Wounded Warrior Games medalists gather with NAVAIR Command Master Chief Bret Joel, far left, NAVAIR Wounded Warrior Program Manager Capt. Jim Litsch, center, and NAVAIR recruiter Janna Roberts, third from right, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2014. (U.S. Navy photo)

Patuxent River, MD — For the fourth consecutive year, representatives from NAVAIR’s Wounded Warrior Program participated in the annual Warrior Games to inspire recovery and physical fitness among injured service members and share career opportunities.

The Warrior Games, which serve as an introduction to Paralympic sports for wounded warriors, were held Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2014, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans participated in seven sports: archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball. The athletes were service members, representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations, with upper-body injuries, lower-body injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, serious illnesses and post-traumatic stress.

“The Warrior Games are so much more than an avenue to witness and celebrate the accomplishments of wounded veterans,” said Janna Roberts, a NAVAIR recruiter. “It is truly a community, one that is comprised of courageous warriors and compassionate supporters, both of whom are dedicated to the pursuit of success and destruction of stereotypes. NAVAIR’s attendance at the Warrior Games is a critical component in building a nation that cherishes and cares for its veterans.”

Capt. Jim Litsch, NAVAIR’s Wounded Warrior Program manager, said he was inspired by the athletes. “Every time I have been to these games, I cannot help but be moved and motivated by what these athletes are able to accomplish,” he said. “The drive they demonstrate carries over to other aspects of their lives as they transition from active duty to other careers. NAVAIR is present to meet with the athletes and support their next step in the process to identify careers at NAVAIR or elsewhere.”

Adaptive sports are proven to have positive and lasting effects on recovering service members’ physical and emotional well-being. The benefits include:

  • Greater self-esteem
  • Lower stress levels
  • Fewer secondary medical conditions
  • Increased pursuit of higher education
  • Improved employment opportunities

Since October 2010, NAVAIR has placed close to 1,000 wounded warriors in open jobs or developmental programs. NAVAIR’s Cherry Point, North Carolina; Patuxent River, Maryland; and China Lake, California, sites are among the top Navy locations hiring veterans in fiscal year 2014, according to department hiring statistics. In August 2014, NAVAIR hired 138 veterans, the highest number Navywide.

Sonny Fann, NAVAIR’s Wounded Warrior Program outreach coordinator, cites wounded warriors’ unique technical and life experiences as being an asset to NAVAIR. “Wounded warriors have the innate qualities of leadership, teamwork and mission orientation in the most austere and ever-changing circumstances imaginable. Wounded warriors and veterans bring to the table technical competence, honor, work ethic and personal integrity that are vital to the success of the NAVAIR mission.”

To learn more about NAVAIR’s Wounded Warrior Program, email navairwoundedwarrior@navy.mil.