Wounded Soldiers from various Army
units aim for Warrior Games

By Michael Molinaro
ARNEWS

	Photo by Michael Molinaro/USAMU Wounded Soldiers conduct a practice match under the tutelage of Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, April 1, at Pool Indoor Range on Fort Benning, Ga.

FORT BENNING, Ga. — Wounded Soldiers from throughout the Army came to Fort Benning and the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit March 29 to April 1 to learn from the military’s best shooters in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games.

Air rifle and pistol shooting are among the athletic events wounded, ill and injured servicemembers from all branches will compete in at the games May 10 through 14 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I’m really excited to get out there and see what this is going to be like because I guarantee it’s not going to be like anything else that I’ve ever done in my career,” said Staff Sgt. Rachelle Renaud, 1st Battalion, Warrior Transition Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. “I am really looking forward to it.”

The Warrior Games provide a focal event to empower the incorporation of athletics into military wounded warrior programs, and provide an opportunity to introduce Paralympic sports to injured servicemembers. Warrior Games is an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness and promote opportunities for growth and achievement among wounded troops.

“What we have to do with our servicemembers is inspire them to reach for and achieve a rich and productive future, to defeat their illness or injury, whatever lies in their way, to maximize their abilities and know that they can have a rich and fulfilling life beyond what has happened to them in service to their nation,” said Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek, the commander of the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command.

The Soldiers attending the training camp seemed to relish the chance to meet new Soldiers and break away from their sometimes, grueling rehabilitation schedules.

“It’s so easy to isolate yourself and think that nobody understands,” said Renaud. “But a lot of people do understand.”

A veteran of two deployments to Iraq with the 720th Military Police Battalion, Renaud suffered severe back pain that led to a double lumbar fusion on her spine. She hasn’t regained the feeling in her left leg but still has the spirit to compete and overcome her injuries.

“(The Warrior Games) has inspired me,” Renaud said. “One of the things, as far as my routine, that has changed is that instead of just going home and doing nothing, I’m motivated to go out and go exercise, go to the gym — go do something to prepare. It really distracts from everything else that is going on.”

USAMU Soldiers taught them the intricacies of the air rifle and pistol, as well as proper marksmanship fundamentals. All of them agreed that the chance to meet Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors in the same condition that they are has them motivated to go to Colorado.
“The challenge to compete with these other Soldiers who have gone through similar experiences and have overcome all of the difficulties that I have been able to overcome is very exciting,” said Capt. Juan Guerrero, of Company C, WTB at Fort Sam Houston, Texas who was severely injured in both legs from an explosively-formed projectile while on a patrol south of Baghdad in 2007. Guerrero understands that there may be Soldiers wary of competing with their injuries but offers some sound advice.

“They may think they aren’t going to be able to do it, but until they try it, they won’t know for sure. One of the things as a Soldier is that you have to try it first. If you try it and succeed, then you go on from there. If you try and you fail, you try again.”

As the week progressed, the anxiousness and enthusiasm to get on with the games was evident. There was no mention of treatments or appointments, just encouragement and excitement. During a practice match they rooted for each other. With the games still more than a month away, the intent of the games seems to already be working.