The 2024 Warrior Games, set to take place from June 21-30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, promises to be another remarkable chapter in this ongoing story of triumph and teamwork. Volunteers will once again play a crucial role in facilitating the event and supporting the athletes on their recovery journey.

Volunteering is more than just a helping hand; it’s a heartwarming journey of support and solidarity. At the Warrior Games, volunteers like Mitchell Colvin find a profound connection with the event, resonating deeply with the athletes’ courage and determination. Mitchell’s experience at the 2023 Warrior Games was a whirlwind of activity, camaraderie, and inspiration.

“Volunteering at Warrior Games is important to me because my father is a disabled veteran,” he shared.

The sight of veterans competing and overcoming their challenges reminded him of his father’s strength and the significance of the Games for everyone involved. Mitchell describes his volunteering experience as a “shotgun blast of behind-the-scene work” paired with witnessing “extremely competitive athletes.”

It’s a testament to the intense preparation and the fierce spirit that defines the Warrior Games. The event is a culmination of the participants’ involvement in adaptive sports programs, showcasing their incredible potential through competitive sports.

One moment that stands out for Mitchell was the closing night, which was a celebration of success and solidarity. He recalls a conversation with a Marine athlete, a two-time participant, who expressed gratitude for the experience.

“Even though it’s highly competitive, at the end of the day, all the athletes support each other,” the Marine said. This sentiment captures the essence of the Warrior Games: fierce competition on the field, unwavering support off it.

Mitchell urges others, “Don’t be afraid of talking to the athletes because most of them enjoy talking to others about their experiences before, during, and after the Games.”

The Warrior Games are more than a display of athletic prowess; they symbolize the unyielding spirit of our service members. Volunteering at such an event is not just about the tasks at hand; it’s about being part of a larger narrative of resilience and recovery. It’s about honoring the journey of our wounded warriors and standing with them as they reclaim their strength and redefine their limits.

Megan Murdock, a seasoned volunteer, began her volunteer journey with the Invictus Games, which profoundly impacted her career and volunteer work. Megan’s involvement with the Wounded Warrior Abilities Ranch (WWAR) in Tampa Bay and her introduction to Wheelchair Football through WWAR’s connections highlight the community’s interconnectedness.

Since her first encounter with the Invictus Games in 2016, Megan has volunteered three times, with 2024 marking her fourth year. Her favorite sports—Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Basketball, and Sitting Volleyball—reflect the dynamic range of activities that the Games offer.

Megan’s interactions with the athletes and their families have been enriching, from casual conversations to assisting during team sports. She fondly remembers meeting Army soldier JP Lane, a singer and hopeful competitor, and maintaining a connection with him and his wife, Crystal.

Megan describes a poignant moment from the 2022 Games in Orlando where a Team Navy athlete with limited hand strength made remarkable progress in the seated shot put. The collective encouragement and celebration of each throw encapsulate the event’s essence: overcoming obstacles and cheering each other on.

As we look forward to the 2024 Warrior Games, let’s remember the impact of volunteering. It’s a powerful act that supports the athletes’ recovery and echoes the community’s appreciation for their service and sacrifice. For volunteers like Mitchell and Megan, it’s a personal and profound experience that connects them to the heroes who have given so much for their country.

In the words of Mitchell, “It may only look like a sports event, but it is a lot more to the people involved in the Games.” So, if you find yourself at the Warrior Games, take a moment to engage with the athletes, listen to their stories, and be inspired by their resilience. And if you’re considering volunteering, know that your contribution goes far beyond the event itself—it touches lives, heals spirits, and strengthens the bonds of our military community.

By volunteering, you join a community dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of our military members and aiding them on their journey to recovery.

Volunteer at the 2024 Warrior Games and be a part of this extraordinary journey of courage, healing, and sportsmanship.

All joking aside, Baez explained how he dealt with years of pain from an ACL and meniscus tear that was surgically fixed but not healed as it should. “I tore my left ACL back in 2014 I had a cadaver (ligament) put in and I learned my body didn’t accept it,” he said. “I started feeling pain and had it seen again in 2021.

He went to the Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit to recover when he had to have it fixed again. It was there Baez learned about adaptive sports as a recovery tool. “I’ve always been very competitive so when I learned they try to help keep that competitive drive alive in you regardless of your condition, recovering with adaptive sports is what I did,” said Baez. “I started going to wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball and it got my head out of a lot of problems and concerns with my body.”

It also kept his mind busy. Baez learned after 18 years he would medically retire. “That’s one of the things you face when you’ve been doing something you love for so long and then they tell you, that you can’t do it anymore,” he added. “You need to find something to get your head out of the gutter so to speak.”

