JULY 15, 2025 – Colorado Springs, a city that serves as the vital hub for space operations, is playing host to a different kind of mission this year: the Department of Defense Warrior Games. And for the first time, Guardians are among the nearly 200 wounded, ill and injured athletes competing in 11 adaptive sports over nine days.
One of the two Guardians competing is U.S. Space Force Master Sgt. Christopher Borland, operations support superintendent with Delta 10, Space Training and Readiness Command and a Colorado Springs local. Borland will be pushing his limits July 18-26 in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball, rowing, cycling and archery. But for him, the games represent far more than just athletic competition.
“This has been an amazing experience,” Borland said. “I’ve met remarkable people and have grown my support community. It’s a place where you find strength in shared experiences and build bonds that last a lifetime.”
The DoD Warrior Games are designed to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill and injured service members, offering a path to healing through the power of sport. Borland’s journey to the games began with an introduction to the Department of the Air Force Warrior Care Program, a vital resource dedicated to supporting service members and veterans and bolstering the nation’s readiness.
“I started looking into the [Warrior] Games to see what it was all about and decided to compete in one of the trials,” Borland explained. “I would say that I am not the traditional Wounded Warrior that people correlate to the games, but that has motivated me even more. I want to represent those with invisible wounds and encourage all service members to seek help when needed.”
In 2020, he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, triggered by a series of culminating events that severely impacted his mental health. While treatment offered a way forward, Borland credits the unwavering support from Space Force leadership as the crucial element in his recovery.
“The Space Force has been really special in supporting me,” he said. Borland’s military career began in the Air Force in 2007, before transitioning to the Space Force as a cyber operator in 2021. That support, combined with the camaraderie and focus provided by adaptive sports, has been transformative.
Adaptive sports provide reconditioning activities to all wounded service members to improve their physical and mental wellness, regardless of their injury or illness. In Borland’s case, he is an able-bodied member, competing in the adaptive sports. This unique position gives him a different perspective on the challenges faced by his fellow competitors.
“Competing helps sharpen all my skills as a leader and person – giving me more tools in my toolbox,” Borland said. “It’s about pushing boundaries, overcoming obstacles and learning from each other.”
Programs like the DAF Warrior Care Program, and the Warrior Games themselves, are vital in addressing the holistic needs – physical, mental, spiritual and social – of service members. By fostering resilience and providing avenues for recovery, they ensure a capable and ready force. Master Sgt. Borland’s participation in the Warrior Games is a testament to the power of these programs and a powerful reminder that strength comes in many forms – and that seeking help is a sign of courage, not weakness.
As Borland competes this week, he carries with him the hopes and admiration of the Space Force, and a message of hope for all those facing their own battles, visible or invisible.
By Ashley D. George
Space Operations Command