COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, 300 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans are participating in the Department of Defense Warrior Games.
Every athlete at the event has served in the Armed Forces. Teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Special Ops are all represented.
Some injuries, like limb amputations, are more obvious that others. Some men and women also suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
When you talk to the athletes taking part in the competitions, they all seem to be very excited to be there. For some, the competition is even a life-changing event.
"Especially for us in the Air Force program," Retired Staff Sergeant Anthony Pearson said, "it means that our Air Force family hasn't forgotten about us. Kind of want to see what we can do, and help us out on our road to recovery."
"This program," Air Force team member Brian Williams said, "this event itself is part of the reason why I got off the couch and was doing what I was doing. I saw things in the paper, and I wanted to be a part of it. Having that goal and focusing on that made me want to get up and be a part of this."
"We all have our own struggles that we deal with," lead Public Affairs for the DOD Warrior Games Colonel Cary Hepp said, "but to watch these athletes and watch them compete at this level... There's some true athleticism and amazing grit and determination that's being show on these fields. I think that we look at our daily struggles, and you learn a little bit more that I can overcome whatever I'm dealing with in my personal day."
Military City, USA is also well-represented at the Warrior Games. Many teams either have someone that is from San Antonio, stationed in San Antonio or because of medical reasons had to recover in San Antonio.
For more information about the Warrior Games, and some of the results you can visit the DOD Warrior Games Website.