PARALYMPIC SHOOTER USHERED IN INNOVATIVE PROSTHESIS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson, center, a member of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic shooting team, makes adjustments to his air rifle during a competitive round of shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London, Sept. 1, 2012. DOD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

　
Paralympian Soldier Pioneers Prosthesis, Hopes to Inspire Others
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

LONDON, Sept. 1, 2012 - A sharpshooting Army sergeant who helped to usher in an innovative prosthesis that has helped countless wounded warriors has brought his sharp eye to compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games here.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson, a member of the 2012 Paralympic shooting team and of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit helped to develop an advanced prosthesis for wounded service members.

"[In] October 2003, I was wounded in Iraq by a rocket-propelled grenade during an ambush," Olson said. "From there, I was medevaced to Landstuhl [Regional Medical Center in Germany], and I was there for about eight days." After that, he said, he woke up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he spent about 18 months.

"In my stay at Walter Reed, there was an outdoor event every day in occupational therapy – shotgun shooting," he said. "I went out and shot sporting clay one day. I hit my first 49 out of 50."

Olson said his shooting acuity caught the attention of the program director at Walter Reed, who put in a call to the Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga., to see if a position was available for a competitive shooter or marksmanship instructor.

"I went down to Fort Benning from Walter Reed, had a tryout and was very successful," Olson said. "[I] got along great with the coaches and the other shooters on the team."

The Army sergeant said he was assigned to the marksmanship unit in June 2005 and "slowly, but surely, started shooting."

"And I'm here today," he added.

Olson noted that been many troops in his position have wished to stay in the military despite their injuries, but were unable to.

"There's a lot of guys that have been wounded that want to continue to serve," he said. "I'm very blessed and very fortunate to be able to do that.

I hope I inspire, not even [just] wounded soldiers, but other soldiers," he continued, "just to [let them know], 'Hey, you might be going through something tough, such as [post-traumatic stress], but if you work hard and give yourself goals to work on, it helps you get out of bed every day [and] helps you work hard and overcome things in your life."

In discussing the origin of the "Olson Socket," the Army sergeant is quick to note he didn't invent the prosthesis himself.

"I was just the first guy to wear it and help make it work," Olson explained. "In late 2004, I went down to Orlando, Fla., where Prosthetics and Associates is, and [met] a gentleman by the name of Dennis Clark."

"Those guys got together [with] myself and the actual designers, and originally drew it up on a bar napkin," he revealed. "And we tried it out, and we put it together and made it work."

Olson said as soon as he got back to Walter Reed with the prosthesis, officials there immediately began sending service members down to Florida to be fitted for the same prosthesis and socket system.

"I was very fortunate and very blessed they named it after me, but I just happened to be the first guy to ever have one," he said.

Olson credited his military service for the discipline that got him here to compete in the Paralympic Games.

"Military service has prepared me for the Paralympics by teaching me determination, patience and just overall hard work," he said. "My goal for the Paralympics is to be able to perform my best – to perform at the level I know I can. If I do that, I should be on the medal stand."

The key to his success, Olson said, is practicing, staying focused and concentrating on the fundamentals of his sport.

"For me, my biggest challenge is the ability to stay focused during the entire match," he said. "So I do some mental exercises, a lot of imagery and some visualization exercises. This sport is 95 percent mental and 5 percent physical.

"I've been training a long time for this," he added. "There's really no shooting drill, no mental exercise or anything you can really do to prepare for actually sitting there."

Olson's next Paralympic Games shooting event is scheduled for Sept. 4 at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

U.S. PARALYMPIC VOLLYBALL TEAM

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Soldiers from the Warrior Transition Battalion, based in Heidelberg, Germany, with staff and team of the 2012 U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Paralympic squad at the University of East London, Aug. 30, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

Wounded Warriors Gain Inspiration From U.S. Paralympic Volleyball Team

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

LONDON , Aug. 30, 2012 - Watching the 2012 Paralympic Games today left a group of Europe-based wounded warriors inspired, especially after they were able to meet some of the U.S. athletes.

Soldiers assigned to Warrior Transition Units in Germany, Italy and Belgium, and participating in adaptive reconditioning programs, met the U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Paralympic Team at the University of East London during a trip sponsored by the U.S. Paralympic Committee, the Wounded Warrior Project and Red Cross.

Army Master Sgt. Major Luckett, a food supply noncommissioned officer and 25-year veteran, said he was thrilled during the meet and greet with the athletes.

