For many veterans, transitioning back to civilian life can be a challenge.
And for those with physical injuries or PTSD, it can be even more difficult.
But one veteran found help through physical training
Now Andres Rosario wants to show others they can do the same. He’s the founder of Team BLUFOR a nonprofit created to promote adaptive sports.
“It’s a military acronym for Blue Forces. Blue Forces are the US military and our allies,” Rosario explained.
Rosario stops short of calling himself a trainer, mentor or guide. “I’m just someone who wants to help others,” he said. “An ordinary guy helping them get out of their comfort zone. Get them off the couch, off social media and challenge them through some type of sports.”
The Team BLUFOR program works off the concept of 21 and 90 day challenges.
“It takes 21 days to create a habit, 90 days to create a lifestyle,” Rosario said. “It’s all based on their fitness level. Each challenge is individualized.”
This month, Team BLUFOR celebrated their first anniversary with a 3K obstacle course race. Athletes and supporters gathered before sunrise at Godwin Park in St.Cloud.
“I’m a firm believer that getting outside, any form of getting your body moving is the best medicine out there. There’s no replacement for physical activity.”
Volunteers were in place to help some of the athletes navigate the more difficult obstacles. “I already had a few veterans say, I have shoulder injuries, I have different disabilities that I can’t complete this obstacle. I said no, we’ll complete it together. If you’re going in that fox hole so am I. We’ll do it together.”
Rosario watched as dozens of participants made their way around the course.
“There’s nobody here sitting down, looking at their phones,” Rosario said. “There’s no phones out here. It’s amazing. They’re here challenging themselves.”
The Team BLUFOR mission statement from their website – “To change the life of our local disabled Veteran’s holistic health through adaptive sports. We challenge our Athletes to get off the couch and into an adaptive sport challenge. We strongly believe in the benefits of an active lifestyle to improve both physical health AND mental health, such as the invisible wounds like PTSD.
Our mission is to challenge disabled veterans through adaptive sports challenges. We seek to help them in their healing journey to improve their physical and mental health and in doing so facilitate them in Crushing Limitations.”
“The comfort zone is poisonous. That’s where depression, anxiety, PTSD and all these mental illnesses hang out,” Rosario said. “So you have to get out of that comfort zone and get after it and challenge yourself.”
Rosario served for 27 years in the Army National Guard. He uses his own experience to help others. “After retirement I found myself with a lot of illnesses and a lot of injuries due to my service. I tried different treatments, different stuff, and I found a tremendous amount of healing through challenging myself.”
Diego Lebante was nearing the end of the 3k obstacle course. The Army veteran was breathing heavy in the middle of a set of burpees.
Lebante had a stroke five years ago. He suffers from nerve damage and has had a hard time with recovery.
“I was sitting at home not doing too much and then went through adaptive sports at the VA where I met Andres and Team BLUFOR,” Lebante said. “I’ve been getting out here more and more often now. Trying to be more physically active again.”
Lebante is limited in some movements but completed his 21 day challenge. His goal was to complete a Spartan Race.
He did that in April. Now he’s in the middle of his 90 day challenge, a half triathlon.
As added motivation, Rosario offers each person who completes their challenge a 30 minute instructional or introductory flight in a Paramotor glider.
Rosario thought his military career would one day lead to becoming a paratrooper or helicopter pilot. “Neither of those things happened,” Rosario said. “That’s okay, no regrets. I just had a different calling in the service.”
But he did discover the paramotoring hobby after retirement, taking additional training to offer instructional flights to other veterans.
“This is my calling. This is why I’m here. This is my purpose,” Rosario said. “It’s to help somebody achieve or crush their limitations. Limitations they though they couldn’t because of a disability.”
Team BLUFOR is looking for volunteers. Contact Team BLUFOR if you think you can help.
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