Warrior Transition Battalion Soldiers from across the U.S. aimed to qualify for a slot in the 4th annual Warrior Games, during an archery event Feb. 27, at Fort Belvoir's Archery Center.
The 27 archers sought spots on the U.S. Army Warrior Games team set to compete May 11-17, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Warrior Games is a major athletic event that showcases the resilient spirit of today's wounded, ill and injured servicemembers from all branches of the military. After overcoming significant physical and behavioral injuries, these men and women demonstrate the power of ability over disability and the spirit of competition, according to the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command.
Since 2010, nearly 200 wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers and veterans have competed annually at the Warrior Games, a unique partnership between the Department of Defense and U.S. Olympic Committee's Paralympics Military Program. Athletes compete in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, swimming, cycling, track & field, archery and competitive shooting. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the athletes or team members who place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their respective events.
The athletes arrived at Fort Belvoir early last week to participate in the week-long Federation Internationale de Tir a l'Arc archery endurance event, with each archer attempting to complete multiple FITA 600 events. A FITA 600-round consists of 10 sets, six arrows per set, totaling 60 arrows. The event is designed to test the endurance of each candidate in order to determine their ability to manage the physical and mental stresses required to be successful at the Warrior Games.
"This event is like an endurance race to see who can maintain scoring over the course of four FITA 600-rounds," said Master Sgt. Jarrett J. Jongema, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Adaptive Sports and Reconditioning branch, Warrior Transition Command. "They shoot six arrows, 10 times per round, and they do that twice in one day for a total of 240 arrows -- and that's with an average 60-pound draw pull."
Jongema added that, on the last day of the qualifying event, the archers competed in the same conditions they would face at the actual Warrior Games.
"Friday's event mirrored the Warrior Games scoring format. They got a little bit of a chance to practice -- firing about 10 arrows -- then they fired a FITA 600, followed by a FITA 300, which is half the arrows, to make the finals," Jongema said. "Then they were randomly paired up into two or three-person teams to replicate the event that happens at the Warrior Games, where you stand shoulder to shoulder and each fires one arrow. This is to let the athletes see what it's like to fire right next to each other, because it's very hard to shoot shoulder-to-shoulder."
Making the Warrior Games team is one of the highest achievements a wounded servicemember can make, and each athlete brings to the qualifying clinics hours of prior practice and preparation, as well as competitive drive and determination to secure a slot on the distinguished roster.
"Each Warrior Transition Unit has adaptive reconditioning programs, so there are a lot of different types of activities, like archery, shooting and swimming, and they all like to compete against each other," said Emily Anderson, marketing specialist, Strategic Communications Division, WTC. "We have one Soldier who trains six days a week, three hours a day, in wheelchair basketball. There's another athlete who cycles six days a week. So these serveicemembers take this very seriously."
Anderson added that the Warrior Games represents not only a pinnacle of athletic competition but also an important ingredient of the reconditioning and recovery process for injured servicemembers.
"They are doing all these different sports in addition to training for the Warrior Games and they know it's tough," she said. "We had a Soldier who sat around at home, often depressed, but when he found out about the adaptive program and the Warrior Games, he said, 'Oh wow!' and became a sitting shot put athlete. We have stellar performers who really want to show that these servicemembers, even though they were injured, are still resilient; they're still capable of getting out here and doing the things anyone else can."
For additional information regarding the Warrior Games and the WTC's adaptive sports and reconditioning programs, visit www.wtc.army.mil.
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