JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Seven years after surviving the attack of a gunman who took the lives of two of his security forces Airmen at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany, Tech. Sgt. Trevor Brewer continues his healing process.
But now his road to recovery isn’t so lonely.
He was one of more than 150 wounded warriors and their caregivers who bonded as brothers and sisters while participating in Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s third annual Warrior CARE event Jan. 8-12 hosted by the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program.
CARE stands for caregiver support, adaptive and rehabilitative sports, recovering Airmen mentorship program, and employment and career services – which summarizes the range of activities that wounded warriors engage in during the weeklong event.
“We offer this event as a part of their recovery,” said Marsha Gonzales, Air Force Personnel Center Warrior CARE branch chief. “We hope they leave here further along in their recovery. We show them what they can do, not what they can’t do.”
Warriors gain confidence and develop friendships while participating in adaptive and rehabilitative sports, learning ways to achieve employment and career readiness goals, and receiving mentorship training. In addition, their caregivers are provided with the training and support they need.
Some of the warriors who competed in sports will move on to the 2018 Air Force Trials Feb. 23-March 2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, a qualifying event for the 2018 Warrior Games in June.
Warriors at the Warrior CARE event also had an opportunity to find healing in laughter, music and art by engaging in resiliency programs such as “Combat to Comedy,” “Rock to Recovery” and “Painting With a Purpose.”
“The biggest thing we see is a change in their attitude,” said Shawn Sprayberry, AFW2 senior communications coordinator. “They’re nervous at first, but by the middle of the week they’re making friends and coming out of their shells. They realize they’re not alone.”
Brewer, who serves as 72nd Security Forces Squadron assistant flight chief at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, participated in adaptive and rehabilitative sports, including archery, swimming, and sitting volleyball and basketball, but he also played a role in warrior care by serving as a program ambassador.
During the opening ceremony on the first day of the Warrior CARE event, Brewer told a captive audience the story of the tragedy at the Frankfurt airport, his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and his long-delayed participation in the Warrior CARE program.
In March 2011, while awaiting a trip to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and a flight to Southwest Asia, Brewer and a group of 15 security forces members he was leading were sitting on a bus at the Frankfurt airport when they came under attack from a lone gunman described as having radical Islamic views.
The gunman fatally shot Senior Airman Nicholas Alden outside the bus and continued his attack on the bus, killing the bus driver, Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback, and wounding two others.
“Then the gunman put the gun to my head, pulled the trigger and the gun failed to fire due to a faulty primer,” said Brewer, who called the malfunction a rarity comparable to winning the lottery.
After pulling the trigger a few more times without success, the gunman fled the bus with Brewer in pursuit. The chase ended inside the airport when German police apprehended the gunman.
Brewer described the impact of the attack on his life.
“Personally, it was something that devoured my life initially,” he said. “It was the only thing I could think about.”
Brewer struggled with nightmares, sleep issues, hypervigilance, anger, survivor’s guilt and depression. He was diagnosed with PTSD, was automatically enrolled in the AFW2 program and sought counseling, but it took him many years to sign up for Warrior CARE.
“I knew about this program for a long time, but I didn’t feel like I needed to be a part of it or that I belonged,” he said. “I didn’t feel I was qualified in terms of what I thought a wounded warrior was.”
However, a retired security forces member Brewer described as a trusted friend encouraged him to join the program. He volunteered for the Warrior CARE event as a mentor and ambassador at Joint Base Andrews two months ago.
“I still struggle to this day with PTSD, but the last Air Force Wounded Warrior CARE event lifted a tremendous weight from my shoulders and it changed my view on life forever,” Brewer said.
“Talking with other Wounded Warriors was a humbling and eye-opening experience.”
Serving as an ambassador has allowed Brewer to tell his story and hear the stories of other wounded warriors, which all contribute to the healing process.
"People say it’s helpful for them to hear my story,” he said. “It’s so helpful for me to hear theirs. I am so absolutely humbled and I know that I’m not alone.
“These are guys that have been injured in combat and are missing arms and legs,” he said. “For them to say I belong here, it felt great and it feels awesome to become part of that kind of family.”
Brewer said the Warrior CARE event enables him to see the healing process unfold.
“This program opens up avenues and they make connections,” he said. “I see people healing every time I come to these events. This is only my second event and I’ve seen so many people heal in just the last few days.
“I’ve made such good friends, I’ve had such good times, I’ve made memories that will last forever and it’s just been a great experience, to put all of it into words.”