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BY JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

Aer three deployments and a training accident, Sgt.1st Class Landon Ranker, an inantryman, had sus-tained multiple traumatic brain injuries. In 2006, he

was serving in Aghanistan when an improvised explosivedevice detonated in ront o his vehicle.

Te vehicle went directly into the IED-ormed crater,and it was the last straw or Rankers multiple BIs. Hewas medically evacuated and put onto the path o medicalretirement. But aer 17 years in the Army, Ranker said he

didnt want to get out.I want to stay in as long as I can, Ranker said. I want

to continue to help Soldiers in some capacity and to makea dierence. I Im helping at least one Soldier every coupleo days or more, Ill be happy.

Ranker learned about the Continuation on Active DutyProgram. Te program would allow Ranker to stay in andcontribute to the Army until he could retire. He applied atthe end o his medical board.

Its given me a whole new purpose in the Army,Ranker said. I didnt know that I would nd anything thwould make me happy aer they told me I couldnt be aninantry guy anymore. A couple o months into the job,I realized that I could help other Soldiers who are goingthrough similar situations.

Ranker has now been in the program or two and a hayears. He serves in the Warrior ransition Unit at FortCampbell, Ky., helping Soldiers with adaptive sports. Hehelps other wounded warriors learn adaptive sports andcompete in them, sometimes on a national stage.

Te COAD program was designed or Soldiers likeRanker who were wounded in combat and needed acouple more years o service to retire. COAD is an excep-tion-to-policy program governed by AR 635-40, PhysicalEvaluation for Retention, Retirement or Separation, and isdesigned to retain skills and experience the Army needs.

It is targeted to Soldiers who are deemed by thePhysical Disability Evaluation System to be unt or dutybecause o a disability that is not related to misconduct o

willul negligence or incurred during anunauthorized absence.

Sta Sgt. Curtis Winston, a cavalry

scout, was injured in Salman Pak, Iraq,in 2008 by an IED. Aer applying orthe COAD program, he now serves inthe retention ofce or the 25th InantryDivision at Schoeld Barracks, Hawaii.

Everybody is supposed to have a plai they get out. I just wasnt ready to getout, Winston said. I enjoy the militaryand theres still stu I can do with themilitary even though I couldnt do myold job.

Any Soldier may apply to the COADprogram, though combat-wounded

and combat-related Soldiers are moreoen approved i they meet the medicalrequirements. o apply or the COADprogram, a Soldier needs to submit anapplication with a letter rom his or hercommander that shows the commandteam supports the decision to retain theSoldier on active duty.

Te COAD board reviews the application and consid-ers the Soldiers physical limitations, ability to unctionwithin the Army, ability to unction within current MOSand the Armys stafng requirements. Overall, the Soldie

Continuing to servedespite injuriesNCOs overcome medical obstacles, give back to Soldiers

The Armys team competes in the May 2 wheel chair vol-

leyball event during the Warrior Games, deeating the Air Force

team 57-6. Many Soldiers who serve in the Continuation on Ac-tive Duty Program are involved in alternative sports programs at

Warrior Transition Units.PHOTO BY JENNIFER MATTSON

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Entering the COAD program

Any Soldier who is going through the medical board retirement

or medical discharge process can go through the COAD program,

but preerence goes to:

X Soldiers who have served 15 to 20 years

X Those qualifed in a critical or shortage MOS

X Those who became injured or disabled as a result o combat

or terrorism

must be able to work in a military environment and thedisability must be stable enough that the Soldier is goingto medical appointments no more than 50 percent o hisor her time.

Even though you were hurt and the military mightwant to retire or discharge you, i you choose to wantit, you can still stay in, Winston said. Te Army wasthe lie or me; it was all I wanted to do. I got hurt andthought I couldnt stay in. But the program came up, andthats when I knew it was or me.

Te COAD program requires Soldiers to create ave-year plan, which is revisited each year to ensurethe Soldier is perorming according to the plan. In theCOAD program, Soldiers are still subject to time-in-graderequirements; they can remain on active duty until theirretention control point, retirement date or age 62, which-ever comes rst.

Soldiers must also re-enlist i their continuation periodextends beyond their current contract. Soldiers in COADmay be denied re-enlistment i their disabilities have dete-riorated o i they have new medical issues.

Te COAD program allows Soldiers to give back to

other wounded warriors and to provide an example to allSoldiers, Winston said.

Just because youre hurt doesnt mean you dont haveanything le to oer, he said. You might not be able to doyour job anymore, but you can do something else i you dowant to be in the military.

You can show other Soldiers that you can perorm toa high standard, and your injuries cant hold you back,Winston said.

Cpl. William Lamm, a supply NCO with 8th Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,2nd Inantry Division, directs Soldiers on June 6 during an incipient fre exercise at Camp Nathan Smith, Aghanistan.

Soldiers who complete the course act as frst responders to fres that can occur on the camp. PHOTO BY STAFF SGT.

BRYAN DOMINIQUE

Fire training