Paying it forward

Photo By Benny Ontiveros | U.S. Army veteran Kinga Kiss-Johnson archery recurve coach, McCormich, S.C., carefully observes the archery recurve athletes she helped train, to ensure that they are executing proper form during the 2015 Army Trials archery competition at the Ronald D. Milam Fitness Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. Approximately 80 wounded, ill and 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 get a spot on the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team in June at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. (U.S. Army Photo by Benny Ontiveros, William Beaumont Army Medical Center)  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

04.01.2015

Courtesy Story

Army Recovery Care Program

FORT BLISS, Texas - Complete silence falls upon the spectators at the thump of each arrow hits its target. This is the sound of success for one Archery coach at the 2015 Army Trials being held at the Ronald D. Milam Fitness Center at Fort Bliss, Texas.

U.S. Army Veteran Kinga Kiss-Johnson, McCormich, South Carolina, Archery recurve coach, trains and works with wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and Veterans competing in the archery events such as the Army trials. “I moved from being a wounded archery competitor in previous competitions to a full time coach, a move that came with great rewards,” said Kiss-Johnson.

Kiss-Johnson received multiple back injuries and suffers from Traumatic Brain Injury from being deployed to Afghanistan. “As a wounded Veteran, I know how it feels to be in their shoes. I feel what they feel.” she said.

Her ability to relate and communicate with wounded Soldiers and Veterans sets her apart from most coaches. Her injury led her to rehabilitation through adaptive sports reconditioning. Through archery she learned to condition her body and compete against fellow service members and Veterans. “Working with them is my way of paying it forward.” she said.

“I became successful in archery and I competed at the Army national level which is when I was recruited as a coach.” she said.

The smile across her face is seen each time an athlete successfully hits its target and today, “most athletes are hitting their targets.”

Although athletes are being eliminated round by round, Kiss-Johnson focuses more on the rehabilitation process. “I focus on the adaptive reconditioning of each individual. I want the goal to be success through rehabilitation.” she said.

The 2015 Army Trials represents the resilience of wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans of the Army. The Army encourages all wounded warriors to recondition and focus on ability and self-improvement through adaptive sports.

Approximately 80 wounded, ill, and 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 get a spot on the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015 Army Team in June at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

• Date Taken: 04.01.2015
• Date Posted: 04.01.2015 17:58
• Story ID: 158864
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US