Military

Paralympic Guide Runner Jerome Avery’s Personal Connection to DoD Warrior Games Drives Him as Coach for SOCOM

Jerome Avery, a U.S. Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program track coach, guides a vision-impaired athlete during a Warrior Games selection camp at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Every time U.S. Paralympic guide runner Jerome Avery hears the national anthem, he thinks of his late father, who served in the Navy ^[1] and whom he shares a name with.

So as the anthem played to open the 2025 DoD Warrior Games track meet Wednesday, the 46-year-old once again became emotional as he looked at the American flag inside Garry Berry Stadium.

For the sixth year, Avery served as the track coach for the U.S. Special Operations Command's Warrior Care Program during the Warrior Games, and finds purpose in coaching from his father's service.

"I honestly feel my purpose is to be here at this moment," Avery said. "I love it. My father served in the military, so this was a way of me doing something bigger than myself and being part of something bigger than myself. Every time I'm surrounded by SOCOM he's here with me."

Avery has been a guide runner for the U.S. Paralympic track and field team since 2004. An Olympic hopeful at one point himself, Avery placed in the top 20 at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and in the top 15 at the 2004 trials before finding a new path in guide running.

"One door closed and another opened for me," Avery said. "Working with Paralympic athletes opened up another door to working with SOCOM. I got involved through a friend of mine and the rest is history."

As a guide runner, Avery is bound to an athlete by a tether as they sprint in lanes side-by-side, communicating by touch and sound. Avery has helped three athletes to Paralympic medals, two of them gold and one silver in long jump with Lex Gillette who he still trains with today.

Avery might still be an active guide runner, but at the DoD Warrior Games, he was in full-on coach-mode.

"He is an excellent coach," Adam Foutz, a medically retired Marine Corp veteran, said of Avery. "He is methodical, communicative, and looks after us."

One of the highlights of the day for SOCOM was a win in the 4x100 meter combined relay despite an injury during the second leg. Avery's strategy for the team helped propel SOCOM to an exciting gold medal finish.

"It showed the power of teamwork and understanding that if one wins we all win," Avery said. "They see me as an elite athlete and are inspired by me being out there, but I'm inspired by being a part of SOCOM. Coaching them and just seeing their motivation is amazing."

Foutz, who was a part of the gold medal winning 4x100 relay, was inspired by Avery to become a guide runner himself and trained with Avery to achieve that goal. Foutz guided for the first time Wednesday with Army ^[2] athlete Henry Escobed. And the pair captured gold in the 100 meters.

"I'm at a point now where my time (in the DoD Warrior Games) is coming to a close and I want to give back to the community in any way I can," Foutz said. "(Avery) inspired me to give back in new ways. Never would have thought to be a guide runner, but through the (DoD Warrior Games) and being under him, I saw the possibilities and that opened up my mind."

Avery's first DoD Warrior Games was in 2018, the last time it was in Colorado Springs. That made this year's edition special for the California native. He even visited the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum for the first time where he signed pictures on the walls of him with Paralympic medalists.

At each DoD Warrior Games, it's never about the medals for Avery, although he loves to see the SOCOM athletes succeed. Besides his connection to his father, it's the athletes that will keep him coming back to coach for as long as he can.

"I love the group I work with," Avery said. "Constantly seeing the improvements in the short amount of time I get to work with the team, it's been phenomenal. I love what I do, I love to be a part of this. I hope to continue to push these athletes the best that I can. Wherever the Games are, I will be there with SOCOM."

Visit www.gazette.com ^[3].

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Fired Space Force Officer Approved to Be Air Force's No. 2 Civilian Leader

Donald Trump listens as Matthew Lohmeier asks a question

A former Space Force ^[1] officer who was booted from the service after making unfounded allegations that Marxism was spreading throughout the military has been confirmed by the Senate to be the Air Force ^[2]'s No. 2 civilian.

In a 52-46 party-line vote Thursday, the Senate approved former Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier to become the under secretary of the Air Force.

Under secretaries are typically seen as the day-to-day managers of the military services, essentially serving as the chief management officer while the secretary serves as chief executive officer. But for the Air Force, as well as ^[3] the Navy ^[4], President Donald Trump nominated an under secretary known more for his culture warrior status than managerial experience.

