Photo: Josh Martin winning Gold for Team SOCOM at the 2025 Invictus Games
Finding Purpose and Connection Through Adaptive Sports
Joshua Martin felt called to serve after the events of September 11, blending a passion for aviation with a desire to make a difference. As an Army aviation officer, he flew the OH-58D and MH-47G helicopters, deploying with the 101st Airborne Division and later with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). His career demanded adaptability, grit, and constant readiness.
But everything changed after a devastating motorcycle accident. Years of surgeries and setbacks ultimately led to the amputation of his leg and the end of his military career.
Determined to keep moving forward, Josh earned an MBA from Vanderbilt University and built a successful career in management consulting. Yet despite professional success, he felt something was missing.
“I wasn’t as fulfilled or as energized,” Josh shared. “I was always trying to find that way or thing that could bring me back to the Special Operations Community. People that have a similar understanding and mentality. A sense of tribe.”
That search brought him to adaptive sports.
Through wheelchair racing, indoor rowing, swimming, and alpine skiing, Josh rediscovered his competitive drive and a renewed sense of belonging. Events like the Warrior Games and Invictus Games offered more than competition; they provided a powerful community, especially among teams like Team SOCOM. The athletes all had similar injuries, similar experiences– they were veterans who understood. “That’s what sets the Warrior Games and Invictus Games apart. We come from different backgrounds, but the camaraderie is pretty much instantaneous. It filled a hole I’d been trying to fill for years.”
Adaptive sports gave Josh an outlet for both physical recovery and emotional healing, reigniting a familiar sense of purpose and drive.
Operation Healing Forces’ dedication to Empowering Special Operations Athletes
When Josh Martin set his sights on adaptive sports, Operation Healing Forces was honored to stand beside him to help cover the costs of training camps, travel, and essential recovery tools like a Game Ready Ice Machine that supported his post-surgery healing.
Adaptive sports have become a powerful tool for SOF warriors seeking purpose, connection, and the drive to push beyond personal limits. These competitions offer more than medals; they provide healing, renewed goals, and a way to preserve a sense of tribe.
As Team SOCOM prepares for the 2025 Warrior Games, Operation Healing Forces remains committed to making sure financial barriers never stand in the way of athletes who need support. Through its Special Operations Additional Resource (SOAR) Program, OHF proudly helps Special Operations athletes access this unique opportunity—covering expenses like flights, lodging, selection camp costs, and recovery tools—so they can compete, connect, and heal alongside their peers.
“Adaptive sports have provided that focus and outlet that I think is therapeutic in a way where we’re all pretty competitive as type A people– the rivalry, competition, and being part of a team again was healing.” -Josh Martin.
