September 30, 2010 Page 3REVEILLE (CS)

By DANA ELISE SMITHCamp Shelby Public Affairs

Capt. Jason Nagel is a native of Bismark, North Dakotaand the Provost Marshall at Camp Shelby. He is the father oftwo-year-old Laurelanne and the stepfather of two boysLogan, 8, and Landry, 6. Nagel said he has been blessed tobe a part of their lives for four years, and glad that he can bea second father to them. This fall, he is not just acting as afather figure, but their soccer coach as well.

Nagel decided to sign up to be their soccer coach when theBob Palmer Chancellor Motor Group teams of Petal were inneed of volunteer coaches. There are three Bob Palmerteams- all of which are a part of the Hattiesburg Youth SoccerAssociation (HYSA) league. Nagel coaches the seventhrough eight-year-old team in which Landry plays on andthe nine to ten-year-old team in which Logan plays on.

“Soccer makes time in our busy lives to spend time togeth-er,” said Nagel. “They love me beingtheir coach. ‘Yes!’ is what they saidwhen they found out I was going tobe their coach.”

Nagel is no amateur when it comesto coaching sports. He earned acoaching minor at North Dakota StateUniversity. Upon graduating, hestarted teaching in 1999 at varioushigh schools in Idaho, Nevada,Wyoming, and Montana. Whileteaching, he also coached manysports including track, wrestling,baseball, football, basketball and soc-cer His last school was BoazmanHigh School in Boazman, Montana,where he taught history from 2003

through 2006. There, he coached primarily football andtrack before his deployment with the 41st Brigade CombatTeam to Afghanistan in 2006.

Nagel did not return to coaching after returning in July2007 from Afghanistan. Instead, he continued his militaryservice at Camp Shelby. About that time he met and marriedhis wife, Mandi and settled in the Petal area. From July 2007to August 2009, he worked as Counter Improvised ExplosiveDevice as a team chief for the 1st Battalion of the 346thRegiment of the 177th Armored Brigade at Camp Shelby.He continued his military service by going to ranger schoolfrom August 2009 through January 2010. He then returned toCamp Shelby and worked as a mobilization operations offi-cer. Since June 2010, he has been serving as the ProvostMarshall at Camp Shelby.

Nagel said that he is honored to be working at CampShelby and serving full time in the military. He said he isglad to carry out his passion for coaching at the same time.

“I miss teaching and coaching. I really do; so I have thatpassion for coaching my kids,” said Nagel.

Nagel has been married to his wife, Mandi, a native ofPetal, for four years.

“She is my cheerleader, and a true Southern Belle,” saidNagel.

Nagel said his wife attends every practice and every game.She stepped in as a coach on September 18, while both teamscompeted at the same time.

Nagel has many goals as a soccer coach.“My goals for my teams are to enjoy the game, have fun,

learn the basic fundamentals of soccer and be a part of theteam. I want the kids to be disciplined and learn what itmeans to be a part of a team. It also teaches them life lessonslike respecting each other, other teams and coaches and offi-cials.”

Nagel said that coaching his stepsons helps him learnabout them in some ways.

“I see strengths and weaknesses by them playing soccerand how it relates to life. It also helps me see how they inter-act with other kids.” Nagel said that outside soccer,his Family spends a lot of time playing other sports likecatch, football, and bike riding. As a Family, they find timeto get away so they can snow ski in various places around thecountry like Sqauw Valley, Calif., Big Sky, Mont. and WinterPark, Colo.

“My wife and I spend a lot of time playing with the chil-dren. I am glad that they will have those memories of usplaying together,” said Nagel.

Soccersoldier

North Dakota nativehas embrced his new

life as a stepfather

GO TEAM... On the morning of Sept. 18, the teams of Bob Palmer Chancellor Motor Group com-peted in two games each at Tatum Recreational Park in Hattiesburg. Capt. Jason Nagel leads histeam in a huddle cheer at halftime. Above right is Nagel’s stepson, Logan. At right is Landry.Nagel