FORT BLISS, Texas -- For U.S. Army veteran Sgt. Jhoonar Barrera, getting to the Army Trials is a goal he set for himself only a few years after he sustained an injury to his spinal cord in 2007.
Like many injured individuals Barrera turned to adaptive sports as a mental and physical therapy.
"At first I began playing wheelchair basketball," Barrera said. "It was a motivating experience for me. It got the competitive juices flowing and I wanted to compete in other sports."
That's when he starting training in hopes of one day earning a ticket to the Army Trials where veterans like Barrera try-out for the Warrior Games Army Team.
Only 45 athletes will be chosen for the games set for June 14-22 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. There, these elite adapted athletes from each of the Department of Defense services will battle for the glory and the gold.
All of the athletes arrive at the trials with a mind-set to try every sport they physically can in the hopes of making the team. Barrera, a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, signed up for four of the seven events including air rifle shooting, shot-put, discus, and cycling. He admitted that this is his first time trying many of these sports.
"They tell us that we need to compete in multiple sports," he said. "So we try things that we may not have considered before."
Barrera said it's motivating to be here among the returning athletes. A few of them will compete again in a few months at the Invictus games in Orlando, Florida.
"I see others doing it and I ask myself, 'why can't I?'" he said. "Sometimes I feel like I can possibly even do better if I get the right training and techniques and that's what the coaches are here for. Especially with the shooting, I was listening to what they were briefing and I was comfortable. As with other things, if you control your mind you can do almost anything."
Many of the athletes contribute the feeling of camaraderie and family as their chief reason for returning to the trials. It's not just about the end result. All of the athletes progress whether they make the team or not.
"While I am here, I want to reach a higher level," he said. "Then I want to improve my performance and exceed that level."
After playing a night of wheelchair basketball, where he made more than a few baskets, blocks and passes, Barrera said he felt he played well enough to showcase his and his teammate's talents. He said he shared the basics with his teammates on offense and defense plays.
"It's an honor to play with those who love the game of basketball as much as I do," he said. "The best part of the game was helping not only the players on my team, but all the players."
Barrera said it's motivating for him to be here and see how much talent there is among the athletes. He said he is learning from both the coaches and other players the skill sets he'll need for the sports he's just beginning to play.
"I feel a great deal of respect for the other athletes," he said. "What they bring to the field, range or court helps to motivate me. That just feeds my fire; it makes me want to do more and do better."
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