USSOCOM Announces 2019 DoD Warrior Games Team

Photo By Master Sgt. Barry Loo | Retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Tobaz Jr., a Care Coalition athlete, rides a bicycle during the U.S. Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition) All Sports Camp in Tampa, Fla., March 14, 2019. The camp was designed to develop the USSOCOM team roster for the 2019 Warrior Games. The games introduce wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans to Paralympic-style sports and showcase their resiliency. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Barry Loo)  

TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES

04.02.2019

Story by Lt. Phillip Chitty 

U.S. Special Operations Command

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Tampa, Fla. – Col. Cary Harbaugh, director of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition), is proud to announce the athletes who will represent “Team SOCOM” at the 2019 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games.

USSOCOM is also the host of this year’s DoD Warrior Games, which will be held in Tampa, Florida and venues in the Tampa Bay area, June 21-30.

The active duty and veteran athletes selected to represent Team SOCOM are:

Active Duty:
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Covas, U.S. Army
Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro, U.S. Air Force (Team Co-Captain)
Staff Sgt. Stuart DiPaolo, U.S. Marine Corps
Master Sgt. Christopher Donaldson, U.S. Army
Chief Petty Officer Nolan Ellis, U.S. Navy
Chief Petty Officer Phillip Fong, U.S. Navy
Tech. Sgt. Zachary Hildebrand, U.S. Air Force
Capt. Brian Hotchkiss, U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Brant Ireland, U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Rhonda Keister, U.S. Army
Master Sgt. Alfred Martinez, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Lauren Montoya, U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Norman, U.S. Army
Lt. Col. David O'Hearn, U.S. Army
Cmdr. Clay Pendergrass, U.S. Navy (Team Captain)
Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel Rodela, U.S. Army
Capt. Alec Ross, U.S. Army
Chief Petty Officer Terry Scaife, U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 1st Class David Terpstra, U.S. Navy
Master Sgt. George Vera, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Mario Webb, U.S. Air Force
Maj. Adam Ziegler, U.S. Army

Transitioning Active Duty:
Vairon Caicedo-Ocampo, U.S. Army
Jarrid Collins, U.S. Army
Lee Harvey, U.S. Army
Tiffany Hudgins, U.S. Marine Corps
Jason Phillips, U.S. Army
Henry Taylor, U.S. Army

Veterans:
Jacob Anthony, U.S. Army
Lance Borman, U.S. Army
Steve Carmen, U.S. Army
Travis Dunn, U.S. Army
James Howard, U.S. Army
Cory Remsburg, U.S. Army
Rommel Siervo, U.S. Navy
Isaiah Staley, U.S. Navy
John Stanz, U.S. Marine Corps
Chase Tanton, U.S. Army
Stephen Toboz, U.S. Navy
Leticia Vega, U.S. Marine Corps

The DoD Warrior Games were established in 2010 as a way to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded warriors and to expose them to adaptive sports. The Paralympic-style competition between teams of wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and SOCOM has grown to new heights as it prepares to light the torch for the 10th time.

Military Paralympic adaptive sports programs help wounded service members and veterans build strength and endurance and draw inspiration from their teammates. Participation in the Warrior Games represents the culmination of a service member’s involvement in an adaptive sports program and demonstrates the incredible potential of wounded warriors through competitive sports.

The mission of USSOCOM’s warrior care program is to provide wounded, ill, and injured Special Operations Forces, veterans, and their families with advocacy after a life-altering trauma or illness to enhance their quality of life and strengthen SOF readiness.

Learn more about the Warrior Games at DODWarriorGames.com.

• Date Taken: 04.02.2019
• Date Posted: 04.02.2019 15:53
• Story ID: 316684
• Location: TAMPA, FL, US