Warrior Transition Command | Tag Archive

I’m not a Hero—I’m a Soldier

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by jvargas on May 24, 2011 at 11:59 am {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

On Saturday, AW2 Soldier CPT Ivan Castro appeared on MSNBC to discuss the Warrior Games and his commitment to long distance running. He competed for the Special Ops team on the ground this week at Warrior Games.

“I’m not a hero,” CPT Castro, who is blind, told the host, Dylan Ratigan. “I’m just a Soldier doing his job…I’m a leader and an officer, and a Soldier.”

When asked about what makes the Warrior Games special, he explained, “If you were to come out here, you’d see that these warriors never quit. We didn’t do it on the field of battle, and we won’t do it here. Regardless of whether we’re injured, we’re still human beings,” he added. “We can continue to serve and show the world what we’re made of. “

CPT Castro continues to serve on active duty at Fort Bragg. “I have a great command that supports me and is willing to employ me to fulfill my abilities,” said Castro.

Watch the full nine-minute interview online at MSNBC.com.

Presenting the 2011 Warrior Games Wheelchair Basketball Champions

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 24, 2011 at 11:53 am {no comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

The U.S. Army Warrior Games wheelchair basketball team won gold after defeating the Marines on Friday evening.

The score was 44 to 19, and what a game it was!

It was the clash of the Titans. The Army had to closely hold the Marines in the last half. They were putting on the pressure to turn the game, but the Army was on it. The Marines did not easily surrender the championship from last year. The Army team, under the guidance of coach Doug Garner, came together as a rolling force that could not be stopped. The team of ten wanted it and they got it. They made us proud last Friday night. It was a very rough game with many crashes and wheelchairs turned over. My jaw dropped at the speed and aggression that this game is played. Their skill and dexterity is tremendous and appears to be a full contact sport. The Army won, and they won with honor.

A Marine player’s fall on the court demonstrates the intensity during the Warrior Games wheelchair basketball championship game.

Winning. That phrase is often misused. Look at the folks in the photos on this blog. They were winners even before they rolled onto the court. There are no actors at the Warrior Games. The men and women are the real deal. They are Soldiers that gave of themselves and their bodies to be the frontline of defense for freedom. Even after becoming injured, they stood up to show us a whole new gear at the Warrior Games. They are the definition of integrity, resiliency, and determination. Yes, they have injuries, but they are not defined by them. They push the envelope to find new skills and new successes. That is winning.

Read the blogs about these folks, they are incredible and they are going places. I met each of the players, and many of their Family members, and I count them among my friends. They are outstanding. I am certain this is just the beginning for them and their success in many directions of their lives. Garner said he doesn’t just want them to win at basketball. He wants them to win at life—a balanced life. He hopes that all the coaching, goal setting, and connections keep in the forefront of their minds and carry over to all aspects of their lives. The Army is committed to their success.

In conclusion, the difference between these games and a professional sports game was clear to me at the very end. I saw the flip of a switch when all the players lined up to shake hands at the end of the game. They were once again brothers and sisters in arms again, unified. In that regard, as tough as all the other teams were, I am glad we are on the same team when the branch jerseys come off. America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, because of men and women like these.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship, I extend my deep appreciation to all the Warrior Games teams. You have my respect and admiration. I know that next year, the other services will be hot on the Army team’s heels to try and take their win. It is going to be a long year to have to wait for such excitement again.

Army Sweeps Swimming Finals

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 24, 2011 at 11:25 am {one comment}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

MSG Rhoden Galloway after the swimming finals. He won four of the Army’s fifteen medals, three of them are first place finishes.

The Army athletes came to the finals focused on one thing, a medal. Little did they know they would be taking home 15. The swim team proved they are a force to be reckoned with after winning four gold, three silver, and eight bronze medals in the swimming finals during the 2011 Warrior Games.

“What we did was phenomenal,” said Holly Roselle, the Army’s swimming coach. “They came together this week and supported each other. Nice work.”

“They did things they hadn’t done before,” Roselle said. “They really stepped up and performed at a higher level.”

From Wednesday’s preliminaries to Friday’s finals, many of the finalists decreased their swim times by seconds, which helped them seal the win in a couple of swim meets.

“Many of them did better than they thought they would,” Roselle added. “We actually won more than we were slated to coming into the finals.”

MSG Rhoden Galloway, who won three of the four gold medals and one of the silver medals, agrees with Roselle.

