WEST POINT, N.Y. - Navy athletes draw recurve bows in a row at archery practice. One of the sailors is Navy veteran Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Derbak, of Westminster, Md. His hat is on backwards and the glint of his bow matches the glint of metal from the wheelchair. The stuffy, hot air in the Gillis Field House at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., causes sweat to bead and glisten on his brow and cheeks, but Derbak's bow string, drawn taut against his cheek, wipes the beads off. There is a moment of stillness where his whole frame freezes, locking in position as he takes aim. The bowstring twangs, the arrow thuds into the target, and the next arrow slides out of the quiver and notches in place. Derbak's eyes never leave the bull's-eye downrange. He is wholly focused on his target.
“That's what the DoD Warrior Games does. It gives you an object to focus on,” said Derbak. The games are just what Derbak needed to focus on, too. For him, the Warrior Games are the culmination of a year's worth of 4-5 day a week practices, strength training and cardio sessions. Derbak's long-term discipline and focus, forged while a Navy corpsman, has done more than just made him a good archer, it has helped his outlook on life.
“Because of adaptive sports I can do stuff with my kids again,” said Derbak. “It has helped me communicate with my wife better.” He loves the schedule and organization made necessary by preparation for the Warrior Games. “If I didn't have the sports, I'd still be in a very dark place.”
That dark place was full of pain. Derbak had to deal with vertebrae injuries, pinched nerves, and TBI. “I felt helpless,” said Derbak.
While going through the medical board process, Derbak was recommended to the Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor program by Justin Rose, an athlete who had previously competed in the games. Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor, which sponsors Navy athletes in the Warrior Games, provides support like athletic and employment opportunities for more than 2,250 wounded warriors, as well as their families. With Rose's guidance, Derbak entered the Safe Harbor program, went to some training camps, and then to tryouts. After placing in the tryouts he earned a spot on the Navy team and went to his first DoD Warrior Games in 2012.
With the adaptive therapy received from the Navy Safe Harbor program and the new outlook on life that he has gotten from his teammates and coaches, Derbak has a lot to look forward to. “Would I recommend the DoD Warrior Games to other people in my situation?” said Derbak. “Oh yeah. Definitely.”
For now, though, Derbak is focused on this week's DoD Warrior Games. Perspiration is now dotting the back of his shirt as he continues to cycle arrow after arrow. Last time Derbak competed in the Warrior Games he placed fourth in another event; which he says has motivated him to take home a medal this year. But if that does not happen, he still will not be disappointed.
“I'm ecstatic to be here,” said Derbak. “Being here is just the icing on the cake for all the work I've done this year. Regardless of a medal, I want to beat my personal records. The DoD Warrior Games are just a stepping stone for the rest of life.”
Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor is the Navy and Coast Guard's wounded warrior support program. Team members have upper-body and/or lower-body injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments, serious illnesses and post-traumatic stress.
To learn more about NWW, the DoD Warrior Games and adaptive sports, visit http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil; call 855-NAVY WWP (628-9997) or email navywoundedwarrior@navy.mil.
Follow NWW on Facebook (www.facebook.com/navysafeharbor) and Twitter (@navysafeharbor) for the latest news from Marine Corps Base Quantico.
For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cni/.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2016 09:32 |
| Story ID: | 201533 |
| Location: | WEST POINT, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Shooting at New Targets, by SGT Dakota Price, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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