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    Adaptive sports program helps heal injured troops

    Adaptive Sports Program Helps Heal Injured Troops

    Courtesy Photo | Jessica L. Garfola Wright, left, undersecretary of defense for personnel and...... read more read more

    COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

    09.30.2014

    Courtesy Story

    Defense Media Activity - Proper         

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Defense Department’s military adaptive sports program changes the lives of wounded, ill and injured service members by aiding their recoveries, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness said Sept. 28.

    To mark the start of the 2014 Warrior Games, Jessica L. Garfola Wright discussed the role of the department’s adaptive sports program, which is led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James Rodriguez and the Office of Wounded Care Policy, during a live interview with DoD News’ Adaptive Warrior show.

    Life-changing care

    “Our Wounded Care Policy [program], run by DASD Rodriguez, is responsible for our adaptive sports program,” Wright said. It’s a phenomenal program, she said, that helps service members heal and get back into life, while teaching them spiritual, physical and psychological resiliency.

    “When a [service member] is wounded, ill or injured, their life changes completely,” she said. “We need to show them that they are clearly America’s best -- that they are our heroes and that they have so much worth to give to this nation.

    “Adaptive sports do that for them,” Wright continued.

    Taking care of America’s best

    Asked to deliver a message to Americans watching the Warrior Games, Wright pointed out the need to care for those that are injured while serving the nation.

    “I hope [people] understand that we send these young men and women overseas to work,” she said, “[and] that they get injured at times -- and some of them catastrophically injured.

    “We need to take care of them,” Wright continued. “They are America’s best. You will see all kinds of sports, but frankly, the warriors and the family members are the best part of the [Warrior] Games.”

    The undersecretary thanked Warrior Games’ sponsors before sending a special message to military families and troops serving abroad.

    “[Here’s] a shout-out to the family members that help our service members,” she said. “And to those that are presently serving in distant lands far from home. Thank you all.”

    (Follow Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Marshall on Twitter: @MarshallDoDNews)

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.30.2014
    Date Posted: 09.30.2014 17:36
    Story ID: 143844
    Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US

    Web Views: 32
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN