AW2 Family Continues to Serve Country and Wounded

Filed under Staff Stories, Warrior Transition Command by on November 4, 2011 at 1:24 pm {no comments}

By Emily Oehler, WTC Stratcom
Every time I talk with Gina Hill on the phone, I feel better. When I look at pictures of her kids, I smile. When I hear about her wounded husband’s progress, I am thankful. When I hear that they are receiving a new home in a place that is less disruptive for Allen’s PTSD, I am comforted. When I learned that Gina started a non-profit to help build stronger community connections between emergency responders, servicemembers, and local support programs, I am amazed. Knowing this combat-wounded Family makes we want to be a better person and do more!

AW2 spouse Gina Hill starts non-profit, Silent Siren, to build support community for Soldiers, Veterans, and Families facing PTSD. Photo Courtesy of Mike Parker

Allen Hill was serving in Iraq in 2007 when his truck was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED).  At the 2010 AW2 Symposium press conference, Gina said, “While the majority of Allen’s physical, or visible, wounds have healed, our Family still struggles daily with the psychological wounds. Often times, these are called the invisible wounds, but I have a hard time calling them that, for they are very visible to anyone who spends any amount of time with him.”

Like most Army Families, the Hills never give up.

The Hills worked at the AW2 Symposium (link) to help the Army identify areas of improvement for warrior care—and provide recommendations. Gina Hill presented to Congress  for Mental Illness Awareness Month to increase awareness of the impact of PTSD on the entire Family. And now, they are launching Silent Siren, already a member of the Community Support Network.

The mission of Silent Siren is to build strong community collaborations that enhance and expand existing community crisis intervention/supports for military service individuals and their Families. They believe that the following actions and approaches will help achieve this mission:

• Empower persons supporting an individual with PTSD to utilize local emergency support services
• Educate emergency support personnel and military Families and caregivers about PTSD and the fundamental approaches to responding to PTSD crisis situations.
• Engage local community counseling & support resources that can be readily available to navigate Family members and caregivers through crisis situations.

Silent Siren consists of 3 core elements:

1. Establishment of a PTSD registry for community members with PTSD and market the registry to each participating community.
2. Utilization of Silent Siren to help train emergency services personnel on effective emergency response approaches when responding to PTSD crisis intervention calls.
3. Implement, with the assistance of Silent Siren, a Family/caregiver support system. This system should include professional mental health resources available to respond alongside and emergency responder to help a Family navigate the complexities of a mental health/PTSD crisis situation.

You can get to know the Hill Family a bit tonight, Friday, November 4, on Extreme Home Makeover. Knowing them will show you firsthand how dynamic our Soldiers, Veterans, and Families are—to heed the call to serve in a time of war, and continue to give back once wounded.

Army Ten-Miler– Race Day

Filed under Adaptive Sports, General, Staff Stories, Warrior Transition Command by on November 3, 2011 at 2:49 pm {no comments}

BG Darryl Williams, Commander, Warrior Transition Command, poses with the runners and volunteers from the WTC Army Ten-Miler team and the Community Based Warrior Transition Unit-Illinois team.

By LTC Jeanette Griffin, WTC Stratcom
The 27th Army Ten-Miler (ATM) race took place on October 9.  More than 30,000 registered runners, including the infamous WTC Army Ten-Miler Team, competed in one of the largest 10 mile races in the world.

I was fortunate to be a part of the first ever Warrior Transition Command (WTC) ATM team and first ever WTC HOOAH Tent. Everyone was excited to see WTC represented at the ATM’s HOOAH zone and BG Darryl Williams, Assistant Surgeon General for Warrior Care and Transition and WTC Commander, showed his support to everyone participating, giving special recognition to the WTUs, Community Based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs), and the Missing Parts in Action Team.

The WTC team consisted of 20 military and civilians who came together to participate as a team, as well as meet individual goals during this great race. The race began on Route 110 and finished in the Pentagon North Parking Lot. The landmarks along the course were spectacular—the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building.

What a perfect day for a race—the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The Missing Parts in Action team members and other wounded warrior athletes truly inspired us to continue until we reached our goal of reaching the finish line. The excitement and camaraderie of the runners, spectators, and volunteers was highly motivating throughout the race— the months of hard work and sweat finally paid off.

LTG Jack C. Stultz, Chief, Army Reserve and BG Darryl Williams exchanged greetings and during the Army Ten-Miler.

