The sun beamed down on Soldiers and staff of Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion Friday as they gathered at War Memorial Park in Oak Grove to fling a few frisbees around a disc golf course during the 18-hole tournament hosted by the WTB.
Robyn Womac-Fontin, WTB Adaptive Sports site coordinator, said the tournament is a part of the battalion's Adaptive Reconditioning Program, which helps Soldiers remain active despite their physical limitations. Disc golf was added to ARP about 10 months ago.
"We are teaching our warriors how to play disc golf and how adaptive it can be," she said. "It can turn into a life sport when they transition out of the military."
Womac-Fontin, who began playing disc golf about 15 years ago, said it is easy to pick up on the game and the sport is adaptable to the needs and wants of the player.
"It's pretty much just throwing the Frisbee and walking the course," she said. "It can be as interactive as you want it to be. Pretty much any of our warriors, regardless of their wounds or injuries, can play this sport."
Disc golf is a game played by throwing Frisbees at metal baskets organized on an outdoor course. The goal of the game is to get the Frisbee into the basket using as few throws as possible.
Staff Sgt. Paul Powell, one of the many WTU staff members who participated in the tournament, said through the rehabilitation program Soldiers are able to continue training as a Soldier, which helps them through the transitioning out of the Army or returning to the force.
"For [the warriors] it's like their physical training," he said. "So if they can't run and do the regular Army PT that we do, then they can come out here and we can do other things with them. It's more of a cohesive, team building experience."
Powell said for many Soldiers, being able to remain physically active helps them stay optimistic while working through the process of healing.
"A lot of the time, the things that we do are therapeutic," he said. "A lot of the time it is mind over matter for [warriors] because some of them get down that they can't act like a 'true' Soldier and do the physical activities that we do."
One Soldier, in between throws at the basket, turned his face up to the high-noon sun, a smile plastered on his face, sweat glistening on his forehead, while his friends tried their hand at beating the par 3 hole.
"It's just so nice to be outside," said Sgt. Link Dusten, WTB. "I'm sweating, but I'm still having a good time and enjoying myself. I was in the Army, so what's new about sweating?" Womac-Fontin agreed, saying being in nature can be therapeutic for many Soldiers.
"You are out here in nature, with the wind in your face, the sun is shining," she said. "This helps Soldiers heal, physically as well as emotionally and mentally."
Dusten, who is transitioning out of the Army, served for 11 years.
Dusten said in addition to providing physical activity, the tournament provided a safe haven for Soldiers to make new friends and forge bonds with other warriors. He said being surrounded by like-minded people is comforting to wounded, injured and ill Soldiers who frequently feel alone.
"Feeling alone is one of the hardest parts of transitioning out of the military," he said. "It doesn't matter how long you served. Once you are a Soldier, it's who you are and it's hard not to be a Soldier. This program helps us feel like we aren't alone with our problems. It helps us feel like we have friends, people that care for us and help us feel like we have a purpose again," Dusten said he has struggled with leaving the Army.
"I kind of feel like I can't be a Soldier anymore and I have to give it up," he said. "And I don't want to give that up, but my body just doesn't want to do this anymore."
Through events like these Dusten hopes to find a new battle buddy to help him through the transitioning process.
"When you first enter the Army they give you a 'battle buddy' and it's kinda hard once you make that transition out to not have that buddy anymore," he said. "It's nice to be able to come out here and find someone to continue fighting the fight beside you."
Powell, who has helped many Soldiers transition out of the Army said staying socially connected to the community is one of the most important things a Soldier can do while transitioning.
"We encourage them to get up and get out of the house," he said. "With us they don't have a normal 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. It's all about going to your appointments and some of them get work sites if they can, but getting them out of the house and getting them moving is really what we are trying to accomplish through this program."
Soldiers coming through the WTB carry their struggles with them: mental and physical. Powell said in both cases asking Soldiers to accept help is the most difficult part of the healing process.
"You have to convince them that their life isn't over and to keep their chin up," he said. "Sometimes you have to give them a little push out of the door and make them go, but once they do go they realize that it is beneficial for them to go to things like this."
The tournament, rounded out by a barbecue lunch, ended with an award ceremony where handcrafted wood trophies were presented to the winning competitors.
"It's not really even about the competition though, or who's winning what," Dusten said. "It's about making friends and having a good time on a beautiful day."
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