Air Force Wounded Warriors hone skills while at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

by Master Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn
15th Wing Public Affairs

1/7/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- 

More than 120 wounded warriors arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to prepare for the 2014 Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational.

The WWPI is one in a series of adaptive athletic events leading up to the 2014 Warrior Games, an annual competition among wounded warriors from all branches of military service.

The Air Force athletes will train on the fundamental techniques of cycling, seated volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball, they will also scrimmage against, JBPHH Airmen, the Chief's Group and Pacific Air Forces senior leadership Jan. 5-7.

After the practice competitions the thirty Air force athletes will face off against the 90 other athletes for the Wounded Warrior Pacific Invitational Jan. 8-10.

The scrimmage games help the Air Force wounded warriors prepare for the Invitational.

"Competing in wheelchair basketball is very intense," said Staff Sgt. Blake Coney, 647th Logistic Readiness Squadron material management specialist and volunteer competitor.

"There's a lot of multitasking involved in the sport. Being able to see the court, pushing the wheelchair, and dribbling, are all very difficult tasks," said Coney.

Coney is one of several JBPHH Airmen who volunteered to practice with the Air Force wounded warriors.

"The wounded warriors that I practiced with are really sports enthuse and I like that, but they also know how to have fun." said Coney. "It's a lot to take in; the biggest challenge was dribbling and controlling the wheelchair. This experience has made me have a lot more respect for these warrior athletes."

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Pinney Wounded Warrior from the Arizona Air National Guard said these sport camps are fun and help to produce good camaraderie.

"It's a great opportunity to compete against new players and more experienced players. But every sport still needs structure, and requires a leader or captain within the team. But in these competitions were not focused on rank or titles. It's not about active duty, National Guard or civilian, it's all about the camaraderie and the most important aspect of the game is to just have fun." said Pinney.