Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Master Sgt. Jodi Pyles-Vandersys) Master Sgt. Jodi Pyles-Vandersys...... read more read more
Subscribe
FALLS CHURCH Va.- Master Sgt. Jodi Pyles-Vandersys has had quite the Army journey. “I started out active duty and then I went into the reserves and then I went into the National Guard and then I went back into the reserves and now I'm on active-duty orders,” said the 32-year career Soldier.
She’s about to add Army Trials to her journey when she competes to be on Team Army at the 2025 Army Trials at Fort Bliss Texas April 1-10. Her arrival into the adaptive sports world was not part of the planned journey as she ended up at the Fort Carson Soldier Recovery Unit in October 2023. “I wish I could say I was doing something cool, but I fell out of the back of a truck and broke both my arms,” said Pyles- Vandersys who was mobilized to San Antonio with the 377th in support of 5th Army when the accident happened.
The Chemical Operations Specialist embraced the adaptive sports offered and even encourages the program to other Soldiers coming into the SRU. “The adaptive sports program helps Soldiers look at something we can do versus what we can't do anymore,” said Pyles-Vandersys.
At the Fort Carson SRU She went through intense therapy and developed her adaptive sports skills to assist in her recovery. Because of that she will compete in cycling, air rifle and archery at Army Trials. “I’ve only started shooting arrows for three months at Fort Carson. We work with a local archery range and the guys there also work with me. They're going to help me with my bow where whenever I do drop back, I don't have to modify how I’m supposed to draw back,” she said with confidence.
This is a common realization with Soldiers recovering in adaptive sports. The euphoria that ensues when the confidence is rebuilt, and the a-ha moment sets in to what they are truly capable of post injury or illness. Pyles-Vandersys had one such moment in archery. “I was like, holy crap I did it! It's a great personal accomplishment because who would have thought that I could do this when I broke both my arms?”
Besides the competition to be on Team Army, Pyles- Vandersys is looking forward to the comradery and the chance to help younger Soldiers find that confidence they could be lacking. “My boots are older than some of these guys,” she says laughing. “I want to help them by giving them pointers and making them realize this is just one moment of your life. Don't let this one moment affect everybody and everything around you. I want them to know this is not the end of your life being in an SRU. Take this adaptive sports moment and run with it.”
Pyles- Vandersys sees shared unity and a strength of purpose driving adaptive sports competitions. For those who go on to represent Team Army at Warrior Games, she says: "Yes, we will be competing against Marines and the Air Force and everybody else at Warrior Games, but you get to represent the Army as ‘Comeback Player’ of the year. We were all wounded, ill or injured during whatever we were doing for our military, but we can come back… we are resilient, and this is who we are!”
The Soldier Recovery Unit helps eligible Soldiers with complex wounds, illnesses or injuries to recover and return to the fighting force or to transition to veteran status with dignity and respect.
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2025 09:28 |
| Story ID: | 493359 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, “We can come back, and we are resilient” ~ MSG Jodi Pyles- Vandersys, by MaryTherese Griffin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
