More than 40 Special Operations athletes joined together to kick
off the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Team Warrior Games trials at
MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, this week.
Created in 2010, the Department of Defense Warrior Games is an
annual adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members
and veterans.
Gen. Joseph Votel, USSOCOM commander, spoke to prospective Team
SOCOM competitors prior to launching this week’s trials.
"The Warrior Games is the pinnacle of the Military Adaptive
Sports Program and demonstrates the resilience of our people -- not just Special
Operations Forces, but all of our services,” said Votel. “Your spirit and
ability to overcome obstacles sets the best example for each of us, and our
country.”
The message resonated with first time competitor and U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Rhonda Keister.
“I am competing against myself and my limits,” said Lt. Col.
Keister, an active duty information system resource officer at USSOCOM. “I would
like to find those limits, challenge them and move beyond them without further
injury.”
Athletes participating in the trials will compete in eight
sporting events including archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball,
swimming, track and field, and wheelchair basketball.
The DoD Warrior Games will be held at the U.S. Military Academy
in West Point, New York, June 14 - 22.
Follow the progress of Team SOCOM and participating athletes
through these social media channels:
Facebook:
DoD: www.facebook.com/warriorgames
USSOCOM:
https://www.facebook.com/ussocom
Care Coalition:
https://www.facebook.com/sofcarecoalition/