Air Force

Four Videos For July Fourth

Four videos in honor of the holiday and those who’ve paid the price so we can all enjoy it. Three I’ve posted before, the last is a new one from Thursday.

All four are Canine Companions for Independence veteran graduates, I’m proud to say I know all of these men personally, and, in each case, their injuries were sustained in the line of duty.

In addition, today is Sam Cila’s Alive Day – he was injured in an IED attack on July 4, 2005.

 

“Calvin Smith and Chesney”

 

“Sam Cila and Gillian”

 

“Jason Morgan and Napal”

 

“Jay Huston and Timo”

 

If You Want To Win Medals At The Warrior Games, Get A Canine Companions For Independence Dog

Warrior Games swimming medals ceremony. Photo by Pat Cabel from SemperFiSports.

OK, not really (nice idea, though).

Warrior Games Closing Ceremonies Saturday night were overwhelming. It was great to see so many friends, especially wearing medals, and I wanna thank my good friend Damian Orslene (one of those wearing a medal) for inviting us and allowing us to celebrate with him.

The final Canine Companions for Independence graduate medal count was: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze. Lance Weir with 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and Jason Morgan with 1 Silver, 4 Bronze.

Now, the truth is, I can’t guarantee any medals if you get a CCI dog, and neither would they. I can tell you, though, that CCI was very well represented throughout the Games by these two guys and Susan Katz from US Paralympics, and I know of a number of conversations that took place and team members who are very seriously considering applying for a dog.

Jokes aside, their presence and those conversations helped dispel a few of the biggest misconceptions that are still around and will probably never go away. Not necessarily in this order or a complete list, and there is some overlap between them, but here’s a few of the main ones:

  • “Hey, I’m a very active person, compete in (fill in the athletic event), and it doesn’t seem right for me to have a dog.” I’m willing to bet that you could still use help with things like, for example, picking up stuff in your room or at home. Two different deals.
  • “I don’t wanna take a dog from somebody else who might need it more.” Maybe the biggest one I hear, especially from military people (no surprise there). At CCI, it simply can’t happen – the thoroughness of the process ensures that. In fact, longer than I wanna explain here, but the reality is exactly the opposite – you might match with a dog that would not match otherwise and be released.
  • “I don’t think my issues are serious enough for a dog.” Variation of the above and often said at the same time. That’s not for me to decide, but the short version is this: if you think a dog might help, ask the question. Because CCI’s not gonna just give you a dog, and I don’t believe any other reputable ADI-accredited organization will, either. You have to apply, and then let the experts work things.
  • “I don’t wanna be dependent on a dog.” Doesn’t work that way – at most, I’d call it mutual dependence. It is very much a team effort – the whole Battle Buddy, Wingman, Shipmate, etc. thing is not just some line here, it’s dead serious. A big piece of CCI’s evaluation of someone as a potential candidate for a dog is how well that person can take care of the dog.

Again, there are more, but those are the big ones. And to answer the ‘Where do I look for a service dog?” question again, because it seems like I can’t say this too often: “Start with CCI, then look at the rest of the organizations on the ADI-accredited list.”

Bottom line: I won’t try to talk you into a dog, but don’t talk yourself outta one, either. And I can tell you that these guys went through that same drill, too.

Plus, it oughtta be good for at least a bronze or two next year.

Exactly How A Service Dog Should Look When He’s Working

Canine Companions for Independence service dog Napal at Warrior Games 2011 with Air Force team member Jason Morgan.

Airmen Begin Warrior Games At Olympic Training Complex

There’s so much stuff from yesterday’s Warrior Games Opening Ceremonies, there’s no way in the world I could come close to posting it all here, even just the service dog stuff. I’ll say just like I did last year that it’s really an incredible experience being there, and if you have any interest at all, you should make a point to come out here to Colorado Springs and go to them.

