Retired Army/Air Force veteran. Adventurer.
Jennifer Bauer was in the Army for 10 years and the Air Force for 6 years when she was hit by a car on the way to the base in 2012 and sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She retired disabled in 2014 and she is still recovering.
She started working with the Wounded Warrior organization and began attending sporting competitions put on by the Wounded Warrior Project and other similar groups. She is a fierce survivor and competitor.
Jenn lives on the road traveling and spending time with military friends in her RV named Betsy.
She looks forward to her next adventure and competition wherever and whatever that might be.
Selected Adventures
“Reach for the stars and never give up on yourself”
Florida Everglades Trip
-Outward Bound
2014
We spent a week in the Florida Everglades traveling in canoes and sleeping on the beaches and on a raft made from our canoes. We slept under the stars during a meteor shower and saw dolphins. We experienced all the beauty of nature. This was the best week of my life.
Philadelphia Half-Marathon
- Wounded Warrior Project
2015
The Philadelphia half-marathon was my first post-injury run. It was great to see the history of the city. We ran right past the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. It was great pushing myself past what I thought I could do.
San Antonio Challenge Ride
-Wounded Warrior Project
2015
San Antonio Challenge Ride was three days of riding roughly 30 miles a day with the Wounded Warrior Project. The event ended with a rainy day on the Tour-de-Green course.
Crested Butte
-Team R4V
2016
Crested Butte was a real adventure doing things I've never done like ice climbing and skin skiing uphill. The mountain was beautiful and the staff and other veteran teammates made it a memorable event. I almost made it up the ice waterfall and had a few slips like you see in my picture. One other female veteran made it to the top of the ice waterfall!
Aspen Skiing
-Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities
2016
What can you say about Aspen! I went for the best for my first attempt at skiing after my injury. I found that I could still ski and had so much fun with the other women veterans.
Park City, UT
-Wounded Warrior Project
2016
Mountain Biking Deer Valley in Park City Utah was both exhilarating and frightening. We all learned a lot about riding, safety, and our limits. It was a great trip with a group of amazing veterans.
Blue Mesa Canoe Trip
-Adaptive Sports Center and Team Racing for Veterans
2016
Back out to the Crested Butte area for an adventure on water. We learned paddling water safety and how to traverse a log jam!
Timeline of Recovery Adventure
Below are a selection of Jenn's work on continuing recovery through strenuous physical conditioning and engaging with other wounded warriors on adventures and outdoor education.
Jennifer's BS in Physical Education and her experience in recovery has helped her engage with and mentor other wounded warriors.
2014 Trips
June - Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, AL for an adaptive sports camp.
Oct - Warriors to summits to Leadville, CO for a woman’s mountain climbing excursion.
Nov - Adaptive sports camp with the Air Force in Washington D.C.
Dec - Outward Bound to the Florida Everglades for a canoeing expedition
2015 Trips
Jan - San Antonio with the Air Force for an adaptive sports camp
Feb - Las Vegas for Air Force Warrior Games trials (did not make Warrior Games team)
- Air Rifle
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Wheelchair Basketball
May - Valor Games SE, Durham, NC
- Air Rifle
- Seated Volley Ball (Gold)
- Rowing (Silver)
- Cycling (Gold)
June - Endeavor Games, Edmond, OK at University of Central OK
- Swimming (7 Gold)
- Triathlon (Gold)
July - Soldier Ride Saint Louis, Wounded Warrior Project
July/Aug - 30 days in hyperbaric chamber, Independence Fund, Myrtle Beach
Aug - Valor Games Midwest, Chicago
- Discus
- Cycling (Bronze)
- Rowing (Silver)
Sept - Air Force adaptive sports camp, Seattle, WA
Nov - Challenge Ride, Wounded Warrior Project, San Antonio, TX
Nov - Air Force Adaptive Sports Camp, Washington D.C.
Nov - Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon, Wounded Warrior Project Philadelphia, PA
Dec - Challenge Aspen Military Opportunities, Skiing. Aspen, CO
2016 Trips
Jan - Air Force Adaptive Sports Camp. Cycling. San Antonio, TX
Feb - Team R4B, Crested Butte, Skiing, Ice Climbing
Feb - Las Vegas Air Force Warrior Games trials
Made Warrior Games Team!
- Swimming (2 Gold, 2 Silver)
- Cycling
- Track (2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
- Wheelchair Basketball (Gold)
April - Face of America, Cycling Arlington, VA to Gettysburg, PA.
April - Full week of Warrior Games Training
June - Warrior Games. Cycling, Running, Swimming. Silver and Bronze Medals.
July - Canoeing in Blue Mesa Reservoir Colorado
July - Mountain Biking, Park City Utah. National Ability Center. Wounded Warrior Project.
Aug - Sydney, AUS.
14 Kilometer Run with Royal Australian Air Force
Sept - London, UK. Wounded Warrior Project. Cycling with UK military.
Gallery
Photos from my travels.
