Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace | 160606-F-WU507-001: Staff Sgt. Vincent Cavazos, 11th Security Forces Squadron, poses...... read more read more
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3 JBA Airmen to compete at 2016 DoD Warrior Games
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace
89th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland – Three Joint Base Andrews Airmen were selected to represent the Air Force and compete against the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command at the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, June 16-22.
Competing from JBA are: Master Sgt. Miguel Acevedo, 99th Airlift Squadron flight engineer; Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ferrell, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician; and Staff Sgt. Vincent Cavazos, 11th Security Forces Squadron.
This is the first year the Army is hosting the Warrior Games, an annual sports competition bringing together wounded, ill and injured U.S. service members and veterans from across the world. The games feature eight events, which include archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair basketball. Only the top Wounded Warriors from each service branch get to compete at the Warrior Games and Coast Guardsmen join team Navy for the event. Wounded Warriors from the British Armed Forces will also compete in the Warrior Games.
“These games are a showcase of resiliency, strength and a will to endure no matter what wounds or injury an Airman endures,” said Ferrell, the Air Force team’s co-captain.
Ferrell is a 12-year Air Force veteran who served multiple combat tours. Ferrell is currently going through a medical evaluation board due to a traumatic brain injury, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical ailments, which stem from being in close proximity to two detonations, one of which killed his team mate Tech. Sgt. Tony Campbell on December 15, 2009.
Adaptive sports and athletic reconditioning play a fundamental role in recovery.
“I do what I can to stay involved and help bring people’s spirits up,” said Acevedo, the survivor of an Afghan Mi-17 helicopter crash near a remote combat outpost in the Hindu-Kush Mountains. “My experiences have taught me that you never know when your time is up in this world, so I try to live my life to the fullest, and do what I can to bring light to those around me.”
During his recovery, Acevedo was enrolled in the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) program, and now stays active in the program and is committed to helping other Airmen during their recovery. He has participated in several Wounded Warrior events and has been training relentlessly for his shot to represent the Air Force when he competes at the Warrior Games.
While some AFW2 Airmen are enrolled in the program due to wounds sustained in combat, others are severely ill or injured.
Cavazos is one such Airman, and was injured by falling off the roof of a building while on leave. However, despite the severe injuries Cavazos suffered, one wouldn’t know he’s a Wounded Warrior when seeing him leading teams at the JBA gate or elsewhere. According to Ferrell, Cavazos is the epitome of fitness and Airmanship, and gives junior security forces Airmen a perceptible hero to aspire to be like.
For those interested in traveling to West Point to support the Air Force team, the Opening Ceremony will take place June 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. The first events start June 15 at 8 a.m., and occur in morning, afternoon and evening sessions through the closing ceremony, which is scheduled for June 21 from 6:30 until 7 p.m.
For more information, visit http://warriorgames.dodlive.mil/ or follow the 2016 DoD Warrior Games on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WarriorGames.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2016 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 200087 |
| Location: | WEST POINT, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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