Erica Tamez first enlisted in the Army in 1998 as a combat medic, and after basic training she served in the Army Reserve before being deployed overseas to Afghanistan from 2005-2006 and then retiring a few years later.
Tamez was born in Maryland and came to Texas as a sixth-month old and has called Texas City home since. After retiring from active duty, Tamez said she became involved with several veteran support organizations and groups, including Combined Arms, which is an organization which supports members and their families as they transition back to civilian life after they are done serving.
“It was through a women’s veterans peer support group that I attended [where I learned about Combined Arms],” Tamez said.
Through the organization, Tamez says she has been able to meet other veterans who have shared similar experiences as she has and been able to support one another through their journeys.
It was through Combined Arms that Tamez found out she had been nominated and selected to be the Houston Dash’s Hero of the Match for Friday’s game against the Orlando Pride. Tamez says she is excited to attend her first-ever Dash game and have her family by her side as she is honored during the match.
“I’m looking forward to all of it and having my son there and letting him see a professional game be played in hopes that he will pick it up,” Tamez said.
