DVIDS Spotlight

At the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, there’s no single profile of a participant.

Veterans arrive from different branches, eras, and life experiences. Some are just beginning to navigate a new reality after injury. Others have spent decades adapting. But on the slopes, those differences fade, replaced by a shared pursuit of movement, independence, and community.

Two Veterans, one 23, the other 84, show that while their personal adaptive sports experiences that brought them to the Winter Sports Clinic differ, they ultimately lead to the same place: healing.

Harold Eugene Brown, 84 — U.S. Navy (Vietnam-era)

Drafted during the Vietnam War era, Harold Eugene Brown carries decades of experience living with reduced vision.

While age has changed how he is able to see the world, his mindset remains steady.

Through adaptive sports and the health care he receives at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania, he stays healthy and finds connection with a community he loves.

“Get out there, get involved,” Brown offered as advice to fellow Veterans. “Once you’re involved, you won’t want to get away.”

During his second year at the Winter Sports Clinic, Brown shows no signs of slowing down. Later this year, he plans to compete in the National Veterans Golden Age Games, continuing to prove that age and ability do not define limits.

Phillip Wotton, 23 — U.S. Coast Guard

Phillip Wotton’s journey to adaptive sports looks very different, but the determination feels familiar.

A lifelong athlete who loves surfing, volleyball, and the outdoors, Wotton’s life changed after a diving accident in 2024 left him paralyzed. After a year and a half of recovery, his care team at the Miami VA Medical Center introduced him to the Winter Sports Clinic.

Now, he’s discovering what’s still possible.

“I didn’t know how good the technology was for people to do adaptive stuff until now,” he said. “This shows I can do more recreational activities.”

In his first year at the Winter Sports Clinic, Wotton is already redefining what progress looks like. Next year, whether standing or using a sit-ski, Wotton looks forward to returning to the clinic.

A shared message across generations

Despite nearly six decades between Brown and Wotton, both Veterans arrive at the same conclusion: staying engaged is everything.

“Whatever sport you ever did in your life, go back and practice,” Brown said.

That message is echoed by the nearly 320 Veteran participants at the 40th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic where recovery is not a finish line – it’s ongoing.

Looking ahead

Programs like the Winter Sports Clinic reflect VA’s broader efforts to expand access to adaptive sports and recreation.

During his visit to Snowmass, Colorado, the VA Under Secretary for Health, John J. Bartrum, met with Veterans participating in fly fishing, Nordic and Alpine skiing, sled hocking, and other adaptive sports events, reinforcing VA’s commitment to supporting recovery through adaptive sports.

“Adaptive sports are the culmination of physical, mental and spiritual health, which are essential for not only healing - but thriving.” Bartrum said. “I am committed to not only continue to support this event but find ways to improve and expand opportunities across our adaptive sports program.”

Those words carry weight.

VA recently committed $16 million dollars to adaptive sports programming, expanding access and connecting more Veterans with opportunities like the Winter Sports Clinic. Investments like these ensure every Veteran, regardless of age or ability, have the opportunity to rediscover what they’re capable of.

The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is the world leader in rehabilitation for profoundly disabled Veterans from across the country. Veterans with TBIs, spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, amputations, multiple sclerosis, and other severe disabilities are challenged to overcome perceived limitations through adaptive skiing, sled hockey, scuba diving, rock wall climbing, education and other activities. It is the largest rehabilitative event of its kind in the world.

Veterans interested in participating in the 2027 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic can review qualifications and applications at wintersportsclinic.org.

Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz, 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, highlights the role of the United States Naval Community College (USNCC) in driving force lethality and operational readiness. USNCC provides fully funded, naval-relevant, accredited associate degrees and professional certificates to enlisted Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen to sharpen the warfighting advantage and empower lifelong learning. (U.S. Navy video)

Airman 1st Class Levi Bishop, left, from 134th's Operation Group and Tech Sgt. Eric Lewis, right, from 134th's Logistics Readiness Squadron, stand on the fields of Hampton High School in Hampton, TN, October 16, 2024 to discuss their personal connections to the East Tennessee community and the strategic approach their volunteer forces are taking to help rebuild after Hurricane Helene. Engineering and debris removal teams, comprised of various specialties from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion, Knoxville’s 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nashville’s 118th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Memphis’ 164th Airlift Wing, deployed to East Tennessee to assist restoring critical infrastructure. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Yonette Martin)

