For Rachel Francis, the Wounded Warrior program offered avenues to personal excellence and hope she never expected.
Francis, the program’s marketing coordinator since October, was selected for the position because of her background and great attitude. This impressed staff members at the adaptive sports and rehabilitation camp she attended here in 2015.
Her first bout with multiple sclerosis in November 2013 began the events that landed her in the camp and would change her life’s path.
Francis was officially diagnosed with MS shortly after receiving her commission in January 2014. She was medically retired as a first lieutenant in 2015, while assigned to the 61st Force Support Squadron at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Los Angeles.
“My dream was to stay on active duty, but it wasn’t meant to be,” said the former personnel officer.
Shortly after, Francis reluctantly attended the adaptive sports and rehabilitation here to take a break from the life-changing processes she was going through since her diagnosis.
The Huntington Beach, Calif. native had no plans to stay past the adaptive sports camp. She was inwardly battling the bitterness brought on by her condition, which conflicted with her normally sunny disposition and ‘never quit’ attitude towards life.
“I wasn’t combat-injured and I didn’t know much about the Wounded Warrior program,” Francis said. “I didn’t feel I deserved to participate in the camp, or that the Air Force owed me anything. They didn’t give me MS, it just happened.”
Francis said seeing some of the wheelchair-confined participants brought home the realization that she could be in their position in her uncertain future.
“That pretty much confirmed my worst nightmare,” said the 30-year-old. “I told myself I would give this camp 24 hours, and then I was gone.”
When her self-imposed time limit passed, Francis’ inner turmoil gave way to a surprising resolution.
“I suddenly wanted to challenge myself to be better, have a better attitude and try everything,” Francis said. “If this wasn’t necessarily for me, maybe I could help the other Warriors in some capacity.”
Francis dove into the week-long camp and soon saw it as an escape from the challenges she endured after her military separation.
“I would go home exhausted, because I tried to give it everything I had,” she said. “I let my anxiety go and did the best I could.”
At the camp, she discovered her time in the 400-meter sprint trials would have gotten her fourth place at the 2014 Warrior Games. The result boosted her spirits.
“That’s when I discovered there was some potential for me to do well at the 2015 games,” she said. “That’s when my mindset about being part of the Wounded Warrior program began to change.”
By the end of the first camp, staff members were so impressed with Francis’ progress and change in attitude they encouraged her stay on for the Warrior Games training camp, and try out for an alternate spot on the 2015 Air Force Warrior Games team.
Francis’ new-found passion and enthusiasm took her one step further, to the primary team. At the games, she earned a second place individual medal in the 400-meter sprint event, placed second in the 200-meter team swim relay and posted fourth place finishes in several other events.
“It was an experience unlike any other, not just for me, but for my parents, who came out to watch,” said Francis, who listed earning bachelor and master’s degrees in classical trumpet performance as other major accomplishments.
Francis’ Warrior Games performance got her selected to participate in the Invictus Games, an international adaptive sports event, in Orlando May 8-12.
“I’m excited about all of this,” she said. “This program has inspired me and given me hope.”
Francis said she won’t compete in any more games after Invictus, but plans to stay on the Wounded Warrior program staff, as long as she’s able to.
“I feel limitless, as a Warrior athlete and now as a staff member,” she said. “I want to go over and beyond for everyone here. We have one mission – to support our Wounded Warriors on their road to recovery. The Wounded Warrior program has brought out the best in me.”
Article by Kevin Gaddie, Team Eglin Public Affairs
Photo: Rachel Francis, a Wounded Warrior marketing coordinator, is also a Warrior and Invictus Games athlete. After attending a Warrior Care rehabilitative program in 2015, she joined the team and came on board as a full-time staff member. She will compete again this year in the Warrior Games competition in June. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
