CPT Ivan Castro
 

Capt. Ivan Castro, a 7th SFG(A) Soldier, is promoted by Adm. Eric Olson, USSOCOM commander, April 10 at Fort Bragg, N.C. Castro, a former Special Forces weapons sergeant with 7th SFG(A), lost his sight during combat operations in September 2006 while serving in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Div.

Some more info on Captain Castro.
 

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?s...1&archive=true

By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, October 8, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — Running the Army Ten-Miler in 1 hour, 25 minutes is a solid, respectable time, particularly for a 40-year-old man. That’s a pace of 8:50, or just under 9-minute miles, certainly faster and longer than the average Joe can move. Not bad. Not bad at all.

For 1st Lt. Ivan Castro, running the Army Ten-Miler in 1:25 is pretty incredible.

Running it at all is a miracle.

To begin with, Castro, a former weapons sergeant in the 7th Special Forces Group with 17 years of military service, is totally blind.

He suffered multiple wounds, including the loss of his right eye, the loss of sight in his left eye, and his right index finger, in Iraq in September 2006, after a mortar hit the rooftop where he was providing fire support during a battle with insurgents.

Only 12 months ago, doctors questioned whether Castro would make it through another week, much less back into the Army, he said.

“This time last year, I was in bed in a hospital,” said Castro, who had tubes everywhere, a filter in his heart, monitors hooked up to anything that could be monitored, and a nerve block surgically installed to control pain so severe, the drugs necessary to control it would have left the soldier close to a coma.

But Castro himself had no questions.

There, in that hospital bed, he said, he set himself two goals to achieve within a year: run the Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon.

Castro traveled to the Washington, D.C., Ten-Miler from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he remains on active duty.

At Bragg, Castro trained for his two races with Maj. Phil Young, who was Castro’s team leader in the Special Forces.

Castro runs tethered to Young using two white shoelaces tied together. Young calls “audibles” as they move, warning Castro of possible hazards. But most of the guiding is done with the string, the men said.

“He was trained [in the Special Forces] to improvise, adapt and overcome,” his wife, Evelyn Galvis, said. “That’s what he’s done, and what he’s going to keep doing.”

With one race down, Castro said he is now focused on running the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 29.

Meanwhile, he also has a new goal for the Ten-Miler: To come back next year, “and make [my time] even faster.”

Good story to add to the topic; thanks for posting it CoLawman.

Admiral Olson also took time to run with CPT Castro the day of the promotion.

A buddy of mine rides a bike with Ivan.

He puts him on the back of a tandem, and makes him the pusher. He said that Ivan never quits, and asked the other day when he could drive. According to the friend, the best thing is that Ivan pedals strongly enough to carry him as well, so he can take breaks whenever he wants. :D

They did a ride/run last year, I think from Atlanta to Tampa, where Ivan met ADM Olsen.

Good man, has a lot of heart.

TR

That guy has iron will. Is he still on active duty because he's waiting for the med board to make a PDRL determination?

Capt. Ivan Castro (left), 7th Special Forces Group, runs tethered in the 112th Boston Marathon. Castro, who lost his eyesight after an IED explosion in Iraq, finished the race in 4 hours, 9 minutes. (U.S. Army photo by Gillian M. Albro, USASOC PAO)

He is an Outstanding Individual and an Inspiration to all.

True inspiration......any whiners out there still.

AMEN!
 

Good job CPT!:lifter

Stay safe.

Next MFer I hear sniveling about how hard training is, I'm punching in the neck.

DOL

LMAO!
 

I have a former "construction" foremen in the pipeline; you know why he does NOT post here?

I'LL KILL HIM! He should be contacting TS in the next couple of weeks for shooting instructions since he just graduated 68W course and his moving too AZ....:eek:

Stay safe.

So tell us what you really think of him:munchin
I think you are holding back a little.:rolleyes:

He's GTG!
 

He actually told me...he got more sleep in training than he did working for me.:D

Stay safe.

He might need a little special attention when he gets his training....:munchin

I've already issued him a WARNORD about TS!:eek:

I'll see if he makes contact!

DRIVE ON CPT!:lifter

Stay safe.

Outstanding individual!!! What an inspiration, and true testament of the SF Motto:
"Never Quit! Never Give Up!"

Holly & Sis

Don't know where you came up with that, but the SF motto is "De Oppresso Liber"

If any one needs to know the Official Mottos of Army Units Go Here.

