Baylor VETS to host first ‘Battle of the Branches’ flag football tournament

By Camille Cox | Staff Writer

The Veteran Educational and Transition Services, or Baylor VETS, includes student veterans from all branches of the military. Hosted by Baylor VETS in celebration of Veterans Day, the first Battle of the Branches flag football tournament will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 11 at McLane Stadium. Six teams will be participating: Army, Marines, Air Force/Space Force, Navy/Coast Guard, Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC.

VETS program manager Kevin Davis said in an email that Baylor currently has 334 student veterans in attendance, with 92 of those being undergraduate students.

“Our student veterans bring incredible diverse and global perspectives, having served in some of the most challenging environments across the globe — profound leadership experience, taking charge of million-dollar equipment and often responsible for human lives at a young age and battle-tested hearts for service,” Davis said.

Baylor VETS plans to host this event on Veterans Day — a federal holiday celebrated annually on Nov. 11. The VETS organization provides information and support as veterans transition between service and becoming a student.

“They often face a loss of their close-knit community, loss of military structure that guided daily life and loss of identity and purpose (they now look for their next mission),” Davis said. “Baylor University is ultimately about putting our students on mission into the world. For this reason, I believe Baylor is a perfect fit for these veterans and why the VETS program works hard to support and engage them as they move to those missions.”

The tournament is free and open to the public, and there will also be a silent auction filled with prizes, with the funds raised going toward the VETS organization.