It was a little more than a year ago when a blast from an improvised explosive device changed Ryan Foster’s life forever.
On May 24, 2007, Ryan Foster was a member of the 389th Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Polk, La.
On that fateful afternoon, he was atop a Humvee manning the turret during a routine patrol when an IED detonated next to his vehicle.
The driver jerked the steering wheel and the vehicle rolled five times.
As the vehicle rolled, Ryan was thrown from the turret and suffered multiple fractures to his skull, left arm, collar bone and ribs.
He was unconscious for nearly an hour and doesn’t remember much of that event - only what he has heard over and over from Brittni.
“I don’t even remember Iraq,” Ryan said.
Now, nearly 18 months later, the couple - both from Belton - are getting a chance of a lifetime, thanks to a San Antonio-based organization known as Military Warrior Support Foundation.
The organization, which is led by retired Army Lt. Gen. LeRoy Sisco, made Brittni the first recipient of a full scholarship, which is part of the Soldiers to Scholars program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Sisco said the program at UCF is the only one of its kind, but he hopes that colleges in Texas will offer similar programs for soldiers.
The organization was founded in 2006 by Sisco and San Antonio businessman Ken Eakes, who wanted to give something back to the troops by providing hunting trips in Texas.
Last November, the hunting group was a buck hunt on a South Texas ranch.
Ryan, who is still recovering from injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, went on that trip and while he was away, Brittni was pampered with facials and pedicures by the women associated with the organization.
It was during that outing they learned about the scholarship program.
“I needed to find a way to get her through college,” Ryan said. “I can’t go to college because I can’t remember anything. I just get too agitated.”
The couple started corresponding with the organization about the program and, before long, things just started to fall into place.
The program offers spouses, through UCF, the chance to either earn a degree in nursing or teaching.
Brittni chose teaching.
Ryan was thrilled his wife now had the chance to reach her goal of being an art teacher.
Brittni will not only have her tuition and books covered by the program, but the couple’s living expenses will be paid, Sisco said.
“Brittni is a smart girl,” Sisco said.
Brittni, who leaves for Florida on Monday, will have a home waiting for her, and her father will be accompanying her until she gets settled.
Brittni said she was not only shocked to have this opportunity, but extremely grateful for everything that has happened.
“It’s unbelievable how they’ve taken care of us,” she said.
In the meantime, Ryan still has back surgery and a pending medical retirement board to deal with at Fort Sam Houston over the next 90 days before he can join his wife.
And when Ryan sufficiently recovers from his injuries, he also will have a job waiting for him.
“Everything just worked out,” he said.
