From a civil war to Army Trials

By Leanne Thomas, Tripler Army Medical Center Public AffairsApril 6, 2017

From a civil war to Army Trials
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Capt. Rolando Reyes, from the Warrior Transition Unit, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, makes his way to the cycling route for training at the U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas, March 30.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
From a civil war to Army Trials
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Capt. Rolando Reyes (center) trains with other Soldier and veteran athletes during the wheelchair basketball practice for the Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas, on March 31, 2017. About 80 wounded, ill and injur... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BLISS, Texas -- Like all the athletes competing at the Army Warrior Care and Transition's 2017 Army Trials hosted at Fort Bliss, Texas. U.S. Army Capt. Rolando Reyes' road here was not an easy.

Raised by his grandmother in El Salvador during the country's violent civil war, Reyes grew up with no electricity, no running water, and little opportunity to go to school; the war caused schools too often be closed. Reyes eventually was able to leave El Salvador and travel to the United States with his biological mom. However, circumstances would cause their separation and lead to his adoption by her former best friend. He settled with his new family in Mount Kisco, New York.

Reyes found his life in the U.S. Overwhelming and only speaking Spanish didn't make it easier. There were no bilingual classes available for him to learn English, but an introduction to sports at age 14 gave him that boost that would get his mind off his troubles, and allow him to get away.

"As a kid I had to grow up really fast and I found sports as a way out," said Reyes. "I was so thankful for my new family. They gave me so much and introduced me to sports. They have truly been a blessing to me."

By the time Reyes was a freshman in high school, he made the varsity soccer team and continued playing for the next seven years. As a junior in college, he enlisted in the Army.

"The U. S. gave me a second chance at life, so I wanted to serve," explained Reyes. "During my childhood, I watched many of my uncles forced to fight in the El Salvadoran civil war, we never knew what happened to them, said Reyes. "If you were 12 or 13 years old you, were fighting in the war either with the El Salvador Army or the rebels."

With plans to serve in the U.S. Army for three years, Reyes didn't know the Army would soon evolve to a new era called the 'War on Terrorism'.

"I was in the field at basic training when I first heard about the September 11 attacks. I will never forget my drill sergeants explaining how things were going to be a lot different," said Reyes.

Deploying for the first time in the 2003 during the invasion of Iraq, Reyes told himself if he made it out of Iraq alive, he was going to get out and focus on finishing his undergraduate degree.

With the possibility of being recalled, Reyes was able to enroll in Reserve Officer Training Corps and finished his last year of college, and was commissioned into the Transportation Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant.

After four combat deployments, and a total of 16 years of active duty service, Reyes is now assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Unit, on his next journey toward recovery and transition that only wounded warriors and veterans know.

Reyes suffered four injuries to his ankle; both shoulders, both knees, his lower back, and suffers from post-traumatic stress, sleep apnea and migraines.

Reyes is the only Soldier competing in the Warrior Care and Transition Army Trials from Hawaii this year. As a new competitor, fully embracing the experience, Reyes is competing in adaptive cycling, shooting, track, field, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

During the first medal ceremony of the competition, Reyes was surprised to learn that he won a bronze medal in cycling for the upright male 30K -- open category.

"Since this is my first time to compete in cycling, I didn't think I would place. But I am glad I had the courage to try because I found cycling as a way for me to clear my mind," said Reyes.

"There is a lot of stress for the Warrior Transition Unit Soldiers due to the uncertainties about your future," said Reyes. But the WTU has many opportunities. If you're found fit to return to duty, going through a medical separation or medical retirement, there are many resources to help you and your family. Despite my injuries, adaptive sports has allowed me to still compete as an athlete and turn to sports to clear my mind during the difficult times."

Winning two gold medals in shooting at the Air Force Trials last month, Reyes qualified to be here this week at Fort Bliss to compete for a spot on Team Army at the 2017 Department of Defense Warrior Games this June in Chicago.

The opportunity to train with expert coaches at Army Trials has inspired Reyes to become more involved in adaptive sports programs.

Following his return to Hawaii, Reyes plans to mentor and encourage other wounded warriors to reach their adaptive sports goals.