Our Challenger joined the military in 2009 in the Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer.  He went on his first combat deployment in 2010 to Afghanistan then went to Africa in 2012 to train foreign military on explosives.  After leaving the Marines, he decided to join the Army in 2016 as an Infantryman.  Last year he went on his first deployment with the Army to Afghanistan (but was his second time deploying there).  He is still serving in the Army, but he has been moved to a (WTU) Warrior Transition Unit.

Our Challenger was directing fire for his gunner when he felt a round hit him in what he thought was his right shoulder.  Immediately after being shot, his arm was immobile.  He continued to try to point out targets for his gunner, thinking that his injury wasn’t that bad.  But then, he couldn’t breathe.  The round had actually hit him more towards his upper-right chest area and then followed his rib cage down and exited his back.  Over the course of few days, he had to undergo multiple surgeries.  

Currently, our Challenger's right arm and hand have improved but his mobility is still very limited.  Initially, only his shoulder and bicep were mobile.  The mobility in these areas has improved slowly.  He is in constant pain, but he reports that he has gotten used to the pain.  His biggest issue is the lack of mobility in his hand.

The Challenge is to create a glove-type device that will allow our Challenger to move his right hand to perform the tasks that he used to be able to perform with his right hand.  The device must allow him to grip and release and also hold onto various items. The device should allow for pointing of at least his index finger.

Our Challenger has been in the Army since September of 2013 as a Heavy Vehicle Operator.  He completed multiple overseas tours with no injuries.  Currently, he is in a WTB as a Specialist Promotable for Life because he was halfway through the NCO academy when his injury occurred.  According to the Army, he can never go back.

He was in a serious motorcycle accident while stateside. He went to the hospital with a triple concussion, serious road rash, and two nerves severed from his spinal cord.  He has a brachial plexus injury that caused his left arm to be mostly paralyzed with the exception of my hand and shoulder.  He attends physical therapy two times a week. Now, he has roughly 35% mobility in his left arm.  This is frustrating because a majority of the activities he used to enjoy he is now unable to do. 

He also reports that it is becoming more and more difficult for him to find a job outside of office work.  He states that he is an active person and that being stuck inside in an office would be detrimental to his mental health.  This makes it difficult for him to support his family. 

The Challenge is to create a brace so that he can move his entire left arm at the shoulder.  The brace must allow him to suspend his arm in position to hold items at adjustable angles.  It must also allow him to extend his arm to be able to support heavy items.  It must also regulate the temperature on his left arm because currently, he suffers from phantom pains and weaker blood flow.