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Playing through adversity

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keoni Chavarria
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. --  Following a traumatic event, one may feel that they have lost hope, but through the Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp, service members can gain strength both mentally and physically.

Athletes from across the U.S. joined together to learn and compete in various sports events during the Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp Aug. 24 to Aug. 28, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The camp was a combination of the Army and Air Force Wounded Warrior programs working together to give Veterans an opportunity in the Pacific Northwest region to play different sports and to increase their resiliency physically and mentally through their peers.

During the introductory camp, 160 athletes were able to pick a number of sports they would like to play in and were coached throughout the week before competing in a sport Aug. 28. Some of the games the athletes participated in included sitting volleyball, cycling, swimming, and wheelchair basketball among other sports.

"The program takes [someone] from hopeless to hopeful," said Mark Shepherd, Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp wheelchair basketball coach. "In the midst of a traumatic injury it may be difficult to find a positive, but sports and recreation helps the participants rehabilitate not only emotionally but physically."

According to Griselda Calderon, a Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports camp athlete, the program was helpful in her recovery process.

"When I first came, I was angry at how I was treated after my incident," said Calderon. "But as I played and tried things I didn't think I could do, I was able to push myself, and it was awesome."

While the camp provided an outlet for wounded warriors, it also helped give information to the care givers as well.

"In addition to the sports aspect, the camp gave mentorship to the care givers and helped them network with local organizations that can assist both the warrior and the care provider," said Capt. Amanda Turcotte, 627th Force Support Squadron operations officer and Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports Camp lead event coordinator.

During the program, there were also separate seminars specifically for the care givers to help support, information and to increase their involvement in the camps.

This is the first time in an Air Force event that care giver support was included in addition to the Wounded Warrior portion, she added.

During the seminars, the care givers were put in a focus group where they then received information on other organizations that may help them and methods to divert stress.

According to Turcotte, this is also the first time the Air Force Wounded Warrior program has held an event in the Northwest region and the first time the Air Force and the Army has worked together to host an introductory sports camp.

According to Turcotte, while this is the first year for the camp, the Wounded Warrior's program is planning one for next year and could become an annual event.

While there isn't a way to change how a traumatic event happened, many of the athletes said that the program has been a large help in turning a negative situation into a positive.