Photo By Sgt. Sandy Barrientos | U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Sydney Davis, Warrior Transition battalion, Fort Belvoir, Va.,...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Antonia E. Pearse
Warrior Transition Brigade, National Capitol Region
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - Adaptive sports helps many wounded, ill or injured service members, and veterans of the military overcome the challenges associated with the healing process. U.S. Army Spc. Sydney Davis, a medical lab specialist is such a Soldier. She used adaptive sports to help her with post–traumatic stress disorder.
Davis has been receiving her care at the Wounded Warrior Battalion located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She competed in the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games which took place at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia from June 18-28. She competed in archery, field, shooting, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball events.
A natural athlete, Davis has participated in sports since high school, where she made it to the state finals in shot put, discus and basketball.
“After I graduated high school in 2011, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do with my life,” Davis said. “I did know that I wanted it to be in the medical field, but not behind a desk. I talked to a recruiter, who told me about the Army and being an active duty Soldier. This appealed to me because I would have a career immediately, rather than having to wait to graduate from college before starting a job.”
Competing in adaptive sports originally began as a reason to get out of her room at Ft. Belvoir. As she got better she regained her competitive spirit. She bought her own discus and measuring tape so she could practice throwing. Fellow Army team member and veteran Spc. Laurel Cox, Stanardsville, Virginia, got her involved in archery. Within two months she met archery coach Rich Atchinson and started training for the DOD Warrior Games. Davis competed in the Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas where she won several medals, including gold in recurve archery.
“While I first started training in Adaptive Sports, Spc. Jason Blair, Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Belvoir, Va., one of last year’s medal winners, came and gave a speech about Adaptive Sports and the Warrior Games and how adaptive sports can change a person’s life for the better,” Davis said. “It was inspirational. He inspired me to keep on competing in adaptive sports. Competing in sports has really helped me to overcome my PTSD and is continuing to do so,” Davis said passionately.
Her passion for adaptive sports led to gold in recurve archery, standing discus and standing shot put during the games. She also participated in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.
Davis has begun the process to return to duty. She has approximately two more months before returning to her Reserve Unit. Thanks to her participation in adaptive sports and the Isaak Walton League of America, who provided the instructors course, she was able to become an instructor in adaptive air rifle. She is also working on becoming an instructor in adaptive archery.
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2015 18:08 |
| Story ID: | 168689 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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