Roegge Succeeds Padilla as National Defense University President

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2017 — Presiding at the change of presidency ceremony at the National Defense University on Fort Lesley J. McNair here today, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said professional military education is a priority for the American military and its allies.

Dunford watched as Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Frederick M. Padilla handed the NDU flag to Navy Vice Adm. Frederick J. Roegge.

The chairman thanked Padilla for his persistence and example, saying he epitomized “the servant leader” to the NDU faculty, staff and students Padilla arrived at a time of staff turbulence and financial uncertainty at the university, he noted, putting new curricula in place and fighting to ensure the university received the proper funding to accomplish its important mission. Dunford said the United States military will "double down" on professional military education.

As he looked across the audience, he noted a number of officers from allied militaries and said the source of the U.S. military's strength is the network of allies and partners built up since World War II. Padilla has paid particular attention to reaching out to this network to increase the international flavor of the school, he added.

Dunford said he chose Roegge – a career submariner – to take the university to the next level because he combines a hard science education with a liberal arts degree. This, the chairman said, is a perfect combination for the leader of an institution such as NDU.

The National Defense University is the pinnacle of officer professional military education. It consists of the National War College, the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, the College of International Security Affairs and the Joint Forces Staff College. The university also hosts the Pinnacle course for senior government leaders.

The institution is designed to foster development of joint security leaders and has students from all the military services, many civilian agencies and international allies and partners. The military established the university in 1976.

Captain Excited to Lead U.S. Team at Invictus Games

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 — A pilot who returned to active duty after losing her leg to an accident said she's honored to lead the U.S. team this week at the Invictus Games here.

Runner sprints to finish line

"It's a complete honor," Air Force Capt. Christy Wise said. "Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it, but all of the other amputees and wounded warriors did so much for me when I was initially injured. I'm a little further in my recovery, and anything I can do to help and inspire others, I feel that's my job to do. I love it."

Wise, who's served for 11 years as an HC-130 Hercules pilot, had her right knee amputated above the knee after an April 2015 boating accident. She competed in the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games nine weeks after her injury. She has earned 11 medals at the DoD Warrior Games and Invictus Games in wheelchair race, swimming, hand cycle, shot put and discus.

Wise said she's excited to see her teammates compete throughout the week. "I'm excited to see the team events -- that's where it gets really intense, the volleyball and rugby. It will be fun to watch those," she said. "We're always really good at rugby and basketball. We've got one or two Paralympic athletes on those teams, so those are my favorites to watch. And in rugby, they're just bashing each other, flipping chairs over. It's exciting to watch. It's really cool."

Making Friends

Making friends and sharing techniques is the theme among all of the competitors here, she said. "It's amazing. Everywhere we go, we're always making friends," she said. "What events are you doing? How do you manage sweat? How do you keep from blisters? We're all helping each other out. We're still competitive, but we're all here for each other."

The Canadians have been great hosts, Wise said. One of the Canadian team's captains is an above-the-knee amputee, she noted. "He's back to duty, I'm back to duty, so we have that camaraderie as well," she said. "So it's cool that he's doing all of the running events too, so it's been awesome to hang out with him."

Wise said she recommends adaptive sports to anyone with a disability. "I just want everyone to know that you're really capable of everything," she said. "None of us wanted to be here. No one wanted to lose legs or be in a wheelchair, but this is what life gave us. Just keep living your life. Keep competing. You're capable of more than you think."

More than 550 wounded, ill and injured service members from 17 nations compete in 12 sporting events including archery, track and field, cycling, golf, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games, which run through Sept. 30.

Retired Marine Breaks Personal Record, Takes Gold at Invictus Games

By Shannon Collins DoD News, Defense Media Activity

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2017 — Medically retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sarah Rudder broke another personal record and took home gold medals in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter dashes during track and field competition at the 2017 Invictus Games here Sept. 24.

Rudder also earned a gold medal in her category in the women’s discus Sept. 24. She earned a gold medal in her category in the women’s shot put Sept. 25. Rudder earned seven medals last year in indoor rowing, powerlifting and track and field. She has earned several medals over the years competing in the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Her first gold medal was in the women’s 100-meter run in track at the 2015 DoD Warrior Games at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

“It’s been exhausting and nonstop, from six in the morning to 10 at night, but it’s exhilarating. It’s something we need in order to heal. For me, all I wanted to do is accomplish a personal record, whether that got me a gold [medal] or not today. I did it, and I got both so I’m excited,” Rudder said at the York-Lions Stadium here.

More than 550 wounded, ill and injured service members from 17 nations are competing in 12 sporting events, including archery, track and field, cycling, golf, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball here Sept. 23-30 as they are cheered on by thousands of family members, friends and spectators in the Distillery District here.

Since the Quantico competition, Rudder has lost 70 pounds and continues having challenges with finding a prosthetic device with a socket that fits because she keeps training to improve her way of life, she said.

“I’ve been challenging myself more than ever,” she said. “I’m down 25 pounds, changed my diet, changed my way of life and being here, proving that changing things for a positive way in life, it helps tremendously. Being involved in sports and part of a team of vets again, it makes you feel like you’re home again. To have that piece, I will do it every second I can.”

Rudder served as an ambassador at the DoD Warrior Games in Chicago earlier this year, helping the new athletes. “As an ambassador, it was an honor because I was able to see the first steps of new athletes coming in and to look at them, knowing that they’re making a change in their lives just the way I did, I couldn’t be more proud of them,” she said.

Overcoming Injury

Rudder first injured her ankle when she went through the Crucible in boot camp and was recovering when she reinjured it Sept. 11, 2001. She was serving at the Pentagon.

“I was put on a working party for search and rescue, and when I was pulling non-survivors, I hurt my ankle again,” she said. “I was running on adrenaline and didn’t feel anything at the time because I wanted to do as much as I could at the time.”

She underwent five surgeries and had cartilage taken from her knee and placed in her ankle. She had metal rods put in, taken out and they made the decision to remove her limb and give her a prosthetic.

Family

Rudder’s husband, who is also her caregiver, as well as her son and parents are watching her compete this week at the Invictus Games.

“My husband is my caregiver, so he’s with me 100 percent, my son too,” she said. “My parents flew in from England, and it’s the first time they’ve seen me compete [at Invictus. They’re going to see] how are I’ve really pushed myself for the last few years and how far I’ve come.”

When Rudder had earned her first gold medal in track and field, her father, Kenny DuFresne, and stepmother, Lorraine, had missed it but were on hand to witness her earn the bronze medal in volleyball at Quantico.

“I’m proud of her doing this and going through what she’s going through,” Kenny DuFresne said. “It keeps her active; it’s awesome.”

“I’m very proud of her,” Lorraine DuFresne added. “She’s made so much progress. It’s so fantastic she medaled her first time out. She’s always been a winner, but this just proved that she is one.”

Rudder said Team U.S. and the camaraderie among the athletes from other countries is like family as well. “We’re brothers and sisters all the way to the end,” she said. “We fight together. We died together. We’re going to survive together.”

Adaptive Sports

Rudder said all wounded, ill and injured service members should consider adaptive sports. “It’s healing. Anytime you can get healing -- do it. Don’t feel sorry for yourself,” she said. “There are people out here worse than you. That was my problem. I felt sorry for myself. When I came out here, and I saw the other athletes, I thought, ‘I have a paper cut compared to what they have.’ And for me to come out here and show that I could do it too, it gave me confidence back into myself.

“There are adaptive sports, whether you have invisible or physical wounds, we’re here for you,” she added. “No matter what [service] branch, no matter how you hide your injury, you’re still a brother and sister and you should be out there fighting with us.”