It’s not the disability…It’s the ability! Published Sept. 29, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Annie Williams 21st Space Wing Equal Opportunity PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo -- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge employees who have triumphed regardless of the obstacles in life and who continue to give back to their community. One such individual is retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Dana Bowman, who will be speaking at the base auditorium Oct. 16 at 12:30 p.m. In February 1994, while performing a routine training exercise over Yuma, Ariz., as a member of the Army's elite Golden Knights parachute team, Sergeant Bowman's life changed drastically. While performing a maneuver known as the Diamond Track, where the team forms a human diamond in midair, Sergeant Bowman and a teammate collided at a combined speed of 300 mph. Sergeant Bowman's left leg was severed below the knee and his right leg above the knee. His life was spared due to his parachute opening upon collision, but his teammate died instantly. During his rehabilitation, Sergeant Bowman was walking again within three days and managed to wear out four pairs of prostheses in six weeks. He insisted on helping doctors design special prosthetics that allowed him to water ski, snow ski, scuba dive, bicycle, and lead a full, active life. He went to the hospital's brace and limb shop at night and built his own sockets, which join the remaining leg to the prosthesis. "I didn't have all my life to wait for equipment," he said. Five months later, he was skydiving as a part of The Golden Nights Wedding Ceremony. Nine months later, Sergeant Bowman was the first amputee to re-enlist in the Army. Subsequently, he became the U.S. parachute team's lead speaker and recruiting commander. During his 20 years in the Army, Sergeant Bowman received the Bronze Star for valor, Veteran of the Year Award, and a bachelor's of science degree in Commercial Aviation. Toward the end of his military career, he made his last jump as a Golden Knight in the opening ceremony of the Paralytic Games in Atlanta in 1996. Presently, he is the only double amputee commercial helicopter instructor pilot - and hot air balloon pilot - in the world. Additionally, Sergeant Bowman visits military hospitals every month to provide support to Soldiers who have been injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. "I get the opportunity to show the young Soldiers what they can do with their lives after a tragedy, it is all about attitude. I tell the Soldiers my story, listen to theirs and give them hope," he said. Sergeant Bowman is a certified peer visitor for the Amputee Coalition of America and visits bases and organizations to offer leadership classes and team building techniques. At some point in our lives, we will face adversity. Sergeant Bowman, who has persistently, gracefully, and triumphantly overcome adversity after losing his legs, shows that each individual has the ability to overcome their own challenges as well, through discipline and a deep belief in their own power to succeed. Sergeant Bowman shows us how to focus on what we can accomplish, and encourages the physically challenged and able-bodied to achieve their goals - no matter how large or small. As Sergeant Bowman's story illustrates, our abilities are endless.