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/TI...MYMOTTOES2.htm

This is from the DOD Army "THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDRY"

You and also go to :
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/

and here you can get the official info for any Army unit.

Back to the thread;)

Congrats out to Cpt Castro and all those who train with him!!

Awe inspiring work/life from a true QP........

DSC Fort Bragg - Brendan and Cpt Castro:

Via AP today
 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373592,00.html

"Castro's unit commander said his is no charity assignment. Rather it draws on his experience as a Special Forces team member and platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division.

"The only reason that anyone serves with 7th Special Forces Group is if they have real talents," said Col. Sean Mulholland. "We don't treat (Castro) as a public affairs or a recruiting tool.""

""I will fight for Ivan as long as Ivan wants to be in the Army," Mulholland said."

A true inspiration to all...amazing Man.

Ten -hut!
 

We sleep safe at night because men like Capt. Castro are protecting us.

Por Kevin Maurer / Prensa Asociada
http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/not...el_alma/425763

Fort Bragg, Carolina del Norte -

Cuando el capitán boricua Iván Castro ingresó al Ejército de Estados Unidos, estableció sus metas: saltar de aviones, derrumbar obstáculos y guiar a los soldados en combate. Las alcanzó todas. Entonces, un disparo de mortero cayó a cinco pies de donde estaba parado y le robó la vista en el acto.

“Cuando eres ciego, tienes que ponerte nuevas metas”, dice Castro.

"Cuando eres ciego, tienes que ponerte nuevas metas. En las Fuerzas Especiales uno debe ir por encima y más allá aún de lo que se le ordena... quiero ser tratado de la misma manera que los otros oficiales. Nunca he deseado que sientan lástima de mí y menos aun que se me dé algo que no me merezca”.

Y las puso más altas. No conforme con simplemente permanecer en el Ejército, él es el único oficial invidente activo en las Fuerzas Especiales, el pequeño y célebre grupo elite, famoso por sus incursiones detrás de las líneas enemigas en misiones de combate.

Como oficial ejecutivo en el centro de mando del 7mo. Grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales, las responsabilidades de Castro no lo colocan directamente en la línea de combate, sin embargo, lo llevan a tomar parte en prácticamente todo lo que desemboca en ello.

“Voy a llevar esto hasta el límite”, dice este puertorriqueño de 40 años. “Yo no deseo ir a Fort Bragg y simplemente sentarme en una oficina. Quiero trabajar todos los días y estar en una misión”.

Desde el inicio de la guerra en Irak, más de 100 soldados han perdido totalmente la vista en combate y otros 247 sólo de un ojo. Sólo otros dos oficiales invidentes están en el servicio activo: un capitán que estudia para ser instructor en West Point y un instructor en el Combined Arms Center, en Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

El comandante de la unidad de Castro asevera que él no tiene una asignación por caridad, sino porque pone al servicio de la institución todas sus virtudes como miembro de las Fuerzas Especiales y como líder de pelotón con la 82da. División Aérea.

“La única razón por la que alguien sirve en el 7mo. grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales es porque realmente tiene talento”, dijo el coronel Sean Mullholland. “No utilizamos a Castro para hacer relaciones públicas o como recurso para el reclutamiento”.

La oscuridad eterna-

Veterano con experiencia de 18 años en el Ejército, Castro fue vigilante antes de completar su entrenamiento para ingresar a las Fuerzas Especiales, un aciago año que muchos soldados son incapaces de terminar.
Él se unió a las Fuerzas Especiales como sargento de armas, obtuvo una comisión oficial y fue trasladado a la 82da. División Aérea, con la esperanza de regresar como líder de grupo.

Entonces, en septiembre de 2006, su vida cambió en un tejado de Youssifiyah, Irak.

Castro había relevado a otros colegas en los altos de una casa después de una noche de combate. Nunca escuchó el estampido del mortero. Simplemente un destello y luego la oscuridad total... y eterna.
La metralla penetró por diversas partes de su cuerpo, fracturándole un brazo y el hombro. También le desgarró la parte derecha del rostro. Otros dos paracaidistas murieron.

Cuando Castro despertó seis semanas después en el Centro Médico Naval Nacional, en Bethesda, Maryland, su ojo derecho había desaparecido. Los médicos no pudieron salvar el izquierdo.

