American300 Tour inspires Minot Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashley Avecilla
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A constant threat to deployed service members is enemy attack. While deployed, at any given moment, injury or death may occur. Before the current Iraq and Afghanistan wars, amputees had no choice but to retire from the military.

Now, with the constant improvement of prosthetic limbs, military members and civilians can stay just as active as when all their limbs were intact.

The American300 organization is currently on its Never Quit Tour, which made a stop here Dec. 13 - 14.

American300 travels to military installations around the world to remind service members that they can make it through life's challenges.

Rob Powers, founder of American300 and Army Veteran, Mike Schultz, a MotoX and SnoX athlete, and Chad Crittenden, a Season 9 Survivor competitor and athlete, toured the base to encourage resiliency in Airmen's lives.

Schultz and Crittenden were unfortunate enough to have a leg amputated, but with their optimism and resiliency, they have maintained their outstanding athletic abilities.

"One of the things I have learned is just living for now and in the moment," said Crittenden. "Also, not getting too caught up in things you have no control over."

The Never Quit Tour has given Schultz and Crittenden the ability to motivate service members, especially those who have been injured, to keep going and strive to reach their goals.

"I know what it feels like to lose a limb and think that it's all over," said Schultz. "After getting back to what I love doing and how it happy it makes me feel, that's just driving me harder."