Meet Adaptive Athlete: Rick Alegria

 

Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Rick Alegria was raised in Austin until his senior year when he moved to El Paso. He was from a military family - his father a Sergeant First Class in Vietnam and his grandfather served throughout World War II. Rick enlisted in the military at 17 years old. He began his service in the Army National Guard for 11 years. 

 

After September 11th, Rick was called to active duty in 2002 where he worked as a supply sergeant. He was deployed twice to Iraq in 2005 and 2009. On his first deployment, his vehicle got hit by a roadside bomb causing head and back trauma. With no breaks to let his body recover, his back pain continued to progress over the years until it became excruciating in 2012.

 

Rick retired after 22 years of service and immediately had spinal fusion surgery from the VA due to the injuries sustained during service, including the vehicle blast in 2005. After recovery, he couldn’t stay home any longer so he went back to school, double majoring in Information Systems and Finance. He began working for an IT company and still works for them today.

 

Issues with his back and knees have kept him from being active, but he is ready to change that in his time at ATF. He wants to improve areas like his core to give him a foundation for success and reignite an active lifestyle. He is also looking forward to continuing the connection with other veterans.