Everyone commented that the HOOAH tent was decorated beautifully, and I have to agree. There were pictures of Soldiers, Veterans, and Families covering the inside of the tent and the food was amazing! Several volunteers and runners made their “World Famous Chili” and one volunteer brought a particularly delicious dish of meatballs. The banner stretching above the tent showcased some of our Warrior Games athletes. Not only was the tent nicely decorated, but Family members, volunteers, and the WTC Strategic Communications Division were in full swing. Both the WTC runners and volunteers wore distinctive black WTC team shirts.  The volunteers also passed out information about our organization and  our achievements helping wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and Families.

While we were lucky to have a tent in the HOOAH Tent Zone this year, the greatest reward was being able to share it with Community Based Warrior Transition Unit Illinois (CBWTU-IL).  This is an extremely diligent team of professional supporters of the wounded warrior mission.  Thanks, CBWTU-IL, for your hard work and dedication to the cause.  WTC encompasses the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and partners with WTUs and CBWTUs, so having an opportunity to gather with CBWTU-IL was remarkable.

According to LTC Paul Graham, CBWTU-IL, sharing a HOOAH tent with WTC allowed race participants to gather for photos before the race and share their race day stories afterwards over a bite to eat and drink. He also said “it was wonderful, because last year they were unable to come together like this. It was definitely a great time shared by everyone.”

We also had the opportunity to gather with the runners from the Missing Parts in Action Team— another amazing group of warriors running with a cause.

The HOOAH tent seemed to fill quickly with runners, supporters, and others wanting to share the excitement and gain knowledge of WTC. We remained very busy until the very end. Everyone was taking pictures and mingling. Among the visitors, were people from the Fort Sam Houston WTU, Community Based Warrior Transition Unit Massachusetts (CBWTU-MA), West Point WTU, and Alpha Co., WTU Fort Irwin, California.

WTC works hard to make sure everyone knows we are focused on care and support for all wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Veterans in the Active, Guard, and  Reserve. We reiterated this mission with our visit to the Army Reserve HOOAH Tent where BG Williams had the opportunity to exchange greetings with LTG Jack C. Stultz, Chief, Army Reserve. To our surprise, our tent was also visited by wrestlers from the Army’s World Class Athlete Program who were working in the Army Reserve tent.

Retired SGT Robbie Gaupp, an injured Veteran and former National Guardsman, hung out at our tent. He spent his time talking about being in the National Guard and his wonderful experience during the 2011 Warrior Games. I applaud him for his hard work and hope to see him compete in the 2012 games.

Another important piece of the WTC HOOAH tent was the live broadcast by Charlie “Coach” Hatcher. Coach Hatcher is the host and executive producer of Sports Inside and Out, which broadcasted internationally in conjunction with the American Forces Network.

During his time at our tent, he was joined by NBA Philadelphia 76ers legend Walli Jones who was on hand with BG Williams, to speak to ATM wounded warriors that finished the race.

I would say the WTC team and the HOOAH tent were a major success. Congratulations to all of the ATM participants, you did a great job. I also want to say thank you to all of the volunteers and Families who came out to help and we look forward to your participation next year.

 

Advocate This!

Filed under General, Staff Stories by on November 2, 2011 at 2:10 pm {no comments}

By Miguel A. Santos III, WTC/AW2 Training Officer

What is an advocate? By definition, an advocate is:
1) a person who  argues or pleads for or on behalf of  another
2) a person who supports or defends another
3) and most importantly a champion
As a verb to “advocate” is defined as recommend, support, propose, defend, promote, speak for, propose and champion.

The WTC-AW2 Justice League

The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Advocates strive to assist Soldiers, Veterans, Families and caregivers overcome the visible, as well as the unforeseen, while supporting the AW2 population as a whole through the life-cycle process. In August, a combination of AW2 Advocates, Advocate Support Branch Subject Matter Experts, and Soldiers from across the United States gathered at the AW2 headquarters in Alexandria, VA. This effort, facilitated by Darin Callahan and Andrea Phillips, both members of the Warrior Transition Command G3|5|7 branch, examined all processes and tools an AW2 Advocate uses in the field.

Imagine a collection of super-heroes coming together each having specific knowledge, skill set, or ability.  We had a collection of Batmen, Supermen, Superwomen as well as a few Jokers which kept us honest by poking holes in theories.  I won’t sugar-coat this; it was not easy.  There were great clashes on conflicting ideas.