“After you’re injured, you’re told you can’t do things and that’s crushing,” said Galloway. “Knowing you’ll never be able to run again, especially being in the military where you have to complete physical fitness tests, being able to run is important. Having the chance to swim gave us a chance to compete in adaptive sports again.”

The Army’s swimming medals are broken down as follows:

MSG Rhoden Galloway – 3 Gold, 1 Silver
SSG Kenny Griffith – 1 Bronze
SPC Michael Grover – 1 Bronze
SPC Andy Kingsley – 1 Silver, 2 Bronze
SSG Stefanie Mason – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze
SFC Landon Ranker – 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
CPL Harrison Ruzicka – 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
SPC Galen Ryan – 2 Silver
SGT Gavin Sibayan – 1 Bronze

Congratulations to all winners and to all who participated.

The day is now over. The swim goggles are hung up or folded away. These nine athletes will never forget last week. They showed that an illness or injury would not stop them from setting and reaching a goal, and they have the medals to prove it.

Equipment Malfunction is No Excuse

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by jvargas on May 24, 2011 at 10:27 am {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

YouTube DoDLive

Here at the Warrior Games, everyone is buzzing about cycling. Yes, we’re ecstatic about the Army team winning four medals—two golds, two silver. Yes, we’re buzzing about the three Army Ultimate Champion candidates who rode across the finish line together, as a team. But most of all, people are talking about one AW2 Veteran, Freddie de los Santos.

De los Santos didn’t win his race, but in my mind, and the minds of most of the people here, he represents the true spirit of the Warrior Games and the Army: completing the mission, against all odds.

De los Santos started out Friday like any other race—focused, committed, and ready to give his all. But shortly after the starting gun, he noticed something wasn’t right. And with 2km to go, he realized the chain on his recumbent bike was broken.

At this point, most people would have called it a day. They’d rationalize that they’d trained hard and done everything they could to prepare. It was an equipment failure, something they couldn’t do anything about.

Not de los Santos. This Special Ops competitor wouldn’t take no for an answer. Instead of giving up, he used the equipment he had—his hands. He hand-walked himself and the bike for the last two kilometers of his 10k race, refusing to forfeit.

And the crowd went wild—people walked out onto the track behind him, cheering him on, showing their support. De los Santos didn’t let an above-the-knee amputation stop him from living life to its fullest, and he wasn’t about to let a bike chain stop him from crossing the finish line at the Warrior Games.

Check out this compelling video captured by the USO staff onsite at the race.

Schooop…

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 21, 2011 at 2:15 am {one comment}

By Retired SGM Vondell Brown, AW2 Advocate Support Branch

Warrior Games archer SGT Kenneth Harker prepares to shoot an arrow at his target during practice.

SGT Kenneth Harker held his breath and kept his body steady as he zeroed in through the peep site. When he was sure of his shot, he let go of the release. The only sound that was heard was a whisper of the arrow leaving the bow, “Schooop…”

As the sound faded, it was quickly followed by a hard “thud” as the arrow hit its mark. Then, there was silence. “I was speechless,” Harker explained. He was very surprised since he had only picked up a bow for the first time three months prior.

“It is such a rush,” Harker from the Warrior Transition Unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center exclaimed, as he qualified for the finals in the archery compound competition at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, CO. “I am very proud of him,” said his wife Heather Harker as she continued to cheer him on in the finals.

“After I was injured and my legs were amputated, life seemed uncertain. It seemed that much had been taken away,” Harker explained. After being in Baghdad for just six months, he was injured. He was part of a 22 vehicle convey on Route Gold. His vehicle was hit by an explosive formed penetrator (EFP). His injuries included a hole in his right forearm and the back of his legs were blown off. He had no feeling from his knee down, so he opted to have his legs from his knees down amputated.

Having already clinched the bronze medal in the seated discus last Tuesday, Harker stated, “I’m feeling overwhelmed.” He explained these feelings to me as each round went by and he heard his name called to advance. Harker was presented with the silver medal by MG Gary Cheek, Director of Military Personnel Management for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1. After receiving his medal, Harker stated,“I am going to train and annihilate the competition next year.” He plans to practice hard all year and take up bow hunting. In support of this, many people have told him to check out the AW2 Community Support Network for organizations that help bring recreational opportunities, such as hunting to wounded warriors. He said that when he returns home, he is going to check them out.

Full Court Press

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 21, 2011 at 2:08 am {no comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

Warrior Games wheelchair basketball player SPC Anthony Pone receives the ball during one of this week's games.

