SAN DIEGO — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joined the Navy SEAL Foundation for the opening of a revolutionary training facility for veterans in Downtown San Diego.
The Sussexes, along with Navy SEAL Foundation leaders, veterans and their families officially opened the Warrior Fitness Program West Coast Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday evening. The ceremony was also attended by 250 Naval Special Warfare personnel and their families.
The facility features state-of-the-art fitness and workout resources, rehabilitation technology and advanced biometric tracking systems. The new space boasts an 11,169-square-foot gym with more than 8,000 square feet of quiet and specialty spaces in its upstairs areas.
The Warrior Fitness Program aims to optimize human performance for warriors on the battlefield, transitioning to civilian life, or retired from service,” the Navy SEAL Foundation said.
The Navy SEAL Foundation said the brand new facility will help active duty and veteran Naval Special Warfare personnel heal physically and mentally from combat.
Former SEAL Tony Duynstee served as the lead development manager for the program and says transitioning to everyday life is difficult. He believes the new program will facilitate the process for local service members.
“It’s not just physical, it’s so much more than that, it’s mental health, emotional health. It’s bringing people back to the community, teaching the right habits starting with the basics like nutrition and sleep," Duynstee said.
Prince Harry has supported various U.S. veterans foundations since moving to California, and it’s not his first visit to San Diego.
In June, the Duke of Sussex attended the Department of Defense’s annual Warrior Games at Naval Station North Island.
Prince Harry also made another surprise appearance at a Chula Vista movie theater in August. Moviegoers were astonished when the Duke of Sussex spoke to attendees and posed for selfies before a screening of his Netflix docuseries, “Heart of Invictus.”
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