Eagle Physical Therapist Joins the U.S. Air Force’s 9G Club

On September 19, Devyn Kammert, a physical therapist and sports residency coordinator at Howard Head Sports Medicine’s Vail clinic, joined the Air Force Thunderbirds’ 9G Club during the Great Colorado Air Show in Loveland. This membership allowed Kammert to ride in an F-16 jet, known as a Thunderbird, which can reach a G-force of 9, strong enough to make some people faint.

“I can’t even say (it was) a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because I never thought I would get the opportunity to do that,” Kammert said. “The whole experience is still very surreal.”

Kammert’s recognition by the Air Force Thunderbirds stemmed from her pivotal role in Vail Health’s Tactical Optimization Program (TOP), where her dedication to serving active-duty military members earned her a “Hometown Hero” nomination from a former participant of TOP.

Launched in 2019, the TOP is a twice-yearly, two-week comprehensive healthcare retreat for active-duty special operations members of the U.S. Army and Air Force. The donor-funded program encompasses physical therapy, sports psychology, nutrition, massage therapy, audiology, concussion treatment, and additional services.

“I think a lot of funding gets to veterans, which is amazing, but also, there are people in the military that don’t get the medical help that they need, and I think that this is a niche that we’ve found,” Kammert said. “I just want to get the word out there, because I can only help so many people at a time, and it would be amazing to help more of these special operations men and women.”

Read the full article at VailDaily.com >