CAMP PERRY, Ohio - It appeared to be just another line of shooters at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) airgun range. “Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream until your dreams come true …” the Aerosmith song lyrics spilled out of the loud speaker over the small pops of the NMAR-15 air rifles.
The leader of the shooters spoke out, “Take a quick break, and then, keep firing.” One man set down his rifle, displaying a missing hand. Another stood and walked over to his bottle of water, adjusting his prosthetic leg. A service dog draped in a camouflage Army uniform across her back whined at the sound of the popping air guns. A man turned around and said to her, “Just relax, Koda. Daddy’s shooting.”
These are the men of the USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) Warrior Athlete Program that visited Camp Perry and the CMP Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2013.
The program was designed for those “Wounded Warriors” of SOCOM with debilitating injuries, who like to stay active and compete. The group favors such events as archery, sitting volleyball, cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball and field events, among others. In addition to the airgun range, the veterans spent time at the south end of camp at the Ohio Air National Guard Red Horse Squadron’s gymnasium practicing crossbow shooting.
Warrior Athletes train for months to prepare themselves for the Warrior Games, which bring together injured veterans in an Olympic-style athletic competition. This year, the event will take place at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs May 11-17.
Last year, more than 200 injured service members and veterans in all branches of the military competed in the 2012 games in Colorado. The U.S. Olympic Committee, which heads the event, expects the same number of Wounded Warriors at this year’s Games. Camp Perry and the CMP became training facilitators for those who will compete in the shooting portion of the Games.
Participating in their first-ever training camp in the team’s three-year existence, the members are led by JJ O’Shea, who was designated the head coach of the rifle and pistol marksmanship teams. Out of all of the training facilities in the United States, O’Shea said the logical place to bring his team to train was always the CMP Marksmanship Center.
“They asked me to put together a marksmanship training program, and the only place I know that would offer this is here,” he said. “The support staff, the people from CMP, the Ohio National Guard, and the local community have all been great in supporting us.”
O’Shea is well qualified as a shooter and someone skilled in training wounded soldiers and veterans. A competitive shooter himself, O’Shea began a program in 2005 called M1 for Vets as a way of re-entering injured veterans into a real-shooting environment in their own communities.
“I saw the need for a program that would offer them a chance to go from a simulator, which gave them the opportunity to learn how to shoot with their injuries, but it wasn’t outside,” he said.
“It wasn’t in an environment where there was a real firearm, a rifle involved or pistol involved, so I made a couple of phone calls, and the next thing you know … we got them out shooting.”
For the past seven years, O’Shea and others at M1 for Vets have provided equipment, training and high-quality range time to over 500 wounded veterans. Now, in his first year as head coach, O’Shea is ready to take what he has learned to train a winning shooting team for the Warrior Games in May. But, just as with his M1 for Vets program, those being trained won’t have to stop shooting once the Games are over. They have begun a training regimen that they will be able to take home with them.
“We’re trying to instill in them the fact that we’re not going to stop there,” O’Shea said. “If they want to shoot all year when they get back to whatever home, we’re going to link them in with rifle clubs in their community so they can get out.”
Sixteen SOCOM Warriors were present during the weeklong training event at Camp Perry. But, with the success of this first training exercise here, O’Shea believes that number will rise in the future.
“I’ll bet you’ll see 30, and maybe upwards of 30 to 40 participants,” he said. “I think once the word gets out to other men and women at SOCOM, it’s going to grow from here.”
The types of injuries seen on the shooting line vary from the visible wounds, like amputations and paralysis, to non-visible wounds, such as back, shoulder and head injuries, not to mention traumatic brain injuries and those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But, according to O’Shea, no matter the injury, the opportunity to bring together those who have served together, recovered together and are now training together can be a difficult task.
“We’ve identified a lot of the guys, you can see them in a wheelchair, or their arm is missing, but the ones that have both arms and both legs are just as much a challenge out there,” he said.
Back in the range, Koda, the service dog, stayed alert as the air guns fired during training. Her ears perked up with each fired pellet. Then, her excitement exploded from her body with a leap of her legs as her owner set down his rifle and greeted her with a, “Daddy is doing so good! Huh, Koda?”