After a 5.8 earthquake that was initially perceived as some great breakthrough of logic and common sense never felt before in the DC area, and Hurricane Irene that shook things up and provided some interesting challenges, everyone refocused on the week-long task at hand.

 

With the current-state, and future-state maps stretched across 50 feet of wall-space like many Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) television shows you may watch, we examined processes and commonalities and identified non-value added steps for the way forward. These steps  will remove some bureaucracy, inefficient processes, and better equip Advocates with the tools to do their job in what may be a 50% shorter process time.

Hopefully, the outcome of this event will lead to the not-too-distant future Advocates being stronger, faster, and smarter at defending and smoothing out the Soldiers’ path to independence of any and all obstacles for the AW2 Soldier population.

Cupid Takes Aim

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Staff Stories, Warrior Games by on June 3, 2011 at 4:33 pm {no comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

Warriors Games archer and shot putter SPC Celestine Calvert and her husband SGT Bradley Calvert.

SPC Celestine Calvert was on the Army’s Warrior Games archery team and was a shot putter on the track and field team. This was no small feat for a wounded warrior with shoulder and knee injuries who is also recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, there she was going head-to-head with the best.

She stood out among a crowd. She is a petite young lady—with major talent. Her smile is genuine, and her compassion is clear in spite of her chronic pain. At Warrior Games, she was known for helping and encouraging others on the team to succeed.

Calvert went through basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and then was assigned to the 603rd Military Policy Company. While still a teen, she served a tough tour in Ramadi, Iraq, where she was injured. She was first sent to Fort Dix and then to Walter Reed for her surgeries. Without a doubt, she is wise beyond her years as she reflected on the twists and turns of fate. She said she is grateful for her injuries as she would never have been to Walter Reed or met the love of her life.

In talking to Calvert about her husband, I asked if it  was love at first sight. “Well, that could be argued,” she said. The former elite sniper, SGT Bradley Calvert, who is an AW2 Soldier, has a tough façade. It is reported that his first glance appeared to be a scowl as the two passed in the hallway at Walter Reed. However, within minutes of that scowl, they ended up in the same room visiting a mutual friend. Awkwardly, they stood squaring off at each other at the bedside. Very quickly, she told him what she thought about his scowl. He was surprised at her moxie and amused by the dialogue that followed. Soon, the conversation turned to smiles and laughter which was followed by a cup of coffee together.

During that conversation, she told SGT Calvert that she had an invitation to the inaugural ball, but did not have a date. He did not hesitate to respond to the lovely lady he just met hours before. He said he would be honored to escort her to the ball. The first date this couple went on was to the presidential ball. Just as in a story book, Cupid struck and they fell in love and were married on June 29, 2009. The years have passed and this couple is beside and supporting each other in all things and all interests.

Cupid, however, was not done yet. Not only did they fall in love, they would both start flinging arrows as well. SGT Calvert introduced his wife to archery. She explained during Warrior Games, “Through Bradley, I‘ve found a new talent and passion for archery and shot put. I was chosen for the 2011 Warrior Games and consider this accomplishment a great honor. I am taking my training very seriously while I enjoy this chance of a lifetime.”

When asked what he hopes for her, SGT Calvert replied, “I just want her to do her best, medal or no medal. I am proud of her and know what she can do.” He continued, “She is a natural talent and has the ability to win the gold.”  Her goal was to bring a medal back to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. She ultimately did not medal, but brought something much more important back home: Calvert showed other wounded warriors what is possible.

The Calverts have a big vision for the future. They not only assist each other, but they also help other wounded warriors. They know the path and the struggle, as they have traveled it.  They have opened their home and hearts to Soldiers in need so they can make it to the next step. Their dream is to move to the Midwest and open a ranch with an equine therapy program for injured Soldiers.

Yes, love heals the wounds of war.

 

Second Class of AW2 Soldiers and Veterans Graduate from Kansas University

Filed under Career/Education, COL Gadson, Staff Stories by on May 27, 2011 at 1:27 pm {one comment}

By Jim Merrill, AW2 Advocate

The month of May saw many college graduations and ceremonies across the country, as well as events commemorating the armed forces. Along with COL Greg Gadson, AW2 Director, I had the pleasure of attending a special graduation and Warrior Appreciation Rally.

