Stories

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I always knew I wanted to give back to this great country.
December 27, 2023 — It’s been quite a journey in the Army for Major Hai Pham, a Military Intelligence officer who will retire on Feb 24, 2024. “I enlisted at first. I have two MOSs. I enlisted as a cook. Back then, the motto was Be all you can be, and I just realized that as I retire, that motto is back. What a full circle moment.”... MORE

Photo By MaryTherese Griffin | (Official military photo Department of Defense) Major Hai Pham will retire in February after 28 years of service and start a new career as a sports agent in Southern California.

2023 AR Summit takeaway- “No Soldier goes through this alone.”
December 20, 2023 — Adaptive reconditioning (AR) planning is a year-round process within the Army Recovery Care Program. Ensuring wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers have the best possible care is paramount. At the 2023 AR Summit earlier this month at Fort Belvoir, everyone with a hand in a Soldier’s recovery came to watch, listen, and learn... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo by MaryTherese Griffin) Dr Yvonne Larochelle, Physical Therapist for the Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit, works on an athlete at the 2023 Army Trials.

Adaptive sports give you the opportunity to open other doors
December 19, 2023 — “I don’t think recovery ever ends. You are always growing and should always be striving for growth.” That’s what Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson believes as he reminisces over his journey from combat injury to recovery, competition to current-day activity, and how the world of adaptive sports was a game changer... MORE

Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Loggins | U.S. Army retired Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson participates in seated shot put during the field competition, June 23, 2019 at the University of South Florida, during the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida. Approximately 300 athletes representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Command, United Kingdom Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, Canadian Armed Forces, Armed Forces of the Netherlands, and the Danish Armed Forces are participating in 13 events throughout the competition. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Loggins)

The Army takes care of Soldiers like no other company.
December 12, 2023 — Army Reservist, Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Miller loves being a military police officer. Most of his twenty years of service have seen three deployments and a lot of wear and tear on his body. At the end of his last mobilization in As Saliyah, Qatar, for nine months, he injured his knee. “Once I got to the demobilization station at Ft Bliss, Texas, they sent me for an MRI and said I needed to go to Ft Riley to have it fixed.”... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Derrick Miller) Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Miller (in the middle) plays a little wheelchair basketball at the Fort Riley SRU.

Return to duty Soldier making it his mission to help other Soldiers.
December 12, 2023 — He was a dynamo at the 2015 Warrior Games at Marine Base Quantico and the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, winning medals for Team Army and Team U.S., respectively, all while conquering a disease that changed his life. 2nd Lt Zedrik Pitts takes us back to where his military career and life took a sharp turn. “I was due to mobilize for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013. During that process, I got sick, and the docs informed me I had Graves disease. I learned it’s an autoimmune disease that, if untreated, can kill you.”... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Department of Defense photo) Then Staff Sgt. Zedrik Pitts competes on Team Army in track events at the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games at Quantico, Virginia

If you think the SRU is not for you, think again.
December 1, 2023 — Army Sgt. Ethan Barrera, a generator mechanic, never thought the last two years of his life would be spent in recovery... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo by Marsha Moore) Sgt. Ethan Barrera shoots an arrow with this mouth at Adaptive Sports Camp at Ft. Liberty in April 2023

Team Army member encourages using ARCP from the beginning of your wound, injury, or illness.
December 1, 2023 — Many know her by the nickname “Turbo,” which she aptly deserves because she forces more into everything she does as a competitor and in life—retired Army Staff Sgt. Beth King first came on the scene at an Army Trials Camp in 2019, 8 years after being severely wounded in combat... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Beth King) Beth King practices with her Javelin and hopes to make Team USA for the Paris Paralympics

A Soldier’s massive stroke changes a military family’s life, but they are making it work
November 20, 2023 — Major Jeremy Ditlevson and his wife Jeralyn were looking forward to his retirement next year. After five deployments, four to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, they felt their twenty years of service in the Army was good and were excited to move on to the next chapter in their life together... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Jeralyn Ditlevson) Maj. Jeremy Ditlevson with his wife Jeralyn in the ICU at OU Medical, Oklahoma City, OK, January 23, 2023.

“It’s all about sacrifice, but then you have to live your purpose.”
November 20, 2023 — In our first interview of this year’s “Where are they now” series, we caught up with Retired Army Specialist Brent Garlic. The multi-medalist from Warrior and Invictus Games since 2018, representing Team US and Team Army, had much to say about his time in the Army and how the Army Recovery Care Program, particularly adaptive sports, changed his life... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo by Pfc. Dominique Dixon) Spc. Brent Garlic of Team Army competes in wheelchair basketball at the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida.

When we change ourselves, we influence positive change in the world.
November 16, 2023 — Some say seeing is believing, but for Capt. Brittany Wooten, the chaplain of Fort Belvoir’s Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU), there needs to be a reminder that even though some things are not seen, they should very much be believed. She’s talking about silent wounds and what the Army is doing to help Soldiers identify them and receive help to heal... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Capt. Brittany Wooten) Chaplain Brittany Wooten brought best practices from the Post Traumatic Growth Summit back to the Fort Belvoir SRU last week, incorporating puppy Yoga to help Soldiers recover and overcome.

