Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Eliverto Larios | Staff Sgt. Cladomiro Espinoza, right, a health care specialist assigned to the Warrior...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Every year, thousand of service members suffer from injuries or illnesses that leave them disabled or deemed unfit to continue their service. Some injuries are gained from the battlefield while some are caused by training or accidents. For many of them, the disability can cause them to believe as though they no longer have a purpose. Some feel as if they are alone and distance themselves from those they think no longer care.
Last week, the Air Force Wounded Warrior program hosted the Warriors Care event for some of those wounded service members from the western United States region on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
“The mission of the Air Force Wounded Warrior program is to advocate for our service members that have become wounded, injured or ill while serving the nation,” said Tony Jasso, the Air Force Wounded Warrior Adaptive and Rehabilitated Sports Program manager. “We want to ensure that they receive quality services as well as advocacy during their transition to stay in or exit the military.”
The event provided introductory adaptive and rehabilitative sports events that present service members with different techniques for getting back into an active lifestyle. The events included archery and air rifle shooting, track and field, swimming, cycling, wheel chair basketball and sitting volleyball.
Although the program is not new to the Air Force, it is new to the Northwest region. This is the first time the Texas-based program held an event at JBLM.
“Joint Base Lewis McChord is an outstanding region that our program has yet to provide a Warrior Care event for,” said Jasso. “Additionally, JBLM also houses the largest Warrior Transition Unit in the Army’s western region.”
After working closely with the Army, the program was able to plan an event that would allow not only service members from JBLM to attend, but also those from other installations in the region.
In addition to just being in a new environment, Jarro said it’s also good for both services to be able to train together.
“Some of the Air Force athletes love to train in a joint environment,” he said. “Many have served in the same place over seas. We fight together so we heal together.”
The program has taught one Soldier to be more resilient.
“I’ve learned that being involved in something like this helps,” said Master Sgt. Bubba Vosburg, a Soldier assigned to the WTU in Fort Bliss. “It teaches you that yes, you have something you cant do to wear the uniform but it’s not a disability, it’s a new ability you didn’t know you had.”
Vosburg said he is thankful for having a program that has given him something to do when he thought he was done.
“I never picked up a bow in my life until last December and now I’m competing in it,” he said. “Without this experience, as soon as I retire I would be lost.”
Vosburg is not the only who feels that way though, according to Jasso.
“A lot of times, many wounded warriors that we work with, their identity is stripped from them when they become wounded, injured or ill,” said Jasso. “They retreat to the inside of their house and never venture out because it’s either complicated or it’s too difficult.”
Being able to play a sport with their disability lets them be active and sets their mind on other things, said Jasso.
One of the favorite sports that a lot of the new participants have shown interest in is the archery.
Jarro believes it has to do with more than just the shooting aspect of it.
“When they’re focusing on the target, the coaches teach them skills like being able to control their breathing and body movements,” he said. “Our sports psychologist talks to them about clearing up their mind, and so truly, the athlete gets to look at a target and they think of nothing and they focus and their bodies are controlled.”
The biggest thing that most the athletes take away from this is the relationship that they make. The friendship they make has a key role in reaching their goals, according to Jarro.
“They are playing on a team for the first time since their injuries,” said Jasso. “It’s really not hard to establish trust because you are here for the same thing.”
Vosburg would agree. He has built great relationships with other wounded warriors that have had an impact on his life.
“You meet life long friends that you never would have met in any other place,” said Vosburg. “You get the comradeship that you get from being in uniform.”
He also encourages other wounded service members to participate in events like this.
“It gives you something to do. It still gives you a reason to fight, its just a new fight,” he said. “You are still training with your brothers and sisters at arms.”
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2015 16:04 |
| Story ID: | 174906 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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