Baez said he was stunned to learn of the Army Recovery Care Program after such a long time in service. He is most grateful for the myriad of ways he was afforded help to recover and overcome.

“The programs they (SRU) offer have been great,” said Baez. “It gives you opportunities to see what options you have and what you can do. That’s another reason the SRU is so great because not only does it help you mentally with adaptive sports with all the people there, but it helps you get something going for when you do get home as a civilian that you can do.”

The Florida National Guardsman who spent 14 of his 18 years on active duty, has some prospects for his career when he medically retires. Right now, he is using his adaptive sports experience to compete for Team Army at the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Orlando this June. Baez is competing in, air rifle, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and sitting volleyball.

“I’ve always been on ‘Team Army,’ after 18 years it’s in my blood. Competing on Team Army at Warrior Games? What a way to represent!”

Around 2016, she tore her ACL, made a full recovery, and returned to duty. In 2021, her command played a game of COVID-safe no-touch ultimate frisbee for PT, though she was concerned about reinjuring her knee again. About 15 minutes before the end of the game, Clark felt something pop in her leg. She tore her ACL completely through and needed intensive surgery.

As a single parent, Clark was granted permission to travel home to Texas for the surgery to have support for herself and her young son. During her recovery, she had to re-learn to walk. This all sat heavily on her mind and heart.

“I used to run 5Ks. I gave up doing things I loved, like going to the gym, because I was scared that I would reinjury myself,” she said. “What was I going to do? All my progress was being undone. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to run and play with my son again.”

Clark’s recovery journey was complicated with setbacks and uncertainty that challenged her mental health. One of her medical providers referred her to Navy Wounded Warrior to help navigate the twists and turns of military medical care. Her care team helped her find mental-health counseling, as well as childcare for her son and support services for her caregiver. When it was apparent she would transition out of active duty, Navy Wounded Warrior connected her with nonprofit resources to establish housing and gainful employment after separation.

She took advantage of so many aspects of Navy Wounded Warrior’s services that her care team encouraged her to also try adaptive sports, but she was hesitant. “I filled out the application forms in 2023, but I didn’t submit them because I got in my head about it.”

Around that time, she heard OS1 Travis Wyatt (ret.) speak at a Navy Wounded Warrior event at Naval Medical Center San Diego about his transformative experiences with adaptive sports. Wyatt attended Warrior Games in 2022 and Warrior Games Challenge in 2023. Clark decided to give it a go. She attended her first introductory sports camp in January 2024 and Team Trials in February 2024.

“The first time I ran at the January camp, I cried. After surgery, my thigh atrophied. I was on crutches for almost a year. I didn’t think I’d ever run again.”

By February, she signed up for every sports trial she was medically cleared to attend. “Whenever they asked me to try something, I said, ‘Sure!’ It allowed me to get out of my head about it. You never know if you’ll like something until you try it.”

“I look back now, and it was the recruiter himself, whom I have since connected with, and is now a retired MMC. He was pretty direct and professional in how he talked about the Navy and all the travel that could come from it,” he said.

Indeed Flemming’s career led to travel. His role as Fleet Marine Force Corpsman required him to provide medical and operational services for Fleet Marine Force personnel who were engaged in direct action operations. After ground combat operations with marines in Sangin, Afghanistan, Flemming developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“This is something I’m not ashamed of. I find being around other service members with similar experience to help take on the challenges associated with this.”

In 2018, Flemming was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). He made serious changes to his diet, routines, and medicines and was able to stay on active duty while managing it. Then in January 2023, while deployed to Marines Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

“To get this news on top of MS before I was 40, or at any age, I can tell you was beyond hard to hear. Your mind can take you into some dark corners. I went out walking for miles and cleared my head. After going through the news of MS years before, I accepted this new reality with the help of my wife.”

Together, they began planning with a clinical care team to make the best decisions for his care. He connected with Navy Wounded Warrior as part of his injury-management process. They helped to fill in the gaps for his non-medical care and introduced him to adaptive sports. In November 2023, Flemming attended his first sports camp at The St. James in Springfield, Va.

“I was interested in taking on something challenging and being around others who are in their fights or recovery. I have always enjoyed competitive and challenging events, so this was a great way to potentially represent, and also head out from the Navy. Navy Team, Navy Pride!”

It was at this camp that Flemming discovered a love for adaptive archery. Upon his return, his recovery care coordinator at Navy Wounded Warrior connected him with a sponsor to allow him to pursue the sport away from camps.

