FALLS CHURCH, Va. – As part of our new series “The Gift of Adaptive Sports,” retired Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Green explains it quickly and directly. “I tell everyone, even when you think your athletic career is over, life goes on. Through adaptive sports, you can overcome that.” Green knows this. He lives it and has embraced the benefits of adaptive sports every day since 2013.
“I suffered a spinal cord injury and a traumatic brain injury after falling off the back of an LMTV (Light Medium Tactical Vehicle) which was quite high up. I was unloading equipment and landed on my back on a deployment in Kuwait. I did.”
An admitted military brat and father himself, Green spent four years in the Air Force and then 11 years in the Army National Guard. In civilian life, he worked for an insurance company and also played semi-pro football in San Antonio. His injury left him uncertain about his future. “The reason I got interested in adaptive sports is because I was in a dark place. Adaptive sports saved my life. When I got my spinal cord injury, I knew it was over. I thought I would never be able to play sports again.”
Green learned about adaptive sports at the Joint Base San Antonio Soldier Recovery Unit, where he spent two years recovering from injuries. Initially, he didn’t think adaptive sports would include him. “I always thought that to be in the adaptive sports category, you had to be someone with a prosthetic leg.”
Green treats adaptive sports like the lifeline he needs, showing that his recovery is both physical and mental. He admits it was a struggle to get to where he is today, but he’s not shy about echoing what adaptive sports has done for him. “Adaptive sports changed my life and saved my life. It gave me the tools to adapt and overcome certain obstacles.”
He says having access to adaptive sports at SRU was important to his recovery. “Because of my spinal cord injury, that’s significant. I play sitting shot put and discus, sitting archery, and sitting volleyball. “I’m good at adaptive sports,” he said, forming Team Army to compete in the 2015 Warrior Games in Quantico and forming Team US to compete in the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. Green said.
Green has been consistently involved in adaptive sports since retiring in 2015. “I went through the adaptive sports program at SRU and was the first one to come back and run it. I was the adaptive reconditioning sports coordinator at the University of Ft. Sam, just a little bit,” he proudly said. spoke.
Currently, he works as an investigator for Child Protective Services, volunteers with veterans and soldiers, and coaches Team Army athletes. “Someone once said to me, “You go through a lot and you carry it well, but that doesn’t mean it’s not heavy.” We have a great support system in place. Rest assured, that’s what got me through. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Sometimes you don’t want to be a burden to anyone, but you have to. Think about the next day. No, things will get better. You are loved.”
His love for adaptive sports is obvious. “I am certified as an archery and USA track and field coach,” Green said. He also ran a sitting volleyball program in San Antonio several years ago.
He gives back by helping others find new paths through adaptive sports and encourages them to ask for help along the way. “Take advantage of the help that is given to you. Be humble and don’t think you don’t need it. You have no idea how many doors it can open. ”
