FORT BLISS, Texas – Former Citadel soccer standout Montana Hinson is working hard to live out the dream that so many who have laced up a pair of soccer boots have: to play for a national team while representing her country.

Hinson was a midfielder/defender for the Bulldogs from 2013-17, playing in a school-record 76 games, including 62 starts. After graduating from The Citadel in May of 2017, she joined the United States Air Force and is currently an acquisition officer serving as a program manager on Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal. The program provides strategic command, control and communications to Air Force wing command posts, Air Force nuclear task forces, munition support squadrons and mobile support teams.

While serving her country is a great honor, Hinson's first passion has always been soccer, and when the opportunity to represent her school and country was presented to her, she jumped at it.

"My college coach, Ciaran Traquair notified me about the United States Armed Forces Soccer Team, and once I received that information, I immediately began the application process and got in touch with the U.S. Armed Forces Head Coach, Lt. Col. Derrick Weyand," Hinson said. "I submitted my 303 form detailing my extensive soccer background, highlighting my four competitive years of Division I soccer at The Citadel, and was hand selected as one of 40 active duty service women from all five service branches to try out at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas."

The former Bulldog was working to earn one of those 21 playing spots on the team, which is competing in the 2018 World Military Women's Football Championship in Fort Bliss, Texas, but she suffered an ACL injury during training camp. Despite the injury, Hinson has remained with the team as the team's International Military Sports Council (CISM) representative and manager with the hope of bouncing back from the injury to earn a playing position for the 2019 tournament.

"In this role, I am able to support the 21 players who are competing at the highest level in the most demanding sport competition the military has to offer," Hinson said. "It is such a rare occasion to be surrounded by like-minded women in the armed forces while competing and sharing a passion for soccer and dedicated service to our nation. I am eagerly looking forward to a healthy and speedy recovery to be ready to compete at next year's CISM tournament held in China!"

"Montana was a great person to have on our team when I transitioned into the head coaching position here at The Citadel. She was driven, committed and really wanted to see the program make forward strides," Traquair said. "She has character and fight, two traits that can really be beneficial in our environment. I recognized her passion and leadership early and made her a captain within a few months. She was able to back up the talk and maintain high standards in academics, the Corps and on the field. My only regret with Montana was not having her for a few more years. She will be successful in whatever she sets out to do in her life."

The U.S. Armed Forces Women's Soccer Team is currently competing against nine other countries in the tournament that runs June 22 – Jul 3. The coaching staff is made up of Head Coach Weyand and assistants Marci Walton and Erin Issler.

For more information on the U.S. Armed Forces Women's National Team and the 2018 World Military Women's Football Championship in Fort Bliss, Texas, please visit ArmedForcesSports.defense.gov/2018CISMFootballWMC/.

The 2018 Bulldogs will start the season off with a pair of tune-up matches at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, Aug. 7 and at home against SCAD on Saturday, Aug. 11. The Citadel will then travel to Macon, Georgia to open the regular season against Mississippi Valley State on Friday, Aug. 17, returning home two days later where they will open the home schedule with a game against North Florida on Sunday, Aug. 19. 

For more information and score updates on The Citadel soccer team, follow @CitadelWSoccer on Twitter or visit CitadelSports.com.