Athletes compete in sitting volleyball during the 2019 Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida. (DoD Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg)
Mason said each service runs its own adaptive sports program following the DoD office’s guidance and policies. The services partner with volunteer organizations to offer coaching and training in activities including archery, golf, and track and field.
Mason explained that since the Warrior Care Office began collecting data in 2016, MASP has held more than 198 clinics, five camps, and 26 regional competitions for approximately 7,000 service members and veterans enrolled.
"I got into swimming again," Malone said. "And I learned archery. I found it really meditative. It allowed me to focus on the moment, focus on the target, and just forget about my injuries and my illness."
Another benefit, Malone says, is meeting and competing with others who are experiencing similar struggles. "You don't really have to talk about how you're feeling physically," he said. "There's acceptance of who you are and where you are in your journey."
MASP participants experience reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, and weight management, Mason said.
"The program has rebuilt his confidence," said Malone's wife, Jennifer Mok. "And it's made him a lot happier."
The culminating event of MASP is the Warrior Games, an annual competition for wounded, ill, and injured service members in 12 adaptive sports: archery, cycling, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby.
The 2020 games were scheduled to occur in San Antonio Sept. 20-28 with 300 U.S. active-duty and veteran athletes as well as international military teams. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of the event. This year would have marked the 10th anniversary.
“The entire warrior care community is disappointed," said Marine Corps Maj. Leslie Harkness, operations officer of the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment, in a prepared statement. Harkness was lead planner for the 2020 Warrior Games. Harkness said canceling the event was the best option to ensure athletes and supporters remain healthy and safe.
Malone previously competed in the Warrior Games in swimming, archery, and cycling. He and Mok are training on their own for the Marine Corps Marathon. Malone will compete in a handcycle, which is a three-wheeled vehicle powered by arms instead of legs. Mok is running as part of a military connected fundraising team.
Mason noted that the pandemic has caused a pivot to virtual MASP events. They include video demonstrations of sports, and interviews with Paralympians and coaches.
"It's a challenging environment," Mason said. "We've had to be creative, and it's been successful. But we're all looking forward to when it's safe to resume in-person activities."