“ The views, opinions and findings contained in this report are those of the authors(s) - PowerPoint Presentation

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“The views, opinions and findings contained in this report are those of the authors(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision, unless so designated by other official documentation.”

U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAMCOL David S. Oeschger, AW2 DirectorSGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major

Prepared by: Ellwood BurdsallFor: AW2 Staff01 Sep 2014

V1 031500QSep2014

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U.S. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) ProgramCOL David S. Oeschger, AW2 DirectorSGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major“Building Paths to Independence”Introduction to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program

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On April 30, 2004, the Army introduced an initiative to enhance the care and support of severely wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families and their Caregivers. This system of support guides them along the paths to regaining their independence; from the onset of their condition, through their eventual transition back to the force; or into the civilian community as a Veteran.Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program

3SSG Julio A.

LarreaAW2 COAD SoldierSSG Larrea, along with four other AW2 Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed, mentored and visited with Boston Marathon bombing victims who sustained similar injuries last year.

“at the end of the day wounded or not, we are just Americans. That’s all.” Slide4

Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program“Building Paths to Independence”4SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley and his daughter Finding steady employment proved challenging, and his wife searched for a second job to hold the Family’s finances together. Wiley connected with the AW2 and met Advocate Laura Arisohn

. Arisohn and AW2’s support and the resources they helped him access played an integral role in Wiley’s recovery. Five years after his first meeting with Arisohn, Wiley graduated with an associate degree in network administration from the University of Phoenix with a 3.8 GPA. Arisohn also connected him with a local non-profit organization that donated a mortgage-free home to the Wiley family.

Most importantly, Wiley says

Arisohn and AW2 inspire him. He now works with other Veterans who need support in either transitioning back to the Army or to civilian life.

“People see me and say ‘you are one of my heroes, you give me hope,” says Wiley. “In reality that is what my AW2 Advocate gives me. She gives me hope.” Slide5

MissionWe assist and advocate for our severely wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families/Caregivers; support and advise during medical treatment, rehabilitation, and beyond to facilitate a Soldier’s return-to-duty or their transition to a civilian community as a Veteran.Vision

Wounded Warriors and their Families/Caregivers are self-sufficient, contributing members of our communities; living and espousing the Warrior Ethos with the knowledge that the Army and the Nation remembers their sacrifice.

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SPC(ret.) Steven

Escalera

and his Daughter

AW2 Soldier

"I am truly grateful for my advocate and the AW2 program. My advocate had helped me with some of the toughest decisions and moves in my life…”Slide6

Command Relationships 6AW2 DirectorCOL David S. OeschgerSlide7

Suffer from wounds, injuries or illness incurred in the line of duty after 10 September 2001 in support of Overseas Contingency Operations, and Receive or are expected to receive at least a 30% rating from the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) for one of the conditions listed below: Severe Loss of Vision / Blindness Loss of Limb Spinal Cord Injury Severe Paralysis

Permanent disfigurement Severe Hearing Loss / Deafness

Severe Burns Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Fatal / Incurable Disease with limited life

expectancy

OR

Receive a 30% disability rating for any other Combat Related Condition

OR

Receive a

Combined

50% IDES rating for any other Combat or Combat Related Condition

To be considered an AW2 Soldier/Veteran

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*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 DbAW2 Soldiers/Veterans: Growth Over 12 MonthsTotal: 21479As of 1

Sep 14

21479

2013

8

2014

UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO

AW2

Soldier-to-Advocate

Ratio:

102

:1

Increase of

2653

since

1 Jan

14

Year

Population

2004

340

2005

909

2006

1476

2007

2489

2008

3814

2009

5892

2010

8042

2011

9762

2012

14838

2013

18826Slide9

*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 DbPhysical Condition Demographics

67%10%

6%

3%

3

%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

2000

4000

8

000

12000

16000

20000

PTSD

TBI

Amputee

Psychiatric

Extremity

Other

Paralysis

Disease

Spinal / Vertebra

Blindness / Vision

Burns

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Total:

21479

As of 1

Sep 14Slide10

*Incl:77 Deceased** Do not contact: 404*** AW2 WTU: 1176Soldier/Veteran Status – 1 Sep 14

