Atlantic Division dining-out celebrates resilience

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard C. Clowser, Atlantic Training Division, 75th Training Command, and Brig. Gen. John H.H. Turner III, division commander, stand with guest speaker Sgt. 1st Class Michael Schlitz (Ret.) at the Division’s dining-out at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 6, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Daniel F. McLaughlin/Released)

Atlantic Division dining-out celebrates resilience

Published Sept. 16, 2014
By Lt. Col. Daniel F. McLaughlin
Atlantic Training Division, 75th Training Command

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- More than 150 Soldiers of the Atlantic Training Division, 75th Training Command and their guests turned out in style at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., for the division's annual dining-out Sept. 6, 2014.

Hosted at Tommy B's Community Center, the night was filled with laughter, dancing and camaraderie. Those in attendance also celebrated soldier resilience by honoring the evening's guest speaker, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Schlitz (Ret).

Perhaps no other Soldier better represents the concepts of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly overwhelming odds than Schlitz, who medically retired from the Army in March 2010.

Schlitz lost both his hands, the vision in his left eye and sustained burns over 85 percent of his body when an improvised explosive device detonated during a route clearing mission in Southern Baghdad.

Schlitz spoke candidly of experiencing daily thoughts of suicide while he struggled with his recovery. Realizing that sitting at home and dwelling on his injuries would never allow him to move forward, Schlitz made the decision to assist his fellow wounded service members on their journey to recovery.

He now travels the country speaking about issues facing wounded warriors and he works with a number of non-profit organizations which help injured veterans. Schlitz attributes this new found sense of purpose in his life as a vital component in his own recovery.