JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Tex. -- The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) is hosting the 2025 Air Force & Marine Corps Trials at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, March 14th through the 20th. Over 200 athletes from the U.S Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army, as well as international teams from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Georgia, will compete in eleven adaptive sports as part of the Paralympic-style competition.
For the U.S. athletes, this is an opportunity to further hone their skills as they compete for a spot on their respective service teams. The international teams compete for a few different reasons, from preparing for future competitive events to seeing how far they’ve come in their recovery. No matter the reason, their “win” at this event is a personally fulfilling step along their road to recovery.
“For some individuals, their ‘win’ is getting on the plane to come here,” said Kristen Hench, AFW2 Adaptive Sports Coach. “If they make it on the plane, they may find their ‘win’ now is trying a new sport for the first time, achieving a personal best or earning a medal. Regardless of their purpose, my goal is for each warrior to have at least one, if not many, wins throughout the event and to celebrate each one.”
It's these wins you will see when you come out and watch your fellow servicemembers compete. You will most likely witness moments that stick with you for a lifetime, challenging your idea of what it means to be “disabled.”
Take for example, the 2015 Air Force Trials held on Nellis AFB, Nevada.
During a cold day at the track, “Susan” from Team United Kingdom lined up to start a race. She had limited mobility and difficulty walking, let alone running. Despite the challenges, she stepped up to the starting line and, when the gun went off, she started.
It was slow going.
Really slow going.
Each step she took looked difficult, but she kept going, pushing herself as she slowly made her way down the track.
It was then the “magic” occurred.
Every athlete on the field stepped up to the edge of the track and began yelling her name, bellowing words of encouragement. It was like fans at a game yelling when their team does well or when they need that extra burst of motivation. She needed help and she was getting it from her fellow athletes.
It’s these moments of teamwork and seeking the personal fulfillment of a “win” that are powerful reminders of how adaptive sports, and competition among peers can have a positive impact.
“Competitions like this have been pivotal in my recovery,” said Tech. Sgt. Nicole Stickel. “The competition itself is the definition of resilience. There are tons of studies and examples about how community helps with the healing process. The resources and individuals that I’ve found through the program are the very best and I’ll have that for life.”
Nicole attended her first Air Force & Marine Corps Trials in 2024, earning a slot on Team Air Force, going on to compete at the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games and 2025 Invictus Games in Canada. She is back for another chance this year and offers some good advice to anyone coming out for the first time.
“It’s hard to know what you’re in for when it’s your first trials,” Nicole said. “Just know, when you’re at trials and beyond - you are an athlete. Be sure to get in that mentality and train like one, and this includes making time for recovery as well. Good sportsmanship is a crucial aspect of being an effective teammate - even if you’re not in team sports. Everyone has an impact on the team dynamic and if you’re selected that means you are a hard worker with a positive attitude.”
You can follow the action on our social media pages at Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn or come out to the Rambler Fitness Center starting on March 14th to witness the magic in person. Click here for the complete list of events. We look forward to seeing you there.