“I’m blessed to have this opportunity. Everyone I met, be it coaches, athletes, and staff blow me away with their dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism they bring to this. I have a new personal goal of representing Team Navy at the Warrior Games and maybe, with a little luck, get to represent Team USA at Invictus.”

Flemming’s diagnosis has impacted all aspects of his professional and personal life, from side effects of treatments to symptoms of the diseases themselves. He remains positive and purposeful. He has had conversations with other service members facing similar diagnoses and offers advice from his own experiences.

“Get in a position where you aren’t denying or doubting your circumstances and you start finding the mental walls or blind spots to start solving those problems to make the most of your life. Adapt what needs to be changed so you can still accomplish what you want to take on in life. Take command of your life and the reality that you have been given. You are still in the driver’s seat, not your injury or illness.”

“I give off a persona that I’m okay, but my accident really did affect me. Navy Wounded Warrior helped me take my guard down and come to terms with my injuries.”

On October 28, 2021, while stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Higgy was riding his motorcycle late at night when he crashed under an overpass. As fate would have it, at that exact moment a state trooper was taking a quick break on the overpass and opened his windows. He heard the crash and rushed to the scene. He pulled the motorcycle off Higginbotham, who likely would have died within minutes if the trooper was not in the right place at the right time.

He was rushed to Tripler Army Medical Center and was in a coma. When he was stable, he returned to Florida to begin inpatient care at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. He had to learn to walk and talk, feed and dress himself again. He went from 225 pounds at the time of the accident down to 160. He wanted to retire after 20 years and become a helicopter pilot for an oil company, but his TBI changed all of that.

Throughout his in-patient time, Higginbotham never lost his go-getter spirit. “I always loved working out, but I couldn’t because of my injuries. My Navy liaison saw that I was trying to stay active and he connected me with Navy Wounded Warrior. I attended my first adaptive sports camp in November 2022 and fell in love with the program. The coaches and athletes are like family to me now.”

Due to the nature of his injuries, Higginbotham needed some modifications to his sports. Though he had years of archery experience, previously shooting right-handed with a compound bow, coaches taught him to shoot left-handed while seated. It has become his favorite sport in the program.

“I get lost in my head or overthink. With archery, it’s a chance for me to slow down, meditate, and just breathe. As the Marines say, ‘improvise, adapt, and overcome.’”

Higginbotham went on to the 2023 Warrior Games Challenge in San Diego, Calif., and competed in archery, cycling, field, indoor rowing, and shooting, earning several medals along the way. This strengthened his friendships with his teammates and coaches. “I can call any of them and know they’ll make time for me. I can decompress around them. Before coming to camp, I was in a dark mental fog. I was depressed, but my teammates and coaches brought me out of that space. They saved me.”

Higginbotham medically retired in August 2023 and his recovery care coordinator and transition coordinator at Navy Wounded Warrior helped to smooth out some hiccups with his pension to get him off on the right track as a veteran.

He continues to visit his gym several times a week and uses what he learned at camps to improve his own routines. He’s been so inspired by his time with Team Navy that he has been training to become a Certified Personal Trainer. He wants to help other recovering veterans maintain their physical fitness, too.

Now a returning athlete for the 2024 Navy team, he welcomes opportunities to share his experiences with the rookies. One of his favorite sayings is a Toby Keith lyric, “I may not be as good as I once was, but I’m as good as I ever was.”

For LTC Anthony Smith, being part of Team SOCOM, adaptive sports, and the DoD Warrior Games has been “life-changing.” During his deployment to Iraq in 2010, Smith was injured when a grenade struck his vehicle. Then in 2014, Smith was injured again while training at Hunter Army Airfield with the 1st Ranger battalion. Through these incidents, he was connected to the USSOCOM Warrior Care Program and his Recovery Care Coordinator.

Smith’s Recovery Care Coordinator supported and advocated for him throughout his recovery and rehabilitation. They ultimately helped him reintegrate back into his unit and continue serving with the Special Operations Community.

After returning to his unit, something was still missing for Smith, and that’s when his Recovery Care Coordinator encouraged him to sign up for the 2020 USSOCOM Military Adaptive Sports Camp. Smith was hesitant at first because he didn’t think it was meant for him. After participation in the 2020 camp, Smith realized that military adaptive sports are for all Service Members, regardless of their injuries! Like many of our athletes, Smith enjoys the competitive environment the games create, but the bonds and support forged amongst teammates and fellow athletes are even more powerful.

Smith is participating in several sporting events during this year’s games, but what means the most to him are team sports. “Hitting the court with my fellow teammates for wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball gives me a sense of pride and teamwork that I haven’t felt in a long time,” Smith said; and he is ready to do it again in San Diego.

