By Air Force Lt. Col. James Alexander

U.S. Southern Command

When it comes to rehabilitation from debilitating injuries, water is a great equalizer.  In the weightless environment underwater, things are easier to do, especially for those who have damaged or missing limbs.  It is a fact that has prompted many rehabilitating service members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan to take part in an all-volunteer program that provides free scuba diving training and certification.

The Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS) non-profit organization located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington D.C., conducts the scuba program to facilitate the rehabilitation process and promote mobility for wounded troops undergoing physical or occupational therapy. (see box, right)

Last week, a group of wounded warriors from Walter Reed, along with SUDS staff, traveled to Key Largo, Fla., to do some open water diving and certify eight new divers.  About a dozen of us from U.S. Southern Command were fortunate enough to get to dive with these war heroes during three separate dives and support the SUDS program.  Proceeds from the dives helped pay for the travel expenses of the wounded warriors and the SUDS staff.

I and six other folks from SOUTHCOM were part of the first group to dive with the wounded warriors on May 20.  We dove at Conch Republic Divers in Tavernier (Gary and Brenda Mace, the owners, have shown great interest in helping our wounded warriors).  Most of the wounded warriors were young guys, working to recover from injuries that had cost them limbs.  I had heard about injured folks scuba diving before, but being there underwater and seeing it firsthand gave me a great appreciation of how the underwater environment truly is an equalizer.  There were no limitations:  guys with one fin could dive and get around just as good as someone with two. 

But, the dives clearly were more than just “rehabilitation” to the wounded warriors.  They seemed to have a great attitude and genuinely had a lot of fun.  After one of the dives, we were delighted as we watched some of the wounded warriors diving off the boat, doing back flips into the water and just having fun.

At the end of the day, Army Maj. Hector Paz and I presented the eight wounded warriors who had attained their dive certifications on this trip with commander’s coins and four-star notes on behalf of SOUTHCOM’s commander, Adm. James Stavridis. 

Later in the week, on May 22 and 23, more SOUTHCOM people dove with the wounded warriors.  Talking with some of them afterward, we all seemed to walk away with the same consensus: we all felt honored to spend time with those who’ve sacrificed so much for our country, and we all were very impressed with the SUDS program. 

Bob Mask, who works in our Security and Intelligence Directorate, has been working for nearly a year to establish a program similar to SUDS here in the South Florida community.  After last week’s dive, we’ve all the seen first hand the value of such a program and are re-motivated to do what we can to establish a local program or branch to support this very worthwhile cause.

We all know there’s nothing any of us can do to undo the injuries our wounded warriors have suffered, but maybe in a very small way, we can help them get on with their lives.  Hopefully, we’ll be able to start a local dive program here at SOUTHCOM to support our brothers and sisters in arms who have sacrificed so much in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

(Lt. Col. Alexander works in the U.S. Southern Command’s Security and Intelligence Directorate where he is the chief of contingency plans.  He is a certified Divemaster and Master Scuba Diver.)