Navy Lt. (ret.) Jarek Neczypor, (second from right), will compete against athletes representing the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command. Photo courtesy of Navy Outreach

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A Sacramento native will join more than 250 seriously wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans at the Department of Defense (DOD) Warrior Games Challenge June 21 to 30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.

Navy Lt. (ret.) Jarek Neczypor will be competing against athletes representing the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command. During the 10 days of competition, Neczypor will compete in cycling, shooting, track, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

Hosted by U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC) the DOD organizes an annual premiere and elite adaptive-sports competition, the Warrior Games. This year is the 14th Anniversary, highlighting the exceptional physical skills and mental toughness of seriously wounded, ill, and injured active-duty and veteran service members.

Though there are medals distributed during Warrior Games, the competition most highly celebrates personal tenacity, perseverance, and the triumph of the spirit.

Neczypor joined the Navy because he wanted to serve his country and travel the world. During his time in service, he was forward deployed and sailed across Asia. After his injuries and throughout his recovery, he was involved with Navy Wounded Warrior.

Neczypor connected with other service members who had similar stories to his own, building a new community of support for him on his healing journey. In this network, Neczypor and his shipmates have swapped resources related to education, jobs, and veteran-support organizations. These experiences inspired him to attend law school to pursue legal work at Yale's Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

"Through Navy Wounded Warrior, I was able to make new friends and have a community I can rely on, which is unlike any other," said Neczypor. "It also inspires me to be the best version of myself and to help other veterans. The program provided a chance to recover with people who understood. No matter the challenges, we support each other."

For more information about the 2024 DoD Warrior Games Challenge, visit dodwarriorgames.com.