Scuba Training – Air Warrior Courage

Air Warrior Courage Foundation

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Scuba Training

Scuba Training & Certification Program

The AWCF Wounded Warrior Emergency Support Fund launched a scuba training and open water certification program in the spring of 2006. AWCF joined with Duggan Diving, a professional scuba diving company, to launch a program specifically tailored to train wounded warriors with amputations and burns. The program was also assisted by the Center for the Intrepid (CFI) which is the rehabilitation facility at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). The CFI aided in selecting wounded warriors for the dive program and also provided volunteer physical therapist that monitored the training.

The program proved highly popular with the wounded and was particularly appealing to amputees and burn victims. Diving was not only good physical therapy; the freedom of movement in water was even better mental therapy. AWCF provided the financial support needed to run the program and also provided personal equipment in the form of masks and fins. Duggan Diving provided wet suits and air tanks. The scuba training program was structured to training 4 classes of 12 warriors per year. In some cases, spouses of wounded warriors are also trained as companion divers. As of June 2013, 281 wounded warriors have been “open water” certified. Open water certification takes place at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Texas and Balmorhea Springs in Balmorhea, TX.

In 2010, the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) gave AWCF a grant to enhance the scuba program with two “Blue Water” dive trips per year. The location chosen for this program was Panama City, Florida. The program format was designed to take 7 active duty wounded warriors and 7 wounded warriors who had completed the AWCF open water certification and had subsequently departed active duty on each trip to Panama City. The objective was to expose the wounded warriors to diving on ship wrecks and the abundant marine life in the Gulf of Mexico with the hope that warriors would continue to dive as a life time sport. The program proved so successful that AWCF has continued funding for two “Blue Water” dive trips per year post BWF participation.

Therapeutic Riding Program FAQ

Are there any programs that would potentially benefit our community since our services are free?: ANSWER – Yes. AWCF support may be by cost per child/lesson (a personal scholarship) or, in the case of those TROs that do not charge participants, a blanket award to the Therapeutic Riding Center (TRC); all payments/donations are made directly to the TRC. Completion of the TRP Application is required for all participants.
How might a military family with a disabled child be reviewed for funding?: ANSWER – Military rank or branch of service is not an issue. The AWCF makes its decision solely on each child’s situation, medical prognosis and “need.” The AWCF reserves the right to verify the military status of the sponsor(s) and dependent status of the child involved, the medical condition of the child and the “need.”
Does your program provide support for military dependent children that do not have a diagnosed disability?: ANSWER – No, the AWCF TRP is designed to assist military dependent children receive disability therapy not covered by the traditional military service “safety-nets,” e.g. CHAMPUS, TRICARE, etc.
What is the advance timeline that they would need to apply?: ANSWER – Whenever a child is approved by the TRC for participation or is already participating, we will accept a completed TRP application and begin the process for possible funding. The AWCF approval process takes approximately 2-3 weeks to be completed and the Therapeutic Riding Center/family notified of whatever support is approved.
Is there a specific format?: ANSWER – Yes, please review our TRP Application.
Do you share participant information with anyone other than the AWCF, the Therapeutic Riding Center and family involved?: ANSWER – No. As with all AWCF philanthropic activities, all information is dealt with on a confidential basis unless, on a voluntary basis, written permission of all parties is obtained.
We are an EFMH (Equine Facilitated Mental Health) program, and the majority of our riders are able bodied but wrestling with many issues. Would your program be able to sponsor scholarship for those students if they qualified?: ANSWER – Probably not, as our program is not currently designed to support “able-bodied” children. However, our medical staff will review a child’s condition diagnosis/ prognosis statement, completed by his/her doctor, and make a determination of eligibility.
Some of our students are from families so broken apart that there is no contact between parents. Do you have access to military service information if the fathers are unreachable to fill out forms about their service history?: ANSWER – No, we do not have such a capability but the parent caring for the child should be able to provide sufficient information for our review. Having a “regular” family, i.e., not divorced/separated/etc, does not qualify nor disqualify a needy child from participating in our program.