Meet Adaptive Athlete: ERIC KING

 

Major (Ret.) Eric King grew up in Marianna, Arkansas. After graduating high school in 1997, he joined the Arkansas Army National Guard in June 2000, enlisting as a Combat Engineer. He then enrolled into the ROTC at the University of Arkansas. After receiving his degree in Criminal Justice in May 2003, Eric was called to active duty. 

 

Throughout his military career, Eric was deployed four times. His first combat deployment was in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 where he encountered multiple IED attacks, ambushes, and gun battles. He had a second combat deployment to Iraq a few years later in 2007 and 2008. During these two deployments, Eric witnessed and experienced heavy fighting resulting in casualties to his troops and coalition forces. 

 

In 2013, Eric was deployed to Afghanistan where he was responsible for overseeing and leading tactical operations. Eric’s final deployment was to Liberia in 2014 and 2015, where he worked to support the fight against Ebola. After 16 years of service, a distinguished and decorated career, and after sustaining multiple injuries and conditions including TBI, PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and seizures, Major King was honorably and medically retired on June 28, 2016.

 

Now, looking towards the nine week ReDefine Program, he is hoping to accomplish three things: building the camaraderie with other Veterans, helping recondition both his body and mind - focusing on continual forward growth, and working to inspire those around him living with similar circumstances to better themselves.