Military Support Programs

In Wounded Warriors (Military Officer, April 2006) we reported on the road to independence for severely injured servicemembers undergoing physical rehabilitation at U.S. military hospitals. As they fight to heal - both physically and spiritually - they and their families can often be faced with a dizzying array of paperwork, decisions, and financial hardship. Should they attempt to stay in the service, and if so, what can they expect from the medical review board? How do they apply for Traumatic Injury Insurance? What is involved with transitioning to the VA health care system? Will they find work if they leave the service? Is non-government financial assistance available?

Injured servicemembers and their families can be faced with obstacles and stressful situations at every turn. The military services have recognized this and have established programs to provide information, assistance, and advocacy for their injured troops. There are the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2), the Air Force Palace HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together), the Navy Wounded Marines and Sailors Initiative, and the Marine for Life-Injured Support Program (M4L-IS), which also covers injured sailors serving with the Marines.

Lt. Col. John Shafer, USMC, runs the M4L-IS, headquartered at Quantico MCB in Virginia. A career infantry officer who served in Iraq, Shafer says, "There is nothing harder than seeing one of your own Marines killed or seriously injured. You are stricken with helplessness, and you want to do everything you possibly can to meet their needs and to help their families." In this position, he has that opportunity.

The injured support center, which was established within the already existing Marine For Life program, became operational in January 2005. Its goal is to provide information, advocacy, and assistance to Marines and sailors from their time of injury through their return to full duty or their transition to the VA, and longer if needed. The program features a 24-hour call center, as well as regular bedside visits at military hospitals.

Outside of Shafer's office are the Marines who answer the telephones and visit hospitals. Sgt. Tracy Hinson, USMC, says there is nothing routine about her job. "I may be helping one Marine track down a service award, while helping another with bill collectors, and another with child care. We had one severely injured Marine whose mother and father were taking turns staying with him in the hospital. The parents had to endure separations, each living away from home for periods of time. One of our staff was visiting them and recognized that the mother was suffering from emotional exhaustion. We were able to get her some counseling. You'd be surprised how many parents leave their jobs to become caregivers for their sons and daughters. They face extreme emotional and financial hardship," says Hinson.

As the number of severely injured troops returning from OIF and OEF only continues to increase, DoD also recognized the need to provide 24/7 support for servicemembers. Cmdr. Dave Julian, USN, runs DoD's Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC), which was officially opened Feb. 1, 2005. Julian says the center serves as a backstop to the programs of the individual services, such as M4L-IS. "We want to ensure that no servicemember slips through the cracks."

The MSIC call center is staffed by master's degree level social workers with experience in disability issues. "Each case is different and receives personalized, hands-on attention with routine follow-up weeks, months, and if needed, years later. Our commitment is to each service member severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. We want them to get the message that a grateful nation has their backs," says Julian.

The MSIC also supports the DoD's Heroes to Hometowns program, which inspires communities throughout the country to provide support networks for severely injured servicemembers and their families. While Julian says that programs like the MSIC and Heroes to Hometowns are vital to all severely injured servicemembers, they can be particularly useful to Guard and Reserve troops who do not have a military installation to return to.

Wounded Warrior Resources

The following government and nongovernment organizations can provide support, assistance, and information to severely injured servicemembers and their families.

Government Organizations
Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network (EARN)
www.earnworks.com
(866) 327-6669

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
www.va.gov
(800) 827-1000

Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC)
(888) 774-1361 (24/7 support and assistance)

Marine For Life - Injured Support
www.m4l.usmc.mil
(866) 645-8762

U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
www.aw2.army.mil
(800) 237-1336

Private/Nonprofit Organizations

The American Legion
www.legion.org
(202) 861-2700

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
(202) 303-5834

American Veterans (AMVETS)
www.amvets.org
(301) 459-9600

Amputee Coalition of America
www.amputee-coalition.org
(888) 267-5669

Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
www.saluteheroes.org
(703) 556-4376

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
www.dav.org
(202) 554-3501

Disabled Sports USA
www.dsusa.org
(301) 217-0960

Fisher House
www.fisherhouse.org
(301) 294-8560
(888) 294-8560

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
www.semperfifund.org
(703) 640-0181

Homes For Our Troops
www.homesforourtroops.org
(866)-7-troops

Military Order of the Purple Heart
www.purpleheart.org
(703) 642-5360

National Amputation Foundation, Inc.
www.nationalamputation.org
(516) 887-3600

National Military Family Association
www.nmfa.org
(800) 260-0218

Wounded Warrior Project
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
(540) 342-0032