Leaders, Celebrities Salute ‘Inspirational’ 2018 DoD Warrior Games

By Shannon Collins, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 2018 Department of Defense Warrior Games, described by a senior Air Force leader as ‘absolutely’ successful and inspirational, drew to a close at the U.S. Air Force Academy here, June 9.

After a week of competition, more than 608 medals were presented at over 11 events to athletes from the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, U.S. Special Operations Command, as well as the United Kingdom, Australian and Canadian armed forces.

For the first time in DoD Warrior Games history, the games hosted the Canadian armed forces, held three new sports -- indoor rowing, powerlifting and the cycling time trial and held a two-day sports expo, where 450 family members experienced wheelchair rugby and tennis, family archery and shooting and sled hockey, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, 2018 DoD Warrior Games director.

Grosso recognized the athletes, families, Air Force Academy team, the mayor of Colorado Springs and the hundreds of volunteers who supported the games.

Inspirational Warrior Games

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. Wilson said the success of the games could be measured “by the smiles given and shared by the lives saved, by the steps forward the athletes are making and by the inspiration that you’ve given to everyone here.”

“If that’s how we define success, I’d say these games were absolutely, unbelievably successful,” Wilson said.

This year’s Warrior Games also showcase unity among the participating partners and allies, Wilson said. “For all of our coalition partners, just like we fight together, we compete together,” he said. “You make us all better and stronger. There’s never been a more important time in our nation to have partners and allies and friends like you. Thank you, very much.”

Wilson said the athletes are an “inspiration for not only the Department of Defense, but for this whole nation and all of our partner nations.”

Wilson also thanked the coaches, caregivers, supporters and families.

Stewart’s Congratualations

Jon Stewart, who’s hosted the DoD Warrior Games for the past three years, also congratulated the athletes and their families.

“It’s an honor,” Stewart said. “I walk out of here twice the man I was walking in here, and you all make that possible. I’m so thankful for the opportunity. From my family to you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you do.

“You’re the best of us. Thank you,” he added.

The athletes recognized Stewart’s work at the games for the past few years by giving him heartfelt thanks and a DoD Warrior Games flag signed by the athletes and their families.

Honoring the Fallen

During closing ceremonies, the Air Force band, “Blue Steel” played an acoustic version of “Amazing Grace” as photos were displayed to honor previous DoD Warrior Games athletes who’ve passed away in the past year -- Air Force Capt. Chris Cochrane, 2016 torchbearer, Air Force Capt. Austin Williamson, 2017 torchbearer and Ultimate Champion silver medalist, and U.S. Special Forces Command’s Army Staff Sgt. Luke Yetter, who earned the Heart of the Team award in 2017.

“One of the more difficult parts about these games is that while you all come together as a family, and you leave here as one, among the highs of the games of the competition, we do sometimes lose a brother or sister along the way,” Stewart said. “Let’s take a moment to honor them.”

Ultimate Champions

To earn the Ultimate Champion title, athletes compete in their respective functional classifications in eight sporting events. Each service branch was allotted two slots. Ultimate Champion athletes earned points based on their individual results in the events. The Ultimate Champion is the athlete who earned the most points in the eight sporting events. Army Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine earned the gold medal, Air Force Senior Airman Rafael Morfinencisco earned the silver medal and Army Staff Sgt. Altermese Kendrick took home the bronze medal.

“It’s amazing to take home the gold in Ultimate Champion; I couldn’t have done it without the support of Team Army and the support of the cadre,” said Alewine, who earned gold in wheelchair basketball, rowing and track and field, two silver medals in swimming and a bronze in cycling.

“I’ve been training every day, six days a week. I’ve lost 41 pounds in two-and-a-half months,” Alewine added. “I wanted to show other guys who are injured like me that if I can do it, any of you guys can do it. I also wanted to make my daughters, Carson and Kenney, proud. Go Army!”

Kendrick said he was honored just to be among the competition for the Ultimate Champion title. “I’ve given it my all, I always can find something to improve on,” he said. “If I’m able to come back again, I’m going to snag it.”

Kendrick earned gold medals in the 100-meter hand cycling in the time trial event and in the indoor rowing 1-minute sprint race and a silver medal in the powerlifting 70-kilogram in her disability category.

Kendrick, a chaplain assistant with the Chaplain Family Life Training Center, Fort Hood, Texas, said her coaches motivated her so much last year, she learned how to swim so she could compete in swimming at this year’s Warrior Games.

“The team is great this year, the coaches are magnificent. To just be with them every year and to just show what they have helped us to accomplish, it’s amazing,” Kendrick said. “I didn’t know how to swim. I had to go home and get into the water. I met with Coach Abita in the pool here. He’s an awesome coach and did more swimming than I’ve ever done in my life. It was a huge accomplishment for me.”

Kendrick said her family and leadership cheered her on every step of the way. “My chaplain, [Army Lt. Col.] Steve Moser, and his wife, they’re my greatest fans,” she said. “I really love them, and thank them for their prayers and their support. I also thank my family, my sister, Sharon, and those who came to visit, like my brother, Carolos, and my nephew, Army Capt. Dion Theres at Fort Carson. I really do thank them for their support, as well as the support of Team Army, the Airmen, Marines, U.K., all of us, thank everyone for all of their support. We appreciate everyone’s support. Go Team Army!”

Heart of the Team

The athletes said they felt a sense of accomplishment by winning their medals, yet most of them said their biggest takeaway from the week was the sense of camaraderie and friendship. The Heart of the Team award is awarded to one member on each team who best exemplified character, integrity and sportsmanship. The teams chose who received the awards.

