PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA SHOOTING GROUP

BY BRANDY ELROD

The Texas chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America is an organization that serves veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, and individuals with disabilities. Their objective is to help those wounded warriors live an active life through various community programs including sports recreation. The Texas Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America has been in existence since 1979, the National PVA has been around for 75 years. Membership in Texas PVA is free and open to honorably discharged veterans who have suffered a spinal cord injury or disease (such as MS, ALS). Currently, the Texas PVA has a total membership of 570 veterans. All these members are in a wheelchair and compete in various wheelchair sporting events. I had the pleasure of competing with some of their shooting sports athletes in the disciplines of Sporting Clays and Olympic Trap.

The Texas chapter serves veterans in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi, as well as the surrounding cities and towns. From supporting important health issues to connecting veterans to resources and programs, Texas PVA is a multifaceted, fully committed advocate for veterans and families of veterans with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D). The Texas PVA is a member organization looking out for its members as well as all people with disabilities. The sports and recreation program participates in everything from outdoor shooting sports, hunting, archery, fishing, wheelchair basketball to boccia, and various other sports. The organization provides funding so that members can participate in any sport of their choosing. Texas PVA and its satellite offices work closely with local and state organizations to advocate for solutions to the problems affecting disabled individual’s needs. The success and longevity of the Texas PVA programs rely on fundraising and donations from generous individuals, companies, and foundations in the community. The largest fundraiser is a Thrift Store program which provides approximately $360,000 annually. Additionally, a monthly chapter grant is received from the National PVA office, and funding is provided through the Amazon Smile Program.

Alvin Guerrero, a disabled veteran from San Antonio, Texas, has been competing in the shotgun sports for fourteen years. Alvin was involved in a motor vehicle accident that left him as a T12-L2 paraplegic. Guerrero was introduced to the sport by Butch Roberson the former owner of R&R Traps. As interest grew among the disabled veteran community, they formed a shotgun shooting group with help from the National Sporting Clays Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America Texas Chapter, and the National Shooting Complex, all local resources in the San Antonio area. Alvin stated he liked shooting because everyone shoots the exact same targets whether you're able bodied or disabled.

The biggest challenges faced by disabled veterans, according to Alvin, revolve around adapting equipment to work and function properly. He says there is often a lot of “trial and error”, for disabled veterans when adapting equipment to allow them to participate. I personally witnessed this in 2019 at Para-Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when an athlete had a hard time competing because their torso wheelchair strap was slipping while shooting. This athlete was unable to maintain a complete upright position and had to continue to reposition after every shot, causing rapid fatigue. Another challenge the athletes face is the range terrain they must traverse. Making sure the athletes have hard surfaces to move about the course, the parking lots, as well as chair friendly restroom facilities is critical to supporting their success.

Zach Jones has been competing for three years and supported Alvin’s assertion that finding equipment is one of the challenges he also faces in order to compete in shooting sports. Zach is a T4 paraplegic due to Transverse Myelitis suffered in 2017. Jones does not let this stop him, stating that his favorite part about the Texas PVA shooting program is the camaraderie and support the participants receive from each other and the organization.

The Texas PVA not only helps the veterans but also helps their families and caregivers with access to everything a veteran may need. That range of needs includes military benefits, advocacy and legislation, health and wellness, housing, sports and recreation, research, and education. The Texas PVA not only needs funding but also volunteers for their fundraising efforts and special events. If you are a Paralyzed Veteran interested in becoming a member, or you are an individual that wishes to donate your time or provide financial support you can visit texaspva.org n

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