Teamwork led to the creation of a symbolic cauldron and torches that will be used to light the opening ceremony at this year’s Air Force & Marine Corps Trials in San Antonio, Texas.
Warriors Heart and the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program collaborated on the effort. The cauldron was made in the Warriors Heart Wood and Metal Shop by warriors.
“It was made with [the] intention to resemble the USAF Memorial and created with painstaking detail to honor the men and women of the USAF and USMC who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Justin Jordan, Warriors Heart special operations director and AFW2 alumni. “It’s a privilege to support and uplift these warriors in long-term recovery.”
Warriors Heart’s Wood and Metal Shops are electives during the 42-day on-site residential treatment program that is exclusively for warriors - military, veterans and first responders - struggling with addiction, PTSD, mental health, trauma, mild TBI and co-occurring issues.
AFW2 Director Col Tre’ Irick said the cauldron represents the joint mission, vision, values and support of the two organizations for “warriors healing warriors."
The 2025 Air Force & Marine Corps Trials is a Paralympic-style competitive event featuring sports adapted to the individual capabilities of wounded warrior athletes from the Marine Corps and Air Force, as well as international competitors from the Republic of Georgia and the United Kingdom.
During this year’s trials, wounded warriors will compete in 11 adaptive sports, including powerlifting, cycling, swimming, archery, rowing, track, field, shooting, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair rugby.
Each athlete is competing to earn a spot on their service team to and represent Team Air Force or Team Marine Corps at the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games that take place later this year in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Recovering service members and caregivers will also have the opportunity to participate in care events, which include resiliency workshops, an Empowerment 2 Employment Workshop, and a Caregiver Workshop.
The cauldron can be viewed at the opening ceremony for the trials on March 14 at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph.
“The team at Warriors Heart did an amazing job in taking a simple idea, and turning it into a work of art that will serve our wounded warriors for years to come,” said Air Force Wounded Warrior Program Support Branch Chief Marsha Hoskins.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.