Road to Recovery: Academy hosts Air Force Wounded Warrior Program events

  • Published
  • By Ashlie Steel
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
The Air Force Wounded Warriors Program led an outdoor sports experience across the Front Range and the Air Force Academy to build support and trust for dozens of service members July 20-24.

The recovery process for any Wounded Warrior is a group and individual effort, said Dr. Aaron Moffett, the Air Force Wounded Warriors Program's sports psychologist.

"The Wounded Warriors have to work on themselves before they can work as a group and help each other individually," he said. "We try to develop a holistic support program."

Former Academy cadet Derek Starnes suffered a spinal stroke that left him paralyzed below the shoulders. Starnes said enrolling in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program changed his outlook on life and he now knows he is capable of much more than he originally thought after leaving the hospital.

"I was in a wheelchair for five months of my life and I'm still dealing with paralysis," he said. "I wanted to get active again and this program gave me that."

Tech. Sgt. Scott Nicholson of Schriever Air Force Base was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. He said he felt like a changed person within two months of enrolling in the Air Force Wounded Warrior program.

"I didn't think anything was wrong until my condition started having an impact on my family," he said. "I wanted to get better. I wanted to heal."

The warriors tackled the ropes course in Jacks Valley and rode horses at the Equestrian Center here June 21.

"When you have someone else holding that rope, your life is literally in their hands," Nicholson said about the high ropes course. "Having post-traumatic stress disorder, losing trust is one of the biggest issues."

Moffett said helping coordinate Wounded Warrior Program events gives him the ultimate high and being able to witness the warriors' mental and physical rehabilitation is infectious.

"Regardless of their situation, every Wounded Warrior has been in that place where they don't believe this program will help them," he said. "Then they come out and recognize that every other Wounded Warrior has had that thought and they end up having a blast."
        
The warriors also participated in fly fishing and rock climbing.