Neel Mehta
Lockheed Martin has given Fighting Spirit Scholarship awards to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bartlett and Staff Sgt. Jay Fondren, both of whom were injured while on active duty in Iraq.
The company said Monday its scholarship program offers wounded military veterans with flight and sailing opportunities through the support of Warrior Sailing Program and Able Flight nonprofit organizations.
Able Flight selected Bartlett to participate in a six-week flight training at Purdue University, followed by license certification at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow in July next year.
Bartlett lost one eye and sustained injuries due to a projectile explosion during a 2005 mission in Iraq.
Warrior Sailing Program picked Fondren to join the nonprofit’s Basic and Advanced Training programs to obtain a keelboat sailing certificate.
Fondren underwent amputations after his patrol vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device during an Iraq mission in 2004.
Both Army veterans will also receive roundtrip flights to Fort Worth, Texas, for a tour around Lockheed’s F-35 production facility there as well as VIP tickets to the 2017 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl game.
