Wounded warrior sport events return

  • Published
  • Air Force Personnel Center
The U.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, in coordination with the 96th Test Wing, will host a Warrior CARE event and Warrior Games team training camp here April 4-8.

The CARE event provides seriously wounded, ill and injured military members, veterans and their caregivers focused and personalized service through caregiver support training, adaptive and rehabilitative sports events, recovering Airman mentorship training and employment and career readiness guidance along with music and art therapy.

The most physical component of the event will be adaptive and rehabilitative sports, designed to introduce Wounded Warriors to adaptive sports to aid in their recovery and promote mental and physical wellness and teamwork. More than 80 wounded, ill or injured service men and women from around the country will train and compete in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, air pistol and rifle shooting, archery, and cycling as well as track-and-field competitions including shot-put, discus and running events.

Following the training camp the Warrior Games team will conduct their final training session before heading to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June to represent the Air Force at the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2016. The annual event features over 250 athletes representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) along with injured service members from the United Kingdom.

Opening ceremonies will be April 4 at 8 a.m. at the base fitness center.