Courtesy Photo | (Photo courtesy Maj. Amy Sparks) Maj. Amy Sparks is a Soldier in Recovery at the Fort...... read more read more
Subscribe
FALLS CHURCH Va.- Army Logistics Officer Maj. Amy Sparks is the mother of seven. She doesn’t have a mechanism to slow down or even stop, that is, until a diagnosed hip issue after her last deployment showed she needed to stop and take care of herself. “I've had a hip issue for a long time, but I had an MRI, and it showed it's a torn labrum, and it's pretty painful. Having to stop is painful as the mom in me reminds me I take care of everyone else and don't take care of myself, but that had to change,” said Sparks, who lauds her husband’s support for her recovery.
Sparks is recovering at the Fort Bragg Soldier Recovery Unit and found adaptive sports. She also found the desire to be on Team Army and compete at the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Colorado Springs this July. “I was just staying fit before because I had to, as the Army told me. Now I'm becoming fitter because I want to, and the SRU gave that to me through adaptive sports. The goal or the motivation is Army Trials and the Warrior Games.”
The Army Trials took Place April 1-10 at Fort Bliss, Texas, but due to extenuating circumstances, Sparks, like a few other Soldiers, had to compete virtually during this year’s trials. “I missed the camaraderie for sure, but I am incredibly grateful for the technology that allows the Soldier in Recovery to compete virtually. I’m also thankful for the cadre and staff who make it possible,” said Sparks.
Sparks competed in shotput, discus, swimming, and rowing. She worked on those and team sports during a sports camp at Fort Bragg in February. “It was great to be introduced to things that I CAN do, and it's an even playing field, so that's just awesome. Yeah, I loved it. “
Adapting through sports and other reconditioning programs at the Fort Bragg SRU is something Sparks is very passionate about. She shares with any Soldier facing issues what she says is the greatest gift the Army has to offer. “The support that you need to heal is here. The SRU is hands-down the best thing ever, and I always say if anyone has the opportunity, it is the best resource the Army has, and it's amazing!”
Adaptive sports are a much-needed resource from the SRU, according to Sparks, and they’ve made all the difference in her recovery. “It's everything, and I would advocate till my dying breath that they are important.”
Sparks’ hard work paid off as she made Team Army in an announcement this week. She explained how much this opportunity is changing her life. “I am blessed to be on Team Army! Adaptive sports made me want to participate in sports again because I had been so focused on what I couldn't do anymore. It made me want to be fit, and it's made things fun in my life again.”
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2025 10:33 |
| Story ID: | 495676 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The SRU is, hands down, the best thing ever!, by MaryTherese Griffin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
