By Staci Jones
The Selma Times-Journal

Selma native and Staff Sgt. Timothy Babb is competing in the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games competition that started Friday at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va.

The games include approximately 250 athletes representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, U.S. Special Operations Command and the British Armed Forces.

Babb calls the games “an Olympics . . . for warriors.”

The Warrior Games’ purpose is to provide wounded warriors with the opportunity to stay active and continue their military comradery.

A press release described the games as “adaptive sports and reconditioning activities that help enable healing through a holistic approach throughout the recovery and reintegration process: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically and most importantly socially as service members and veterans share and learn through their common experiences.”

“The games give wounded warriors hope for something,” Babb said.

Sgt. Babb is a retired Air Force weapons armament technician of the AC-130H. He served more than six years before he was medically retired. Babb’s injuries include; post traumatic stress disorder, lower back injuries and damage to his left forearm. Cycling, track and field, swimming and the Air Force relay team are some of the events that Babb will compete in. This year is Babb’s third year competing in the Warrior Games.

In 2013 he placed third in the backstroke, and in 2014 he placed third in the breaststroke and first in the Air Force swimming relay. Babb says that swimming is his favorite sport.

“It’s having something to prepare for, building up to it . . . and then when the event comes, giving 100 percent,” Babb said.

“No matter how you place, at least you have that in the back of your mind . . . you know what? I did it. I did my best and I’m proud of myself.”

The DoD Warrior Games end Sunday, June 28.