Wounded Warriors compete in time trials

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Stuart
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The Warrior Transition Battalion-Europe hosted the European Regional Warrior games time trials for wounded warriors across Europe on Vogelweh Air Base, Feb. 12.

The time trials is a competition to see how warriors stack up against their fellow brothers-in-arms on the track and field.

"A big part of the Warrior Transition Battalion is adaptive sports, which is a part of our recovery process," said Army Staff Sgt. Ollie Knowland, Warrior Transition Unit wounded warrior. "Every day, the unit does different things to help us recover and this event is one of those efforts."

Wounded warriors from Baumholder, Kaiserslautern, Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Vilseck and Grafenwoehr came out to compete in the events.

"Our events today include air rifle, the 1,500-meter run, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, shot put and discus," said Dr. Linda A. Steil, Warrior Transition Battalion-Europe adaptive reconditioning site coordinator for the military adaptive sports program. "We also have a 30-kilometer bike time trial and a 20-kilometer recumbent bike time trial on Rhine-Ordnance Barracks."

Whether the contestants make it to the Warrior Games or not, the Warrior Transition Battalion is dedicated to helping service members along in the recovery process.

"Our ultimate goal is to return these service members to active duty," said Steil. "If not, we want to return them to a new normal so they can function well in society and progress. There's a satisfaction that comes with being able to watch a person return to functioning normally."

The Marine Corps will be hosting the Wounded Warrior Games in Quantico, Virginia, starting mid-June.