AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas National Guard Soldier was selected to compete in the Warrior/U.S.Paralympic Team Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 11-14.
Spc. Shawn Porter will compete in the 10-meter air rifle standing/non-supported and 30-meter recurve open events.
He is currently undergoing treatment for post traumatic stress disorder at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Porter was one of the 136th Military Police Battalion Soldiers, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. He was medically evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany last November to undergo surgery.
While recovering, he was diagnosed with PTSD and transported to BAMC, where has been undergoing treatment ever since - if he is not at the shooting range.
"The intense six- to eight-hour rifle and archery training is helping me to quiet my brain," he said. "When I shoot I can only focus on one thing, and I believe the sport has helped me therapeutically.
Porter said he was one of those Soldiers who didn't believe in PTSD. "This has been a real eye-opener for me," he said. "The PTSD did not manifest itself after I returned from Iraq, but was diagnosed when I returned for surgery from Afghanistan during my second deployment."
Porter said he wanted to return to Afghanistan after his surgery, but the PTSD prevented that from happening. "It is an illness, and because I am seeing my psychologist twice a week, I am making great progress," he said. "When I returned home, I could not cope with being a dad and husband, and my family deserves that I get good treatment."
The sport is a healing aid, and Porter admits to being very competitive. "I am confident that I will bring back medals and I want my fellow Soldiers to know that I will be doing it for the 136th MP Battalion in Tyler, Texas."
Porter is a part-time Soldier. When not activated for military duty, he manages an outdoor sports warehouse.
He has been training with Skip Dawson of the Army's Olympic team. "He has the patience and intelligence to do it," said Dawson. "He is physically in very good shape, and his stance and form are very good."
Competition comes natural to Porter who likes to hike, fish, hunt and ski. "My current schedule is as follows: I attend 7:00 am formation, train hard all day, help out in the recreation center and go home at night," he said. "When I am not at a doctor's appointment, I am at the in or outdoor range. I can't stand to stay home and do nothing. I just have to stay busy."
He demonstrated the archery equipment consisting of a riser and two long flexible limbs, easily measuring five-feet long. "It takes 50 pounds of force to string the bow," he said, "and it will take 42 pounds of pull to get the arrow to the target 30 meters away."
Before the arrow is released it rests on what appears to be a short piece of piano wire. "In this large bow, it all hinges on this short piece of wire and balance.
What he did not say is that in the end his success will all hinge on his expertise and focus