“I can do it with one arm behind my back…” That phrase takes on a whole new meaning at the Warrior Games. Whether it’s one arm, one leg, or one eye, it doesn’t matter: these Soldiers have come to win in life. They bring what they have and give it their all. And no, it is not just testosterone speaking, there are tons of women representing the Army. It is internal strength and fortitude that rises from the deepest center of their soul that fills in what was lost. Life is not fair, but life is what you make of it.

After spending a week in their midst, the admiration I have for all of warriors is immense. I might as well be looking at the face of my son when I am watching the basketball team. My oldest is approximately the same age and is an Army 2LT in Korea. The Warrior Games and the healing of all wounded warriors are very personal to me, as both a military widow and a mother of a Soldier.

Look in the mirror and ask yourself how you would have reacted at 25 years old, in the face of such a life-changing event? Would you be on the court steering headlong into a crushing pile of wheelchairs and maybe landing hard across the floor—while being happy about it? After watching them play, I can say for myself even at my age “I would!” I might not win…but I sure would play. It looks like a lot of fun. These warriors show the way for all with “disabilities.” To me they are justdifferently abled. And they are very abled at that.

Coach Garner has seen players grow and develop on and off the court due to sports. Sports can give a person confidence and friendship to succeed in other areas of their recovery. He has said it is so important for them to get out early and push their bodies in a way that is challenging and developmental, but also fun. “Fun is something that is often missing in the lives of a lot of people with disabilities. Because many times they are very limited in their options of what is available to them.”

Next week the competition will be over for these wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers, but not the forward motion in other directions in their lives. I would like to highlight an example of how yet another Soldier is succeeding off the court. SPC Anthony Pone was injured and lost one leg in a car accident in 2002 while serving at Ft. Lee, VA. He will tell you that his inspiration to succeed and go forward is his two daughters, Shakiya and Anyea .

I am sure his daughters—as well as his whole extended Family—are extremely inspired and proud of SPC Pone. Last week, they saw their dad in a cap and gown being handed a hard-earned college diploma. Pone earned a BS in Social Work and a Minor in Psychology. When asked what his plans are, he said he is not stopping until he has his Masters. His goal is to work with Veterans. He said he knows he can be of help.

This is quite an accomplishment for anyone. Yet doubly exciting as SPC Pone is the first person ever in the history of his family to graduate from college. He did it. And he did it with only one leg, rolling in a wheelchair.

You Can Get There From Here

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by jvargas on May 21, 2011 at 2:00 am {no comments}

By Retired SGM Vondell Brown, AW2 Advocate Support Branch

Warrior Games wheelchair basketball player SGT Kinga Kiss-Johnson prepares to take a shot.

SGT Kinga Kiss-Johnson wrote these words in magic marker on the belt of her wheelchair: “You can get there from here.” She explains that it was a big change from standing to sitting playing basketball; “life doesn’t stop” is what she sums that statement up with. Every time Kiss-Johnson sits in that chair, she sees and holds those words close to her as she straps herself in. Then it’s game on from there.

Kiss-Johnson is “KJ” on the Warrior Games Army wheelchair basketball team. She is very well loved. In fact, when the team won against the Marines the other day, SPC Juan Soto looked around and took count. He said, “Stop…where is “KJ”? Wait for ‘KJ’.” The team is not a team without “KJ” and her service dog, Balto. And soon, she and Balto completed the photo, with her dog lying down next to her.

It is remarkable that “KJ” plays basketball at all after sustaining her injuries. Kiss-Johnson was medically retired out of the Fort Gordon Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) in November 2010, receiving 100% permanent disability ratingfor combat-related injuries, including TBI, PTSD, left and right hip injuries, and spinal cord injury. It has taken years for her to recover and is an ongoing process. A true inspiration.

Sports are in her blood—she has played basketball since she was a kid. She’s a natural athlete. Standing over 6 feet tall, she takes on any competitor on the court. I remember playing against her in at one of their practices and she telling me as I tried to enter into the paint, “this is my house, get out.” And that is exactly what I did.

I asked “KJ” about her prediction for the Army wheelchair basketball team at this year’s Warrior Games. She said, “Gold. We are here for no other reason.” And from the way they beat the Marines and Navy, I totally agree.

Army Soldiers, Warrior Games Cyclists, and True Champions

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 21, 2011 at 1:39 am {no comments}

By Jim Wenzel, WTC Stratcom

(Left to right) Sailor Brandon Norris, SSG Kenny Griffith, SSG Robert Laux, and SFC Landon Ranker cross the finish line together at the 2011 Warrior Games cycling event at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium teemed with race officials, volunteers, athletes, VIPs, spectators, and media Friday morning to watch the 2011 Warrior Games cycling finals. Wounded, ill, and injured men and women from all branches of service and the Special Operations Command were ready to demonstrate their training, technique, and heart as they tackled the Warrior Games cycling course. In terms of expectations, the Army team was uniformly humble to represent their branch, to be given the opportunity to race, and to give everything they had to win.

