Congressional staff members, Fort Riley Soldiers interact

By Tywanna Sparks, IACH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICEApril 23, 2015

usa image
Congressional staffer Melika Willoughby from Governor Sam
Brownback's office attempts to keep the opposing team from
getting the ball during a wheelchair basketball game played
with Warrior Transition Battalion Soldiers April 9 at the WTB
Clam Shell.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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FORT RILEY, Kan. - Congressional staffers representing the state of Kansas visited Soldiers and cadre of the Fort Riley Warrior Transition Battalion for a capabilities brief, discussion with Wounded Warriors and to observe a game of wheelchair basketball on April 9 at Fort Riley.

What they didn't know is instead of observing the game, they would against their fellow

staffers and WTB Soldiers.

Wheelchair basketball is one of many adaptive reconditioning events that include physical activities wounded, ill and injured Soldiers participate in regularly to support their physical and emotional well-being, according to the Army Warrior Transition Command website.

The Congressional staffers had the opportunity to "walk a mile in their shoes," and experience the kind of camaraderie and team-building Soldiers experience with events such as wheelchair basketball.

First, they were given a safety briefing by WTB cadre on what to expect while playing wheelchair basketball and a brief history of adaptive reconditioning sporting events in the Army.

After giving them the do's and don'ts of wheelchair basketball, the staffers were divided into teams of two and conducted warm-up drills to get their bodies ready to play.

WTB cadre member Sgt. Diana Solis and team coach pumped them up by saying, "... if you want to win, you better come over to my team."

Tamara Woods, a staffer from Senator Pat Robert's office, was surprised and eager to participate in the event.

"I think this will be a lot of fun and a good way to interact with Soldiers and know what their needs are," she said while getting ready to hit the court.

"I was so excited when I heard about this," said staffer Michael Murray, also with Senator Pat Robert's office.

"They kept this event a secret from us and it just added to our excitement and suspense," he said. "It's always good to get out of the office and meet with Soldiers and see everybody's points of view."

During the game, there were a lot of laughs, cheers and high-fives between staffers and Soldiers as

they wheeled down the basketball court. After the game, the staffers expressed their appreciation for having the opportunity to get involved with Soldiers.

"It (wheelchair basketball game) was so much (fun) and I had a fabulous time," said staffer Shelley Packard with Congressman Mike Pompeo's office. "It's just so much fun to interact with the Soldiers in this way and such a nice way to get to know a little more about them."