JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas. -- The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) is heading to Nellis AFB, Nev. for the 6th annual Air Force Trials, March 1st through the 7th. It’s a Paralympic-style competitive event that showcases the resiliency of wounded warriors and highlights the effectiveness of adaptive sports and AFW2 in aiding them in their recovery. The Air Force Trials is also the primary selection location for the 40 primary and 10 alternate members of Team Air Force selected to compete at the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida, June 21st through 30th.
Retired Senior Airman Lucas Purser is one of those wounded warriors hoping to make the team. He joined the Air Force in 2008 and served a Security Forces Defender until he was medically retired following a diagnosis for cancer that led to an amputation of his right arm. Despite the amputation and his medical retirement, Lucas was selected to represent Team Air Force for the 2016 Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Lucas was extremely competitive at West Point, taking home a Gold Medal in sitting volleyball and a Silver in standing discus. He was then selected to represent the United States at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada where he took home the Bronze for sitting volleyball. In 2016, he was asked what adaptive sports did for him and he said, “I played sports all my life—it’s a natural thing for me. It helped me to get my mental game back on point and get out and do things.” Two and a half years later Lucas is returning to show us how his mental game is now.
How have things been going since you last competed with us in 2016?
Things could have went a little better. Since 2016 I've had 3 surgeries, 2 more lung surgeries and a big surgery to replace my T2 vertebrae which left me with some loss of function in the lower half of my body.
What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?
If I'm not at school for computer science, I'm at the gym or playing video games.
How is your training coming along, and what are you doing specifically to prepare for the competition ahead?
Training is going well. I try to get to the gym once a day and try to get to a pool when I can. School has me so busy it seems like I barely have time to breathe really. But the days I go to the gym I usually spend an hour and a half to two hours doing various weight lifting techniques and cardio.
How does it feel to be heading to the Air Force Trials again?
I haven't been to the trials since 2016. I feel very happy and anxious to see everyone again and meet new people, and also release the inner competitive self again.
What was it like to represent the Air Force at the 2016 Warrior Games?
The feelings, well you can't really put those into words. It gave me new purpose in life again, and competing for team USAF and getting those medals around my neck gave me a feeling of accomplishment, one I haven't felt in a while.
What would you tell the new folks this year to get them mentally prepared for the big competition at Warrior Games?
It’s a competition, perform at your best ability. Give it all you have. If you don't do the best that day, work really hard after the Warrior Games and knock the competition out of the water next year. This gives you a goal for the near future; staying in shape and keeping a healthy mind is important.
How do you think being a competitive athlete has helped you?
I have been an athlete my entire life. After I lost my arm I thought my athlete days were over. Then I went to an AFW2 event and was introduced to adaptive sports. My body might not be what it used to be, but my competitive spirit has never left. Being an athlete gives me a specific set of goals that I vigorously try to meet. It is both good for the body and the mind. It keeps me in shape and keeps my mind occupied towards those goals.
How did your relationship with AFW2 help you through all you’ve gone through?
Back in 2015, I was in that deep, dark hole called depression. I kept receiving emails from AFW2 to join them at one of their events. Finally, I decided to do it. Ever since that first adaptive sports event, it sparked the fuel in me to get motivated and get better. They taught me life is not over after losing an arm and getting diagnosed with cancer. AFW2 motivated me so hard that I got the urge to go to college and get my computer science degree, which I’m in my last semester for now. I could write ten pages on how AFW2 helped me throughout everything after I left the Air Force, these are just a few things that stand out.
You can follow the action on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and see more information at https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Events/Air-Force-Trials/.