Warrior Games help Soldiers compete, heal

By Eve Meinhardt, WAMCNovember 12, 2015

2015 Warrior Games Regional Trials
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Cupid Hyman, Walter Reed Warrior Transition Battalion, competes in the swimming event at the Warrior Games Regional Trials at Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 6, 2015. Active duty and retired warrior athletes representing warrior transition units around t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2015 Warrior Games Regional Trials
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Andy McCafferey, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier, competes in the track and field event at the Warrior Games Regional Trials at Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 5, 2015. Active duty and retired warrior athletes representing warrior transition units ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2015 Warrior Games Regional Trials
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mike Thomas, a retired U.S. Army Soldier, competes in the cycling event representing Fort Bragg, N.C., at the Warrior Games Regional Trials at Fort Bragg, Nov. 4, 2015. Active duty and retired warrior athletes representing warrior transition units ar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2015 Warrior Games Regional Trials
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Soldiers compete in the sitting volleyball event at the Warrior Games Regional Trials at Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 3, 2015. Active duty and retired warrior athletes representing warrior transition units around the Atlantic region competed for ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Nov. 9, 2015) -- The 2015 Warrior Games Regional Trials for the Regional Health Command-Atlantic (Provisional) took place at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Nov. 2 through 6. More than 40 wounded, injured or ill athletes, representing installations across the east coast competed for the chance to go to Fort Bliss, Texas, in February 2016 to prove their mettle and vie for a place on the Army team.

The active-duty Soldiers and veterans participating in the regional games competed in one or several of the events, which included shooting, archery, sitting volleyball, cycling, track and field, and swimming.

"The Warrior Games are the wounded, ill, injured, sick version of the Olympics," said Mike Thomas, a retired XVIII Airborne Corps Soldier, who now works at Forces Command as a Department of Army civilian. "This version of the Olympics, if you will, is a phenomenal way for those who have served in uniform to continue to live full, productive and healthy lives through sport and competition."

Thomas cycles as part of his rehabilitation after having open heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement eight months ago at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He said that for him, cycling has been a great way to rehabilitate, both physically and emotionally.

While the competition was fierce, the competitors still cheered each other on, each one facing a different challenge that brought them to compete in the Warrior Games.

"You're here to do your own personal best," said Sgt. 1st Class Nichole Pingle, Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Knox, Ky. "You're with everyone else, cheering them on and hoping for the best for them. All while working toward your own personal goal, doing the best you can do coming out of whatever issues you may have. It's just something to look forward to."

Maj. Michelle Grant, currently assigned to the WTB out of Fort Benning, Ga., said that it's an honor to be a part of the Warrior Games.

"This is my first time competing in anything like this with the military," said Grant. "I've been in 24 years and it's really an honor to be here. It's great to meet the other athletes from the other WTBs. Everyone is cheering each other on regardless of where we're from, so it's really been a great thing to participate."

The coaches, who evaluated each of the athletes, looking to see who might make it to the Army team, each brought their own experiences with them to the Games.

Jason Kimball, the cycling coach, was assigned to the Fort Bragg WTB after his injury in 2007. He started cycling as a way to recover in 2010 and still competes in some events. He began coaching last year.

"(Being a part of this), it's huge," said Kimball. "Any chance I get to give back to the athletes, I obviously take that as an opportunity. I've been in their shoes, I know exactly what they're going through and any way I can help them, I will."

The athletes won't find out who is moving on in the competition until January 2016. Those who qualify after the trials at Fort Bliss will represent the Army in the Department of Defense Warrior Games at West Point, N.Y., in June 2016.

Spc. Anthony Atemon, Fort Bragg WTB, said while representing the Army would be an honor, the benefits of the Warrior Games are bigger than the competition itself.

"This is a chance to show everyone that you're not out of the fight," said Atemon. "No matter what is going on with you, you still have that ferocity, that drive that led you to be a Soldier. It's just that now you're in a different fight."