MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- The 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games is a place where wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans from the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force Special Operations Command and British Armed Forces can come together and have a spirited and fun competition.
“I believe the Warrior Games gives the service members and veterans a second chance at life,” said Michael Pride, a track coach for the All-Marine team. “The games show the players they still have what it takes to compete in high level competitions.”
For some this competition will be their first, others it will be a return trip, but for Kyle Reid this will be his last visit.
“It has given me my life back,” said Kyle Reid, a competitor in the Warrior Games. “The Warrior Games is not something you can describe to someone in a way where they will understand, it is something that has to be experienced.”
This will be his third year competing in the games, and each time he has returned with several gold medals in the track and swimming event.
“He is just one of those guys you want to run with, and he will just motivate everyone on the track, when he is not around you can definitely tell,” said Richard Delarosabuglewicz, a competitor and friend of Reid. “It’s great having him on the team, I think he inspires everybody to run and do their best.”
However, Reid was not always as motivated and happy as he is today. After returning from a tour to Afghanistan, he developed a drinking habit and contemplated suicide many times. Reid struggled with his problems for one year before he realized that it was affecting his marriage. This moment pushed him to seek help and, after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he was assigned to the Wounded Warrior Regiment.
This was when he found out about the Warrior Games.
“I don’t base myself on my achievements, I base them on how I feel, without enjoyment it would not mean anything,” said Reid. “Because I enjoy the games, I am willing to work harder and the rewards have come since.”
Reid’s own hard work and dedication leads him to push his team to try even harder.
“When I come to practice, I like it when he is there, it gives you that edge train a little harder and run a little bit faster,” said Delarosabuglewicz. “He is able to deal with and work around his disabilities every day. I think he is a perfect example of what the Wounded Warrior Regiment is all about, and the games show how hard he has worked to get where he is now.”
Reid intends to make this his last game because he was recently accepted to the St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he plans to join the swim team to become a collegiate athlete.
“What I am going to miss the most about the Warrior Games is the camaraderie, not only between the Corps, but with the other branches as well,” said Reid. “I have a lot of friends here, and I will miss all of them dearly.”