WEBVTT 00:00.380 --> 00:02.700 - [Reporter] Fort Campbell, Warrior Transition Battalion 00:02.700 --> 00:06.370 soldiers and staff participated in an endurance ride 00:06.370 --> 00:07.970 called the Bluegrass Rendezvous. 00:08.860 --> 00:11.450 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Butler 00:11.580 --> 00:15.133 says the ride is both challenging and therapeutic. 00:15.840 --> 00:18.810 - The last two days, we did, on Thursday and Friday, 00:18.810 --> 00:21.023 we did two 100 mile cycling days. 00:21.330 --> 00:23.960 The first day was a bit rainy, where about 80 00:23.960 --> 00:26.593 of the 100 miles was sheer wind and rain, 00:26.850 --> 00:28.610 and then on Friday we did another hundred miles 00:28.610 --> 00:30.873 and it was a perfect day to ride. 00:31.940 --> 00:34.060 It's just a way to show these soldiers who are 00:34.060 --> 00:37.390 wounded, ill, and injured that, y'know, you can still be 00:37.390 --> 00:40.610 physically active and do things and challenge yourself 00:41.370 --> 00:43.973 to accomplish things you never thought you could do before. 00:44.357 --> 00:46.900 - [Reporter] WTBs provide personalized support 00:46.900 --> 00:50.390 to wounded, ill, and injured soldiers who required at least 00:50.390 --> 00:52.500 six months in rehabilitated care 00:52.500 --> 00:54.553 and complex medical management. 00:54.950 --> 00:57.460 For some of these soldiers, the Bluegrass Rendezvouz 00:57.460 --> 00:58.763 is a recovery goal. 00:59.200 --> 01:01.931 WTB Soldier, Staff Sergeant Michael Hale 01:01.931 --> 01:05.663 explains how he felt after completing the endurance ride. 01:06.100 --> 01:10.040 - A little sore, a little tired, but also exhilarated 01:10.040 --> 01:14.580 because I was able to complete a milestone that 01:14.580 --> 01:17.263 a lot of people in their lifes does not do. 01:18.480 --> 01:22.660 Typically riding 200 miles in two days, a lot of times, 01:22.660 --> 01:24.860 y'know, people don't think they can do that. 01:25.820 --> 01:28.833 This lets me know that there's nothing I can't do. 01:28.890 --> 01:32.373 If I don't want to do it and put my mind to it, I can do it. 01:32.540 --> 01:35.050 - [Reporter] Hale suffered broken bones and crushed hips 01:35.050 --> 01:36.893 during a deployment to Iraq. 01:37.160 --> 01:40.560 Unable to run, recumbent cycling has enabled Hale 01:40.560 --> 01:42.833 to enjoy physical activity again. 01:43.140 --> 01:45.600 Lieutenant Todd Kuzma, head of the battalion's 01:45.600 --> 01:49.090 Adaptive Reconditioning Program, explains how soldiers 01:49.090 --> 01:52.643 at the WTB find new ways to stay active. 01:53.150 --> 01:55.960 - We have a team of physical, occupation therapists 01:55.960 --> 02:00.540 that tailor their treatment of each soldier depending upon 02:00.710 --> 02:03.150 their positive profile or what the physical therapist says 02:03.150 --> 02:06.163 they can do with the injuries that they have. 02:06.290 --> 02:08.420 - [Reporter] Enduring multiple surgeries and treatment 02:08.420 --> 02:12.140 for stage four cancer, Specialist Weston Stevens, now 02:12.140 --> 02:16.200 cancer free, says bike riding at the WTB is helping him 02:16.260 --> 02:18.003 prepare for his return to duty. 02:18.754 --> 02:21.290 - Well so far, it's gotten my endurance back up, 02:21.290 --> 02:23.140 it's gotten my lungs to where they need to be. 02:23.140 --> 02:25.820 Fighting cancer was not an easy battle, and this has really 02:26.240 --> 02:29.263 pushed me to my extremes, pushed myself, and pushed my body. 02:29.507 --> 02:31.860 - [Reporter] In the end, Battalion Command Sergeant Major 02:31.860 --> 02:34.650 Kenneth Pelham said everybody at the Battalion 02:34.650 --> 02:36.743 helped make this years ride possible. 02:36.870 --> 02:39.240 - 32 people rode, but it was pretty much 02:39.240 --> 02:42.030 the Battalion effort, so with some of the, of the other 02:42.030 --> 02:44.330 STs and stuff help because they couldn't ride, 02:44.440 --> 02:47.683 and then all the, all the cadre had a part of it, y'know. 02:47.790 --> 02:50.610 We worked for this for months, coordinating with the 02:50.610 --> 02:51.810 local police department. 02:51.950 --> 02:53.360 It's a group effort, and if it's not 02:53.360 --> 02:55.010 a group effort, it wouldn't work. 02:55.250 --> 02:57.720 - [Reporter] For Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, 02:57.720 --> 03:00.323 Fort Campbell, Kentucky, I'm Maria Yeager.