La Asociación de Veteranos Invidentes estima que 13% de todos los procedimientos de emergencia por combate en Irak han estado relacionados con heridas en los ojos y que más de la mitad de los soldados con heridas por traumas cerebrales sufren de serias deficiencias visuales. Esto las coloca como la tercera herida de guerra más común en Irak, después del Síndrome de Estrés Postraumático y las heridas cerebrales.

“Lo que él está haciendo es un gran ejemplo de que un invidente puede tener una carrera excitante y con significado”, dijo Thomas Zampieri, director de las relaciones gubernamentales de la asociación.

Después de 17 meses de recuperación, Castro buscó una asignación permanente en los servicios del Comando Especial de Operaciones, vinculado al 7mo. Grupo de las Fuerzas Especiales. Él se enfoca en tareas administrativas mientras depura el dominio del español entre los miembros, idioma de suma importancia para una unidad que regularmente es destinada a entrenar tropas sudamericanas.

“Quiero apoyar a estos chicos para hacerles la vida un poco más fácil y segura, con la idea de que puedan cumplir sus misiones”, apunta Castro.

“Obviamente él no puede hacer las mismas tareas que una persona con visión, pero Iván encontrará la manera de hacer lo que se tiene que hacer”, dijo Mullholland. “Una de las cosas que más me impresiona de él es su determinación para continuar sirviendo a su país, a pesar de todo lo que ha pasado”.

Hombre de acero-

Castro entrena regularmente en el gimnasio y corre con sus piernas musculosas y poderosas. Aunque tiene una prótesis en la cavidad ocular derecha y lleva a flor de piel la huella de la metralla en sus brazos, su desbordante personalidad eclipsa sus heridas de guerra. Nadie escapa a sus explosivos saludos, sus bromas agudas -siempre respetuosas- y su ilimitada voluntad de vivir.

Castro corrió este año en el maratón de Boston -al lado de Eric Olson, comandante del Comando Especial de Operaciones- y el año pasado estuvo en el maratón de la Marina. Él desea competir próximamente en el triatlón Ironman en Hawai y graduarse del curso avanzado de oficiales del Ejército, que adiestra a los capitanes en el arte de conducir tropas y planificar operaciones.

Mullholland dice que Castro -quien recibió la condecoración del Corazón Púrpura como otros soldados heridos en combate- siempre será parte de la familia de las Fuerzas Especiales. “Lucharé por Iván mientras él desee permanecer en el ejército”, aseveró.

Casado y padre de un joven de 14 años, Castro sigue necesitando ayuda para llegar al gimnasio y también una escolta para llegar a la formación. Una vez ahí, toma el mando y estimula a los soldados a ir siempre a dos niveles por encima de lo que se les pide. “En las Fuerzas Especiales -dice- uno debe ir por encima y más allá aun de lo que se le ordena”. Esta idea es también su credo de vida.

“Quiero ser tratado de la misma manera que los otros oficiales”, afirma. “Nunca he deseado que sientan lástima de mí y menos aún que se me dé algo que no me merezca”.

I hope it's ok that I post here as a Non-QP. I remember clearly when 2LT Castro and 2LT Williams came to our batallion, 1-325. They were exemplary role models for us and really raised the bar. I don't remember what company Cpt Castro went to, but I heard nothing but great responses through the Joe Grapevine about him and the amount of knowledge as well as his tremendous physical ability. I got out about 2 months before our BN left on this deployment. I had not heard about his incident, only the deaths from mortar fire that D co had taken. What an amazing soldier.

When I left Williams was a 1LT and the BN Scout platoon PL, is he back in group now or still in division?

I'm a former member of 7th Special Forces Group, where I served for over 6 years during my 20+ year career in the US Army Special Forces. CPT Castro is an inspiration, and he should be commended for his tough and determined recovery and his desire to stay in the military. Now I'm probably gonna get heat over this, but I'm gonna say it anyway...he should be medically retired. He's incapable of conducting military operations, because he's not medically qualified for service. I appreciate his sacrifice, I really do. But this is really about letting him stay on active duty until he gets his 20, since he's presently at 17. They did the same thing for Dana Bowman some years ago, when Dana was severly injured in a demonstration jump while he was assigned to the Golden Knights. We've had soldiers horribly wounded in every war, and without exception those who were blinded were medically discharged...until now. The US Army has a mission, and the mission comes first.

MFFJM:

I disagree with you, but we all have our opinions.

You might want to review your registration message and the board rules and comply before posting again. You seem to have missed a step.

TR

I disagree with your assessment of Cpt Castro as being un-fit for duty.