For Smith, being a part of Team SOCOM doesn’t only bring back his competitive spirit and motivation to set goals that push him to remain focused and healthy, it motivates him to support and encourage his teammates to do the same! Nothing is more important to Smith than how he and his teammates represent USSOCOM. Regardless of whether it is between camps or events, like the 2021 Virtual Military Adaptive Sports Event or the 2022 DoD Warrior Games, he always puts the team first, supporting and encouraging his teammates.

Smith’s dedication, sportsmanship, and leadership led his team to elect him not once but twice as a captain, co-captain for the 2022 DoD Warrior Games, and captain for this year’s DoD Warrior Games Challenge. Smith is again honored to lead his teammates to another DoD Warrior Games and demonstrate what it means to be Team SOCOM!

Sports:

Archery, Cycling, Field, Indoor Rowing, Shooting, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby

CMSgt (Ret) Louis Orrie medically retired from the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command in 2016 after thirty years of service. During his extensive career, Orrie worked in various roles, from PaveLow and PaveHawk Gunner to Instructor and Loadmaster for multiple aircraft, eventually retiring as the Command Functional Manager. Orrie spent over ten of his thirty years deployed in support of numerous operations and contingencies, gaining a wealth of knowledge through his experiences.

Regardless of where Orrie went, one nickname stuck with him, “Mr. Fix It.” Orrie earned this nickname because of his ability to take a challenging team and turn them into a functional and effective asset for their unit. Through his dedication and leadership, Orrie made a difference for his unit and his Airmen. This same dedication makes Orrie a valued member of Team SOCOM.

After retirement, Orrie, like many of his brothers and sisters, was still recovering from his injuries and the nineteen surgeries he had endured, which left him struggling to find a purpose in life again. Orrie was searching for ways to reconnect and found the Military Adaptive Sports team for SOCOM’s Warrior Care Program.

“Being a part of a team again, specifically Team SOCOM, has been therapeutic,” Orrie said. It has helped him find his purpose again and connect with other Service Members with similar challenges and experiences. Like many of our athletes, Orrie enjoys the thrill of competing and pushing himself to do his best, but that’s not his favorite part. The connections with his teammates and fellow athletes mean the most. “It’s amazing what the camaraderie will do when I am having one of my dark days and how it changes my outlook,” Orrie said.

Orrie believes that organizations like the USSOCOM Warrior Care Program, adaptive sports, and events like the DoD Warrior Games are essential to any Service Member’s recovery and rehabilitation process, whether they are on active duty or a veteran.

Orrie will be representing Team SOCOM, for a second time, during the DoD Warrior Games, and he is honored to be competing alongside his fellow teammates in archery, air pistol, air rifle, and sitting volleyball. He hopes to bring home a medal or two and, more importantly, show others that they are not alone and are always a part of SOCOM for life!

Sports:

Archery, Air Pistol, Air Rifle, and Sitting Volleyball

Master Sergeant Ivan Morera serves as an Army Special Forces Medic. He has served in the Army since 2001 and was a part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. During this deployment, Morera saw a Special Forces team and said to himself, “I want to do that.” After returning from deployment, Morera went to qualification and special forces medic training. Upon graduating two years later, he was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group.

Morera now found himself on his way to Afghanistan to meet his team. “It had been four years since I went to combat, and it was a completely different scenario,” Morera said. During this deployment, he was be involved in a vehicle rollover caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) worn by a Taliban insurgent. When Morera woke up, his left hand had been crushed under the vehicle door and had to be removed to free him. Morera ended up at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.

Morera described his second night in the hospital as “a real tough night.” He started to question how he would care for his family, what his team thought of him, and what he would do. Morera was determined not to give into the fear of the unknown and started making goals. Through rehab, prosthetic training, occupational therapy, strength, and conditioning training, Morera remained resilient and focused on his goals, one of the most significant was to rejoin his team. “I wanted to get back to being a Green Beret,” which he did.

Morera became the only upper-body amputee qualified for military free fall in the DoD and the only upper-body amputee serving as a combat medic. The incident also changed Morera’s priorities, making him question what was more important, his career or his family. Even though he still wanted to be a Green Beret, Morera realized that his family was his priority. “To be honest, I am better for it. I’m a better man now. I’m a better husband. I’m a better father because my priorities changed,” Morera said.

Eight years later, Morera continues to recover physically, mentally, and spiritually as he prepares for his second visit to the DoD Warrior Games. Being part of Team SOCOM is similar to being on a Green Beret twelve-man team for Morera. “You grow close to each other and support each other like brothers and sisters,” and that is something Morera has missed. His new team has renewed his drive to strive to improve and help others do the same. For Morera, participating in the Games is a chance to show others that “no matter your situation, you can overcome it, you can get through it. It’s your character, your heart, and what you think of yourself that defines who you are, not your situation.”

