Adaptive sports, a good way of turning something negative into something positive

Courtesy Photo | Using a Hoyt Podium X Elite bow, Spc. Chasity M. Kuczer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Knox, Ky., aims for a bull’s eye during training in the archery event. Approximately 80 wounded, ill or injured Soldiers and veterans are at Fort Bliss to train and compete in a series of athletic events including archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair basketball. Army Trials, March 29 - April 2, are conducted by the Army Warrior Transition Command and hosted by Fort Bliss. Army Trials help determine who will be selected to compete on the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team in June at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Army Photo by Tim Poch, Warrior Transition Command)  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

03.30.2015

Courtesy Story

Army Recovery Care Program

By Marlon J. Martin
Army Medical Command

FORT BLISS, Texas - Following her successes in the regional trials hosted by Northern Regional Medical Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., Feb. 9-13, Spc. Chasity M. Kuczer was selected as one of the Army’s top wounded, ill and injured 100 athletes in adaptive sports. As a result, she was invited to compete for a spot on the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, June 19-28.

The Army Trials, March 29 – April 2, conducted by the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command, are hosted by Fort Bliss. They help determine which athletes will advance to represent the Army in its quest to win the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015.

“I’m excited to be here, but kind of disappointed that the other teammates from Fort Knox didn’t get to come with me. We trained together, but it wasn’t like they picked X amount from this company or this Warrior Transition Battalion. They picked the top 100 athletes nationwide to come here, out of all events,” explained the 23-year-old Seymour, Wisconsin, native. “I’m still happy that I get to represent Fort Knox, and hopefully I will do my team and Fort Knox proud by walking away with a few medals.”

Kuczer is now among the approximately 80 wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and Veterans competing in various athletic events, including archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball. All athletes are required to participate in more than one sporting event. After being graded on their overall athletic ability, 40 athletes will be selected to represent the Army at the Department of Defense Warrior Games.

Kuczer is competing in all but one category. Her events include archery, air rifle and air pistol shooting, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and the seated shot put and seated discus events of track and field. She contemplated entering the swimming competition as well, but said her coaches didn’t think it was wise to spread herself too thin.

“With my upper body strength, I know I can swim just as fast, if not faster, than some of the other athletes who swim using both their arms and legs,” she said laughingly, while exuding visible confidence with a big infectious smile that would brighten any room.

This competitive spirit may run in the family, as Kuczer is following in the patriotic footsteps of her mother and grandfather who had served as Soldiers before her. She joined the Army because she, too, wanted to serve her country. After enlisting in January 2012, she was trained to be a locomotive mechanic and later assigned to serve with the 1152nd Transportation Company out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Although Kuczer has only served little more three years, her journey here to competing in the Army Trials has been long and arduous. This is largely due to the severe lower extremity injuries she sustained more than two years ago to her hips, legs and spine. Her injuries have resulted in her undergoing multiple “failed” surgeries on her hips and legs, which she attributes to years of wear and tear on her body, training, and carrying heavy locomotive parts. She was accepted into the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Knox in October 2014, but she is likely to be medically processed out of the Army within a year or two because her injuries are quite extensive. Other than help her with pain management and help her to deal with her health issues as she prepares to transition to civilian life, Kuczer doesn’t feel there’s much else the doctors can do for her. Despite this realization, she remains optimistic about her health and future. She strives to remain positive and credits much of her success to her interaction with other athletes and the sports therapy she receives from the Adaptive Reconditioning Program.

“Adaptive sports keep me positive, and it gives me a positive outlook on life. I’m not staying in my barracks room doing nothing or getting locked up in my head like some others. It also helps me meet new people, like on these trips,” Kuczer said. “It’s a good way of turning something negative into something positive.”

• Date Taken: 03.30.2015
• Date Posted: 03.31.2015 16:57
• Story ID: 158716
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US