MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Many Marines would say their years in the Marine Corps are the
toughest but best experience of their lives – the camaraderie and brotherhood
is unparalleled.
For Michelle Mummers, a retired Marine major and wounded
warrior, this is exactly the case.
“It [her Marine Corps experience] was challenging, a lot of
ups and downs, rollercoaster ride, but overall it was the best decision I ever
made and I wouldn’t change a minute of it,” said Mummers.
While in the Corps, Mummers served as a squadron supply
officer at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, a supply
officer for Weapons Training Battalion and developed curriculum at the Marine
Corps Scout Sniper School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Mummers retired while attached to the Wounded Warrior
Regiment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
in November, 2012.
After leaving the Corps, Mummers fell into despair, waging a
personal war with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction.
“I think many Marines will say I searched for it [recovery]
at the bottom of a wine bottle, getting a lot of sleeping pills to just try and
numb things,” said Mummers. “That first year after I retired got kind of dark
and lonely, I didn’t really know who I was or what I wanted to do.”
Friends from the regiment recommended that she compete in
the Warrior Games to help her in the recovery process.
“It was probably around Christmas 2013, I was at the lowest
point and I finally decided to try it,” said Mummers. “I went to trials in 2014
and it was absolutely the best experience I have ever had.”
Mummers says she loves being back with Marines, a craving
she missed when she left the Corps. The Warrior Games fills that gap for her.
“It was the camaraderie and just being back with Marines,”
said Mummers. “It’s amazing how even after being out for a while, you get back
into an environment with Marines and it’s like being home with 200 brothers and
sisters.”
Competition keeps Mummers in the fight.
She found her path to recovery through swimming and cycling,
committing about two to four hours every day to training. Swimming became her
therapy.
“I didn’t realize that I love swimming until I was
introduced to it at the trials,” said Mummers. “It’s quiet underwater. It’s
nothing but me and my breathing and I don’t have to worry about anyone else.”
Mummers is competing in the cycling and swimming portions of
the Department of Defense Warrior Games for the second year. The games this
year will begin June 19 and held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
Her athletic endeavors also extend to the United States
Naval Academy where she coaches the newly re-established women’s gymnastics team.
Thanks to training, coaching and competing, Mummers has a
new outlook on life.
“I have definitely rediscovered myself as someone else,”
said Mummers. “The Marine Corps is still a huge part of my life but I’ve been
able to move on and start a new chapter.”
“So I’m definitely in a much happier, content place than I
was three years ago.”