Lohmeier met Trump during the presidential campaign ^[6] last year, asking at a town hall whether he would support creating a task force to root out "monsters" who support diversity and inclusion policies. Trump backed the idea and told Lohmeier that "I'm going to put you on that task force."

Lohmeier first entered the public consciousness in 2021 after he self-published a book called "Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest and the Unmaking of the American Military" and appeared on a conservative podcast to promote the book. On the podcast, Lohmeier claimed that diversity and inclusion initiatives are "rooted in Marxism," a popular conservative accusation.

After the podcast, Lohmeier was fired from command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Space Force Base ^[7] in Colorado by then-Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting. Notably, Whiting is now the four-star in charge of U.S. Space Command.

At Lohmeier's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in May, Democrats grilled him about his firing ^[8], as well as social media posts promising "serious consequences" for unnamed senior leaders who he said politicized the military and falsely claiming the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters was a "a gov't-led false flag and hoax."

Lohmeier said at the hearing that he would seek accountability from service members and leaders, but that his post about consequences "was not intended to be retroactive or retributional in nature." He also maintained that Democrats mischaracterized his post about Jan. 6, but wouldn't directly answer whether he believes the attack was a hoax and claimed that "there's so much uncertainty about what was really going on."

Democrats argued Lohmeier's track record, including about Jan. 6, should be disqualifying.

"I would ask all my colleagues who were there that day, and who were in danger, if it was a hoax and a false flag operation," Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on the Senate floor Wednesday. "If you think it was, and is, an attack on our Constitution -- and on ourselves -- this is not the gentleman to be the deputy secretary of the United States Air Force."

But the Democratic opposition was not enough to derail Lohmeier's confirmation in a chamber controlled by Republicans. Every Republican who voted Thursday backed him.

At the May hearing, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised Lohmeier as "an outspoken proponent of eliminating the divisive" diversity efforts in the military and said his nomination "represents an opportunity to evaluate closely the kind of leadership we need in the Air Force and Space Force at this pivotal moment."

Lohmeier's approval comes as senators work to make progress on confirming Trump's nominees ahead of a monthlong summer break.

Just before senators started voting on Lohmeier on Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Trump's choice to be the next chief of naval operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle.

While the circumstances of Caudle's nomination as the replacement for Adm. Lisa Franchetti, whom Trump fired without explanation, were controversial, Caudle breezed through his hearing, suggesting he will be easily confirmed on a bipartisan basis.

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Air Force Serviceman Finds Transformation in Wounded Warrior Program, Warrior Games as Part of PTSD Recovery

Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Ostberg participates in the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games field competition.

As Dianne Rahe watched her son, Master Sgt. Jason Ostberg, compete in the Warrior Games on Tuesday, she saw a completely different man.

Ostberg, who has served in the Air Force ^[1] since 2003, has dealt with PTSD throughout his service, creating a version of him that truly wasn't himself. But the man Rahe saw in the indoor rowing competition and in other Warrior Games events is a version she hadn't seen in years.

"He has come a long way," Rahe said as tears swelled in her eyes. "Just him in the short time he's been involved, he's been more calm, more happy. It's hard to explain but I see the amazing way he has changed being with these people, because these are his people."

Ostberg, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, has been part of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) since December. Multiple deployment ^[2]s overseas combined with the physical impact and psychological damage involved with his work led him to seek help with the AFW2, although he was hesitant at first.

"Most of us are too tough to get help when we need it," said Ostberg, one of five brothers in the military. "We don't want to leave our friends on the battlefield by themselves so we keep doing the mission without thinking of ourselves."

Ostberg joined the AFW2 program with his wife, Pam, and two young kids in the forefront of his mind.

"I was able to get some help for myself, but mostly for my family because they deserve it," Ostberg said.

The AFW2 program provides personalized care, services and advocacy to seriously wounded, ill and injured airmen. Adaptive sports, including the Warrior Games, are just one element of the program.

