Given his stint as a Navy cadet, his passion for sailing and his father's naval background, it was hardly surprising that Colin McCallum decided to pursue a Navy career.
What has surprised Colin, though, was being selected for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 after physical and mental health issues meant he had to medically separate from the Navy after almost 30 years' service.
The former boatswain's mate turned aircrewman and then aircrew instructor has been proactive in taking charge of his recovery, but admits it hasn't always been easy.
The 47-year-old Nowra father of two lives with pain and discomfort in his neck due to service-related injuries. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is learning to manage his depression.
"I'd always relied on physical activity to manage my mental health because being an aircrewman required you to have a higher-than-normal level of fitness, but I didn't know what I could or should do because of my physical restrictions," Colin said.
"A saving grace was becoming involved with the Veterans Surf Project, a local group that runs a program for veterans and first responders.
"Getting involved back with surfing got me out of the house and got me mobile again.
"That led to me seeing an exercise physiologist twice a week, which then opened my eyes up to an indoor rowing event that Invictus was putting on in the area."
"One of the bonuses is that it's been contagious for the whole family and, as a result, there's just that little bit extra positivity around everything that we do."
According to Colin, that group increased his awareness of the Invictus movement and the support they provide current and former-serving personnel.
"Even though indoor rowing is an individual sport, it's still a group of people doing all the same things.
"The enthusiasm and the atmosphere they had there was so welcoming. It didn't matter what you did as long as you tried your best."
To Colin, with his long history of sports involvement ranging from rugby union and AFL to water skiing and snowboarding, it was the right activity at just the right time - and reminded him that he craved to be back within a team environment.
And this is what he's found in Team Australia.
"When I started the process of nominating for the Invictus Games, I was not really expecting to go anywhere with it," he said.
"It's very easy to retire from the world when your self-confidence is low and you're struggling with motivation to leave the house.
"Just being able to talk to people who are on different parts of their own journey; being able to talk to them about shared experiences, makes you feel like you're not alone.
"It's reignited a little spark inside me that I'd forgotten existed. It's given me that drive to do things for myself; to do stuff for the kids.
"One of the bonuses is that it's been contagious for the whole family and, as a result, there's just that little bit extra positivity around everything that we do."
Colin's wife, Kerryn, and children, Stephanie and Joshua, will be travelling to Canada in February to watch him contest indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, snowboarding and skeleton events as part of Invictus Games.
Although they're excited to see him in action, as far as Colin's concerned, he's already a winner.
"Invictus means using sport to overcome personal hurdles, whether it's an injury or mental health, to get back on with your life," Colin said.
"I think I've already succeeded by making the team and being able to share this amazing experience with my family."
Colin is just one of 33 Team Australia members travelling to Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 between February 8-16.
