The transient nature of his players’ lives means that Quantico Middle/High School football coach Paul Roy is forced to live in the moment.

A retired Marine lieutenant colonel, Roy is no stranger to the unique challenges of military life. As such, he probably understands better than most that it’s the here and now that matters most when fielding a team on an installation such as Quantico.

"There is no building a program at any sport at Quantico High School," Roy said July 7. "You go one year at a time. These kids you get for one year, maybe two and they’re gone, so you don’t know what you’re going to have every year."

The instability has been a big reason behind the Warriors’ tough 3-7 season of a year ago, as well as the two consecutive winless campaigns before that. Things promise to be challenging again this fall with Quantico listing fewer than 30 players, almost all of whom are underclassmen.

Depth will be once again be a major concern for Roy and first-year assistant coach Walt DeHoust, a retired Marine colonel and former longtime Mount Vernon High School defensive coordinator. The Warriors could be forced to play as many as nine players both ways, meaning contact will have to be limited in practice to avoid depleting their already low numbers.

That poses yet another challenge for a very young and inexperienced team that could see as many as five starters getting their first taste of organized football.

"That’s the best part about being on a Marine base," said sophomore fullback/linebacker Paul. "You never know who you’re going to get. We’re small, but we’ve got better speed this year. We’ll be OK."

Roy, who also serves as the school’s athletics director and head of the Junior ROTC program, isn’t the type to whine about the challenges before him, including the logistical ones that come with the lengthy trips necessary to play schools of comparable size and abilities.

He cited the strong family atmosphere, education and discipline the student-athletes receive at Quantico Middle/High School as a big reason why many service members choose to send their children there in the first place.

"We’re not like other programs," Roy said.

The Warriors kick off their season on Aug. 29 when they host Massanutten Military Academy at 6 p.m. at Butler Field.