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- THE PENTAGON, Va., (November 21, 2013) - Joint Services Sitting Volleyball Tournament including Army, Navy, Air Force, SOCOM, Marine Corps and Veterans Affairs teams at the Pentagon Athletic Center. Photo by Roger Wollenberg
On November 21, the Office of Warrior Care Policy hosted the Third Annual Joint Services Sitting Volleyball Tournament at the Pentagon Athletic Center. Recovering Service members, veterans, and senior Service leader athletes representing all Military Services and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) teams participated in a series of matches including a senior exhibition, a double-elimination, and championship game.
Five teams played a round robin tournament with the Marine Corps and Air Force meeting for the championship game, and the Marine Corps emerging as the final victor.
The annual tournament was one of many activities that took place during Warrior Care Month. Since 2008, each November, the Military Services and the Department of Defense have recognized the month-long event by highlighting various wounded warrior programs, activities, stories of recovery, and personal triumphs. As such, it is particularly fitting that this year’s theme is “Building a Ready and Resilient Force.”
Adaptive sports and reconditioning activities such as sitting volleyball strengthen resilience and improve the readiness of today’s Service members and family members. Such sports and activities play a major role in a warrior’s recovery and healing process, leading to an enhancement of the rehabilitative process and increased quality of life.
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THE PENTAGON, Va., (November 21, 2013) - The All-Marine Sitting Volleyball Team won the Joint Services Sitting Volleyball Tournament after defeating Air Force 2-0. Photo by Roger Wollenberg
“Military Adaptive Sports is a very important program to promote overall health and well-being,” said Mrs. Donna Seymour, ADASD, WCP. To date almost 100,000 recovering Services members have participated in adaptive sports. Through the Office of Warrior Care Policy’s Military Adaptive Sports Program, all Service members are provided with an opportunity to participate in recreational activities and competitive athletic opportunities to improve their physical and mental quality of life throughout the entire continuum of care. Events like the Joint Sitting Volleyball Tournament demonstrates that recovering Service members have capabilities beyond what they might have thought was possible and that their warrior sprit and resiliency is just as strong as ever and continues to inspire our Nation every day.
Missed viewing the tournament? View it here dvidshub.net/webcast/3562.
Read more
here about one of the athletes and recovering Service members, Lance Cpl. Ben McCrosky, from the championship team, the Marine Corps Wounded Regiment.