NEW GLOUCESTER — It was a mild winter day as military veterans once again took to the firing range — this time as part of the Veterans Adaptive Sports and Training program at Pineland Farms. VAST was wrapping up a three-day biathlon event on Sunday.

Developed in 2012 by Army veteran, occupational therapist and two-time Olympic biathlete Kristina Sabasteanski, VAST gives back to veterans with disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries by offering year-round outdoor activities.

“It helps them focus on something positive,” Sabasteanski said. “Some don’t get to leave home very often — they feel they can’t relate.” Sabasteanski said her husband, Matt, was an Army medic in Iraq —”So, I get it.”

Sabasteanski said the idea came to her when she was completing work for her master’s degree in occupational therapy. She volunteered to work with athletes at a paralympic military sports camp in Rhode Island.

Sabasteanski said 60 veterans from across the country engage in 10 different sports over four days. Upon arrival, she said they appeared to have, “No confidence — no eye contact.” She said what she saw develop from there was a complete transformation.

According to Sabasteanski, she was supposed to only shadow others at the event. She quickly became a team leader.

Things began to click for Sabasteanski, who wondered what she could do when most of her experience prior had been skiing and shooting. A biathlon was a natural place to start for the Olympian and Pineland Farms was the perfect venue.

For the recent biathlon, Sabasteanski said the farm hosted 10 veterans. Two of the vets were from the weekly program and the other eight from the New England Nordic Ski Association and Northeast Passage; both of whom work with disabled veterans.

“We all stay at the Merrill Farm House,” for the three days, she said.

Sabasteanski said the other programs also provided pellet gun and ski instruction. Friday and Saturday focused on ski instruction and the vets put their new skills to the test Sunday on the 5K track and shooting range. For a couple of vets who could not stand to ski, sit skis were provided.

Last year, VAST hosted Team Semper Fi for the biathlon. This year, the focus is on New England-based vets, many of whom are transitioning from being homeless or just trying to adjust to civilian life.

“Most of my service was after I got out,” Sabasteanski said of work with veterans over the years after serving as a world class athlete and representing the Army as an Olympian.

VAST operates weekly, 9 a.m. until noon, and is completely free to disabled veterans and vet volunteers. All training and equipment is included.

“I try to keep it consistent,” Sabasteanski said. She said she wants vets to be able to count on VAST and the friendship they find around people who understand. “People talk about their dark days — this gets them out of the house,” she said.

With 20 to 30 weekly participants and a 5,000-acre campus at Pineland, the VAST page on the farm’s website is inviting, stating that “Any and all veterans are encouraged to volunteer and enjoy some outdoor activities and a sense of camaraderie with fellow veterans.”

Sabasteanski said once skiing is over in late March, VAST will focus on fly fishing, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and a summer biathlon.

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