Makhai Pennington

Retail Specialist Seaman Ma’khai Pennington joined the U.S. Navy in 2023 to support his family, taking inspiration from his grandfather, who was a master sergeant in the U.S. Army. He excelled early, finishing top of his class as an Honor Grad at the Ceremonial Guard and qualified for Drill Team after a week, when it often takes a month. After experiencing TBIs and other injuries, he became insular and struggled with his mental health, which affected his work performance. A coworker suggested he reach out to Navy Wounded Warrior, which helped him with needed resources like getting transportation to his appointments. He attended two adaptive sports camps and has slowly been shedding the cocoon he built for himself. He began to laugh and be more like his old self in the safety of the team environment. Having played basketball through high school, he was drawn to wheelchair basketball, which gave him a chance to compete and play without pain. The program has given him something to look forward to, with long-term goals that have shifted his focus away from his pain.