Team Navy began training at Naval Base Ventura County April 7-13, in preparation for the 2018 Department of Defense Warrior Games hosted by the U.S. Air Force at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in June.

This was the first training opportunity for the team to work closely with the coaching staff, practice both individual and team events, and build camaraderie with other athletes.

"We're forming friendships that will last forever," said Lt. Carl Hill. "We're Team Navy!"

"It's a really positive environment," said Yeoman 3rd Class Alexis King. "Being here helps us get our minds off our injuries and brings us together as a family."

The training camp provided the athletes with dedicated training sessions, but also an opportunity to heal and grow on their recovery journey.

"There is so much I am learning from the other wounded warriors here," said Hill. "I am constantly trying to prove to myself that I can still be active after my injuries and being here, around the team, is helping with that.

"We are all going through similar experiences and learning from my teammates has challenged me both mentally and physically," said King. "I'm doing things I didn't think I could do."

The athletes train for hours each day, moving from one sport to another, honing their skills for competition.

"Every day I work on being better than the day before," said King. "Being here is the best decision I've made."

The Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor adaptive sports program is one form of rehabilitation that helps wounded warriors build strength and endurance, while also drawing inspiration from their teammates.

Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor is the Navy's sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen while providing resources and support to their families. Through proactive leadership, the program provides individually-tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of the wounded warriors' recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration activities.

To learn more, visit http://www.navywoundedwarrior.com/.

(Kyle Malloy is a contributing writer for the Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor program under Navy Installations Command)

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/.