Viva Kreis is Match To Serve Her Nation Within the Army and Sports activities

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan was talking at a proclamation for what was known as “The Yr of the Flag” when he shared what he felt have been symbolic meanings for every coloration of the Stars and Stripes.

“The colours of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Individuals cherish,” Reagan stated. “Crimson for braveness and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentions and excessive beliefs; and blue for vigilance and justice.”

United States Air Pressure 2nd Lieutenant Viva Kreis could haven’t considered the flag like that when she stated the Pledge of Allegiance or stood for the nationwide anthem throughout her childhood, however she feels a a lot higher private connection to the pink, white, and blue now.

“It means a lot once you hear the nationwide anthem earlier than each handball recreation. The flag means a lot to me now that I’m representing our nation within the most means doable. It’s one thing I don’t take flippantly.”

That deeper connection is as a result of Kreis not solely serves America within the Air Pressure, however she additionally represents the USA as an athlete, coaching and competing in handball along with her sights set on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA.

“As somewhat child, the large purpose is to compete on the Olympics and characterize Staff USA. I didn’t know it might be in handball. It wasn’t even on my radar.”

Her twin roles as Airman and athlete are doable due to the Air Pressure’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). WCAP is a specialised army initiative that enables elite athletes to coach and compete full-time in worldwide sports activities whereas serving as active-duty Airmen or Guardians. In contrast to normal obligation assignments, WCAP athletes are assigned to this system as their major obligation. This permits them to focus fully on their athletic coaching, teaching, and competitors schedules.

Younger Viva was already impacted by service due to her mom’s profession within the Military. Kreis entered WCAP after finishing Officer Coaching Faculty. She is linked to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, however she is at present primarily based in France, the place she is coaching and taking part in with knowledgeable handball group to maximise her ability set because the Olympics draw nearer. Though she is a good distance from residence, she adjusted to her new settings rapidly.

“It’s positively my cup of tea, and I’m in my aspect,” she stated. “I’m very excited.”

Discovering a Completely different Sport

Handball is a highly regarded sport in Europe, which is why Kreis is at present there.

“Handball gamers listed below are seen as celebrities. Youngsters run as much as them after they see them,” she shared. Kreis describes the game as “soccer with the arms” or “water polo on land.” A standard court docket is barely longer than a basketball court docket with targets on every finish. The handball might be dribbled, handed, or thrown in direction of the purpose. The group that may rating probably the most targets in 60 minutes is the winner.

“It’s extraordinarily quick paced,” Kreis acknowledged. “It’s high-flying, excessive paced, and full contact. There are some features that Individuals would love.”

As in style as it could in her present a part of the world, it isn’t as established in the USA. Previous to falling in love with the game, she performed soccer, basketball, and took half in lengthy distance operating in Pennsylvania the place she grew up. Nevertheless, she found the game throughout fitness center class. After she informed her mom about her new favourite sport and that she needed to pursue it, they needed to journey almost an hour away the place a gaggle of gents taught her easy methods to play.

“I assumed I used to be going to only watch, however that they had me come onto the court docket and gave me a girls’s handball to make use of. I nonetheless have it to today.”

Throughout the pandemic, she joined the USA Staff Handball Youth Advisory Council and acquired extra concerned with the game. The group of ten have been tasked to develop handball within the U.S. After her basketball group acquired eradicated from their match in 2022, Kreis went on to attempt for the beneath 20 nationwide handball group and made it.

“Lower than a month later, I used to be taking part in within the North American championships,” she recalled. 5 months later, she was within the World Championship. Quick ahead to now, and he or she shares a court docket with professionals and is prursuing the largest stage in sports activities whereas additionally serving her nation.

She is Additionally an Creator

Kreis isn’t simply keen about handball and the army. She additionally enjoys the written phrase and journalism. That’s why she graduated from Arizona State College in Might 2025 with a level in Mass Communication and Media Research. She has used that schooling to study extra about girls’s sports activities with the intention of sharing that information with youngsters. She went so far as touring to each WNBA metropolis to interview executives and gamers about their careers. This served not solely as schooling for her to soak up however to cross it on to others as effectively.

In 2023, Kreis wrote her first kids’s e-book, She Did That!?: Wonderful Feminine Athletes from A to Z, which focuses on feminine athletic function fashions. The e-book contains athletes from totally different sports activities and backgrounds. She hopes it should attain younger women and encourage them to pursue their very own targets and desires as she had.

“My mother used to learn me tales about athletes each night time, however the majority of them have been male,” she recalled. “I needed to fill that hole in order that little women and boys might see girls reaching success by sports activities.”

A Brilliant Future for a Brilliant American

Though she hasn’t even turned 21 but, Kreis has already achieved lots each as an athlete and a supply of inspiration. As a substitute of counting on her early success, she’s doubling down on the grind of an athlete whereas getting ready for a profession within the Air Pressure following the Olympics. Kreis not solely sees herself retiring from the Air Pressure however establishing a path that others can observe, and that’s all the motivation she must benefit from the alternatives in entrance of her.

“There could possibly be little youngsters tuning into the 2028 Olympics and seeing me and considering ‘she’s within the army? I can try this and play sports activities?’ That’s actually what it’s all about; empowering the subsequent era.”

Extra details about WCAP might be discovered at this web site.

You too can observe Kreis’ journey in direction of the Olympics on Instagram and buy her e-book right here.

M&F Senior Army Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.