Program giving veterans a mission

Well, as we honor our veterans ahead of Veterans Day this week, tonight we're taking a look at a program that gives some service members something they often miss after the military. A mission, a team, a reason to get back out there. Enter Warrior Sailing. They bring veterans out onto the waters of Tampa Bay where the lessons go far beyond the boat. Before Tampa Bay becomes the classroom, the dock becomes the checklist. Sails come up, the lines tighten, and veterans fall back into a rhythm many of them know by heart. Dang it. Dang it all the way. All right, are we ready? Yes, ma'am. For Bruce Scott, pushing off into Tampa Bay isn't just a hobby. It's a way back to purpose. He spent 31 years in the Army, started as a private, retired as a lieutenant colonel, and flew through three combat tours. Probably the emotional transition and what I call decompressing, that was a little more difficult. Different pace of life, different pace of work. I'm still working on transitioning well, and I've been out since 2014. Two years ago, his nephew, who is still serving, invited him to a warrior sailing camp. You're gonna tie your bowline up. Okay. And he quickly realized he wasn't just learning to tack and jibe. What transcends that, I know for me personally and including my wife, who's been able to participate in some of this, is the sense of purpose, teamwork, Thank you, Mark. the things that, you know, you were accustomed to doing in the military. Warrior Sailing is based in St. Petersburg, teaching wounded, ill, and injured veterans and active duty service members how to harness the wind, everything else go. Once we leave that dock, a lot of times guys say, you know, I leave my problems at the dock. And whether it be a physical wheelchair or whether it be whatever they've got going on at home or at life right now, whether it be with the family or at work. They're simply leaving that on land, and they're going out of the water and focusing on this one thing, which is learning to sail and working as a team. Thank you. Army veteran Sammy Lugo enlisted right after 9-11. He deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 2007, a roadside bomb in Iraq took his left leg below the knee and took his dream of service with it. At first, it was tough just when I was at the hospital, you know, going through a lot of different things. I wanted to stay in and You know, do the whole 20 years, retire and all that. That was the goal from the start. You just got to get those sails out. Sammy spent more than two years recovering at Walter Reed. He turned to adaptive sports. When he finally got out on the water, he found a new kind of freedom. Being out on the water, you know, you kind of just leave everything else on land and just enjoy what's out there as much as possible. Just the teamwork with everyone on the boat gives you kind of a purpose, right? It gives you something to do. A purpose built on brotherhood. It does heal. That's the deal. Well, the saying I've heard that I really believe, what's a warrior to do without a war? You know, because we're taught to train like we fight. Well, this is a way to train like we sail. The wind doesn't erase what these men carried home. But for a few hours could certainly change what they carry next. Oh man, it's a great day for this. It's a reset for the soul. Yeah. Proving that sometimes the best medicine isn't prescribed. It's just a crew, a compass, and a new mission away from all else. Warrior Sailings Home Base is in St. Petersburg, and they serve veterans and active duty service members from all across the country.