An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You have accessed part of a historical collection on defense.gov. Some of the information contained within may be outdated and links may not function. Please contact the DOD Webmaster with any questions.
Immediate Release

Department of Defense Announces U.S. Military Athletes for the 2014 Invictus Games

The Department of Defense announced today the military athletes who will represent the United States at the first-ever Invictus Games, which will be held Sept. 10-14 in the United Kingdom.

The games are an international sporting event for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans and will take place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

The United States is one of 14 teams participating, and includes 98 military athletes: 22 from the Army, 20 from the Marine Corps, 22 from the Navy, 22 from the Air Force and 12 from U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Of the service members, 53 are active duty and 45 are veterans.

"The courage and resilience of our military athletes is an inspiration to all of us," said Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright. "We are very proud of their service, their accomplishments, their spirit, and are pleased that they are representing us to the world."

The wounded, ill and injured service members will participate in nine events: cycling, swimming, track and field, archery, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, powerlifting, and a driving challenge.

These military athletes were selected by their specific Services after a year-long series of camps, clinics, and trials throughout the country. Selections were based on the athletes’ level of ability and skill.

“The men and women representing the United States and the other 13 nations at the Invictus Games, are the embodiment of precisely what Invictus means: unconquered,” said James Rodriquez, deputy assistant secretary of defense, warrior care policy. “The athletes, despite their wounds, injuries, and illness, have chosen to be the masters of their fate and the captains of their souls. They are an inspiration to the global community.”

The team is made up of both officer and enlisted ranks, male and female competitors, and active duty and veterans. Their wounds, illnesses and injuries range from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), to spinal cord injuries, autoimmune diseases, and amputations.

The U.S. Team’s captain, Chris Self, a retired Army sergeant major, supported operations in Afghanistan and Iraq with the U.S. Army Special Forces. Assistant captain, Scott Palomino, a retired Air Force senior airman, served in Iraq. ”The international stage that our nation's service members will be showcased on, represents the spirit of competition and camaraderie,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. “They wore our flag while defending the United States. Now they wear it to represent our country alongside service men and women from around the world, demonstrating the persistence and perseverance that allows them to live life to the fullest, regardless of what challenges one may encounter.”

Adaptive sports and athletic reconditioning play a key role in recovery and rehabilitation for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. They expose service members to opportunities for physical fitness and activity, and introduces them to sports and other activities they may not have participated in or even heard of before their wound, illness, or injury.

After attending the 2013 Warrior Games, His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales was inspired to host an international adaptive sports event in the United Kingdom. The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who holds the rank of captain and continues to serve in Britain’s armed forces, announced the 2014 Invictus Games in March of this year.

For more information, please visit: InvictusGames.org

Facebook: /WarriorCare
Twitter: @WarriorCare
Hashtags: #USTeam #IAMUSA #InvictusGames2014 #InvictusGames

About The Office of Warrior Care Policy: The Office of Warrior Care Policy (WCP) establishes policy, provides programs and oversight that assists the nation’s wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and their military caregivers with receiving high quality care through their recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration back to military duty or into civilian life. WCP collaborates with the military services, federal agencies, military service organizations, veteran service organizations, and other associations to ensure the needs of the wounded, ill, and injured are being met. Through education and employment, internships, adaptive sports, disability evaluations, recovery care coordination, online resources, and military caregiver initiatives, the Office of Warrior Care Policy is able to provide tools and resources that make a significant difference in the lives of those who sacrifice for our country.