I did want to post this one picture of my buddy Napal, Jason Morgan’s CCI service dog (well, they’re both my friends) from the official Air Force article about the ceremony because, not only is it maybe the best picture of Napal I’ve ever seen, it shows you exactly what a service dog should like when he’s working.

Warrior Games 2011

Warrior Games 2011

Haven’t said a lot about Warrior Games lately, and that’s mostly because there’s been so much going on, it’s been hard to take a break from it and post anything.

Teams are all here in Colorado Springs now prepping for the Games next week, and I got to catch up with my good friend Jason Morgan and his Canine Companions for Independence service dog Napal at the Air Force Academy Community Center pool yesterday during practice.

I’ve written lots about Jason before – a search will show more, but here’s some pertinent links:

“Canine Companions for Independence Veteran Graduate In Airman Magazine

“Out Of Everything I’ve Done To Try And Improve My Life, Nothing’s Even Come Close To Getting My Service Dog, Napal”

“Warrior Games – More Thoughts

“Air Superiority At The Warrior Games: Air Force’s Jason Morgan And Napal

Warrior Games 2011 Team Training Camps And Selection Process Almost Complete

Great picture of my friend Canine Companions for Independence graduate and former Marine Lance Weir with his service dog Auggie at the inaugural Marine Corps Trials at Camp Pendleton this week in preparation for this year’s Warrior Games:


Here’s the corresponding article:  “Wounded Marines compete for chance at ‘Warrior Games’”

Air Force had its training camp week before last in San Antonio and will announce its team soon: “Athletes Vie For Spot On Air Force Warrior Games Team”

I have a number of good AF friends who were at that camp and who I’m looking forward to seeing back here competing again this year. Unfortunately, my friend CCI grad Jason Morgan, who I’ve written so much about here, wasn’t able to go this year due to some serious health issues he’s recovering from.

Army just announced its team: “Army Announces 2011 Army Warrior Games Team”

And Navy just announced their team, too: “Wounded Warrior team selected”

As I’ve said many times, the inaugural Warrior Games last May were tremendous, and things are definitely shaping up for an even better and more competitive event here in Colorado Springs this year.

“Just Being Blind Is Such A Small Thing, I’m Not Gonna Let It Slow Me Down At All”

I don’t normally write about guide dogs here, mostly just because, while I think they’re great, that’s not a part of the assistance dog world I know super well or focus on, although I know who the top organizations are. But every so often I’ll make an exception to that, and this is one of those times. And for good reason.

I’ve been following this story since it happened a little over a year ago, before a guide dog was even discussed, so it’s really something else to see things come to fruition here. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Malarsie was blinded in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in January 2010 that killed four of his comrades, and is currently training with his Fidelco guide dog Xxon at his home near Albuquerque. Check the video:

“Dog guides wounded airman to freedom”

Michael’s blog is at http://mmalarsie.blogspot.com, and you can read lots more about his story at these links:

“Airman killed, another injured Jan. 3 in Afghanistan”

“TACP killed in action honored, remembered during ceremony”

“Airmen march in honor of fallen comrade”

“Wounded Warrior reflects on experience”

“Guide dog aids soldier blinded in Afghanistan”

“Blinded Airman gets a helping paw”

Not much I can add to this one other than to just say “outstanding!”

“With So Many ‘Nos’ Out There, It Was Really Nice Of You All To Say ‘Yes’ To Us”

“With So Many ‘Nos’ Out There, It Was Really Nice Of You All To Say ‘Yes’ To Us”

If you’ve followed Senior Airman Colton Read’s story at all, you know it’s a sad one, sadder in its own way than if he’d been injured in combat because it’s one of those “things that aren’t supposed to happen, but did”. In a nutshell, a year and a half ago, he went in for a routine gallbladder operation that went terribly wrong (that’s as nicely as I can put it), and he had both his legs amputated.

