Warrior Care Month highlights high-quality treatment

  • Published
  • By April Rowden
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In a campaign to highlight the medical and personal care available to wounded servicemembers, the Department of Defense has designated November as Warrior Care Month.

"This is a great opportunity for the Air Force family to understand that our care for our wounded warriors and their families goes well beyond the medical and professional treatment they receive, and does not stop when their injuries heal. We have a commitment to these men and women to be there for them as they return to everyday life and we will honor that commitment," said Arthur Myers, Directorate of Services director.

To that end, the Air Force Wounded Warrior program, or AFW2, takes a comprehensive approach to helping wounded Airmen.

The AFW2 program, which is one facet of the Air Force Warrior and Survivor Care program, provides personalized support to Air Force wounded Airmen and their families throughout the continuum of care.

Family liaison officers are assigned to hospitalized wounded members and provide a wide range of assistance to family members.

Airmen with a combat/hostile-related injury or illness requiring long-term care that will require a Medical Evaluation Board/Physical Evaluation Board to determine fitness for duty are automatically placed in the AFW2 program where they receive counseling and assistance.

The consultants for the AFW2 program create the foundation of the support system for the Airmen by providing crucial assistance in areas such as financial and career guidance. They also serve as the Airmen's advocates, helping them navigate through various organizations, such as Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration.

According to Yvonne Duker of the Airman, Family and Community Operations Branch Directorate at AFPC, the Air Force's goal is to retain wounded Airmen when possible. To accomplish this, program personnel continually stay engaged with their wounded warriors. As a result of this two-way communication, the Air Force is currently developing new personnel policies that will make it easier for wounded Airmen to stay on active-duty status if they choose.

For those Airmen whose injuries may be too severe to remain in the Air Force, or for those who elect to medically retire or separate, base Airman and Family Readiness Centers provide transition assistance.

(We place a) strong emphasis on ensuring wounded Airmen receive professional, individualized guidance and support to help them successfully navigate their way through the complex process of transitioning out of the Air Force and returning to civilian life," said Ms. Duker.

Clayton Griffin, a participant in the AFW2 program, was granted a medical retirement in May. His caseworker, Brian Churchill, worked closely with Mr. Griffin during his transition from military to civilian life.

"I did not expect to have someone call me in the first place," said Mr. Griffin, who was a technical sergeant at the time of his retirement. "When he told me (Wounded Warrior)was a new program and he would be calling me every month, I had reservations. I figured it would start off well but would have some 'kinks' that would need to be worked out and the usefulness would probably wane before long.

"But to my surprise the AFW2 case workers really knew a lot about old, new and pending laws dealing with veterans and were able to point me in the right direction to help get me back on my feet. It is truly one of the programs I have been most impressed with in my 11 years of service."

Thanks in part to the employment counseling of Mr. Churchill, Mr. Griffin now works as a physical security manager with the 37th Security Forces Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Those who participate in the AFW2 program are not left to fend for themselves after returning to duty or the civilian work force. Ms. Duker said program members can expect to receive no less than five years of continued professional support and follow up.

About 350 Airmen are in the AFW2 program. Their injuries range from burns to blindness to amputations to post traumatic stress disorders.

For more information on the AFW2 program, go to www.woundedwarrior.af.mil, call 800-581-9437, or send an e-mail to afwounded.warrior@randolph.af.mil.