Ostberg was one of 40 selected to represent the Air Force after trials in March. He is competing in field, indoor rowing, precision air, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

The AFW2 program has changed Ostberg's life for the better in just a short seven months, including helping him rediscover his love of swimming. Ostberg was a competitive swimmer in high school, but he stopped after joining the Air Force at 20.

"The first time I got in a pool again, it changed my whole perspective," Ostberg said. "I didn't feel that before. I didn't know that's what I needed to get back into it. Now I look forward to it. It's awesome."

Ostberg will compete in the Warrior Games swimming competition Saturday, which also will be his 42nd birthday.

The program also has helped Ostberg by providing a community of people he can relate to and confide in.

"It's a drastic change to go from stopping working out, going outside, hanging out with friends, not doing anything for myself to now having 40 family members plus the staff ... I can't put into words how much I'm thankful for all of that," Ostberg said.

The camaraderie with the other Air Force athletes was apparent during the indoor rowing competition, which included four-minute, one-minute and relay competitions. After each event Ostberg went around high-fiving his teammates in blue, as well as those from the other teams.

"Everyone is his people, but being here, he is one of them so they can talk and hang out and feel like family," Rahe said. "It's amazing to watch him compete with all his friends. I wish he got involved with it a long time ago. He's loving it."

Going into the Warrior Games, Ostberg didn't have the expectation of winning a gold medal. However, he retained his competitive nature so it was no surprise when he won gold in his class for the one-minute rowing competition Tuesday.

It was his third medal of the Warrior Games after taking gold in precision air and a bronze in wheelchair basketball. With three more events, there's a good chance the medal won't be his last.

But as he received his gold medal at the indoor rowing medal ceremony, he wasn't thinking about the gold; he was thinking about the people who got him there.

"Taking that first step is the hardest part, but once you're in the door you're vulnerable to all these people and you realize they're going through the same thing," Ostberg said. "You can't put a price on it. I can't put into words what it has meant, the amount of support even from those that don't know you.

"You don't have to win a gold medal, we are just out here competing and supporting one another."

Visit www.gazette.com ^[3].

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.^[4]

Pentagon Tightens Rules on Getting Medical Waivers to Join the Military

Secretary of Defense Hegseth attends a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Associated Press | By David Klepper

Published July 22, 2025 at 5:03pm ET

WASHINGTON — People with congestive heart failure, undergoing treatment for schizophrenia or who have a history of paraphilic disorders will no longer be eligible for a medical waiver to serve in the military, according to new rules issued by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

The guidance signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ^[1] updates a list of conditions that disqualify potential recruits from serving in the armed forces. The decision comes after the Pentagon announced earlier this year that it would ban transgender troops ^[2] and review other medical conditions that are currently eligible for a waiver.

"America’s warfighters must be physically and mentally capable of performing their duties in the harshest of conditions," Hegseth wrote in the memo announcing the changes. “Severe underlying medical conditions introduce significant risks on the battlefield and threaten not only mission priorities, but also the health and safety of the affected individual and their fellow service members.”

Waivers have long been used to enlist young people who might otherwise be unqualified for military service due to a wide array of medical, conduct or other reasons.

Most waivers are issued for medical conditions ranging from asthma, eyesight problems or skin disorders to more complex health conditions, such as past psychological illness or previous sports injuries that may have healed but still must be evaluated.

Prior to the new rules, heart failure, current treatment for schizophrenia and a history of paraphilic disorders — defined as a persistent sexual interest in atypical objects or activities — were among a long list of physical and mental health conditions in which waivers were allowed.

Multiple sclerosis, a history of cystic fibrosis, past organ transplants or a suicide attempt within the past 12 months also will be considered disqualifying conditions that make a person illegible for service.

The new rules list several conditions in which a waiver may only be granted by the secretary of a military branch. Those conditions include a missing eye, hand or foot, past corneal transplants, liver failure, kidney disease, past psychotic disorders or the presence of an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator.

The detailed rules ^[3] governing which medical conditions quality for a waiver have come under greater scrutiny amid the Trump administration's ban on transgender troops.

New rules required active duty troops as well as National Guard and Reserve troops to identify themselves as transgender and voluntarily leave the service ^[4] or face involuntary separations.

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