Wounded Warriors arrive in Colorado Springs for the Warrior Games

Hundreds of wounded service members are making their way to Colorado Springs for the annual Wounded Warrior Games.

The event kicks off at the Air Force Academy the first day of June and includes a variety of Paralympic events with athletes competing to win a gold medal. About 300 athletes from five different U.S. armed services will be competing.

On Thursday, dozens of the athletes arrived at the Colorado Springs Airport and were welcomed with cheers from the crowd waiting at the gate for them. Lieutenant Colonel Cary Hepp says the games help wounded service members learn new skills and puts them to the test in competition.

One of the competitors is Staff Sergeant Jason Pacheco with the Marine Corps. He will be competing in archery, swimming and more. Pacheco is a former scout sniper team leader. In 2010 he lost part of his right leg in Afghanistan after stepping on an IED. Despite his injury, Pacheco went back to Afghanistan and become the first Marine Corps amputee to return to combat. “Before I left, I said, ‘I’ll be back’ and they said ‘you’re crazy’, Pacheco says. “I did everything I could possibly do to keep that promise and I went back to Afghanistan 15 months after losing my leg.”

When he was injured, that’s when he learned about the wounded warrior program. Since then, Pacheco has competed in previous warrior games. He says he’s drawn to working with men and women who have faced similar challenges. It’s also an important part of his overall recovery. Pacheco says,”It’s one of the pinnacle events of your healing process not just physically but mentally and it’s the camaraderie we have coming together.”

The games start June first and go through the ninth at the Air Force Academy.