The cycling events began around 8:30 a.m. with the 20K men’s recumbent bike race as the cyclists made two laps around the 10K course. For one Army cyclist, it was a gift to even be riding in the race. SPC Justin Minyard came to Colorado Springs with some unexpected equipment trouble. As his cycle went through airport screening, his careful packing job was undone and his cycle made a very rough trip from Fort Bragg to Colorado Springs, CO. His cycle’s frame was damaged so badly that he was not going to get a chance to compete—until a local cyclist decided to donate his own cycle frame and allow Minyard his chance at Warrior Games gold.

Making the most of this generous offer, Minyard outdistanced all opposition as he smoked through the course to reach the finish line. “It felt incredible,” he said. “The bike was completely dialed-in, can’t ask for a more beautiful day, and I felt like going fast, so it was good.” The cheers of the Army fans were deafening as Minyard crossed the finish line without any other recumbent competitors in sight.

Fort Knox Warrior Transition Brigade Commander and wounded warrior LTC David Haines made a surprise leap to the podium, earning a silver medal in the 30K men’s cycle race as he hung very close to the leaders throughout the course and deftly outraced his fellow competitors coming into the home stretch.

Army also dominated the 10K women’s cycle race as PFC Christina Mitchell took silver and CPT Lisa Merwin dashed to the finish and won gold. For Merwin, as a breast cancer survivor, nothing is taken for granted. Her eye was firmly fixed on the top prize, and she also broughta desire to achieve a personal goal.

When asked about the race, she stated she wanted to finish the race in 18 to 20 minutes, but she was held back by an unexpected headwind in the final downhill leg. Despite missing her personal mark, she took gold and concluded by saying, “It is awesome to represent the Army at the Warrior Games, I am very proud to be an Army officer, and I feel honored to be here with all these other Soldiers and servicemembers who are wounded.”

All of the athletes came to win, but winning isn’t everything. What most of the spectators, VIPs, and media saw on the course was the heart of the men and women who sacrifice themselves in the defense of our nation. LTC Haines, CPT Merwin, SPC Minyard, and PFC Mitchell distinguished themselves by earning medals, but all of the competitors brought the heart of true champions.

The lasting image of the cycling event may not be a photo of an athlete earning a medal. Perhaps it is captured in the three Soldiers and a Sailor who, after being knocked out of medal contention in the 30K men’s cycling race, decided to support each other by riding and crossing the finish line together. That is the true nature of the brotherhood and sisterhood of arms. That is the heart of a true champion.

Finals are Only the Beginning

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by jvargas on May 20, 2011 at 3:00 am {no comments}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

BG Darryl Williams stands with SPC Andy Kingsley, his family, and several members of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, NC.

The tears rolled freely from her eyes onto the ground with a splash similar to the splashes of her nephew leaving the diving board to slice into the cool, crystal clear water at the Aquatics Center pool. Sandi Thomas was proud to say SPC Andy Kingsley was her nephew.

The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Solider, a field artilleryman with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, NC, was severely injured when he and his 13-Soldier artillery unit were attacked by a bombardment of mortars at a location about 50 miles from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

When the mortars started, he rushed to a nearby shelter. Looking back, seeing the other members of his squad trailing, he stepped back out of the bunker to direct them inside. As the last Soldier entered the bunker, a mortar round exploded, launching Kingsley through the air.

Kingsley, a devoted high school wrestling and football athlete, did not let losing his right leg above the knee and suffering several other injuries, derail his opportunity to play and compete in sports. The Warrior Games gives him a chance to show not only himself, but everyone else, that if you try hard enough–you have no limits.

SPC Andy Kingsley after he finished one of his swimming races during the 2011 Warrior Games.

“When I was injured, I thought normal life was out of the question for me, and now look at me,” he said.

The three days a week swimming and strength training Kingsley did at the Warrior Transition Unit before the games helped him during his 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke, and 100-meter freestyle swimming events at the 2011 Warrior Games.

During the swimming preliminaries, he qualified in all three events and is heading to the finals proving that his hard work, training, and dedication paid off.

Along with the support from his Family, Kingsley also has the support from his previous unit. More than 20 Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division showed up to cheer him on during his competition.

