The Sailors and Marines of the amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24) kicked off March Madness with a basketball tournament, March 4-5.

The contest was a single-loss elimination tournament with each division on the ship providing a team, as well as a command triad team, a department head team and a team of the commanding officer's principal assistants, making a total of 23 teams competing.

"I wanted to hold an event that would bring the whole crew together as one and essentially work within their work shops to reach an ultimate goal," said Ens. Earl McLaurin, the tournament coordinator and player for the combat missiles division. "The tournament was success because everyone had a departmental or divisional team to cheer for. Either you wanted a team to win because you had buddies and friends in a particular division, or you wanted your own division or departmental team to bring home the trophy."

After two days of competition, the Supply Logistics (S-1) Division won the final game and was crowned Arlington's maiden deployment March Madness champions.

"It was a tough game and everyone played hard," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Jeremiah Banks, from the S-1 team. "There were a lot talented players, but we managed to pull out a victory. The whole tournament was a lot of fun and it was great to see so many people from around the ship come and support the teams."

Those not playing in the tournament still had the chance to participate by filling out their own brackets in an attempt to predict the shipboard winners of the tournament.

"We replicated the same environment on the ship with people cheering, making signs, wearing mascot costumes and filling out brackets just like it was in the National College Athletic Association's (NCAA) March Madness," said McLaurin. "I think it became popular because the tournament had teams playing basketball in March and it felt very similar to the real March Madness tournament about to start back at home."

The competitive spirit was high and the crew was able to participate and enjoy the time challenging their shipmates and cheering for their favorite teams, according to Yeoman 1st Class Ryan Mackey, a player for the executive divisional team.

"The great thing about events like this is the spirit of camaraderie and team work it instills among the players and the spectators," said Mackey. "These Sailors and Marines playing basketball are not only building connections, memories and growing as a unit, but are also working together and really epitomizing what teamwork is all about. The whole crew came together to support this event, so it really shows how Arlington really is one team."

Arlington is part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, and, with embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more news from USS Arlington (LPD 24), visit http://www.navy.mil/.