When a 17-year career Soldier changes jobs to support ARCP because the program worked for him
November 9, 2023 — After seventeen years in the Army as a Human Resources Specialist, Sgt. 1st Class Brett Hartley is doing the unthinkable this late in his career…changing jobs. He’s thought this through and has good reason. After spending a year at the Walter Reed Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU), he found a new purpose and passion... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Sgt. 1st Class Brett Hartley) Sgt. 1st Class Brett Hartley, his wife, Christine, and Wrigley.

We may be wounded warriors, but we can still serve
November 7, 2023 — Motivational speaker Les Brown often says, “If you can look up, you can get up.” Words Retired Army Staff Sgt Michael Johnson lives by today. The petroleum logistics specialist reflects on his time at the Fort Belvoir Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU). “I was at the Fort Belvoir SRU after hurting my leg on deployment in Poland. I had perpetual headaches while recuperating, which led to imaging that showed I had lesions on my brain and, ultimately, the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).”... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Michael Johnson) Michael Johnson at Yale University through the Warrior Scholarship Program in June 2023.

Army Captain tackles Lupus, the MED Board, and life
November 6, 2023 — Army Captain Anna Walker is from a military family. Five out of six siblings all serve and come by it honestly. “My Dad was in the Navy for twenty years and was a Lt. Commander when he retired. I wanted to serve 20 years just like him. I enjoyed it. But then, life changes.”... MORE

Photo By MaryTherese Griffin | Army Capt. In June, Anna Walker and her mom, Cynthia, at the 2023 Department of Defense Warrior Games Challenge in San Diego, California. “I'm so proud of Anna. Given her condition, I’m amazed at her energy to do what she does. She won’t give up.” – Cynthia Walker.

“The SRUs have the same mission. They are there to help you.”
October 27, 2023 — Army Spc. Davona Jones is one tough Soldier. For five years, the Parachute Rigger worked hard, had goals, and kept forging ahead, ready for anything. Then, the unexpected happened... MORE

Photo By Spc. Robert Regan | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Roschell Brown, left, U.S. Army Spc. Davona Jones, center, and Staff Sgt. Jewel Lewis, right, celebrate together at the track medal ceremony during the DoD Warrior Games Challenge, Naval Air Station North Island in San Deigo, California, June 6, 2023. More than 200 wounded, ill, or injured warrior athletes representing the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command are competing in 11 adaptive sports including archery, track and field, swimming, rowing, shooting, powerlifting, cycling, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair rugby. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Regan)

“You gotta want it to get it!”
October 27, 2023 — Sgt. 1st Class John Williams knows something about teamwork and working toward a goal. More specifically, a goal line; as the 1st Platoon Sergeant at the Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord Soldier Recovery Unit, he was also a former NFL player... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy John Williams) John Williams's teammate on the Baltimore Ravens celebrates William's big play during a game against the Houston Oilers.

Faith, family, and fortitude
October 27, 2023 — It’s pretty common. Most Soldiers don’t know that a Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) exists until they need one. Army Major Josh Lindsey, a program management acquisitions officer, was one of them. “Jan 25, 2023, I was clearing my current unit at Ft Sam Houston, and on my way home from work on my motorcycle, a truck hit me.” He flew over the bike, lost his helmet, and his head hit a concrete wall... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Maj. Josh Lindsey) Maj. Josh Lindey in Brooke Army Medical Center right after his accident in January 2023.

Army LT says don’t put your pain off- get checked out!
October 25, 2023 — Last year, this time, 1st LT Hannah Wright was a busy lady. The executive officer (XO) was training at Fort Johnson Louisianna with her unit, the 22nd Infantry 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Out of the blue, her training got derailed, and so did her life until she got to the Brooke Army Medical Center Soldier Recovery Unit... MORE

Photo By MaryTherese Griffin | (Photo courtesy Hannah Wright) 1st LT. Hannah Wright with a comfort quilt signed by members of her platoon before her second surgery at BAMC.

“Once I learned how to accept my fate, it was amazing what I learned I could do.”
October 25, 2023 — Army Sgt Sergio Calderon Diaz looks back at his 17 years in the Washington State National Guard, knowing he made the right decision to join. “It just happened. I wasn’t sure I would like the military, so I picked the guard. I started with a three-year contract, and I liked what I did so much I kept reenlisting,” he said with a chuckle... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Sergio Calderon Diaz) Sgt. Sergio Calderon Diaz at archery practice before leaving for Pacific Trials in Hawaii.

“It wasn’t just me who joined the military when I signed up. It was my entire family.”
October 25, 2023 — November is the Month of the Military Family. It’s no secret military families are unique and sacrifice more than most families in general. This year, we focus on a younger military family that has lived a life of uncertainty and change... MORE

Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Erin Blakley) Ret. Army Specialist Gerald Blakley with his wife Erin and son Milo at the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to stay in the Army; the SRU can and will help you return to duty.
October 20, 2023 — After being in Poland for a year-and-a-half-long rotation with the Army, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Tanksley reluctantly made a side trip to the Fort Bliss Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) instead of going home... MORE

Photo By MaryTherese Griffin | (Photo by MaryTherese Griffin) Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Tanksley running track for Team Army at the 2023 Department of Defense Warrior Games Challenge in San Diego, Calif June 2023.