With increasing numbers of Canadian soldiers being left permanently disabled by service in Afghanistan, the military is looking to the Paralympics to help in their rehabilitation.
"What we want the opportunity to do is introduce them to people who have simply had these kinds of injuries and illnesses and then excelled," said Gen. Rick Hillier, the military's chief of staff, in Ottawa on Saturday.
"We can show them anything's possible and just because they are by society's terms disabled, that doesn't mean they can't do or try anything," said Paul Rosen of Canada's world championship sledge hockey team.
Master Cpl. Jody Mitic is willing to give it a go. The sniper lost both legs below the knee after stepping on a landmine in Afghanistan five months ago.
"I'm still actually -- I don't want to say pissed off -- but I'm just ... trying to deal with it has been a challenge for sure," he said.
Mike Barnewall lost one leg in Afghanistan. The message of the Soldier On program -- operated in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee -- resonates with him.
"It's gonna be alright. You'll be back doing what you did before and it's not bullshit because these guys have been through it," he said.
Former soldier Steve Daniel saw the program as a good fit for former soldiers.
"Sports is a way of inclusion back into society, to be able to foster the same values we had in the military -- perseverance, teamwork, that sort of thing," he said.
The Paralympics got their start at the end of the Second World War as a way to help disabled soldiers stay fit and active.
Universality of service
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said the Canadian Forces are also looking for ways to keep permanently disabled soldiers in uniform.
In cases where that's not possible, the Defence Department will offer them retraining and a chance at public service jobs, he said.
To do so, however, requires a change to the "universality of service" rule, which requires military personnel to be fit and ready for deployment.
Changes to that rule rests with Hillier, who ruled out making changes to the policy. He did agree that many of the severely injured are the types he wants to keep in the forces.
"They appear to be the top quality camper that you'd like to be associated with," he said.
"And I don't think we'll have to change the universality of service. I think we have methods to look after them if they want to stay a part of the Canadian Forces."
While 55 soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, nearly 300 have been wounded, with most of those being able to return to their units.
Hillier estimates there are a maximum of 12 soldiers so far who can be classed as permanently disabled.
With a report from CTV's Roger Smith and files from The Canadian Press