Now, thanks to Operation Finally Home and Jimmy Jacobs Custom Homes, Colton and his wife will be getting a new home near New Braunfels,TX. Ground was actually broken the week before last, but the story is in Air Force Times today: “Work begins on new home for senior airman”

More here as well:  “Reads Break Ground on New Home at Vintage Oaks in Time for Holiday Season”

Good reminder for all of us that there are things that happen to someone in the military that aren’t combat-related, but still tragic and very deserving of our efforts, and we have to be careful about using the nature of someone’s injury as a standard or dividing line.

Thank God for places like this and Homes For Our Troops, who I’m more familiar with and have written about here before.

“With So Many ‘Nos’ Out There, It Was Really Nice Of You All To Say ‘Yes’ To Us”

Warrior Games Coming Back To Colorado Springs In 2011

Warrior Games Coming Back To Colorado Springs In 2011

I’ve gushed over the inaugural Warrior Games held here at the Olympic Training Center and Air Force Academy back in May enough you already know how much I thought of them. (If you don’t, check here.)

So, I was more than a little pleased to see the official announcement yesterday that they are coming back again next May: “Officials Announce Warrior Games 2011“.  I’d definitely suggest watching the video – it’s 30 minutes, but gives you a really good feel for how things were this year plus the plan for next year.

BTW, Stacy Pearsall, who is in both the article and video, took the great picture of Jason Morgan and Napal in this post.

I’ve seen a lotta people who weren’t here for this year’s Games already talking about coming to them next year – all I can say is, if you’re even thinking about it, do it.  Granted, there’s only ever one “first”, but if it’s anything like that (and based on that video, no reason it shouldn’t be – could very well be even better), you definitely wanna be here.

Canine Companions for Independence Veteran Graduate In Airman Magazine

Canine Companions for Independence Veteran Graduate In Airman Magazine

How about something great and a lot more fun after all that stuff I’ve been writing about lately? (Still haven’t seen any word on Cesar Millan’s disability, BTW.)

The new September/October Airman Magazine, the official magazine of the US Air Force, went online a couple days ago, and Canine Companions for Independence graduate (and my friend) Jason Morgan is on the cover.


The Airman article was put together when Jason and his service dog Napal were here in Colorado Springs competing at the first-ever Warrior Games in May.

Some of the usual fantastic Airman pictures, and talks about how Jason was injured when he was an Air Force combat weatherman on a Spec Ops mission in South America, something I’ve mentioned here before as well.

Definitely worth downloading the magazine and reading the article: 

http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100908-051.pdf

Outstanding to see this not only because Jason’s a friend, I know his story, and I witnessed most of this in person at the Warrior Games, but because of the increased exposure top-notch service dogs for seriously injured veterans will receive.  That’s really a carryover from the Games – Napal is a wonderful dog and classic example of a CCI graduate dog who was very, very visible here in front of hundreds of wounded veterans, senior military staff, those veterans’ families and friends, and the general public.

More on Jason and Napal here:

“Out Of Everything I’ve Done To Try And Improve My Life, Nothing’s Even Come Close To Getting My Service Dog Napal”

Warrior Games – More Thoughts

Warrior Games Opening Ceremonies

Air Superiority At The Warrior Games – Air Force’s Jason Morgan And Napal

Great Picture And Super Example of ‘Wheelchair Etiquette’

Great picture today via the Disabled American Veterans Facebook page of US Air Force Thunderbird #7 and Ops Officer, LtCol Derek ‘Taz’ Routt, with DAV Past National Commander Jim Sursely at the recent EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“PNC Jim Sursely chats with LtCol Derek Routt of the Air Force Thunderbirds

Not only is it a really nice picture to begin with, by squatting like that in front of Jim, Taz has also provided a super example of good etiquette when you’re talking to someone in a chair.

Based on just what I see pretty often, I’m not sure most people know they should try to get at or below the eye level of the person in the chair and not make them strain their neck and look up at you.

If YOU didn’t…well, now you do. :-D