Soldier reenlists at Warrior Transition Unit that helped save his career
By MaryTherese Griffin, Warrior Care and Transition
ARLINGTON, Va. - In May 2016, while preparing for an upcoming deployment to Kuwait with his unit, U.S. Army Spc. Ricardo Cabrera-Murphy dislocated his shoulder while locking and bracing a shipping container. He tore the ligaments inside his shoulder so badly, it required two surgeries to repair them. Although Cabrera-Murphy was not familiar with the Warrior Care and Transition Program, he is now forever grateful for it.
"After my first surgery my unit started to deploy and I had to stay behind on rear detachment, since I was not deployable. During this time on rear detachment, I had mixed feelings, but I continued with my physical therapy and medical appointments," Cabrera-Murphy said. "Once my unit returned, they saw that I was not completely healed and they decided to send me to the WTU at Fort Bliss in September 2017."
Cabrera-Murphy entered the WTU with complete trepidation. "At the very beginning [at the WTU] I was very skeptical, I actually did not want to be there. I felt like I was being kicked out or thrown aside, and that I was not worthy to stay in the military," he said of his initial feelings about the WTU. "Needless to say, I have a completely different mindset and opinion right now. The first thing that people at the WTU told me was to use my time there wisely, and that being there didn't mean that I was being kicked out, but rather given a second chance. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity that I was given."
Initially, Cabrera-Murphy feared he would have to medically retire, but he says the WTU provided him with all the care he needed to make a full recovery. "Every single cadre, civilian and medical staff there played a big role in my recovery. My wife and daughter played one of the biggest roles. My wife believed in me and encouraged me to continue to push forward and stay focused on my goals," said Cabrera-Murphy.
One of those goals of staying in the Army has been met. On July 31, 2018, Cabrera-Murphy reenlisted in the Army he loves so dearly at the Fort Bliss WTU Headquarters in what he called a "simple ceremony," but it was one that held a lot of meaning.
"I was not going to allow [my injury] set back to define my career. I wanted to prove to myself that just because I fell down doesn't mean I couldn't get up," Cabrera-Murphy said. "I wanted to demonstrate to other members of the WTU that you can in fact get up and keep moving after falling down."
That set back he now looks at as a set up. Cabrera-Murphy is preparing to make a permanent change of station with his wife, Sarah and four year old daughter Sarah Rose, and head to Germany in November. The newly reenlisted Soldier is looking forward to accomplishing many more goals in his career and gives the credit for the chance to reach them to his wife and the Fort Bliss WTU.
"My wife is very proud! She saw me on my lowest, and knew that I was hurting yet she always supported me and was there for me unconditionally. She witnessed my recovery first hand and is so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of the WTU. Thanks to them I will be able to accomplish all my goals in my military career."
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