ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Sept. 4, 2014) -- Twenty-two wounded, ill and injured Army Soldiers and Veterans will join representatives from all branches of the United States military as part of the 100-member US Team at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, Sept. 10-14, 2014. The Invictus Games were inspired by Prince Harry's visit to the 2014 Warrior Games in Colorado where a British team joined U.S. military teams in archery, shooting, cycling, swimming, track and field, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball competitions.
More than 400 wounded, ill and injured service member athletes representing 14 different countries will compete in the Invictus Games. Teams will come from the armed forces of nations including Afghanistan, Australia, Italy and Germany - nations that served alongside each other to demonstrate the power of sports to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. Athletes will compete in archery, track and field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.
According to Col. Chris Toner, Commander, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command and Assistant Surgeon General for Warrior Care and Transition, "If we reflect on the history of our military, the different services have united time and again to defend country and freedom. The men and women who represent the Army as part of the US Team at Invictus Games will become a part of this shared history, unifying the services once again in celebration of resilience. I am proud of the example these Soldiers and Veterans set for our Army and for our nation."
Soldiers and Veterans representing the Army on the US Team are:
• Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Avalos -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Spc. Shawn Cheshire -- Army Veteran, Camillus, New York
• Col. Patty Collins -- Joint Force Headquarters, National Capital Region
• Lt. Col. Daniel Dudek -- Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington
• Staff Sgt. Carlton Duncan -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
• 1st Lt. Kelly Elmlinger -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Staff Sgt. Chanda Gaeth -- Army Veteran, Kempner, Texas
• Master Sgt. Rhoden Galloway -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Sgt. Robbie Gaupp -- Army Veteran, Gatesville, Texas
• Master Sgt. Daniel Hendrix -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado
• Sgt. Sean Hook -- Army Veteran, Summerville, South Carolina
• Spc. Geoff Hopkins -- Army Veteran, Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer -- Army Veteran, Yonkers, New York
• Sgt. Delvin Maston -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Sgt. Ryan McIntosh -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Sgt. Kawaiola Nahale -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
• Capt. Michael Phillips -- Army Veteran, Hamilton, Georgia
• Capt. William Reynolds -- Army Veteran, Bethesda, Maryland
• Sgt. Monica Southall -- Army Veteran, Henrico, Virginia
• Sgt. Erin Stewart -- Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas
• Spc. Elizabeth Wasil -- Army World Class Athlete Program, Fort Carson, Colorado
• Staff Sgt. Jessie White -- Army Veteran, Junction City, Kansas
Learn more about the Invictus Games and Army athletes and Army Veterans here:
http://www.wtc.army.mil/invictus_games/invictus_games_2014.html
http://www.wtc.army.mil/invictus_games/invictus_games_2014_athletes.html#MID
The Invictus Games is an international sports event for wounded, ill and injured service members and Veterans. The event is championed by Prince Harry to use the power of sports to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.
A key component of WTC's Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP), adaptive reconditioning activities like sports help recovering warriors as they rehabilitate both physically and mentally. Invictus Games spotlights the power of adaptive reconditioning as a tool to facilitate transition as soldiers and veterans return either back to the force or to civilian life.
Visit www.WTC.army.mil for athlete bios, schedules, stories, photos and more. To arrange interview opportunities with Army Invictus Games athletes, contact Cynthia Vaughan at (703) 459-7297 or cynthia.l.vaughan6.civ@mail.mil.
The U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC) is a major subordinate command under the U.S. Army Medical Command. WTC provides oversight for the Warrior Care and Transition Program that is implemented at the Army's 26 Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) and through the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2). At WTUs, each soldier develops a personalized comprehensive transition plan (CTP) with short- and long-term goals in six domains: physical, social, spiritual, emotional, family and career. To learn more about WTC, visit www.WTC.army.mil
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