"I was really excited to get a chance to see the team with their experience," he said. "They explained their training and we had a chance to meet some of the players. I met [Kari] Miller, a former soldier. It was real exciting."

Motivation and inspiration were often used by the wounded warriors to describe their feelings during and after meeting the paralympians.

"We get great motivation [from meeting them]," Luckett said. "Going through the type of stuff I've been through, and then seeing these individuals with these disabilities perform; it [lets] me know I [only] have a limit [right now]. But I know I can go out and make myself better going into the things I do to train for," he said. "Things I've never done or I stopped doing since I had my injuries."

Luckett was assigned to the WTU after being plagued by persistent knee and back problems and recently underwent a medical review board with results still pending.

"I had an opportunity to visit several events, and it built my confidence inside [for] what I can do with the injuries that I had," the Petersburg, Va. native said.

"I had chills going through my body," he added. "It was great, and I enjoyed it. It's one of three things that I'll experience in my life. It was a real big motivator for me. Go USA!"

Army Spc. Maurice Walter, an information systems operator-analyst, and native of Huntsville, Ala., also had the chance to meet the U.S. Paralympic volleyball team.

"I actually met quite a few," he said. "I met Heather [Erickson] and Kari [Miller]. We have similar injuries so it's motivating to actually see them out here and to talk to them."

Walter said he reinjured his leg in Iraq during the course of day-to-day activities. He noted it aggravated a previous injury from an assignment in Korea resulting in his assignment to the WTU.

"I got some great insight from them," Walter said. "They were telling us to push through no matter what it is, don't hold back and just get it done. It's really inspiring to see them," he said. "Number one, they're not letting their injuries hold them back from what they want to do."

Walter said one of the volleyball players told him she grew up playing volleyball, and when she injured her leg she didn't want to stop. "So she didn't give up, so it inspires me to do anything that I want to do," he said.

Although he enjoyed the trip, Walter noted the opportunity to meet the Paralympic volleyball team topped his list of activities during the trip.

"The visit to London was amazing," he said. "But meeting the volleyball team was the best thing that came out of this trip. Of course, the sights and stuff are great, but meeting these individuals and seeing them – it's really motivating and inspiring," Walters said.

GEN. MARTIN E. DEMPSEY LEADS DELEGATION TO THE PARALYMPICS IN LONDON

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, right, a member of the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team, is interviewed by Army Sgt. Abigail Waldrop during team processing at the University of East London campus prior to the start of the Paralympic Games, in London, Aug. 28. Snyder advocates wounded warriors using sports to aid their rehabilitation and boost confidence. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

Chairman Leads U.S. Delegation for Opening of Paralympic Games
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

LONDON, Aug. 29, 2012 - A U.S. delegation led by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived here yesterday ahead of opening ceremonies for the 2012 Paralympic Games and visited today with Paralympic athletes.

Members of the delegation toured the Sports Dock at the University of East London campus, viewing one of the facilities athletes are using to prepare for the games.

"The biggest thing that we're doing is we're here to support our athletes," said Kareem Dale, special assistant to President Barack Obama for disability policy. "The president and the entire administration are behind them, rooting for them and cheering them on."

Dale, who is blind, had a message for the 227 U.S. Paralympians competing here.

"The message that not only I would send, but the president would send, is that we know, given the opportunity, our ... Paralympic athletes can achieve anything that they desire," he said. "And for those aspiring Paralympians, they should know that their country supports [them, too]. The people of America support you, and we believe in you."

Dale noted the current group of wounded warriors and other athletes with disabilities who are Paralympians already are achieving great things. Wounded warriors served their country extremely well, he added, so Americans need to make sure they are serving them.

"Certainly, one of the ways is sports," Dale said. "[It] is such a great tool so that people can get back in the swing of life, feel useful, feel productive and continue building on that team spirit that they learn in the military. It's just a great way for people to rehab and to get back into the swing of life.

"So for our wounded warriors," he continued, "we're going to continue to support them when they come home." Opportunities like the Paralympics help wounded warriors integrate back into society, he added.

Lisa Jackson, administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also is part of the U.S. delegation. "It's an incredible honor to be able to represent the administration and all folks back home who would love to be here to cheer on our men and women," she said.

Jackson said she is excited to be able to support all the U.S. athletes.

"I will be in the stands cheering our athletes on when they enter the stadium, and be able to witness firsthand the excitement that comes with the anticipation of letting them get out and do what they do best, which is compete and represent our country."