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    Army athlete ‘shoots’ for spot on Team Army

    2015 Army Trials

    Courtesy Photo | Using an Air Arms s400 10 meter indoor air rifle, Sgt. Barry T. Crawford, a combat...... read more read more

    FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

    03.28.2015

    Courtesy Story

    Army Recovery Care Program

    By Marlon J. Martin
    U.S. Army Medical Command

    FORT BLISS, Texas – At 6’4,” 270 lbs., Sgt. Barry T. Crawford, or “Bear” as he is affectionately called, is one of the top athletes here at Fort Bliss, Texas, vying for a spot on Team Army. He placed first in the air rifle event of the regional trials hosted March 2-6 at Fort Hood, Texas, to be selected among the Army’s top athletes in adaptive sports.

    A combat engineer currently assigned to the Community Care Unit at Fort Hood, Texas, Crawford is among the approximately 80 wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and Veterans from across the country who traveled here to train and compete in various athletic events at the Army Trials, including archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

    The Army Trials, March 29 – April 2, are conducted by the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command and hosted by Fort Bliss. Army Trials help determine which athletes will advance to represent Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, June 19-28.

    Crawford is one athlete who truly appreciates what the Army is doing with adaptive reconditioning. Having endured pain and discomfort for more than a decade, he recalls a time when wounded, ill and injured Soldiers did not receive this same high level of support.

    “In 2004, I injured my left shoulder in Iraq and was medevaced up to Balad. Warrior Transition Units didn’t exist at the time. You were simply put in a med-hold type company because the Army didn’t know what to do with you,” said Crawford, explaining his shoulder injury. “So, they did a surgery on it, patched it up, and sent me back to my unit. They told me at the time that ‘you’ll get seven to 10 years use out of your shoulder,’ and since it made it to 2013, I’d say they were about right on that.”

    Crawford remains unsure of how he injured his arm, but said it progressively got worse. He deployed twice more, leaving for Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2012. When he could no longer deal with the pain, he went back to see a doctor. Crawford joined the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in May 2013. Six months later, his left shoulder was replaced with titanium. He said he feels much better and credits the Adaptive Reconditioning Program for his success. He is back to engaging in athletics, and is happy to be here doing what he enjoys most.

    “Engaging in adaptive sports calms me, it really does. Mentally, to me, it’s just relaxing and very therapeutic because I can block everything out,” Crawford said. “And, literally, to be good at shooting, you focus on closing the bolt, lining up the sights, exhaling, focusing on the front sights, and squeezing the trigger. You block everything else out, and you do this one single step at a time.”

    During the Army Trials, all athletes are required to participate in more than one sporting event. After being graded on their overall athletic ability, a select group of 40 athletes will be called upon to represent the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team in June at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. Crawford aims to be among those selected. While he is scheduled to compete in archery, shot put and discus, he particularly looks forward to excelling in the air rifle and air pistol shooting events.

    “I was raised on a farm in Locust Grove with guns, and was taught how to shoot and handle guns at an early age. I’ve always loved shooting for as long as I can remember,” said Crawford, who now resides in Owasso, Oklahoma, with his new bride Christina and 17-year-old daughter Savannah.

    With more than 20 years of combined service in the Army -- three years on active duty and 17 years in the National Guard, respectively, he was pleased to hear that he can finally retire.

    Before he departs the service; however, he has his mind set on fulfilling one more goal -- helping Team Army bring home the gold.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.28.2015
    Date Posted: 03.29.2015 11:03
    Story ID: 158497
    Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US

    Web Views: 163
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN