The Department of Defense announced today the names of the 115 athletes who will represent the United States military at Invictus Games 2016 in Orlando, Florida, May 8-12.
The athletes will compete against athletes from 14 other countries in events including: archery, cycling, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis; as part of the international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, ill, and injured service members.
"The perseverance of our warrior athletes and their families are an inspiration to Americans everywhere," said the Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad Carson. "I continue to be impressed with the quality of the competitors and I look forward to celebrating the athletes' accomplishments and watching the competition."
In 2011, the Department of Defense created the Military Adaptive Sports Program to enhance warrior recovery by engaging wounded, ill and injured service members in ongoing, daily adaptive activities, based on their interest and ability. The U.S. competitors are part of an over 500 athlete contingent for the second rendition of the multi-national Invictus Games.
The following athletes were selected as primaries for the U.S. team:
Petty Officer 2nd Class Angelo Anderson, U.S. Navy
Staff Sgt. Ashley Anderson, U.S. Army
Tech. Sgt. Leonard Anderson (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Sgt. Roosevelt Anderson (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Gunnery Sgt. Ernesto Aquino (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Armstead (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Allan Armstrong, U.S. Army
Petty Officer 1st Class Shahnaz Askins (ret.), U.S. Navy
Staff Sgt. Robert Brown, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Zachary Burnash, U.S. Air Force
Maj. Ivan Castro, U.S. Special Operations Command
Tech. Sgt. Jason Caswell, U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Rafael Cervantes, U.S. Marine Corps
Cpl. Marcus Chischilly, U.S. Marine Corps
Lt Col Patricia Collins (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Staff Sgt. Gideon Connelly, Air National Guard
Staff Sgt. Daniel Crane (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Dadgostar (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Seaman Steven Davis (ret.), U.S. Navy
Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., U.S. Special Operations Command
Lt. John Edmonston (ret.), U.S. Navy
Staff Sgt. Jason Ellis (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Capt. Kelly Elmlinger, U.S. Army
Sgt. Kirstie Ennis (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Petty Officer 3rd Class Kristen Esget (ret.), U.S. Coast Guard
Seaman Austin Field (ret.), U.S. Navy
1st Lt. Rachel Francis, U.S. Air Force
Master Sgt. Rhoden Galloway, U.S. Army
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jamie Garza (ret.), U.S. Navy
Sgt. Robbie Gaupp (ret.), U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Randi Gavell (ret.), U.S. Army
Capt. Kyle Gentry, U.S. Air Force
Master. Sgt. Jesse Graham, U.S. Air Force
Sgt. Gabby Graves-Wake, U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Robert Green, U.S. Army
Cpl. Travis Greene (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Colton Harms, U.S. Army
Sgt. Sean Hook (ret.), U.S. Army
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Beth Hope (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Seaman Adam Hygema (ret.), U.S. Navy
Lance Cpl. Joshua Jablon (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Master Sgt. Joe Kapacziewski, U.S. Special Operations Command
Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer (ret.), U.S. Army
Capt. Mitchell Kieffer (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Koren, U.S. Air Force
Spc. Chasity Kuczer, U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Katie Kuiper, U.S. Army
Sgt. Stefan Leroy (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Lindstrom (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Sgt. Ana Manciaz, U.S. Army veteran
Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Alfred Martinez, U.S. Special Operations Command
Sgt. Gabriel Martinez (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Tech. Sgt. Lara Mastel, U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Delvin Maston (ret.), U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Robert Matthews (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. Anthony McDaniel (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Clayton McDaniel (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Ryan McIntosh, U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Michael McPhall, U.S. Army
Sgt. Brian McPherson (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Billy Meeks (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. Maj. Shawn Mello (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephan Miller (ret.), U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Adrian Mohammed (ret.), U.S. Navy
Staff Sgt. Lauren Montoya, U.S. Special Operations Command
Cpl. Jesse Murphree (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Staff Sgt. Ola Nahale, U.S. Army
Sgt. Maj. David Neumer (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Sgt. Alex Nguyen (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. August O'Niell, U.S. Air Force
Lt. Col. Daniel Oosterhous (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Seaman Brett Parks (ret.), U.S. Navy
1st Lt. Chris Parks, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Tim Payne (ret.), U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Sven Perryman, U.S. Air Force
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Pinney (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Sgt. Jenae Piper (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Zed Pitts, U.S. Army Reserve
Warrant Officer 1 Anthony Radetic (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Ramos (ret.), U.S. Navy
Sgt. Haywood Range (ret.), U.S. Army
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Reyes (ret.), U.S. Navy
Capt. William Reynolds (ret.), U.S. Army **
Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Rios (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Eric Rodriguez (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Chief Petty Officer Javier Rodriguez (ret.), U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Roggio (ret.), U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Max Rohn (ret.), U.S. Navy
Lance Cpl. Sarah Rudder, U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Cpl. Jorge Salazar (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. 1st Class Howard Sanborn (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Capt. Rafael Sanchez (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Petty Officer 3rd Class Henry Sawyer (ret.), U.S. Navy
2nd Lt. Jennifer Schuble (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. Ivan Sears, U.S. Marine Corps
Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Seekell, U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Alexander Shaw (ret.), U.S. Army
Lt. Steven Simmons (ret.), U.S. Navy
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smith, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Patrick Smith (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Spc. Juan Soto (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. Monica Southall (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. Aaron Stewart, U.S. Army
Seaman Sadie Strong (ret.), U.S. Navy
Sgt. Evan Stratton (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. 1st Class Yancy Taylor, U.S. Special Operations Command **
Sgt. Nicholas Titman (ret.), U.S. Army
Sgt. 1st Class Sualauvi Tuimaleali'ifano III (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Staff Sgt. Tino Uli (ret.), U.S. Air Force
Capt. Sean Walsh (ret.), U.S. Special Operations Command
Lance Cpl. Joshua Wege (ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
Tech. Sgt. Brian Williams, U.S. Air Force
Capt. Christy Wise, U.S. Air Force
** annotates team captains