1st Lt. Jordan Huck, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares for the M1 Abram’s Gunnery Table V with his crew on Fort Cavazos, TX, on Sept. 20, 2024. Preparing for an M1 Abrams Gunnery Table V involves a structured process for tank crews to ensure they are ready for live-fire gunnery qualification. Table V is a practice exercise designed to simulate combat conditions and requires crews to be proficient in identifying, engaging, and destroying targets under varying scenarios. (U.S. Army video by 1st Sgt. Luisito Brooks)

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Jones, a guitarist for the 8th Army Band, talks about his position in band on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, August 16, 2024. As a guitarist Nicholas reminds the US-ROK alliance and everyone that he relates with stronghold. (DoD video by Ha Na Pong)

Citizen Airmen from the 136th Airlift Wing Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, arrived at Volk Field, Wis., June 5, 2024, aboard a C-130J Super Hercules. The reinforcements enhanced operations at BUMBU FORGE 2024, engaged in and supported the critical exercises during the second week, and brought essential expertise to the mission while bolstering operational readiness and joint capabilities. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Bennett) (This video was electronically edited and ethically enhanced to emphasize the subject and does not misrepresent the subject or the original in any way.)

Marine Security Guards serving at the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu, Nepal, hosted a ceremony on Nov. 6, 2015, to dedicate the six Marines killed while saving lives after multiple earthquakes struck Nepal in May in a helicopter crash. The Marine Corps will continue to honor the sacrifice of Marines by standing ready to respond with the same unwavering devotion to assisting allies and partners nations in their time of need. (U. S. Marine Corps Motion Imagery by MCIPAC Combat Camera Cpl. Joshua E. Chacon/Released)

SUGGESTED STUDIO LEAD-IN/VO: Construction is nearing completion at the Navy’s newest installation in northern Poland. The Naval Support Facility in Redzikowo (pronounced Red-jick-KoVo) will be home to the Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense System(AABMDS), which will fall under NATO when completed. The base is expected to be fully operational sometime in late 2020. The Aegis Ashore site in Poland will expand a defensive capability that protects NATO European territories, populations and forces against ballistic missiles launched from outside the Euro-Atlantic region. (Video by U.S. Navy Lt. Amy Forsythe, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Support Facility Redzikowo)

B-Roll shots: construction workers walking to and from sites, equipment vehicles being used, paving cement, static shots of structures

Soundbites/Quotes:

U.S. Navy Capt. Jon Grant, Commander, Naval Support Facility Redzikowo, Poland

July 9, 2019

“What we’re looking at is the radar deck house in the background and further down range in our facilities are where the launchers are. The vertical launchers are eight cell, there eight cell, launchers that provide the SM-3 intercepts for the Ballistic Missile Defense.”

“The construction here is ongoing and probably will be completed sometime in 2020.”

“There are teams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facility Engineering and also Missile Defense Agency that are working hard to get the base completed. It’s going through a very meticulous process. It’s very complicated, they are doing their due diligence to do it right and make sure it’s read to go in 2020.”

“The Sailors are really enjoying Poland. Right now, they’re living in town in apartments until we can move onto the base. Once we have power and water on the base, we’ll be able to accommodate them there in a multipurpose facility that has a lot of different activities. It will have an MWR and will have a movie theater, a game room. As well as a fitness center, galley and a medical department attached to the multipurpose facility, which they will live in.”


“Now, they’re enjoying living in Slupsk and in a community called Ustka, which is near the coast. It’s summertime in Poland and it’s very, very popular place to go and everybody I think is enjoying the hospitality here in Poland.”

“They’re able to travel not only in Poland, but throughout Europe. So it’s a learning opportunity for them to share and experience different cultures that they can see first-hand. I encourage that when they’re not on duty, studying for their next ratings exam or advancement test, then they should be enjoying the Polish countryside. So, we encourage that when they come to Poland.”

“So, our motto here is “One team, One fight.” So, we all work very well together. What I think I’ll miss the most is the comradery between the difference agencies. We all work together pretty harmoniously and we’re working on a very important project, not only to the United States, but for Europe as well. So, we want to make sure we get it right and everybody is on the same sheet of music. We’re very proud of that I think that as the different inter-agencies work together, we’ve become stronger, stronger as a nation.”

Lt. Caitlin Piker relieves Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Blinsky as the Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126) during a change of command ceremony held at U.S. Coast Guard Base Honolulu on July 6, 2023. Rear Admiral Michael Day, the Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, presided over the ceremony and served as guest speaker. (U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas O'Daniels)

Package of Soldiers responsible for the protection of and security of a community in Baghdad’s Rashid District. Produced by Sgt. Vin Stevens