More than 100 wounded airmen recently competed in the Air Force Trials—an adaptive sports event—at Nellis AFB, Nev., for a chance to participate in the 2016 Wounded Warriors games. Athletes competed in seven events during the trials, which ran Feb. 26-March 3, including archery, basketball, cycling, track and field, swimming, shooting, and volleyball. “We have this [opening] ceremony to honor these wounded warriors, because we know it took a lot of courage to come here and compete,” said Marsha Gonzalez, Air Force Warrior Care Division deputy, in a release. “We want them to know the Air Force still supports them and will continue to support them throughout this week.” Competitors representing the Air Force team, to be announced at a later date, will compete against Army, Navy, Marine, and Special Operations Command wounded warriors at the DOD Warrior Games in June at the US Military Academy at West Point. AFA’s Wounded Airman Program and Deloitte joined together to support the two-week event by assisting with the closing ceremony and other supporting events. The Wounded Airman Program (WAP), in partnership with the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) program, provides support through financial aid, caregiver support, and on-site support at adaptive sports camps and the Department of Defense Warrior Games.
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.