November is Warrior Care Month for Army, DOD
As directed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, November has been designated as "Warrior Care Month." Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces has events planned during the month to highlight warrior care.
John Ferguson, lead prosthetist at the Center for the Intrepid, uses a digital scanner to create a 3-D image of Spc. David Lawsen's leg for a prosthesis. Wounded warriors are a top priority at Fort Sam Houston. Photo by Elaine Wilson. Photo by Elaine Wilson
Since reports nearly two years ago revealed Soldiers recovering from
war wounds were living in a substandard facility at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the Army has transformed the way it
structures and provides military health care to wounded and ill
Soldiers, said Brig. Gen. Gary H. Cheek, Assistant Surgeon General for
Warrior Care and Transition.
"We have made great strides in garnering more support and more
resources for our wounded, ill and injured Soldiers," Cheek said. "Our
key challenge is ensuring Soldiers and families are aware of the
various programs and benefits we have to help them with the unique and
personal issues each of them face."
The general said the month is more than a way for the Army and other
services to show how far they have come in taking care of their own --
the activities and events during Warrior Care Month also make the
programs the Army offers more visible to Soldiers who might need them.
"Warrior Care Month is a way to highlight these programs across the
Army so our wounded warriors and their families know what's being done
on their behalf, and how to take advantage of them," he said.
Cheek said Warrior Care Month is meant to provide a clear message to
servicemembers and the public that caring for those who have sacrificed
for America is one of the military's highest priorities.
The Army has unique activities planned throughout Warrior Care Month,
which begins with the Department of Defense kick-off event Nov. 5.
The Army’s 36 Warrior Transition Units, in cooperation with Military
Treatment Facilities and installations across the Army will be
conducting a variety of events and activities to help educate the force
on wounded warrior resources, and to thank local communities and
elected officials for their support.
On Nov. 17, designated as Army Service Day for warrior care, Secretary
of the Army Pete Geren and the Army Surgeon General are scheduled to
host a town hall meeting for Soldiers and families assigned to the
Walter Reed Warrior Transition Unit.
Other events during the November observance include a visit by the Army
chief of staff with Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Nov. 2
and 11; Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Nov. 19;
and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center Nov. 29 and 30.
Besides visits by officials to major military medical facilities,
caregivers and recovering Soldiers alike will speak at various public
venues about the state of care of wounded and ill Soldiers during
Operation Tribute to Freedom events.
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