Wounded warriors are athletes too
More than 200 from around the world will compete in adaptive sports invitational.
SAN DIEGO — Wounded military members from across the world are set to compete in a military adaptive sports invitational Tuesday to March 12 at Camp Pendleton.
The 13th annual event, known as the Marine Corps Trials, is expected to draw more than 200 injured Marines, sailors, veterans and international competitors from Colombia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Italy, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The idea behind the event is for participants to “rehabilitate mind, body and spirit through competition and camaraderie.” For some participants, the trials represent a major milestone in their athletic goals and recovery.
The competition, hosted
by the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment Camp Pendleton, is a way for wounded warriors to evaluate their athletic performance through individual and team sports. Top athletes have an opportunity to represent the Marine Corps at the Department of Defense Warrior Games slated for June.
The invitational is open
to active-duty, reserve and veteran Marines and sailors of all skill levels who are wounded, ill or injured.
Participants can compete in 11 sports, including cycling, archery, swimming, powerlifting, shooting, track, sitting volleyball, rowing, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. There will be more than 30 coaches to train and work with athletes starting Tuesday. Competitions are scheduled to start Saturday.
Recovering service members can also participate in transition events Wednesday and Thursday.
The event includes three competing teams from Wounded Warrior BattalionEast based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Wounded Warrior Battalion-West at Camp Pendleton and an international team.
The two wounded warrior battalions at Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune along with detachments around the world are overseen by the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment headquartered in Quantico, Va. The regiment was formed in 2007 and provides care for wounded Marines and sailors and their families to “maximize their recovery as they return to duty or transition to civilian life.”
Updates of the competition will be posted at woundedwarrior.marines .mil.