Sports:

Archery, Field, Indoor Rowing, Seated Volleyball

This year’s DoD Warrior Games Challenge will be a homecoming for retired MAJ Erik Lewis. In 2014 Lewis graduated with his Master of Science degree from the San Diego State University Homeland Security program on the deck of the USS Midway as his friends and family watched. Lewis will once again stand on the deck of the USS Midway, this time representing Team SOCOM during the Kick-Off Event on June 2, 2023.

Lewis grew up in Southern California, obtained his undergraduate degree from UCLA, and spent nine years of his military career in Southern California. Seven of the nine years were with the California National Guard, where he served with the 9th Civil Support Team, working with first responders and interagency partners. Lewis stated, “This was one of my most memorable assignments.” He was able to travel and support various counties, states, and public and private organizations, including the Academy Awards, Rose Parade and Rose Bowl, NASCAR, and the Grand Prix races. His role was to assist with evacuations during wildfires or public emergencies. Lewis always felt a sense of awe and respect for the community he had the privilege to serve. So, this year’s Games is truly a homecoming!

After 22 years of service and a decade of fighting medical issues, Lewis retired in 2022 and found himself focused on healing. Being part of Team SOCOM and the Warrior Games is extremely special, showing him that the road to recovery has many options. For Lewis competing is about healing, recovery, and comradery. It’s a healing journey and one that he is grateful for because “it provides me the opportunity to compete against giants and heal amongst heroes” Lewis said.

With the 2023 DoD Warrior Games Challenge right around the corner, Lewis is excited and honored to be attending his second DoD Warrior Games. “Each athlete comes to the Games with their own goals, but we go together as a team. As athletes, we will support each other and leave it all on the field,” Lewis said. Adaptive sports and the Games have helped in ways Lewis cannot describe, and he is humbled to represent Team SOCOM again.

Sports:

Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball

Staff Sergeant (Retired) Adam Foutz will compete for the first time in this year’s DoD Warrior Games Challenge. However, Foutz’s story of dedication and determination to accomplish this goal begins in 2015 when, after nine years of service, he was medically retired while assigned to the Marine Raider Support Group due to an autoimmune disease. Foutz decided then to learn everything he could about military adaptive sports, the DoD Warrior Games, and the Invictus Games.

Learning about adaptive sports, specifically the DoD Warrior Games, got “him off the ground,” giving Foutz motivation to improve his strength and keep moving despite the challenge in front of him. The Games would allow him to showcase how far he has come since his diagnosis. Foutz states, “The competition is simply a snapshot of my progress and an opportunity to share my recovery process with fellow service members and veterans in a competitive and supportive environment.”

Annual check-in calls from his USSOCOM Warrior Care Program Recovery Care Coordinator reminded him that he was still part of “SOCOM FOR LIFE.” This constant communication helped Foutz feel connected to his community and reassured him that he wasn’t alone. In 2019, his Recovery Care Coordinator helped him apply for the Marine Corps’ Military Adaptive Sports Trials for the 2020 DoD Warrior Games and Invictus Games. The 2020 Marine Corps Trials would have been his first military adaptive sports experience and a life-changing experience. Foutz was excited about the opportunity to participate in the upcoming games. Then COVID happened canceling the 2020 and 2021 DoD Warrior Games.

Despite being immunocompromised, Foutz remained determined to find a way to stay involved. In 2021, he participated in the Military Adaptive Sport Virtual Challenge hosted by the Services and USSOCOM’s Warrior Care Programs. Alongside his fellow athletes, Foutz competed virtually on the Marine Corps team in rowing, running, and swimming, where he placed first in the four-minute row, the 1500-meter, and 800-meter run, setting personal bests!

Unfortunately, Foutz couldn’t participate in the 2022 DoD Warrior Games or Invictus Games, but that didn’t stop him from attending the 2022 Team SOCOM training Camp to support his teammates. Foutz knows firsthand the impact that military adaptive sports and the Games have on our wounded warriors, and he wasn’t going to let them down or give up!

In 2023, Foutz will get his turn, despite recovering from a recent car accident. He will participate as an athlete on Team SOCOM at the 2023 DoD Warrior Games Challenge! During selection camp, Foutz aimed to be assessed in every sport to test himself, learn new skills, and see what he could achieve. Despite the challenges, Foutz never gave up on his dream and will travel to San Diego in June along with the rest of Team SOCOM!

Sports:

Cycling, Rowing, Swimming, Track