Through a collaboration between UT Health San Antonio’s sports medicine team, its Military Health Institute and Spurs Sports & Entertainment, members of the Alamo Battalion of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps visited the Spurs Impact Center, the team’s former practice facility, to explore how health, performance and service intersect, on and off the field.
The experience introduced cadets, ranging from middle school through high school age, to real-world applications of sports medicine while highlighting parallels between professional athletics and military readiness.
“A sprained ankle is a sprained ankle, whether it happens to an NBA player or a Navy SEAL,” said John Carollo, MS, LAT, ATC, SHRM-SCP, sports medicine navigator to the San Antonio Spurs at UT Health San Antonio. “The difference is access. Professional athletes have daily treatment and support. Service members often rely on prevention, preparation and self-care.”
Carollo and UT Health San Antonio physical therapist Rudy Solis, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, helped design and lead the event’s activities that guided cadets through interactive stations focused on flexibility, balance and performance. One event highlight included demonstrations using force plates — technology commonly used in professional sports and rehabilitation — to measure jumping power and balance. During one test, a cadet recorded the highest vertical jump of the day while wearing military boots.
“That moment really resonated,” Solis said. “It showed them where they are now, and that improvement is always possible.”
Cadets also toured the historic facility, highlighting the team’s former training and recovery areas, and met leaders, including Robert I. Miller, MD, MBA, FAAP, FACHE, director of the Military Health Institute and retired Air Force lieutenant general, whose careers bridge medicine and military service .
“Community engagements like this directly link to the mission of the Military Health Institute and are a pleasure to support,” Miller said. “As a pediatrician, I’m always happy to have the opportunity to work with youth. It’s an added benefit when there is a military connection.”
According to Carollo, a Navy veteran and seasoned athletic trainer, the event underscored the importance of intentional community engagement.
“These cadets already understand discipline, teamwork and responsibility,” he said. “Giving them exposure to healthcare and performance science helps expand what they can imagine for their future.”
Organizers said the visit reflects the broader strength of the UT Health San Antonio –Spurs partnership — a partnership that combines medical expertise and community reach to create meaningful opportunities for special populations.
“At the end of the day, every cadet walked away inspired,” Carollo said. “And that’s what matters most.”