Supporting disabled veteran athletes since 2016

The Invictus Games started in 2014 as an international multi-sport event for veteran and active duty members of the armed forces. With the notion that sports support recovery, the Invictus Games aims to embody the fighting spirit of participants as well as honor them for their commitment to our freedom. North America has hosted two Invictus Games, in Toronto, Ontario and Orlando, Florida. Ottobock attended both, setting up repair tents to replace or fix an amputee's prosthesis or orthosis.

Actively supporting veteran voices in the community

Ottobock's Manager of Consumer Engagement Aaron Holm hosted the social media series Ask Aaron, connecting with the limb loss community to educate, motivate, and hear their stories. The series has highlighted the impact Ottobock technology has made on not only amputees, but veterans as well.

• John Kriesel: Veteran, award-winning author, and bilateral amputee. Four years after his near-death experience while serving in Iraq, John worked as a civilian marketing employee with the Minnesota Army National Guard and was named Director of Veteran Services in 2012 for a county outside of Minneapolis. John didn’t stop there – he is a part-time contributor to KFAN Sports Radio and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

• David Tupper: Veteran, bilateral leg paralysis. During his fourth and final tour in Afghanistan, David was severely injured, resulting in full paralysis in both legs from the hip down. Today, David is able to walk again with the help of bilateral C-Braces.

Giving back to the veteran community

Every year, Task Force Dagger, a nonprofit that exists to support the needs of wounded soldiers and their families, takes to the Keys for their "Dagger Dive." Injured vets and their families have the opportunity to become scuba certified at a world-class diving facility. Ottobock’s own Chris Doerger has attended every year since 2014 to assist with the various needs of those attending the Dagger Dive. 

As a veteran-operated nonprofit, the organization understands the needs and experiences of the Special Operations Forces community. Each program is designed to heal, rebuild, and strengthen the service member and their family by providing mission, purpose and focus.

“The most striking thing about this event is the change in everyone from the beginning to the end," Doerger said. "It may sound cliché, but the environment, activities, and structure allow traumatized individuals to feel protected and willing to communicate. It gradually allows them to accept help. Scuba diving is a medium through which these operators can relate to their families on a normal level again.”