The master’s hooding ceremony for the second class of graduates of the AW2 Education Initiative was at the University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, KS. These new graduates, one AW2 Soldier and five AW2 Veterans, were the second group selected to take part in an innovative cooperative program between the Department of the Army (DA) and KU. Soldiers that possessed bachelor’s degrees could attend KU as either COAD (Continuation on Active Duty) Soldiers or as paid DA civilians, with all fees paid, to obtain their master’s degrees. In return, they become instructors at the Command and General Staff College (C&GS) at Fort Leavenworth, or will be employed in some other capacity within the Army.

Congratulations to the Soldier and Veterans who completed the AW2 Education Initiative program this year. Their names, degrees, and next assignments are:

  • Retired SGT Nathan Dehnke, Master in Political Science, G-1 Headquarters, DA, Washington, DC
  • Retired CPT John Gelineau, Master in Global and International Studies, Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, VA
  • 1LT Jason Gladney, Master in History, C&GS, Fort Leavenworth, KS
  • Retired SPC Michael Hogg, Master in History, C&GS, Fort Leavenworth, KS
  • Retired SGT Tom Wiggins, Master in Curriculum and Instruction, School for Advanced Leadership and Tactics, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Gadson and I attended both the hooding ceremony and a reception that followed. My life has changed by meeting Soldiers such as these and others assigned to AW2. Speaking as a proud and patriotic American, thank you, gentlemen, for what you have done, your pain, suffering, and sacrifices for this country, and the continuing service you are providing.

First Annual Warrior Appreciation Rally

Despite predictions of rain and storms for Kansas City, Gadson and I also attended the 1st Annual Warrior Appreciation Rally held in Kansas City. Many AW2 Soldiers, wounded servicemembers, Veterans from different conflicts, active duty Soldiers from nearby Fort Leavenworth and Veterans in general attended the rally organized by community organizations, with events benefiting wounded warriors. AW2 Veterans Mike Davis, Alan Norton, and Scott Stevenson had the difficult task of being judges for a cover girl and bikini contest. The Kansas City Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital also supported the event with the Mobile Veteran’s Outreach vehicle, as well at the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Nurse Case Manager and two of the VA’s psychiatrists donating their time. VA staff made a determined effort to reach out to all Veterans and explain benefits and assistance available to them. We, along with the rally participants, enjoyed the fun filled day.

Army Shooting Team Prepares Mentally and Physically for 2011 Warrior Games

Filed under Adaptive Sports, Staff Stories, Warrior Games by on May 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm {3 comments}

By Jim Wenzel, WTC Stratcom

Warrior Games Army shooter SSG Kory Irish trains at the Whispering Pines Gun Club in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Warrior Games is an annual competition featuring nearly 200 wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers from all branches of service and is less than a week away. Athletes are preparing to compete in several sports including, shooting, swimming, archery, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, on May 16-22.

For the Army’s shooting team, it is time to make the final preparations that may mean the difference in the competition. Part of those preparations includes the active assistance and encouragement of a trio of staff members dedicated to their physical, mental, and technical readiness.

The first member of the trio is the coach, MSG Howard Day. His role is to help the Army shooters acclimate to Colorado’s 6,000 feet of elevation, work with facilities and equipment, and guide them through any last minute shooting issues. The other two staff members are Performance Enhancement Specialist Lindsay Holtz, from the Army Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Performance and Resilience Enhancement Program (CSF-PREP), and Physical Therapist CPT Ritland Bradley from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

One of the many Army shooters training with these coaches and staff assistants is SSG Kory Irish from the Fort Drum Warrior Transition Unit (WTU). Pictured above, Irish earned a gold medal at the Army Marksmanship Unit’s clinic this past January. Now in Colorado, he begins his training by first participating in mental exercises intended to improve his mental performance. Electrodes are first placed under his ears and are connected to an energy management software program on a computer. The program is designed to measure his heart rate, respiration, and levels of brain activity. By breathing deeply and relaxing mentally, Irish can achieve a “state of coherence” which can help him stay focused. Talking about these techniques and their effectiveness, Irish said, “The focusing drills help clear whatever is going on. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, the techniques work.” He is counting on this type of focus to allow him to take the competition one well-aimed shot at a time.

