Wounded Warrior Archery Camp coming to Kirtland Published May 26, 2010 By Jillian Speake 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- The U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Program, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is bringing its archery team to Kirtland AFB June 1-6 to participate in a weeklong camp and compete in a local archery championship. Throughout the year, the USOC conducts Paralympic Military Sports Camps, which are multi-day, multi-sport camps on various installations around the United States. This year, in addition to the multi-sport camps, the USOC will conduct multi-day, single-sport camps for Wounded Warriors who have demonstrated the ability and desire to compete at a more elite level. Kirtland AFB will host this year's archery camp. About 25 Wounded Warrior athletes from all branches of service and eight elite coaches from the USOC will spend the week practicing, training and strength conditioning on base and at the Archery Shoppe in Albuquerque, N.M. The week will end with the athletes competing against local archers in the 2011 State Games of America. The USOC Paralympic Military program, founded through a rehabilitation program developed for wounded World War II veterans, provides post-rehabilitation support and mentoring to American servicemen and women who have sustained physical injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, visual impairment/blindness and stroke. Through the program, veterans from all services are introduced to adaptive sport techniques and opportunities through various clinics and camps, and are connected with continuing Paralympic sports programs in their hometowns. The program supports participation for active-duty service members and veterans at all levels, from recreational through elite, with several participants rising to the level of U.S. Paralympian or U.S. Paralympic Team hopeful. The USOC said the program is not just about sports but also about attitude, camaraderie and promoting healthy, active lifestyles. Opportunities to get involved with the archery camp and support our Wounded Warriors will be featured in upcoming Nucleus issues. To learn more about the program, visit www.usparalympics.org/usoc-paralympic-military-program.