Staff Sgt. Vester ‘Max' Hasson and Sgt. Fred Prince are just trying to keep their heads level, their hands steady and their practices hard.

The Soldiers, attached to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Warrior Transition Battalion, will head to Colorado Springs, Colo., next week to compete in the 3rd annual Department of Defense Warrior Games. The games are intended to inspire recovery, focus on physical fitness and promote new opportunities for growth and achievement for injured and ill Servicemembers and veterans from all military branches.

"It helps you mentally cope when you enjoy what you're doing to recover and accomplish your goal," explained Prince, who was diagnosed with a severe type of leukemia last year. This past April marked the conclusion of his treatment, and he is now in remission. "I was so wiped out after the chemotherapy, and I needed regain strength," he said. "I actually started out running and then I was encouraged to try more."

In September, he dedicated himself to becoming proficient with the compound bow, and set his sights on archery. What came as a surprise was his selection to compete with the air rifle after a great performance in January during a shooting clinic. Prince also applied to compete in swimming and running, but wasn't selected.

Hasson, 42, took up hand cycling following a knee injury. "I always swam and I loved cycling, throughout my life," he said. "I'm the guy who sometimes gets reprimanded by the physical therapists for pushing too hard."

In addition to the 10k cycling race, Hasson will compete in shooting and in the pool, where he will swim the 100-meter backstroke, as well as the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events.

Prince's intention is to return to active duty as soon as he is medically cleared, while Hasson plans to be a Warrior Leader Course Instructor with the 640th Regional Training Institute in Utah. "I'd also love to be able to coach next year's Warrior Games' cycling team," Hasson admitted.

Other events at the games, which run from April 30 to May 5, include wheelchair basketball, track and field and sitting volleyball. For more information and status updates during the games, visit www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Military.aspx.

"We may all be competing against each other while we're there, but the camaraderie is so tight," Hasson concluded. "We all share the same goals, and it's not just winning."