ALthough the world thinks that military service is a continuous routine of dodging bullets. The fact is few do the shooting and the many do the support.

Cpt Castro, with assistance, could be a contributing asset to the Army, for his total career. He may not lead a fighting unit but there is no reason he can't serve with honor in any of the thousands of support units.

I don't think he SEE's an alternative, other than serving with Honor.

And that I admire greating...


My $00.00002

First, it's not my assessment, it is US Army regulation AR 40-501 Standards of Fitness, which states in part, "(3) Current or history of degenerative changes of any part of the retina is disqualifying." And "(2) Absence of an eye, clinical anophthalmos, unspecified congenital or acquired, or current or history of other disorders of globe is disqualifying." And finally, "a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the following is disqualifying:
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye."

The Standards of Fitness for the Active Army and the PULHES requirement for selection to SF duty positions states that CPT Castro is physically unqualified.

I didn't write the regulations, but I do agree with them. CPT Castro is physically unfit for duty and should be medically retired so that he can begin his new life and new career. This is what has happened to every soldier who has returned from combat having lost their sight, until now. I'm sure all the soldiers blinded in Vietnam, Korea, WWII, an WWI would have liked to have been allowed to stay on active duty until they could retire, but the regs said they couldn't.

You are more than welcome to your Opinion........
BUT you have been told once by TR and not this is your second warning

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE E-MAIL YOU RECEIVED AND POST YOUR INTRO IN THE RIGHT PLACE. NO MORE POSTING UNTIL THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

Your e-mail had simple instructions so Please follow them.

Perhaps the Army should consider re-writing the regulation to allow for guys like CPT Castro to continue to serve in an administrative role, rather than rely on the wink-wink, nudge-nudge "interpretation" currently in place. It wasn't all that long ago (less than 10 years) a guy in Castro's situation wouldn't be able stay in, regardless of his desire to continue to serve.

So in other words you are saying Admiral Olsen, (who approved Ivans assignment) and Col Mulhalland are incorrect in their decision to assign Ivan to his C-Team? I have a feeling they know the regs just as well as anyone else. I guess they could be wrong, but I also bet you haven't met Ivan.

I have served with Ivan personally both in and out of the box. I disagree with your assessment, but respect your opinion. Nothing personal brother, but if the example Ivan demonstrates everyday brings the reality home to either a BTDT OR 18X, then I would have to say the Commanders got this one right.

Regulations don't win wars, soldiers do.

Their decision isn't "incorrect" (I personally believe they're doing the "right" thing here), its just not in accordance with current regulations, hence my desire to see the regs re-written. Like I said, this option wasn't even a remote consideration a decade ago, before Army manpower started to suffer from the effects of OEF and OIF.

I served with Ivan Castro while at 3rd Bn and he is an outstanding performer. We were looking forward for him to get back to us from the 82d Airborne Division when he went over as an OCS graduate. You can also find Ivan in the book "Imperial Grunts", when he was an SF NCO. However, according to him, he was a bit misquoted on the book. But, it is an interesting read anyway.

I don't know CPT Castro, but that has nothing to do with my opinion or the regulation that stipulates he isn't "fit for duty." I don't think COL Mulholland and ADM Olsen are wrong. I know they're wrong, and I've presented the regulation that proves it. The case of CPT Castro is about letting him get to his 20 years (only three years away) so he can retire as a Captain and then get full VA disability (which is now permitted without any offset for holders of the Purple Heart). The amount he would receive from this longevity retirement and VA disability would be more than he would receive if he were to be medically retired.

This is also a PR campaign, to show the Army doesn't just throw away our wounded and heroic veterans; especially after the revelations at Walter Reed. If the regulations were to be re-written to allow disabled veterans to remain on active duty at least then ADM Olsen and COL Mulholland would not be violating the regs, but the decision would still be wrong. It's wrong for CPT Castro and for the Army.

CPT Castro must begin his new life without sight. He needs to learn Braille so he can continue to be a valuable part of our society. He may wish to go to law school, or obtain higher education and teach, or he may simply wish to write about his experiences, all of which are valid uses of his intellignce and abilities. He can only do these things once he has received instruction is Braille and living without sight. He cannnot do that while he's on active duty unless they violate further regs by allowing him to be paid without actually filling a duty position.

