FORT BENNING, Ga. -- After a week of training, more than 100 Army wounded warriors completed five days of fun and friendly competition Thursday, December 7 at the Regional Health Command -- Atlantic 2017 Regional Trials at Fort Benning.
RHC-Atlantic's mission for the trials was to select a mental and physically prepared regional team to participate in the 2018 Army Trials and to provide additional training on the benefits of adaptive reconditioning for wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers.
If you asked every participant "why" they are here and what they accomplished while here, not one would give the infamous Marshawn Lynch answer, "I was only here not to get fined." Every Soldier whether Active Duty, Army Reserve, National Guard or veteran would tell you that they were here to compete and move on to the next hurdle, Army Trials.
Supporting the regional trials here at Benning and at the Pacific Regional Trials are coaches who have supported Team Army since the creation of the Warrior Games as a coach or as a venue manager. Track coach Rodney Carson, a six-year veteran of coaching Team Army athletes was pleased with his assessment of the sprinters he coached here. "I was a little concerned after the Pacific Regional trials due to the low number of participants but am very pleased with the potential I witnessed here," he added. "We {Team Army} will be strong again for Warrior Games.
Sitting Volleyball coach Linda Gomez, Swimming Coach Bobby Brewer, and Wheelchair Basketball Coach Lee Montgomery all echoed the same sentiments when asked about their "why" in supporting the trials and it can be summed up as, "we are here to provide them the guidance to be competitive, have fun and smile. "I love supporting and coaching those who have served to protect me because I could not," said Lee Montgomery, a National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Famer.
Adaptive Reconditioning for those who do not move on to Army Trials does not stop at the conclusion of Regional trials. Soldiers currently assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit will continue with their assigned AR activities according to their Comprehensive Transition Plans. According to Steve Smutak, Adaptive Reconditioning Site Coordinator at Fort Belvoir WTB, athletes selected from Belvoir and Walter Reed will train together as a team to prepare for Army Trials. "Training as a team is very important," said Smutak.
Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew T. Brady, Regional Health Command -- Atlantic Command Sgt. Maj. provided encouraging and motivating remarks during the closing ceremony and awards program. He reminded the participants that their resiliency and resolve was on display throughout the trials. As with the coaches, Brady also talked about the competiveness of Army Trials and Warrior Games as well as reminding all that Team Army is the best team!
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