Warrior CARE event helps wounded service members stay active

By Sgt. Kelly Wiebe

5th MPAD

For Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Ferguson, her life changed after her third deployment. Upon returning from Afghanistan in 2014, she started recognizing pain in her back and neck. She had been active previously, including cycling, but she soon found herself with problems she couldn't fix by herself.

The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program hosted a Warrior CARE event at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash. Aug. 1 to Aug. 4 The event helped wounded Soldiers and Airmen return to an active lifestyle.

"It's just a really great event, and I really enjoy the joint force aspect of it," said Ferguson, a Soldier with 14 years in service assigned to the Fort Hood Warrior Transition Unit. "When you get right down to it, it's 'one team one fight.' Mostly it gives the wounded warriors a chance to get together as a group and get that sense of 'you are not alone, you're not the only one going through this. I like that we were allotted enough time to get familiar with each activity, especially if we were totally unfamiliar with the activity. Everything, I've enjoyed. I found something positive. I found the archery pretty relaxing. "

Instructors at the events echoed these sentiments.

"I think it's important to give back to our service members who are seriously injured, wounded, sick and help them focus on their recovery" said Capt. Katherine Milton, the rowing coach from Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. 'The camaraderie between the service members from the Air Force and the Army has gone really well. I've gotten to see a lot of sharing of stories, which is a big part of this event. "

The acronym "CARE" stands for caregiver support, adaptive and rehabilitate sports, recovering service member mentorship, employment and career opportunities. The CARE event was one of many done around the country to help wounded service members stay active and compete against one another.

"I was surprised, I didn't think I would like to pick up a heavy ball and just throw it as far as I can," said Staff Sgt. Jessica Dierking, an ammo troop assigned to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Dierking has post-traumatic stress disorder from an attack nine years ago. "It's been super-amazing to discover what kind of strength I have physically."

The instructors also voiced their excitement with the events, which included archery, shooting, rowing, cycling, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and sitting basketball.

"The week's gone fantastic," said field coach Scott Danberg, who instructed the athletes in seated discus and seated shot put. "It's great to see when people find out what they can do with their bodies. Sometimes people with limitations will tend to baby things, but when we, as instructors, challenge them to do that extra bit then, pretty soon, we almost have to kick them off the field."

The event was held in conjunction with JBLM's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and the Madigan Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion.