Stories

Team Army Staff Sgt. Derrick Thompson: “This is redemption year”
June 23, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Derrick Thompson views this year's Warrior Games in Orlando with greater preparedness and determination compared to last year's Warrior Games Challenge in San Diego. After being diagnosed with life-threatening diabetes three years ago and undergoing recovery at the Joint Base San Antonio Soldier Recovery Unit, Thompson participated cautiously last year. This year, he is fully committed, aiming for redemption, and has already won gold in the men’s 200-meter and silver in the 100-meter track events. Thompson is also competing in multiple sports, including cycling, archery, and wheelchair basketball. Beyond sports, he recently welcomed his third child and is preparing for retirement. His focus on health, bolstered by the Army Recovery Care Program and his SRU, has been crucial in his recovery. Embracing his new normal with positivity and gratitude, Thompson is motivated to be his best for his family and team, playfully confident about Team Army's success... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Derrick Thompson competes in the cycling event during the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games

Cpl. Patrick Dayton: “Adaptive sports are a lifeline to a life with others like me.”
June 21, 2024 — Retired Army Cpl. Patrick Dayton, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2022, found a renewed sense of purpose through adaptive sports and the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games. Initially not athletic, Dayton discovered the camaraderie and team spirit he missed from the military through the Warrior Games. After extensive rehab at the Center for the Intrepid, he embraced his new life as an amputee and immersed himself in adaptive sports. Now a proud member of Team Army, he competes in powerlifting, indoor rowing, swimming, and track, finding emotional and physical strength among fellow warriors. Dayton highlights the importance of adaptive sports in providing a new purpose and a supportive community for those with visible and invisible injuries... MORE

U.S. Army veteran Cpl. Patrick Dayton waits for his turn to compete in the field event at the 2024 Army Trials, Fort Liberty, North Carolina

2024 DOD Warrior Games
June 21, 2024 — The Department of Defense Warrior Games began today at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, Florida, and will run through June 30, 2024. Hosted by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, this event features hundreds of wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran service members competing in adaptive sports as part of their recovery. This 14th annual competition includes teams from various U.S. military branches and the Australian Defence Force. The Games provide a platform for recovery, wellness, and personal development through adaptive sports like archery, cycling, and wheelchair basketball. Veterans like Brandi Evans and Capt. Hannah Wright, who benefited from the Army Recovery Care Program, return to mentor new athletes. The event emphasizes the importance of adaptive sports in rehabilitation, helping service members adapt and thrive post-injury, fostering a supportive community that celebrates resilience and determination... MORE

Team Army is taking advantage of some practice time during a sitting volleyball workout during the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida

Going from competitor to mentor and coach
June 21, 2024 — Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Greg Quarles, who sustained severe injuries during his eighth deployment in the Middle East, found a new purpose through adaptive sports at the Fort Moore Soldier Recovery Unit. Despite doubts and significant physical challenges, Quarles became a successful athlete, competing in the Department of Defense Warrior Games and representing Team USA at Invictus Games. Transitioning from competitor to coach, he now mentors others, emphasizing the transformative power of adaptive sports. He believes these sports help injured soldiers regain their physical fitness and mental well-being, advocating for the mindset and determination required to adapt and thrive despite injuries. Quarles continues to inspire through his coaching and his home inspection business, demonstrating that recovery and adaptation are lifelong journeys... MORE

Team Army coach Greg Quarles will have his first year of coaching indoor rowing competition at the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Orlando

Spc. Noah Strunk: “Warriors are always ready to go, and I am.”
June 20, 2024 — Army Spc. Noah Strunk is competing in the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games as he prepares to medically retire from the Army on June 28th. Strunk, a field artillery radar operator, joined the Army with plans to serve for twenty years but sustained a severe knee injury in 2022, leading to multiple surgeries and his participation in the Army Recovery Care Program. Adaptive sports became a crucial part of his recovery, giving him a new purpose and helping him overcome depression. Strunk's passion for the Army remains strong, and he is determined to excel in swimming, track, and cycling at the Warrior Games, viewing this competition as a continuation of his journey rather than its end... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Noah Strunk is pumped and ready to compete with Team Army at the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games

“Coming here was meant to be.”
June 20, 2024 — Jackie White of Syracuse, New York, experienced an unexpected and memorable connection to her Soldier-grandfather during a family vacation to Orlando. Staying at a hotel hosting participants of the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games, White and her grandchildren learned about the competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members, including the Australian Defence Force. This surprise encounter prompted reflections on her grandfather, Army Pvt. Lawrence Spier, who served under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in World War II. The family, already familiar with military discussions at home, decided to attend the Warrior Games, finding inspiration in the Army Recovery Care Program and its support for today's Soldiers. White expressed gratitude for the program and the care it provides, contrasting it with the lack of support soldiers like her grandfather received. Excited by their newfound connection to the event, the family cheered, "Go, Team Army, we got this—all the way!"... MORE

Jackie White of Syracuse, New York, stands in the lobby of her Orlando Hotel, excited about supporting Team Army at the 2024 DOD Warrior Games

Team Army Ultimate Champion: “I had let go of the crutches in life, and the word can’t.”
June 6, 2024 — Retired Army Sgt. Justin Mathers, after a severe motorcycle accident left him unable to feel his legs, embarked on a remarkable recovery journey through the Fort Liberty Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU), leading him to compete in the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Following injuries sustained in Iraq and subsequent surgeries, Mathers discovered adaptive sports at the SRU, initially struggling but eventually finding inspiration from fellow veterans. Encouraged by his wife and a dedicated physical therapist, he shed weight and successfully competed in the 2022 Warrior Games, earning multiple medals. Determined to push his limits, Mathers transitioned from recumbent cycling to becoming a USA para-cycling national champion. Now, as he prepares for the 2024 Warrior Games, Mathers reflects on his transformative experience, crediting the SRU and adaptive sports for his recovery and renewed sense of purpose. With aspirations for the Paralympics and Team US at Invictus, he emphasizes the vital role of adaptive sports in helping veterans feel relevant and connected... MORE

Ret. Army Sgt. Justin Mathers trains with Former Team Army and Team US athlete Mike Murphy.

Catch me if you can!
June 6, 2024 — Retired Staff Sgt. Gene Calantoc is set to compete in the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games, held from June 21-30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. After losing his left leg above the knee following a motorcycle accident in March 2020, Calantoc discovered adaptive sports through the Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) at Joint Base San Antonio. An avid athlete before his injury, he embraced sports like archery, powerlifting, rugby, cycling, wheelchair basketball, and rowing to aid his recovery. Weighing 130 pounds, he can bench press 259 pounds and aims to double his weight. Training five times a week, he strives to improve daily, driven by his personal motto of outdoing his previous performance. Calantoc is determined to make Team US and compete in the Invictus Games, with aspirations for the Paralympics in archery and powerlifting. His positive outlook and discipline are bolstered by the camaraderie of his teammates and the support of his family. Excited to compete and help fellow athletes facing similar challenges, he emphasizes that an injury or illness is not the end but a new beginning. Known for his speed and competitive spirit, Calantoc is ready to showcase his skills at the Warrior Games, particularly in wheelchair basketball and rugby, with a playful warning to his Air Force competitors: "Be ready – you gotta catch me!"... MORE

Retired Staff Sgt. Gene Calantoc steals the ball and makes the basket in a wheelchair basketball competition at the 2024 Army Trials

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