U.S. TEAM MEMBERS


Army
Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Avalos - Active Duty
Spc. Shawn Cheshire Veteran
Col. Patricia Collins –Active Duty
Lt. Col. Daniel Dudek –Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Carlton Duncan – Active Duty
1st Lt. Kelly Elmlinger – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Chanda Gaeth – Veteran
Master Sgt. Rhoden Galloway – Active Duty
Sgt. Robbie Gaupp – Veteran
Master Sgt. Daniel Hendrix – Active Duty
Sgt. Sean Hook – Veteran
Spc. Geoff Hopkins – Veteran
Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer – Veteran
Sgt. Delvin Maston – Active Duty
Sgt. Ryan McIntosh – Active Duty
Sgt. Kawaiola Nahale – Active Duty
Capt. Michael Phillips – Veteran
Capt. William Reynolds - Veteran
Sgt. Monica Southall – Veteran
Sgt. Erin Stewart – Active Duty
Spc. Elizabeth Wasil – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Jessie White – Veteran

Marines
Sgt. Charles Anderson – Active Duty
Sgt. Lakin Booker – Active Duty
Maj. Richard Burkett – Active Duty
Lance Cpl. Johnny Canizlopez – Active Duty
Sgt. Jesse Clark – Active Duty
Cpl. Dustin Gabehart – Active Duty
Cpl. Robert Hamilton – Active Duty
Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Hammond – Active Duty
Sgt. Kevin Hoffman – Active Duty
Gunnery Sgt. Tyrone Judge – Active Duty
Sgt. Jeremy Lake – Active Duty
Master Sgt. Ben LeCour – Active Duty
Cpl. Joshua Lopez – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Mendiaz – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Jacob Rich – Active Duty
Sgt. Brian Scarbrough – Active Duty
Sgt. Micihael Touraille – Active Duty
Gunnery Sgt. Jason Tumbleson – Active Duty
Master Gunnery Sgt. William VanHoy – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Christopher Whittemore – Active Duty

Navy
EM2 Jonathan Adviento - Active Duty
HM3 Angelo Anderson - Active Duty
BM1 Jim Castaneda -Veteran
EA Steven Davis - Veteran
NCC Ching Dressel - Active Duty
LT John Edmonston - Veteran
HM2 Jacob Emmott - Veteran
HM2 Isaac Francois - Veteran
HM3 Jaime Garza - Veteran
LCDR Maria Gomez-Mannix - Active Duty
ST2 Shericka Goza - Veteran
ABH3 Donald Jackson - Active Duty
EM1 Paul Johnson - Veteran
EOD1 John Kremer - Veteran
HM2 Sonny Lemerande - Veteran
AB2 Stephan Miller - Veteran
AN Brett Parks - Veteran
HM3 Redmond Ramos - Veteran
YNC Javier Rodriguez Santiago - Active Duty
HM2 Max Rohn - Veteran
LTJG Laura Root - Veteran
GMC Hector Varela - Veteran

Air Force
Master Sgt. Christopher Aguilera - Active Duty
Capt. Lewis Barasha - Active Duty
Master Sgt. Matthew Burke - Veteran
Senior Airman Cody Caraker - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Melissa Conduti - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Daniel Crane - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Dadgostar - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Christopher D'Angelo - Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Derrick David - Active Duty
Senior Airman Colby Dean - Veteran
Capt. Sarah Evans - Veteran
Master Sgt. Benjamin Horton - Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Mark Johnson - Active Duty
Tech. Sgt. Chad Lukkes - Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Jerimiah Means - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Olds - Active Duty
Lt. Col. Daniel Oosterhaus - Veteran
Senior Airman Scott Palomino - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Dwayne Parker - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Tatiana Perkins - Veteran
Staff Sgt. Ryan Pinney - Veteran
Senior Airman Marianne Reilly- Veteran

USSOCOM
Sgt. Roosevelt Anderson, U.S. Army – Veteran
Chief Warrant Officer 2 - Daniel Carlton, U.S. Army – Active Duty
Maj. Ivan Castro – U.S. Army - Active Duty
Lt. Col. William Cotty, U.S. Army – Active Duty
Staff Sgt. Alfredo De Los Santos, U.S. Army – Veteran
Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro, U.S. Air Force – Active Duty
Sgt. 1st Class Emilio Garcia, U.S. Army – Active Duty
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Livesay, U.S. Army – Veteran
Staff Sgt. Keven Nguyen, U.S. Army – Active Duty
Warrant Office Anthony Radetic, U.S. Army – Veteran
Sgt. Maj. Christopher Self, U.S. Army – Veteran
Staff Sgt. Patrick Smith, U.S. Army – Active Duty