LTC Wenceslao Angulo, Strategic Communications Director, Soldier for Life
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"Adaptive sports brought me out of a dark place," said retired Sgt. Robbie Gaupp at the Warrior Care Month Joint Sitting Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command, November 20, 2014.
Retired Army Sgt. Robbie Gaupp dribbled the volleyball on the floor once or twice, then spun it around between his palms, his head bobbing to music blaring through his headphones the entire time. In a black t-shirt with “Army” printed in bold white letters across his chest, track pants, bright blue sneakers and a sweatband around his head, Gaupp looked like any professional athlete gearing up for a big game. “I was talking to the NFL right before I was injured,” he said, a smile opening up across his face. He looked at the volleyball in his hands and added, “Adaptive sports brought me out of a dark place.” Gaupp is one of many wounded, ill or injured Soldiers and Veterans who find adaptive sports and other activities to be a powerful tool in their recovery and transition.
Soldier for Life, an Army program that connects Soldiers, Veterans and their Families with education, employment and healthcare resources to encourage positive transitions, works in conjunction with
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Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Robbie Gaupp prepares to serve the volleyball at the Warrior Care Month Joint Sitting Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command
the
Office of Warrior Care Policy (WCP), the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) and others to connect wounded, ill and injured service members like Gaupp to the resources they need to
remain strong. When our nation’s wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and Veterans are connected with powerful programs like adaptive reconditioning, they remain
Soldiers for Life regardless of any challenges. For Gaupp, adaptive sports helped to maintain a positive emotional outlook and to connect with other recovering warriors, and facilitated a successful military transition. They also re-ignited a passion. Look out for Gaupp in the 2016 Paralympic Games, which he hopes to qualify for this year.