AW2

Veteran

Population in our Communities

21479*

Severely

wounded, injured

and

ill***

181

1664

19557

**

COAD/COAR/FIT

WTU / Unit

__

Complex Medical

Needs /

iDES

10

*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2

Db

Life Cycle Management Program (LCMP)

LCMP Phase

Total

1 (Active)

8343

2 (90 Day)

3154

3 (180 Day)

9578Slide11

AW2 Team AW2 Support Experts - 14Medical Eligibility (1 CIV)Human Resources (1 CIV)COAD (1 MIL)Finance (2 CIV/1 MIL)Transition/Employment/Career (1 CIV/2 MIL)

Dept of Labor (1 CIV)Veteran Affairs Advisor (1 CIV)

Operations and Automation (1 CIV)Training (2 Contract)

AW2 Advocates

- 206

Personalized support for Soldiers and their Families

Local Resource

Experts

Benefits Advisers – navigating the maze

Military Transition Specialists

Education and Career Guides

Life Coaches – Empowering

Soldiers, Veterans,

and

their Families/Caregivers

to make informed and relevant

decisions

VA Integration Experts

Advocates assist wherever the

Soldiers, Veterans,

and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along

their

path to independence.

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Ms Roberta Berry and AW2 COAD Soldier SSG

Guilling

AW2 Careers

Ms Jeannie Jones

Contract Regional Coordinator

North RegionSlide12

Wounded Warriors Caregivers of Wounded Warriors Former Military Army Navy Air Force Marines Reserve Soldiers Retired CSM/SGM Licensed Social Workers Master’s Degrees No Previous Affiliation with Military

Advocate Demographics

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Mr. James Anderson

Advocate

Fort Knox, KYSlide13

AW2 Advocate Locations13Slide14

Questions?14Slide15

Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) ProgramBuilding Paths to Independence15Slide16

16Member of your teamNon-clinical case managersDoD Lead Coordinator (LC)Mitigate gaps in services for Soldiers and Families Extensive knowledge of local and national resourcesInforms WTU leadership and cadre of issues/concernsTeam member in TRIAD meetingsParticipate in Newcomer briefings

Document in AWCTS-WTU and AWCTS AW2 Involved with in/out processing of WTU SoldiersBridge the gap during and after transition

WTU Advocates

Mr. Shawn Monroe

VA Advocate

Houston, TX

Ms. Peggie Taylor

VA Advocate

Houston, TXSlide17

HeadquartersCommand teamVoice of our Soldiers / Families / Caregivers to Senior Army, Department of Defense (DoD), Legislators Advocate BranchIndividualized advocacy, assistance, management and support for Soldiers and their Families / CaregiversContact Center Provides contact point for referrals and information

Investigative outreach to locate Soldiers Lifetime follow-up for LCMP 4 Soldiers/VeteransAdvocate Support Branch

Specialized subject matter expertise (SME) and Action Officers

Direct, Operational and Strategic SME support to Advocates, the AW2 program ,Warrior Transition Command and the WTB/C/U’s

Collaboration

and coordination with internal and external agencies

Plan and fully execute current training programs while strategizing the way ahead.

Change agents involved in championing

changes to

Army Policies, Regulations, and Laws for the betterment of all wounded warriors.

Automation

AW2 Staff

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Located at major Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), Army installations, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and in local communities throughout the Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Germany. Provide assistance and support to the most severely wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers throughout the Wounded Warrior Lifecycle, from evacuation through transition back to the force or to our communities as a Veteran.Function as an integrated, collaborative member of a multidisciplinary healthcare and benefits team within the Warrior Transition Units (WTUs)and the Community-Based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs).Assist Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers in the identification and implementation of courses of action necessary to address all needs and goals while mitigating transitional gaps, coordinating resources in order to acclimate to their communities. Advocates are:

Personalized support for Soldiers and their Families Local Resource ExpertsBenefits Advisers – navigating the mazeMilitary Transition Specialists

Education and Career GuidesLife Coaches – Empowering Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers to make informed and relevant decisionsAdvocates assist wherever the Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along the path to independence.

Advocate Branch

Advocate

Roles

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