Husband and wife coaching duo give Marines extra edge in Warrior Games

Photo By Cpl. Graham Benson | Mark and Emily Windmassenger, both U.S. Marine sergeants and members of the All-Marine marksmanship team, pose for a picture together at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 12. The couple is coaching both air rifle and air pistol shooting teams for the All-Marine Warrior Games Team. The inaugural games are offering more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members an opportunity to compete against each other while representing their respective services. The games are being held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and U.S. Air Force Academy May 10-14.  

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

05.12.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Graham Benson 

Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment

The All-Marine Warrior Games Team has made a wealth of coaching knowledge available to its athletes in preparation for and during the inaugural Warrior Games.

However, the Marines on the shooting team have an unusual pair of coaches at their disposal.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Mark Windmassenger and his wife Sgt. Emily Windmassinger are both accomplished marksmen on the Marine Corps' All-Marine shooting team in Quantico, Va. The duo have come to Colorado Spings, Colo., to coach wounded warriors from throughout the Corps in the inaugural Warrior Games being held May 10-14, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and U.S. Air Force Academy here.

"I absolutely love training Marines," said Mark Windmassenger, a 25-year old Quakertown, Pa., native, "Training the wounded warriors is the most rewarding thing I have done since I've been on the shooting team. They are extremely motivated and are willing to train harder than most."

Emily, a 23-year from Loves Park Ill., agrees with her husband, "The feeling I get from watching these athletes overcome their struggles and disabilities and execute what I'm teaching them gives me more pleasure than improving my own skills."

Both Mark and Emily have been on active duty since 2005. In 2007 they met and married while they were both working in their original jobs as finance clerks before qualifying for the marksmanship team.

Shooting is one of their passions and they are ecstatic to be sharing it together.

"It's great that we're getting to do something that we both love so much and are so passionate about," said Mark. "I think the athletes are also getting a good deal out of it because she and I work so well as coaches together."

Their 20 total shooters will compete in both air rifle and air pistol shooting competitions during the Warrior Games. The games feature more than 200 wounded service members competing against each other in a variety of Olympic-style events while representing their respective services.

For more information about the Warrior Games visit http://usparalympics.org/usoc-paralympic-military-program/warrior-games.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2010
• Date Posted: 05.12.2010 18:57
• Story ID: 49561
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US