“Operation Comfort is structured to improve the soldiers’ spirits, so their rehab is faster and more effective,” explains Janis Roznowski, Operation Comfort executive director and founder. “Their lives now are a cycle of medical appointments, surgeries, therapy, rehab, more appointments, more treatments, more surgeries, more rehab… That’s why it’s so important to give them relief. I believe that if they’re working on something they really love, they forget all the trauma going on in their lives. When they’re working on a car, they’re focusing on that car and enjoying the process. By fixing a car, somehow or other, they fix something inside of themselves.”
Automotivation was developed at the request of service members who were reluctant to participate in conventional rehabilitative activities or sports, but were interested in rebuilding and restoring cars, trucks and motorcycles. Participation is voluntary. The program is housed in donated space in a professional garage on Lonesome Dove Ranch south of San Antonio. It includes four service bays, a paint booth and break room.
Many soldiers who are injured and then sent to BAMC to heal feel cut off from their units, explains Vic Hash, Army sergeant first class and a member of the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Sam Houston. “They tend to want to cocoon. This gives them something to do to take their minds off their injuries.”
Automotivation participants are building a 1966 Shelby Cobra replica kit car and are finishing a World War II weapons carrier body that they restored and installed on a 1984 Ford Bronco chassis. They plan to display both vehicles at the SEMA Show next week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Fuzion pulling system that Chief donated was installed in what had been a flat bay. The heavy-duty rack is equipped with two pulling towers and universal anchoring stands. It offers 12,000 lbs. of lifting capacity for maximum versatility. Chief is also arranging training for Automotivation participants on how to properly use the equipment.
“We’re so appreciative that Chief understands the value of what we do and that they jumped in to help,” Roznowski says. “This was an incredibly generous donation. With the Chief rack, we’ll be able to teach the guys new skills that they may also be able to use when they return to civilian life.”
The soldiers have a long wish list of additional tools and equipment the program could use. Operation Comfort does not have funding to buy equipment, so it relies on industry donations of tools, equipment and contacts for mentoring and training.
Current needs include:
· Chief accessory package and tool board
· Frame measuring system
· Brake lathe
· Small lathe
· Alignment rack and equipment
· Complete socket sets
· Soda blaster
· Portable diesel-powered air compressor (125 cfm)
· Bead roller
· Spot welder
· Metal brake
· Sheet metal shear
· English wheel
· Shrinker/stretcher
· Creepers
· Wheel dollies
· Hydraulic floor jacks
· Air tool kit
For more information about Operation Comfort, visit www.operationcomfort.org or www.facebook.com/Operation-Comfort, or call (210) 826-0500. To learn more about Chief collision repair equipment, contact your local Chief distributor, call 877-644-1044, or visit www.chiefautomotive.com. Chief is also active on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ChiefAutomotive; Twitter, http://twitter.com/ChiefAutomotive; and YouTube, www.youtube.com/ChiefAutomotive.