CSF-PREP focuses on increasing the performance of wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and their spouses at ten sites located at posts and stations throughout the Army. When asked about the importance of mental preparation in the shooting competition, Holtz remarked, “The mental game is essential—each shot could be the tiebreaker.” When asked how these techniques can apply to other areas in individuals’ lives she added, “Tasks such as goal setting can be difficult to do alone. These techniques can apply to all areas of their lives.”

SSG Irish and his teammates, with the continued assistance of MSG Day, Bradley, and Holtz, plan to bring their best physical, technical, and mental game to the Olympic Training Center range next week. In a competition where the winner could be decided by mere tenths of a point, mental stress can build quickly. As the Army shooting team pulls together and good natured inter-service rivalry starts to warm up, they will need all of their training and techniques to ensure they meet their competition at the peak of their performance.

I am the Master of my Fate and the Captain of my Soul

Filed under Staff Stories, Warrior Games by on May 11, 2011 at 7:50 pm {no comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

AW2 Soldier SGT Alonzo Lunsford coaches three 2011 Warrior Games wheelchair basketball players during training.

SGT Alonzo Lunsford is an AW2 Soldier and one of the coaches for the 2011 Warrior Games wheelchair basketball team. Much has happened since he was a coach last year for shot put and discus. Coach Lunsford was one of the survivors from the Fort Hood tragedy and was shot six times, resulting in blindness in one of his eyes. He is still recovering, but insisted on being at the Warrior Games for the players.

Asked why it was vital for him to return as a coach, he replied, “It is about the Soldiers and showing what is possible. These games are exciting and invigorating. The Soldiers feel alive and see progress with their mind and their bodies. Participating in athletics is very therapeutic. It releases negative feelings and gives an outlet for frustration. The Soldier can take the stress and tension out on the court and not on those in his or her life.”

Watching the players on the court, he added, “The teamwork builds friendships for life. We all have chewed the same dirt. These are my people and they have been through the same pain,” Lunsford said. “What we have been through is culture shock to those out of the military.” After listening to these words, I realized that it is therapeutic for him and the athletes to be together. It is another way to heal and is a reality about which civilians can sympathize, but cannot empathize.

He lives by the words in the title of this blog, “I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” He will tell you that he may not be able to play basketball, but he can coach. He said life is about looking at what you have and making the most out of it. He is from a long line of military and law enforcement people. When I asked this father of five if he was planning on staying in the Army, he replied, “Of course, we are still at war. If I can be of service to the Army, I will stay. When the war is done, I will think about getting out.”

For now he hopes that Warrior Games will expand and more players will come forward. He believes the Warrior Games helps wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and their Families, while educating and involving the public in a very positive way.

Go Army!

And the Army Goes Rolling Along

Filed under Staff Stories, Warrior Games by on May 10, 2011 at 7:51 pm {no comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

The 2011 Warrior Games Army wheelchair basketball team started training yesterday to prepare for next week’s competition.

Keep that tune in your mind when you come to see the Army wheelchair basketball team play. They plan to advance and complete their mission. What is their mission? The gold medal.

SGT Daniel Biskey is back and he is going for the gold medal. Last year, Biskey and his team won the wheelchair basketball silver medal in the 2010 Warrior Games. He has had his mind set on this year’s event since the defeat to the Marines. To prepare for the 2011 Warrior Games, he played wheelchair basketball four days a week and hand cycled whenever possible. Being a tough competitor, he was only saddened that he had to limit to two events. He would prefer to compete in all of them.

Indeed, SGT Biskey, and all of his team mates are a force to contend with on and off the playing field. Biskey has demonstrated his resiliency in many facets of his life and has overcome great challenges. For example, in November 2009, SGT Biskey was injured in Afghanistan while on foot patrol. During that mission he stepped on a mine that exploded and resulted in a left leg below the knee amputation. To talk with him now, the mission continues and he hopes to find a new way to serve.

This week SGT Biskey is training with his battle buddies on the court. These ten players have never met each other before, but they are kindred spirits and instant friends. They are the seasoned warriors and their level of training is clear. With the leadership of wheelchair basketball Coaches Doug Garner and SGT Alonzo Lunsford, the team metamorphosed from playing as individuals to jelling as a force that took ground and learned tactical ways of working together. And this was just the first day.