The recipients are: Army Spc. Brent Garlic, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason Pacheco, Navy medically retired Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Dieli, U.S. Special Operations Command Army Master Sgt. George Vera, Royal Air Force veteran Cpl. Michael Bates, Australian Leading Seaman Vanessa Broughill and Canadian Master Cpl. Charlene Kendell.

“I was very surprised to get this. I thought James Howard should’ve gotten it,” said a surprised Vera. It sums up what Socom is all about: putting ourselves last every time, no matter what. We’re all about team and family.”

“I’m very proud of my dad and all of the hard work he’s done,” Vera’s daughter, Isabella, 11, said. “Even if you’re in a wheelchair like my dad, you can do more than you think.”

Passing the Torch

Team Air Force’s Master Sgt. Shay Hampton passed the torch to Wilson, who passed the torch to Socom’s commander, Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, who passed the torch to Socom’s Army Sgt. 1st Class Brant Ireland, officially closing the 2018 DoD Warrior Games.

“Thank you General Wilson, General Grosso, the DoD Warrior Games staff and the United States Air Force Academy for hosting a tremendous Warrior Games 2018,” Thomas said. “Thanks as well to Jon Stewart. Congratulations to all the athletes who competed and a special thank you to the families of our warriors. You are the rock and an inspiration to us all.”

Next year, Thomas said, the U.S. Special Operations Command will host the Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida.

“I hope to see you all there,” he said.

Training to Save Lives

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sarah Myers, USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) Public Affairs

WATERS OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN (NNS) -- The cold ocean embraced him as he jumped from the small craft, but he didn't mind the temperature. All he could think about was completing the mission and retrieving his shipmate during the drill.

On the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), Seaman Ryan Mango is a search and rescue (SAR) swimmer. He is often seen in a wet suit with his gear in hand and ready for anything.

"During any special evolution on the ship that may involve someone going overboard, a SAR swimmer must be present," Mango said. "At any given moment, I need to be ready to be [called upon]."

Mango graduated from Kings Park High School in Long Island, New York, in 2014. He said he joined the Navy to challenge himself and create new experiences.

"Anything can happen on a ship," Mango said. "That's why I think SAR swimmers are so essential to our mission. They can literally be the difference between life and death."

The U.S. Navy requires two qualified SAR swimmers present on board in order for a ship to leave port.

SAR swimmer candidates must go through a four-week course that teaches first aid, CPR, and several different scenarios to retrieve personnel from the water.

"SAR school can be considered very tough, but I found it really fun," Mango said. "It challenged me to become a better swimmer and be aware of my surroundings."

Mango, an undesignated seaman, said he wants to become a hospital corpsman, and being a SAR swimmer will help him toward his goal.

Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Mattis Stresses Unity in Meeting Collective Security Threats

By Terri Moon Cronk, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- Threats to collective security have not waned, whether from terrorism or Russia’s aggression and hybrid threats, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said at NATO headquarters in Brussels today.

In the global fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the U.S.-led coalition “will continue to carry out operations necessary to crush the physical caliphate and prevent a resurgence of ISIS,” the secretary said at a news conference following a NATO defense ministers meeting.

“We will be unrelenting in our effort, working with like-minded nations. We will target ISIS around the world, for this remains a global fight,” he said.

And to support those efforts, NATO is transitioning its existing activity in Iraq into a sustainable training mission, the secretary said.

“In concert with the new Iraqi government, we will capitalize on Iraq’s success and reinforce their long-term counterterrorism efforts,” Mattis said. “We cannot allow ISIS or any other terrorist group to terrorize the people of this region, again driving thousands of refugees from their homes and into Europe and elsewhere.”

Resolute Support

On NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, NATO’s steadfast commitment and the implementation of the U.S. South Asia strategy have renewed stabilization efforts, now including additional, significant development funding from India, the secretary said.

“Afghan security forces continue to improve,” he said, adding that all six Afghan corps are deployed throughout the country, demonstrating Afghan resolve while their government pursues a stable, inclusive order for its people with NATO support.

“The level of confidence today is sufficient for [Afghan President Ashraf Ghani] to announce a temporary cease-fire for the end of Ramadan, offering the Taliban an opportunity to bring to an end this fighting and providing the world a clear demonstration of his government’s and our alliance’s commitment to peace and an Afghan-led, and an Afghan-owned peace process.”

Burden Sharing Improves

The secretary said NATO nations have stepped up their defense spending and reversed a three-year downward spiral, with 100 percent participation in 2017. “We also saw an across-NATO increase in military spending in a quarter century” last year, he added.

“Now, in 2018, eight nations are already meeting the 2 percent [of gross domestic product in defense spending] pledge benchmark, and I salute the 15 allies who are on track to reach 2 percent by 2024,” Mattis said.

Many allies are making investments beyond the monetary aspect of contributions, he noted. “I appreciate the troops and the leadership these nations provide to support NATO’s Kosovo [and] Afghanistan forward presence and other missions,” Mattis said.

“With [NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s] capable leadership, we also continue to improve the speed of political decision making,” the secretary said. “Coupled with building NATO’s military readiness, speed of alliance consultation and decision making [provide] a credible deterrent to any who would threaten our democracies.”

European Union Partners

Mattis said the alliance’s defense ministers also engaged European Union partners on security cooperation and military mobility. “[With] our defense cooperation with the EU, NATO recognizes effective deterrence and defense depends on a transparent dialogue between us,” he said.

“We also recognized that uncoordinated investments that waste resources or duplicate alliance efforts undercut our collective deterrence and defense posture, so we found further areas for cooperation and alignment,” he said.

“[For] nearly 70 years, the NATO alliance has served to uphold the values and the principles on which our democracies were founded,” Mattis said. “The American people remain committed to this alliance, and we look forward to working together to sustain our core function -- the collective defense of our people -- while fostering peace and security.”