Major General Buster Howes

Defence Attaché

Part of Shoulder to Shoulder

29th February 2012 Washington DC, USA

Wounded Warriors Show Their Sporting Spirit

General George S. Patton once told his troops, “Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” At the Marine Corps Trials at Camp Pendleton last weekend, some extraordinary Royal Marines—who have already faced their full share of challenges—competed and felt the exhilaration of victory.

UK Wounded Warrior Team Photo
UK Wounded Warrior Team

The Trials are an eight-sport competition for all wounded, ill or injured Marines to train and compete for spots on the All-Marine Team for this April’s Warrior Games, a joint effort with the Wounded Warrior programme, the US Olympic Committee, and the Department of Defense. Thirteen UK Royal Marines took part in the games, competing on the international team alongside Marines from Canada, France, Australia, Germany, Colombia and the Netherlands.

This is the second year Royal Marines were participating, and our boys certainly did Britain proud, winning 11 gold medals, six silvers and a bronze. Marine Joe Townsend from Eastbourne, East Sussex won seven gold medals: three in wheelchair races, three swimming and one in the 10km hand bike.

Starting just after the closing of the Olympic Games, the Paralympics will feature disabled athletes from around the world—many of them veterans—going for gold in the place where sport for the disabled began in 1948.

Just as the United Kingdom and United States have stood shoulder to shoulder in providing for our mutual security, we are working together to care for our veterans and their families. During President Obama’s State Visit to the UK last May, he and Prime Minister Cameron made job training and assistance for military families a top priority. In the months since, senior officials from the Pentagon and the UK Ministry of Defence have signed a memorandum of understanding and made headway on making those goals a reality.

We owe it to our men and women in uniform to honour their service with the support they deserve. The camaraderie and competition displayed at Camp Pendleton was truly a sight to behold. I encourage everyone to support our Wounded Warriors, especially the Paralympians as they show their strength this summer.

About Major General Buster Howes

Major General Buster Howes OBE is currently serving as the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington. Buster was educated at Christ’s Hospital and York and London Universities and…

Major General Buster Howes OBE is currently serving as the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington. Buster was educated at Christ’s Hospital and York and London Universities and was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1982.

Initially Buster served as a troop commander in 42 Commando RM, deploying for the first time on operations, in Northern Ireland. After training a recruit troop, he qualified as a Mountain Leader and was then posted to Recce Troop, 45 Commando RM. After a stint as AdC to Major General Training, Reserve and Special Forces RM, he was appointed to the 2nd Division, USMC, as a Regimental Operations Officer (for the First Gulf War). He subsequently commanded Charlie Company, 40 Commando RM; Commando Training Wing at CTCRM; 42 Commando RM (for the Second Gulf War); and 3 Commando Brigade. Buster has worked in personnel policy, in the Fleet HQ; as a planner in the Rapid Reaction Force Operations Staff of UNPROFOR, in Bosnia; and as a strategist in the Naval Staff Directorate, in MOD. He has attended the Naval Staff College, the Higher Command and Staff Course, the Royal College of Defence Studies and the Pinnacle Course. He has served as a Divisional Director for ICSC(L) at the JSCSC, and as COS to Commander Amphibious Forces (CAF). He was Chief Joint Co-ordination and Effects, in HQ ISAD X in Kabul and then Director Naval Staff, in 2007.

In addition, he also served as Head of Overseas Operations in MOD before being appointed Commandant General Royal Marines/CAF in February 2010. Buster commanded Operation ATLANTA, the EU Counter Piracy Mission in the Indian Ocean for 15 months up to 1 August. He is also a member of the Navy Board, Captain of Deal Castle, President of the Royal Marines Mountaineering Club, and Vice President of the RNRM Children’s Charity.

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British Defence Camp Pendleton London 2012 Marines military mod olympics paralympics Royal Marines Sport Sports uk UKinUSA usa USMC vétérans Warrior Games Wounded Warriors