Marines take aim in archery

(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John O’Neill Herrera)

By Petty Officer 2nd Class John O’Neill Herrera, Naval Medical Center San Diego Public Affairs

Marines assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego’s Wounded Warrior Battalion West detachment, (left to right) Sgt. Eric Rodriguez, Staff Sgt. Gabriel Martinez and Cpl. Marcus Chischilly wait their turn during an archery practice at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center during the 2012 Paralympics Military Sports Camp on March 4, 2011.

The event, sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee, introduces Paralympics and adaptive sports such as archery, basketball, biathlon, cycling, rowing, sitting volleyball, strength and conditioning, swimming and track and field to wounded, ill and injured (WII) service members.

Military Sports Camps and other adaptive sports and therapeutic programs are being used across Navy Medicine and the DOD not only for rehabilitation and recovery purposes but also as precursors and training opportunities for the Warrior Games.

The Warrior Games began in 2010 and has become a yearly competition for WII service members. Teams from the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army and other veterans from all across the country compete in various Paralympics sporting events for medals and in hopes of winning the Chairman’s Cup.

The third annual Warrior Games will take place April 30 – May 3 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

For more pictures from the event check out NMCSD’s Facebook page by clicking here.