He has no place in the Active Duty military and certainly not in Special Forces. As a former Battalion and Group Adjutant and a Commander in Special Forces, I'm pretty familiar with the MTO&E. What position will CPT Castro fill..? What duties will he be expected to accomplish..? He isn't qualified to fire a weapon, drive a vehicle, or even complete the APFT. The regs on the APFT require the 2-mile run be conducted without assistance, including not allowing someone to pace you.

If it's fair for CPT Castro, why isn't it fair for every wounded veteran..? If the Army is going to allow CPT Castro to reach active duty retirement, can we bring back all the blinded and disabled veterans from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam and let them reach their 20-year retirement..? We have medical retirement for cases just like CPT Castro. If you want to help disabled veterans including CPT Castro, get Congress to increase the VA disability or increase the medical retirement pay.

Sir, that is an excellently written break-down of your points; all are valid and technically correct. But, this is where I depart from it:

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I want to state that "yes" I have a bias here. CPT Castro was a member of B/3/7 (as an NCO) and someone I know from having served with him in that unit. Also, while I was a part of that fine unit I fought with them and I personally saw several men die in combat - right before my eyes. B/3/7 is a unit that in 2006 returned from Afghanistan with 22 Purple Hearts, 2 Silver Stars, and well over 55 Bronze Stars; and we were only 74 men. We also lost a total of seven men (including attached and support personnel). So, yes I have a bias.

But, this is how I feel:


The US Congress just authorized a "bail out" valued well over $700 Billion and this will be transferred over to the very people that put our economic future in trouble through lack of leadership, mismanagement and greed. The very politicians that are responsible for this "bail out" are also responsible for the cause of it. But, they will look like they saved the day.

Anyway, I figure that if the Country can afford that, then it can afford to keep CPT Castro on for three more years. Heck, I agree with you on one point, let's do it for all other military members in that position that have - say - five years or less to go on their retirement.

And, there is the intangible effect that the treatment of CPT Castro has on other SF brothers. Imagine the confidence it creates when the phrase "no man left behind" is applied in this way as well? Who would not feel a little bit more secure in his sacrifices knowing that the unit will not just put you away when you are not useful due to your sacrifice? These things are not the sole motivators for service, but they contribute. I am glad this was done. It has made me feel better about things. I feel that SF is really a family after all; it was not just a catch phrase used at a commander's change-of-command.

That being the effect - I couldn't care less what the regulation states (and it seems that the 7th SF GRP CDR and the SOCOM CDR are in agreement with me). I'm glad these senior leaders have the intestinal fortitude to take this risk for the sake of an SF brother. If an SF Soldier is willing to risk his very life to accomplish a mission, the least we leaders can do is risk our careers for the sake of these Soldiers' lives.

If the 21st century changes had been installed for returning VN vets, you would see a different attitude for soldiers in general. In that you are correct IMHO.

I find your spelling of the word 'intelligence' in your post #33 profound and ironic, to say the least.

It's more commonplace now for active duty soldiers to remain active even after injuries, of course on a case by case basis.

Stop living in the past and give soldiers their due.

Your posts sound more like a grudge against certain SF officers or a certain Major Castro than a grudge against the way the regs are written.

2cents.

I remember having a SGM that had a false leg. He jumped, worked out and still was a asset to the force. There are waivers to all regulations and since you were a paper pushing Adjutant you should have known it. If his GP commander and everyone up the Chain of Command to the CINC at SOCOM supports this than who are you to question it. The military has always helped or what we used to call Padded people to help them make retirement. This has not always worked out but he has the support so let him be. He is contributing and that is THAT.

Is Firewolf here on the site still on active duty?

:(CPT Castro exemplifies what our "QP"signifies.....I take offense to MFFJM2 stubbornly adhering to his position like "a dog chewing on an old bone". Sir, with all due respect, can you really believe this hard nose attitude of yours is Special Forces? :( :( :(

GB TFS

Guys,

Blind on AD? IMO there's a BIG difference between losing a limb and being able to function--e.g., deployable--vs being blind. Why not a DAC assigned to SWC/EAG staff to utilize his expertise w/o the "fully deployable" aspect of the slot hanging over anyone's head? I'm struggling with the concept of this one.

Richard's $.02 :munchin

In every walk of life, everything that's ever been done, there has always been a first.

I can think of no better example to show the world a blind Green Beret is just as important as the next Green Beret.

As was stated before, for every shooter, there are 10 support soldiers. This man is now a support soldier. He is not deployable, just as many soldiers with P3 profiles are non-deployable.

The book is being re-written from Maj Castro's example and a fine book it will be.