The game mimics life in many ways. During coaching sessions, Performance Enhancement Specialist Richard Harris of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program asked the team to write goals. As they did, he spoke about the power of the mind and the connection with the body. He said their program has noted that there are five conditions that work toward a high level of performance. These are: confidence, goal setting, attention control, energy management, and imagery. He said these are mental skills and like physical skills, they can get stronger with practice. To get mentally tough, he said the daily strengthening of these conditions will bring out the best in each athlete, and their physical performance will follow. These suggestions are not just for use during the game of basketball, but for the Soldiers and Veterans to use long after the game is over.

What were the players’ goals? SGT Devon Maston said, “First, I want to win no doubt. But I want to have fun winning. Second, I want to become a better player and a better person. Third, I want to be there to help my teammates on and off the court.”

Without a doubt, they are already gold in my book.

WTC Stratcom will be covering the various wheelchair basketball games all next week. Follow the coverage on the WTC blog, WTC Twitter page, and AW2 Facebook page.

Medal of Honor Recipient SSG Salvatore Giunta Selected as Warrior Games 2011 Torchbearer

Filed under Staff Stories, Warrior Games by on May 8, 2011 at 7:47 pm {one comment}

By Jim Wenzel, WTC Stratcom

Medal of Honor recipient SSG Salvatore Giunta, shown here at the New York Stock Exchange, will serve as torchbearer at the opening of this month’s Warrior Games.

Medal of Honor recipient SSG Salvatore Giunta of Fort Collins, CO, has been selected to be the torchbearer for this year’s Warrior Games Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, on May 16, 2011.

The competition, which is a joint effort between the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Department of Defense, will take place on May 16-21, 2011. The Warrior Games will feature 200 wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Army Special Operations Command. Competitors will compete in shooting, swimming, archery, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball.

Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War, was awarded the nation’s highest military award for heroism by President Barack Obama at the White House on November 16, 2010. Guinta received the award for repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire in order to save American lives and for rescuing a fellow Soldier from the hands of the Taliban.

Although he is very humble about the honor and has often claimed that he is an “average” Soldier simply doing what any other would have done in his place, no other Soldier is better suited for bearing the Warrior Games torch. “It is an honor to have SSG Giunta light the torch at the opening ceremony,” said Warrior Transition Command (WTC) Commander BG Darryl A. Williams. “His heroic action is an inspiration to the wounded, ill, and injured competitors that he represents.”

The Warrior Games is a way for wounded, ill, and injured athletes to push themselves beyond their limits and to recognize that with exceptional effort and determination they can achieve success in competition and in other areas of their lives. The Warrior Games is also an opportunity to showcase adaptive sports programs at Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) and wounded warrior units within all the service branches to demonstrate that physical activity, especially sports, is an important component of healing and rehabilitation. To learn more about the Warrior Games, please visit the Warrior Games Web page on the Warrior Transition Command website.

Support in the Form of Four Paws

Filed under Behavioral Health, Staff Stories by on May 6, 2011 at 10:42 am {4 comments}

By Christin Barden, AW2 Advocate and Air Force Veteran

AW2 Advocate and Air Force Veteran Christin Barden, pictured above with her husband Edward, intends to help manage her PTSD and TBI with the help of her dog Bravo and training from Paws and Stripes.

Last week I was introduced to my new best friend. He is a rescued, 12-month-old black lab I named Bravo. Like any good friend, he provides me physical and emotional support when needed, helps calm my anxieties, and unlike humans, never judges me.

Although I have had tremendous support from Family and friends when I found out I was receiving my dog, several people questioned why I need Bravo to help me face my injuries. People wanted to know how I could benefit from him.

The people closest to me understand, but others in our communities and even in the AW2 community may not realize the significant impact from a canine companion. This is when I realized that I had an opportunity to educate people about the invisible wounds of war and how dogs like Bravo, can play a part in healing.

I am a Veteran and an AW2 Advocate who has post-traumatic stress disorder, a traumatic brain injury, and mobility issues. Most people think I have it all together, however very few know about the level of pain, stress, anxiety, and sometimes depression that I live with every day since my military service.

Bravo helps me attain freedom that I have not experienced in a long time. Although we are bonding really well and already in love, we have a lot of work to do together and I am looking forward to our journey together.

Every week we will work with trainers and will face challenges that are far outside our comfort levels. The training will force both of us to confront our anxieties and in the end, this experience will teach us both to trust again. I guess it is like going through basic training again. Although I may get some barks at me, I won’t get any yelling. Stay posted for more information about my adventure in the coming months.

Editor’s note: The expressed comments and views of guest bloggers do not reflect the views of WTC or the United States Army.

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