Air Force Serviceman Finds Transformation in Wounded Warrior Program, Warrior Games as Part of PTSD Recovery

As Dianne Rahe watched her son, Master Sgt. Jason Ostberg, compete in the Warrior Games on Tuesday, she saw a completely different man.

Ostberg, who has served in the Air Force since 2003, has dealt with PTSD throughout his service, creating a version of him that truly wasn't himself. But the man Rahe saw in the indoor rowing competition and in other Warrior Games events is a version she hadn't seen in years.

"He has come a long way," Rahe said as tears swelled in her eyes. "Just him in the short time he's been involved, he's been more calm, more happy. It's hard to explain but I see the amazing way he has changed being with these people, because these are his people."

Ostberg, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, has been part of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) since December. Multiple deployments overseas combined with the physical impact and psychological damage involved with his work led him to seek help with the AFW2, although he was hesitant at first.

"Most of us are too tough to get help when we need it," said Ostberg, one of five brothers in the military. "We don't want to leave our friends on the battlefield by themselves so we keep doing the mission without thinking of ourselves."

Ostberg joined the AFW2 program with his wife, Pam, and two young kids in the forefront of his mind.

"I was able to get some help for myself, but mostly for my family because they deserve it," Ostberg said.

The AFW2 program provides personalized care, services and advocacy to seriously wounded, ill and injured airmen. Adaptive sports, including the Warrior Games, are just one element of the program.

Ostberg was one of 40 selected to represent the Air Force after trials in March. He is competing in field, indoor rowing, precision air, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

The AFW2 program has changed Ostberg's life for the better in just a short seven months, including helping him rediscover his love of swimming. Ostberg was a competitive swimmer in high school, but he stopped after joining the Air Force at 20.

"The first time I got in a pool again, it changed my whole perspective," Ostberg said. "I didn't feel that before. I didn't know that's what I needed to get back into it. Now I look forward to it. It's awesome."

Ostberg will compete in the Warrior Games swimming competition Saturday, which also will be his 42nd birthday.

The program also has helped Ostberg by providing a community of people he can relate to and confide in.

"It's a drastic change to go from stopping working out, going outside, hanging out with friends, not doing anything for myself to now having 40 family members plus the staff ... I can't put into words how much I'm thankful for all of that," Ostberg said.

The camaraderie with the other Air Force athletes was apparent during the indoor rowing competition, which included four-minute, one-minute and relay competitions. After each event Ostberg went around high-fiving his teammates in blue, as well as those from the other teams.

"Everyone is his people, but being here, he is one of them so they can talk and hang out and feel like family," Rahe said. "It's amazing to watch him compete with all his friends. I wish he got involved with it a long time ago. He's loving it."

Going into the Warrior Games, Ostberg didn't have the expectation of winning a gold medal. However, he retained his competitive nature so it was no surprise when he won gold in his class for the one-minute rowing competition Tuesday.

It was his third medal of the Warrior Games after taking gold in precision air and a bronze in wheelchair basketball. With three more events, there's a good chance the medal won't be his last.

But as he received his gold medal at the indoor rowing medal ceremony, he wasn't thinking about the gold; he was thinking about the people who got him there.

"Taking that first step is the hardest part, but once you're in the door you're vulnerable to all these people and you realize they're going through the same thing," Ostberg said. "You can't put a price on it. I can't put into words what it has meant, the amount of support even from those that don't know you.

"You don't have to win a gold medal, we are just out here competing and supporting one another."

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