‘Body’

Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program

Every Marine has been trained to work as part of a team and never give up, whether the challenge is during wartime or peace. When a Marine is wounded, ill or injured (WII), the Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) is here to remind them of that drive and focus through the Warrior Athlete Reconditioning Program (WAR-P). WAR-P provides activities and opportunities for WII Marines to train as athletes, while increasing their strength so they can continue with military service or develop healthy habits for life outside the service. This added activity does more than help the Marine maintain their health; it provides a boost to help with the stresses associated with their injury.

During the year, WAR-P holds a variety of sports camps. These camps provide world-class coaching, equipment and once in a lifetime experiences for Marines to learn and excel in a number of sports. In a recent survey conducted by the WWR, two-thirds (66%) of respondents stated that the WAR-P camp assisted in their recovery and almost 90% said that the coaching instruction improved their athletics skills. WII Marines, Sign up now to begin your challenge.

Check out the upcoming WAR-P Camp Schedule:

Interested athletes can receive more information by emailing WWSports@usmc.mil or calling the Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior Call Center at 1 877.487.6299.

2012 Warrior Games

Marines Take Chairman’s Cup at Warrior Games

By Sgt. Aaron Hostutler, Defense Media Activity, Marine Corps Element

The All-Marine Warrior Games team won the Chairman’s Cup for the third year in a row at this year’s Warrior Games. The games, which took place May 1-5, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, showcased wounded, ill and injured service members from all branches.

The Chairman’s Cup is awarded to the team that wins the most medals in competitions including archery, cycling, shooting, wheelchair basketball, seated volleyball, swimming and track and field. The Marines took 89 with the Army being their closest competitors with 63 medals. The rest of the teams, the Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations had a combined score of 57.

One event the Marines dominated was shooting. There they took 20 out of 24 medals including all eight of the gold. Every time the gold medals were awarded the Marines Hymn played, so by the end of the event the competing services knew it by heart.

“I heard it eight times last year. I heard it eight times this year and I’ll hear it eight times next year,” said Roger Withrow, a shooting coach with the Marines team. “We’re ready. Bring it on.”

During the 2011 Warrior Games the Marines took the same amount of medals, proving their worth behind a weapon and that every Marine is a rifleman.

Second-annual Marine Corps Trials

British Royal Marine Cpl. Matthew Webb, a Wounded Warrior with the Allies Team, swims laps during practice for the 2012 Marine Corps Trials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 14, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga)

266 athletes from throughout the Wounded Warrior Regiment and 7 allied countries participated in the Marine Corps Trials February 13-22 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. The event, which was hosted by the Wounded Warrior Regiment, includes individual and team competition in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, swimming, cycling, shooting, archery and track and field.

For the second year in a row, Captain Disbro from Battalion West captured the Ultimate Warrior title. Out of the four teams (East, West, Veteran and Allies), Team West claimed the Challenge Cup.

The mission of the Trials is to incorporate wounded, ill and injured athletes into a competitive sports setting and to provide a forum to select 50 athletes as members of the All-Marine team for the Warrior Games. The Warrior Games, a competition between all branches of Service for wounded, ill and injured service members, will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo. 30 April – 5 May.

The Trials are a part of the WWR’s Warrior Athlete Reconditioning program, which provides opportunities for Marines to engage in both physical and cognitive activities outside the traditional therapy setting. According to Maj. Susan Stark, WAR program officer in charge, “the program allows the WWR to continue supporting wounded, ill and injured Marines through their recovery process by providing opportunities for them to focus on strengthening their bodies and building their confidence.”

Through the operation of the WAR program, the WWR is able to emphasize the importance of athletics in the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration process of service members.

Marines saddle up for Classic

In July, Marines from Wounded Warrior Battalion West gathered in Nokesville, Va. for a three-day clinic in preparation for their participation in the Inaugural Wounded Warrior Cutting Horse Classic at D&M Cattle Company.  The Marines had the opportunity to learn the art of “cutting horses” with the help of the Semper Fi Fund, D&M Cattle Company, head trainer Jim McDonough and other cutting horse professionals.

“We taught the Marines the basics of riding a horse, which was a first for some,” McDonough said. “Then we went over what they would need to know for the competition. They are judged on their ability to move into a herd of cattle and their ability to separate or “cut” a single cow from the herd and control it. They have two and half minutes to separate as many cows as they can. The judge looks at how many cows they separate, the rider’s ability to keep the cow away from the herd and the difficulty of the cut.”

Perhaps one of the most enthusiastic horsemen involved in the event was the Wounded Warrior Regiment’s commanding officer, Col. John Mayer.  Mayer, who recognizes the value equine activities provide to wounded, ill and injured Marines, came up with the idea of the classic when talking to Don York, the owner of D&M Cattle Company. They wanted to put on an event that allowed Marines to “get outside, get dirty and work with horses” said Mayer.

During the three-day clinic, Marines not only learned cutting skills, but also learned how to take care of the horses and stalls, and select cows for the working herds.

“We talked about getting wounded warriors out here to show them some cowboy skills, to show them what we do.  We didn’t want this to feel like vacation, this is not a dude ranch.   At first they were a little shy but before you knew it, they got into it and were shouting ‘next cow!’ to get them in the chute,” said York.

After a day of exciting competition, Sgt. William Broom, a Woodville, Texas native, was named champion.  While addressing the crowd after the awarded ceremony Broom said, “I’d just like to thank everyone for putting this event together and to the Marines I had the chance to ride with.  This has been a great experience for me and I’d like to do something like this again.”

Judging by the thrill across the faces of the competitors, the commanding officer’s comments before the Classic were true, “The best thing for the inside of a Marine, is the outside of a horse.”