Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Craig Netter (center) practices sprinting techniques during a training session...... read more read more
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By Craig Coleman
Northern Regional Medical Command
FORT BLISS, Texas – Craig Netter explodes out of the starting blocks under the watchful eye of 2015 Army Warrior Trials head track coach. His form is excellent, even though sprint events are new to him. Netter, a Texas National Guard Soldier currently assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Hood, Texas, is here training with about 80 Soldiers who are wounded injured or ill, competing for a place on the Army team for the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015, to be held at Quantico, Virginia, in June.
Netter was injured in Iraq in 2008, during his first deployment, in a vehicle rollover. He decided to return home rather than remain on active duty to have his injured shoulder treated. In 2013 he deployed again, this time to Afghanistan. He was injured again in an explosion. Netter was knocked off his feet and landed hard – on the same shoulder. This time, his shoulder required reconstruction, including anchors, the removal of eight milometers of his clavicle and the removal of damaged cartilage.
It is again Netter’s turn to practice his sprint start. He puts his palms on the track and stretches his legs back to the starting block in a smooth motion. He said the shoulder injuries cause pain when he is “in the blocks” but he has learned to live with it.
“It hurts getting into start position, but my body has muscle memory, so I’ve gotten used to it,” the 25 year-old said. “The pain doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m adjusting.”
Netter is also competing in sitting volleyball at the Army Trials and he said that the reaching and stretching required in that sport is much tougher on his shoulder.
Before his injury, Netter’s track specialties were distance running and cross country. The Army coaches have only recently transformed him into a sprinter.
“Sprinting is definitely new to me,” Netter, who joined the Army seven years ago, said. “I’ve been picturing myself winning the 100 [meters]. I’m thinking the 100 or the 200 might be my event. We’ll see. I’m not too sure about that because we have some pretty good guys out here.”
Rodney Carson, the Army head track coach, has high hopes for his converted sprinter.
“We’re looking really strong in the sprints,” he said. “Netter is looking good in the sprints. We’re talking 100 and 200 meter – he might even get a spot on the relay.”
Netter said he hopes to return to his unit after completing his recovery.
“I don’t believe I’m at that age when I’m ready to get out, he said. “So, I’m still trying to push myself to do as much as I can.”
He draws inspiration from the example of his cousin, Brittany, who died at 24 after battling breast cancer.
“She still kept a smile on her face, building on every day,” Netter said. “If she could do that, I know I can overcome my injury and still do what I need to do.”
Netter, who also played semi-professional football during his National Guard career, said that he first learned about the Army Trials when he asked about any athletic programs that might be available to recovering Soldiers. He then participated in the Army Regional Trials at Fort Hood.
“They brought in regional coaches to help us, and, to me, that was the best moment in the Warrior Transition Unit,” Netter said. “Just actually starting to run and getting to what I would call a happy place. It started bringing back good memories from high school and middle school. And it takes away the negativity of battle wounds from overseas. It’s good that the Army Trials Games exist.”
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2015 22:58 |
| Story ID: | 158601 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 374 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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