When you are in the military, you dedicate a large portion of your time to maintaining physical fitness and staying active. Your fitness can sometimes be your greatest survival tool, so you spend weeks training to reach the peak of your physical abilities. When your service is over, it can be difficult to stick to such a rigorous training schedule. However, entering life after service does not mean you have to give up physical activity. There are a variety of nationwide sporting events and competitions for veterans. Check out a few examples below.
1. National Veterans TEE Tournament
For the second year in a row, this event will be a nationwide competition. Veterans, including those who are disabled or legally blind, are encouraged to come participate in adaptive sporting events such as horseback riding, kayaking and the TEE Golf Tournament. The National Veterans TEE Tournament was created to encourage camaraderie and sportsmanship between former servicemembers. This year's event will take place Sept. 7-10 in Iowa City, Iowa.
2. National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic
Veterans who were injured or disabled during their service can participate in events like sailing, surfing, track and field events, kayaking and cycling at the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. This week-long event is a great opportunity for veterans to participate in sports and physical activities. Held in San Diego, California, the 2015 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic will begin on Sept. 13 and continue through Sept. 18.
3. CanAm Veterans Challenge
The first CanAm Veterans Challenge took place in 2014. Veterans from Canada and America joined up for an 800-mile bike ride from Washington, D.C., to Ottawa, Canada. Injured and disabled veterans interested in working toward an active lifestyle where they are not held back by their disabilities should consider participating in the 16-day journey. On the trip, veterans are pushed to challenge themselves and reignite their passion for life. The next ride is scheduled to take place in June 2016.
4. Invictus Games
At the inaugural games in London in 2014, Prince Harry and the British royal family welcomed over 400 competitors from 13 countries around the world to participate in an adaptive sporting event. All of these competitors were veterans of their countries' military who sustained a physical or mental injury in their service. The games are meant to encourage veterans to maintain their warrior spirits despite their disabilities. Recently, Prince Harry announced that the Invictus Games would return in 2016 to Orlando, Florida.
5. National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Veterans from across the country who sustained injuries during service and now use a wheelchair can compete in activities like archery, quad rugby and table tennis. The competition is meant to inspire healing of the mind, body and spirit as well as allow disabled veterans to demonstrate their athletic abilities. This year's National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held from June 21-26 in Dallas, Texas, while the 2016 event will take place June 27-July 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
6. Valor Games
These Paralympic games bring veterans together for three days of friendly sporting competition. The Valor Games promote a healthy lifestyle and reintegration while giving disabled veterans an opportunity to display their athletic prowess. To find a Valor Games competition in your region, click here.
Even though veterans are sometimes left with physical or mental disabilities from their service, they can still enjoy the active lifestyle they grew accustomed to. The sporting events above are just a few examples of competitions for veterans and disabled former servicemembers. Many of these events can help veterans with healing and establishing bonds with others who have experienced similar situations.