FORT BRAGG, NC -- The Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) successfully completed the Local Warrior Games Trials here, Sept. 9.
The trials included: track and field, cycling, swimming, archery, shooting, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The events began Aug. 31 and consisted of at least one sport competition per day.
With the trials complete, the next step is the Regional Health Command-Atlantic (Provisional) Warrior Games also held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; then the Army Team Warrior Games held at Fort Bliss, Texas; and ultimately the Warrior Games held at West Point, New York.
To qualify for the warrior games, participants must be: currently assigned to a WTB, a Soldier that was assigned to the WTB and is now a veteran, or a Purple Heart recipient. About 20 participants played in the local warrior games, shooting sports had the most participation.
Lee Whitford, Military Adaptive Sports Program coordinator for the WTB, helped facilitate the trials here on Fort Bragg.
"We have a lot of veterans that will come to compete, said Whitford. The whole point of the games is for Soldiers in the WTB to get use to the new normal, get them out and promote healing. This [game] helps you socially and physically."
"It makes them competitive again," he said. "These Soldiers, when they get here, were high school football, basketball, and track stars. In the course of their military career, something has happened that has taken what they think is their 'ability' away or their chance for that [sport] enjoyment. This shows them that you've got to look at it a different way. You can still compete. It can be very competitive, just in a different realm."
Sgt. Fredric Gerow, assigned to Company B, Warrior Transition Battalion, participated in the local games competing in cycling, sit-down volleyball, and wheelchair basketball.
"I am here to heal. So far, it's been stress free," said Gerow. "The cadre are amazing they get you involved and into adaptive sports. It has been a journey. I am just trying to recover, coming to the WTB helps out a lot. They get you back on your feet and help you maintain what you have, if you are staying in the Army or getting out.
Gerow's medical condition manifested when he returned from deployment with signs of post-traumatic stress and anxiety. While jumping he also had some broken and fractured bones and is awaiting surgery.
"Life goes on, even if you are hurting, you've got to push through. That is one goal they teach you in the Army is to push through. Have a positive mind set and surround yourself with positive people," said Gerow.
During Special Forces training, Sgt. David Jones, assigned to Company B, Warrior Transition Battalion, discovered that a previous shoulder injury was more serious than anticipated. He was dropped from training, received surgery for his injury and has been assigned to the WTB for about a year.
Jones participated in the local games for shooting, track and field and swimming events last year and made it to the Army Team. This is his first year trying wheelchair basketball.
Right before the Warrior Games, participants attend a training camp to prepare for the final competition.
"Once you get past the regionals, they have collegiate and Olympic coaches, it is amazing," said Jones. "You really want to do as well as you can in as many sports as possible. I really feel like doing a team sport helps a lot with making the Army Team."
"It's fantastic," said Jones. "I am really looking forward to November [regional warrior games] and getting to see my friends that I haven't seen since last year's warrior games. It's great to have the coaches here too. Having experts help out is great. I want this next event to get Fort Bragg excited about the Warrior Games and more participants."
Social Sharing