By Erich Langer, WTC Stratcom

Members of the Army's wheelchair basketball team display their silver medals following the Warrior Games matchup with Marines on May 13 2010, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

I was very fortunate to be with Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and 11 of last spring’s Warrior Games servicemember athletes from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force at a Pentagon press conference earlier this week.

Spirits were high and smiles were broad from the athletes who took time from their recovery and careers to join Admiral Mullen as he announced DoD’s continuing partnership with the U.S Olympic Committee (USOC) and the United Services Organizations (USO) for Warrior Games.

The Games will return to the USOC’s National Training Center (NTC) in Colorado on May 16–21, 2011. Mr. Charlie Huebner, the USOC Paralympics Chief welcomed wounded warriors from all branches of service to run, dribble, bike, or swim their way back to Colorado Springs for next year’s Games.  

The USOC will again host and manage the Games with assistance from corporate partner Deloitte LLC and an echelon of dedicated professional Olympic Committee staff and passionate volunteers. In addition, the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC) will continue to coordinate efforts to support Warrior Game Soldier athletes who will participate next spring.

I really enjoyed seeing the athletes exchange stories and re-acquaint themselves with fellow wounded warriors, competitors, and friends from across the country. No doubt the spirit of Warrior Games lives beyond the competitive venues that initially brought nearly 200 warrior athletes to Colorado this past spring.

Admiral Mullen reiterated throughout his remarks that the athletes who compete in the Warrior Games demonstrate that regardless of circumstances, physical fitness, and a passion to win will remain at the of core our Nation’s military culture. With continued focus on abilities, rather than disabilities, physical fitness and sports have proven to have a healing effect on the mind, the body, and soul.

As the cameras rolled and remarks were made about what Warrior Games meant to the athletes and Families, you could see the excitement building. Our nation’s finest welcomed the opportunity to tell the world about their experiences but by golly they sure wanted to rekindle that athletic and competitive spirit that brought them together in Colorado last spring.

As I watched our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen talk about their shared Warrior Games experiences, it was heartfelt to see the bonds  they formed.  As U.S. Marine Master Sergeant and 2010 Warrior Games athlete Williams “Spanky” Gibson expressed during the conference, “Whether you won a medal or didn’t win a medal, whether your team was first or last, there was no better opportunity than for the 200 of us servicemembers to get together, compete in a safe environment, and have one of the best times of our lives, especially post-injury.”

To me, it was a real tearjerker–a flashback to The 2010 Warrior Games’ opening ceremony when servicemember athletes walked the National Training Center grounds in their colorful uniforms–a ceremony filled with the cheers and applause from the Colorado Springs community to honor their service and sacrifice.

Wounded warriors from all services with a desire to compete in the 2011 Games are encouraged to notify their chain of command as soon as possible.  The Army’s athlete nomination process will be released soon by the Warrior Transition Command.  Soldiers are encouraged to talk with their WTU squad leaders and about their interest in representing the Army next May.

Let the Games begin!