Veterans can get physical training through a local program
HOUSTON – Travis Cousins of Burgettstown was a U.S. Army medic during four tours of duty in Iraq, has undergone two hip replacements and knows a standard gym “doesn’t really do it for me,” due to his artificial hips.
That’s part of the reason he was at Forged Valor Crossfit in Houston Saturday afternoon. He was one of about 20 veterans signing up for a physical training program designed to meet their specifications, or their physical and mental limitations. Called Task Force Phoenix, sponsored by the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, it’s a nonprofit organization that helps veterans find housing and employment, or points them in the direction of various services.
The getting-to-know-you session Saturday included veterans getting weighed in and measured and participating in a baseline workout. They also filled out questionnaires about their goals and expectations. From there, the veterans will be able to go to a gym near their homes and embark on a physical training regimen that is tailored for them. Each veteran is expected to attend at least two physical training sessions per week over the course of the next year.
The program is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, said Daniel Blevins, the community relations and development manager for the Veterans Leadership Program. The program has obvious benefits for the physical health of veterans, but it also provides additional benefits in the form of camaraderie, Blevins added.
“They’re being exposed to a whole new community here,” he said. “They’re going to get a whole new support base.”
The launch of Task Force Phoenix in Houston is the first time the program has planted a flag in Washington County. It previously held sessions at a handful of locations in Allegheny County, including Upper St. Clair and Bridgeville, and Brighton Township in Beaver County.