JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Five current or former Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion Soldiers will compete at the Department of Defense Warrior Games June 19-28 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
The Soldiers selected for the Army Team are 1st Lt. Kelly Elmlinger, Sgt 1st Class Katie Kuiper, retired Staff Sgt. Eric Pardo, retired Sgt. Bethany Stewart and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smith.
BAMC Soldiers were among those who competed at the 2015 Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas, March 29 to April 2 with the hope of garnering a spot on the Army team that will participate at the Department of Defense Warrior Games.
Sgt. 1st Class Katie Kuiper, Company C, WTB, received three medals -- gold in women's upright cycling, gold in women's track 1,500 meter, and silver in women's track 400 meter.
"It was a great opportunity. I enjoyed the coaching and getting to participate with a huge group of guys motivating me," Kuiper said.
Kuiper has been a part of the BAMC WTB Soldier Adaptive Reconditioning Program since the beginning of 2014 and will be medically retired when she competes in June.
"Cycling and running have been significant in Katie's transitioning and healing process both mentally and physically," said Jennifer Weatherford, site coordinator for the BAMC Military Adaptive Sports Program. "It's allowed her to reach her goals and focus on something positive other than her medical appointments and surgeries."
Capt. Noah Washington, Co. A, WTB, competed in three events at the Army trials -- archery, air rifle and wheelchair basketball, and received a silver medal in the air rifle prone, open division, but was not able to make the Army team.
"Shooting is what I enjoy the most, but archery is just as fun to me," Washington said.
"I think Fort Bliss did an excellent job putting on the Army trials. The other part was the coaching staff. There were some really good coaches there."
Staff Sgt. Robert Green, Co. B., WTB, also faired well during the Army Trials receiving a gold medal in men's seated shot put, and bronze medals in men's seated discus and air rifle standing, but did not make the team.
Green said he once heard a quote, which he thought summed up his experience at the Army Trials, "together by chance, united by choice."
"We came together because of an injury or illness, but it was up to each individual to come together as a team," Green said. "It was a great experience meeting a lot of different people, new people, and having everybody come together as a group."
"I am very proud of all of our Soldiers," Weatherford said. "Making the cut isn't just about their athletic achievements, it's about being a part of something bigger than yourself and all our Soldiers did very well."
Elminger didn't go to the Army Trials but she received an automatic invite to the Warrior Games because she was on the team last year and won several medals, Weatherford said.
Weatherford credited part of the Soldiers' success to their ability to train at Central Catholic High School here in San Antonio.
"This partnership is vital. There is nowhere to shoot air rifles or pistols on post and the high school is only five minutes away," Weatherford said. "The facilities and coaching provided by CCHS are invaluable to the success of the Soldiers who shoot recreationally and compete in air guns."
Green agreed, "The facility at Central Catholic is great. Retired 1st Sgt. [Pete] Carrion is always there. If we need anything from pellets to getting air for our canisters, he is always willing to step in and help us out. He wants to make us better because he doesn't want us going to competitions to just be there, he wants us to compete and to do well."
The track and field program is also run at CCHS because there are no lines on the one regulation track located at Fort Sam Houston.
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