Christian Lowe came to the air rifle range as a first-time shooter. He served in Afghanistan before being diagnosed with PTSD. Koda, his Dalmatian-Dingo mix service dog, was his support as he suited up for a day of shooting
“When I go into my moment, she helps me out. She’ll start licking my face and brings me back to reality,” he said.
Although it was his first time shooting, the expression on his face showed evidence that pulling the trigger on his rifle was like pulling a trigger on his confidence.
As he fired his shots, pellet after pellet pierced the black center of the target. With a grin on his face, Lowe turned around from his seated position, looked back at his comrades and said, “Wow.”
Chuy Vasquez lost his left leg in a parachuting accident while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in 2006. He was also a first-time shooter with the air rifle during his trip to Camp Perry. While training, he realized that although he shot right-handed with his military weapon, he was left-eye dominant, so, shooting left-handed with his air rifle was more practical.
“There’s such a minimal amount for error,” he said.
As he adjusted himself in his seat, moving his prosthetic leg to a comfortable position, he confessed that although he loves to shoot, he has another passion during the Warrior Games.
“I love sit down volleyball,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a crowd pleaser.”
Vasquez has already competed in the Warrior Games. This May will be his second trip around with the injured men and women of SOCOM. He enjoys being active, but his favorite part about being a member of the Wounded Warriors isn’t the activity, but the people who participate.
“I definitely like being able to see the guys every so often. I can decompress more with these guys than I can with my wife, understandably,” he said.
Robert Evans lost his right hand when he was hit with an IED (improvised explosive device) in 2007 while in Iraq. He was a competitive shooter before his injury took away his dominant hand, but his injury didn’t stop him from participating in the sport he loves. This year, he’ll be helping O’Shea as an assistant coach for the SOCOM Warrior Games team. He’s hoping that his story will help inspire those around him to do their best.
“I enjoy helping these guys out because I was in that position several years ago, so it’s nice to take the knowledge I’ve gained to help these guys learn it too, so hopefully they can turn around,” he said.
Besides shooting, Evans is also trying to become a pilot, despite regulations that say it will be impossible for him to fly with his type of injury.
“I’m basically trying to be a subject matter in whatever field I’m in, to prove my skill set and talent. I don’t care much for limitations,” he said, with a smile. “I’m always trying to find how to do this or that differently.”
Because of the loss of his shooting hand, Evans has had to re-learn how to shoot in a new way. He uses a “glove” he fashioned out of soft material and tape to fit over his arm, where his wrist once connected to his hand. He uses the glove to hold the air rifle as he positions it against his torso. Then he aims, holds his breath and pulls the trigger with his left hand. Even with his injury, his scores match up against any other “able-bodied” shooter, proving that with the right mindset, he can accomplish anything.
“That’s my motivation. I want to compete in the regular playing field. I want to be considered a good shooter because I’m a good shooter, not because of my injury,” he said. “If I can do it, I know they (the Wounded Warrior team) can do it, as long as they have the aptitude and motivation to try. I don’t see any reason why anyone can’t do it.”
O’Shea believes in a short period of time, other service branches will also be bringing their teams of veterans to train at the CMP Marksmanship Center. He adds that the expansion of air rifle training sessions won’t be dependent upon how many people he tells about it, but instead upon the SOCOM members who participated.
“I don’t think I can do it. I think these guys will do that. They’ll be the spokesmen. They’ll go back to their brothers in arms that they served with and say, ‘Man, you gotta go to the next one.’ My motivation is just see them, have an opportunity to see them back behind a rifle and enjoy it. Simply put.”
With their weeklong training session complete, the Wounded Warriors return to their homes to shoot on their own and wait to be reunited with their teammates on game day. But, while away from their comrades, training will need to include more than firing pellets and adjusting stances. Just as O’Shea called to them in the range and the words of Aerosmith blared out above their heads, the men must always remember to “Keep firing,” and “Dream on …”
About USSOCOM:
USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) was started on April 16, 1987 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. after a major defense reorganization and revitalization. USSOCOM is responsible for developing training and monitoring readiness, as well as some unique responsibilities for a unified command of all branches of the military. The group is not dependent on Army, Navy, Marine Corps or the Air Force for equipment, supplies and services, but instead provides its own budget for these items. Approximately 57,000 active duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense civilians are assigned to the headquarters in Florida, four components and a sub-unified command.
NEXT ARTICLE
|
Join Our Email List
