Photo By Sgt. Amber Bohlman | Retired Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Payne. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amber Bohlman/Released)... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba made their ninth appearance at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, this week, giving seven former service members the opportunity to spend five days diving in the surrounding tropical waters.
SUDS is a program that focuses on the rehabilitation process of Wounded Warriors in an aquatic environment through a form of aquatic therapy – diving.
One of the seven divers was 32-year-old retired Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Payne, from Buffalo, New York. Payne received his open water diver certification during his first SUDS trip to Curaçao a year and a half ago.
Payne said he first heard about SUDS when he was working on his rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He has been with SUDS for almost two years and this is his second trip with the program. He has hopes to go on many more.
Payne said he’s been planning on attending this SUDS trip to GTMO since October, and he couldn’t have been more excited about the idea of being around the military again since his retirement last February.
“Being around the family community of the military is great, it’s just really important to me,” Payne said.
Since Payne was injured four years ago this July, the recovery process has been full of obstacles that he has overcome. When rehabilitating, finding an outlet that is enjoyable as well as a work out is essential to recovering.
“From swimming to scuba diving, SUDS has been monumental as far as my recovery has gone because it keeps my mind occupied and not thinking and dwelling on negative things.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2015 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 154923 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Hometown: | BUFFALO, NY, US |
| Hometown: | CLARENCE, NY, US |
| Hometown: | EAST AMHERST, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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