Police, Marine Corps, and Army meet 'Bull's-Eye' Boyd

FORT BLISS, Texas -- After retiring from the police department in Georgia in 2008, Harvey Boyd, prior service Marine Corps, decided he needed another adventure. He went to the Marine Corps recruiter and wanted to get back into law enforcement.

"I told the recruiter I want military police or nothing at all," said Boyd. There were no assignments to his liking and a friend told him to try the Army National Guard. "I said, I can't go to the Army," explained a smiling Boyd. "I was a Marine and I talked too much trash about the Army."

Boyd went to the Army National Guard recruiter, and re-started his service as an MP. Fast forward to 2017 and now Sgt. Harvey Boyd, Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Benning, has been blistering targets in the shooting events during the Army Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas. Competition takes place April 2-6.

He honed his shooting skill under the watchful eye of his uncle, an Army veteran. His uncle took him fishing and hunting, correcting his misuse of a BB gun, and teaching him how to shoot properly. Boyd put his skill on display at the trials, pounding bull's-eyes on his way to winning a bronze medal in the Pistol SH1 class, and a gold medal in the Air Rifle SH1 class.

"Family is everything," said Boyd. "The comradery we have out here [Army Trials] is tight. Someone may feel broken, it may not always be visible, but I can relate to everyone out here."

Boyd said those in the military are constantly competing. "You always want to be equal to your brother," he explained. "You don't want him/her to be better than you, just like in a family."

The spirit of competition is showing Soldier and veteran athletes they can contribute. "I can't deploy to the Army standard, but I can still represent the military," stated Boyd. "I can still wear the uniform with the word 'Army' on the front of it and make a difference."

"There are guys out there [active duty and veterans] that don't know anything about adaptive reconditioning," said Boyd. "They could do 10 times better if they participate in the program. They just don't know about the opportunity."

Boyd's injuries that ultimately brought him to the WTU began at ground level and unknowingly spread. He injured his left ankle on his sixth deployment. "When I got back to the states I found out that not only did I have an ankle injury, but I had a heart condition," detailed Boyd.

While being treated for his heart condition, doctors found he developed lung disease. "After everything started adding up that was wrong with me, I was really sinking into a low place," said Boyd. "I started comparing myself to my 'big' brother [Army peers]." Boyd said being in adaptive reconditioning let him know he's not any less than the next person. "All I have to do is change the direction how I live my life," he professed.

The most important domain in the adaptive reconditioning program to Boyd is family. It was his wife and good friend who knew him best that hit the bull's-eye on another disorder he didn't realize he had. They noticed things he couldn't. They noticed changes and stayed on him to the point he started to take notice.

A doctor's appointment diagnosed him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. The behavioral health specialist told Boyd PTSD would remain with him for the rest of his life, but the tools are there for him to cope. "Tears came to my eyes because that's when I started thinking I am really broke," said Boyd.

Each year at Army Trials, Soldiers, veterans and their family's resiliency is shared with the entire military community. 2017 is Boyd's first experience with adaptive reconditioning and the trials. When asked if the trials lived up to his expectation, he was quick to share his thoughts. "It actually has been a whole lot more than I thought it would be," he explained. "The ice breaker we had helped all of us. I look forward to experiencing more and meeting a whole lot more people."

Adaptive reconditioning and Army Trials is allowing participants to realize they are capable of overcoming any challenge, and represent the strength of the nation. Boyd sums it up in few, but very poignant words, "My story is just beginning."