NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A Middle TN Marine has helped organize an event aimed at providing a fun and therapeutic SCUBA diving experience for disabled veterans in the area.
The event is made possible by Trident Veteran Adaptive Programs, a non-profit organization dedicated to “providing Veterans with opportunities to experience adventures and supported activities in a safe environment that will enhance their lives through our motto of “Improve the ability, don’t glorify the disability,” according to the group’s website.
This free event will be held in Nashville, but is open to veterans from throughout the region, including Fort Campbell and Clarksville.
Rob Peal, a former Marine who still serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves, organized the dive with the help of his cousin Martin Hampton.
Hampton is a Metro Nashville firefighter and a Marine Corps veteran.
Peal served as a Marine for 13 years and deployed multiple times including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Many disabled veterans find the SCUBA experience therapeutic,” Peal said. “For others, it is something they did before their injury or, perhaps, something they always wanted to do, but chose not to after their injury. We try to provide something different for the veterans to try out.”
The organization began in Colorado in affiliation with the Disabled American Veterans Winter Sports clinic. It was started by police officers, fire fighters, and veterans. TVAP decided to expand its operations to allow people from places other than Colorado to participate.
“Nashville seemed like a good place to start as it is centrally located geographically, has a large veteran population, and is in close proximity to a large military base,” Peal said.
Veterans interested in participating can sign up at http://tridentvap.org/veteranregistration/.
The event will be held Feb. 3-5 at Glencliff Comp High School in Nashville. More details.