WEBVTT

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(heavy metal music)

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^- My name is Melissa Gonzalez, I was in the United States

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^Air Force as a senior Airmen in the Security Forces.

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I did cycling, we did swimming,

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and field and track, and shooting.

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I like swimming, 'cause it doesn't really hurt

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my injuries more.

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Initially, when I went to Afghanistan, I got shrapnel

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pieces in my ankle and then it also created

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instability and broken bones in my ankle.

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And I got a traumatic brain injury.

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I always say I need to get in the pool and just knock

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out some laps.

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I feel really great now that I've been really active

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in this program.

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I think I'm more fit now than I was even in the Air Force.

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So it's kinda surprising to me that I can do these things,

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even with my disabilities.

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What I like about the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

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is that we can motivate others.

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They're giving their all out there and I want to support

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them through that and to show them they can do it,

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whether they get a medal or not.

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You choose to get off that couch and get in the pool,

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or get on the track, get in cycling, or on one of the teams.

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It takes guts, it takes a warrior to do it.

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No matter what country we come from,

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no matter what force we're in, we're gonna rock it!