Fort Meade Soldiers to Compete in National Warrior Games

Fort Meade’s own Sgt. Jessie White and SPC Celeste Calvert have departed for Colorado Springs, CO to compete in the Warrior Games on May 16, an event where wounded soldiers from around the country compete in Olympic-like events.

The games serve as an introduction to Paralympic sports for injured service members by inspiring recovery, physical fitness and promoting new opportunities for growth and achievement, according to the official Warrior Games website. 

For the second straight year, White will compete in the shot put event at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. Other competitions include shooting, swimming, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and archery.

White earned a bronze medal in the shot put last year and will look to earn a silver or gold against his competition.

Calvert and White are two of 100 competitors representing the Army, and were chosen out of a pool of more than 9,000 active-duty soldiers recovering in Warrior Transition Units.

The Marine Corps will send 50 competitors, the Air Force will send 50 and the Coast Guard and Navy will combine to send 25, according to the website.

Mike Mullen, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a Pentagon news conference that the games point the public’s attention towards a soldier’s ability and not their disability. 

“When we focus on the ability rather than the disability, we see that physical fitness and sports can have a healing effect on the mind and on the body and on the soul,” Mullen said. “The athletes that compete in the Warrior Games demonstrate that regardless of circumstances, physical fitness and passion to win remain at the core of our military culture.” 

The two soldiers left for Colorado Sunday where they will conitnue training and compete agains the nations best next weekend.