Kingsley plans to return to Massachusetts and pursue a degree in zoology where he would like to work training service dogs and other service animals for wounded warriors.

He also plans to start a youth organization to provide children positive time-tested ways to have fun while avoiding unnecessary conflict. This organization will incorporate the seven Army’s core values which he feels are essential in guiding children to be better citizens and keeping them mentally focused and physically healthy.

For now, he focused on the goal at hand. As the whistle blew, Kingsley’s aunt and grandmother Annie’s eyes froze on Kingsley. The hand-drawn sign stating ”Go for the gold Kingfish” was raised high in the air, moving from side to side. They knew Kingsley was in his element as he swam to the finish line.

Army Focuses on Shooting Strong in the Warrior Games Finals

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games by alanmorales on May 20, 2011 at 2:46 am {no comments}

By Jim Wenzel, WTC Stratcom

SFC Benjamin Trescott prepares to shoot in the air rifle finals at the Warrior Games.

At the Olympic Training Center Shooting Range in Colorado Springs, CO, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen gathered for the final matches to determine who will win Warrior Games gold.

Amidst the buzz and activity outside the range, the stillness of the firing line amplified the tension in the air. The small, slow movements of the shooters as they brought their weapons up to the target masked a fierce mental game that narrowed the competitive field by tenths of a point to determine the winner.

After following the Army shooting team over the past two weeks, I am amazed at the work they’ve put into training their minds to reset after each and every shot so they don’t lose mental focus or allow anxiety to raise their heart rate, rush shots, or squeeze the trigger before they have a true sight picture. Their wounds and injuries, both physical and invisible, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), only made their shooting accomplishments more spectacular. And I am sure the techniques they use to calm and center themselves between shots are very therapeutic in almost anything they do.

Seven Army shooters made it through Tuesday’s preliminary round to reach the finals: CPT Juan Guerrero, SFC Benjamin Prescott, SSG Robert Laux, SPC David Oliver, and PFC Josh Bullis shot the air rifle prone;PFC Josh Bullis and PFC Latoya McClain shot the air rifle standing; and SSG Micheal Strong, SGT Paul Haines, and SPC David Oliver shot the air pistol.

The competition was fierce and there seemed to be an inordinate amount of Marines and their supporters in the stands. Fighting the rising tension, focusing downrange, and making each shot count was exhausting work for the entire Army team. Many of them closed their eyes between each shot as they willed themselves to relax and look forward to the next shot and not dwell on the ones already sent downrange.

One of the first team members off the line, SFC Benjamin Trescott, didn’t medal this year. He was, however, very proud to represent the Army. “It is very humbling,” he said. “It’s good to still feel that you have a purpose, that you can push yourself to different levels of competition.”

SPC David Oliver earned a bronze medal in air rifle prone at the Warrior Games shooting finals.

SPC David Oliver was the first to medal as he took bronze in the air rifle prone. Always cool and collected, he described the intensity in the room saying, “It’s pretty high octane. I can’t remember being this pumped.”

PFC Josh Bullis also took bronze in the rifle prone. He had a nail-biting come-from-behind victory by first tying and then surpassing a Marine in the final few shots. Each announcement of his score drew enormous cheers from the Army crowd when he started to draw ahead of his competitor. Bullis is another steely-eyed competitor and you wouldn’t think he was rattled by the atmosphere of the packed shooting gallery until he said, “I’ve been shot at before and I haven’t been that nervous.”

A final highlight of the competition didn’t result in a medal but it did draw a lot of attention from the Army’s Warrior Games shooting coach, MSG Howard Day. PFC Latoya McClain came into the finals at the rear of the pack as her score was a cumulative total of two days of competition. That didn’t stop her from shooting her heart out as she turned in a nice tight group of shots that would have made her a contender had she not been hampered by the previous day’s score.

Day spoke candidly about her excellent performance by saying “She shot a group as tight as the gold medal winner. She has come so far in the couple of weeks we’ve worked together, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Army Marksmanship Unit comes knocking on her door at some point in the future… She brought her A-game today.”

The Army may have only snapped up two bronze medals in the competition, but the team is taking home a far greater prize. They have gained an experience of a lifetime that will allow them to move forward knowing they didn’t hold anything back—they left it all there on the firing line at the Olympic Training Center.

As someone who was exhausted simply watching the competition unfold, I gained a deep respect for these wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Veterans. As they move forward to other, more difficult challenges, they can certainly do so with the confidence gained from their Warrior Games experience.

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