Basketball Championship games held at the University of Dayton Arena came to a close March 14.

This is the 18th consecutive year that the road to the Final Four® has started in Dayton, Ohio.

The Big Hoopla ticket program donates tickets to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employees and their families to recognize and show appreciation for the United States Air Force and Armed forces.

More than 27,000 officers, enlisted, Air Force civilians, and contractors work at Wright-Patterson, making it Ohio’s largest single-site employer.

The events leading up to the championship games began March 11 with the Hoopla Four Miler and the STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] Challenge.

The four miler race started and finished at the University of Dayton River Campus and hosted over 300 runners this year.

The STEM Challenge combines the excitement of March Madness with the power of interdisciplinary and applied approach to technical education. The day involved hands on activities, free food and a hot-shot shooting contest. Over 1,200 children registered for this free event.

Col. Elena Oberg, Air Force Research Laboratory vice commander represented Wright-Patt leadership and gave opening remarks.

She also played a huge role in initiating interaction and excitement with the children at the shooting contest. Oberg encouraged the families to ask questions and for the parents to get involved.

Regional and national partners were also on-site to engage students with hands-on STEM exhibits.

The Wright-Patterson Education & Outreach, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology, 88th Air Base Wing, have supported the event since 2014.

On March 12, the NCAA held open practices at the UD Arena for the first four teams in front of their fans. Thousands came out to this free event to see their favorite teams practice.

On March 13-14 the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First Four Games began.

The Air Force Band of Flight’s vocalist, Master Sgt. Alyson Jones, sang the National Anthem. The Wright-Patt Honor Guard presented the colors and reserve and active-duty Airmen from the Wright-Patt and Springfield Air National Guard Bases held a large U.S. flag at the center of the court.

At halftime of the first game Col. Bradley McDonald, 88th Air Base Wing and Installation commander accompanied the Big Hoopla committee members and the hot-shot finalist from the STEM challenge event on the court to play one final round of hot-shot.

McDonald, rebounded balls and passed them back to each student as each took their turn shooting the basketball.

The second game day started just like the first with the singing of the National Anthem, presentation of the colors and displaying of the large U.S. flag.

At halftime Lt. Gen. McMurry, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander administered the oath of enlistment and welcomed 29 future Airmen into the Air Force.

The oath of enlistment is something that every service member must promise and adhere to for their entire military career.

During his comments before the oath, McMurry stated; “Less than two percent of the people in this country have served in the military, you’re looking at 29 individuals today who are going to commit to something larger than themselves.’

This year the Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee donated 2,226 tickets to base Airmen to attend the games. The day two games were played in front of a sellout crowd of 12,732, a new NCAA First Four record attendance.