1. COL David S. Oeschger, AW2 Director
U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM
COL David S. Oeschger, AW2 Director
SGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major
Prepared by: Ellwood Burdsall
For: AW2 Staff
01 Sep 2014
“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.”
V QSep2014

2. U.S. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
COL David S. Oeschger, AW2 Director
SGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major
“Building Paths to Independence”
Introduction to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program 2

3. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
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.
SSG Julio A. Larrea
AW2 COAD Soldier
SSG 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.”
Finding steady employment proved challenging, and his wife searched for a second job to hold the Family’s finances together. After checking in with the VA, Wiley connected with the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and met AW2 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. Wiley found assistance from AW2 and Arisohn in other ways as well—help in better understanding insurance, changing medical providers and better managing his medications. 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.” - See more at:

4. SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley and his daughter
Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
“Building Paths to Independence”
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.
SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley and his daughter
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.”

5. SPC(ret.) Steven Escalera and his Daughter
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.
Mission
We 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.
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…”

6. Command Relationships
AW2 Director
COL David S. Oeschger

7. To be considered an AW2 Soldier/Veteran
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
Receive a Combined 50% IDES rating for any other Combat or Combat Related Condition

8. AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate
AW2 Soldiers/Veterans: Growth Over 12 Months
Total: 21479
As of 1 Sep 14
UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO
Year
Population
2004
340
2005
909
2006
1476
2007
2489
2008
3814
2009
5892
2010
8042
2011
9762
2012
14838
2013
18826
21479
Increase of 2653
since
1 Jan 14
AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate
Ratio: 102:1
2013
2014
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db 8 8 8

9. Physical Condition Demographics
Total: 21479
As of 1 Sep 14
2000
4000
8000
12000
16000
20000
67%
10% 6% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1%
PTSD
TBI
Amputee
Psychiatric
Extremity
Other
Paralysis
Disease
Spinal / Vertebra
Blindness / Vision
Burns
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db

10. Veteran Population in our Communities
*Incl:77 Deceased
** Do not contact: 404
*** AW2 WTU: 1176
Soldier/Veteran Status – 1 Sep 14
AW2
Veteran Population in our Communities
21479*
Severely
wounded, injured
and ill***
181
1664
19557**
WTU / Unit __
Complex Medical Needs /
iDES
COAD/COAR/FIT
Life Cycle Management Program (LCMP)
LCMP Phase
Total
1 (Active)
8343
2 (90 Day)
3154
3 (180 Day)
9578
COAD/COAR: Approved final result rating from the Physical Disability Evaluation System process of “Continuation on Active Duty” or “Continuation on Active Reserve” duty
AW2 Continuing to support 68 Families of Deceased Soldiers/Veterans
AW2 continuing to support 9 Soldiers that have AW2 eligible injuries that received a final result of FIT from the Physical Disability Evaluation System process
Unit: Soldiers that are in the iDES process that are not in a WTU
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db

11. AW2 Team
Advocates assist wherever the Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along their path to independence.
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
Ms Roberta Berry and AW2 COAD Soldier SSG Guilling
AW2 Careers
AW2 Support Experts - 14
Medical 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)
Ms Jeannie Jones
Contract Regional Coordinator
North Region

12. Advocate Demographics
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
Mr. James Anderson
Advocate
Fort Knox, KY

13. AW2 Advocate Locations
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.
Function as an integrated, collaborative member of a multidisciplinary healthcare and benefits team within the Warrior Transition Units (WTUs), Community Based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs) and the Department of Veterans Affairs

14. Questions?
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15. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
Building Paths to Independence

16. WTU Advocates Member of your team Non-clinical case managers
Mr. Shawn Monroe
VA Advocate
Houston, TX
Ms. Peggie Taylor
Member of your team
Non-clinical case managers
DoD Lead Coordinator (LC)
Mitigate gaps in services for Soldiers and Families
Extensive knowledge of local and national resources
Informs WTU leadership and cadre of issues/concerns
Team member in TRIAD meetings
Participate in Newcomer briefings
Document in AWCTS-WTU and AWCTS AW2
Involved with in/out processing of WTU Soldiers
Bridge the gap during and after transition

17. AW2 Staff Advocate Support Branch Headquarters Command team
Voice of our Soldiers / Families / Caregivers to Senior Army, Department of Defense (DoD), Legislators
Advocate Branch
Individualized advocacy, assistance, management and support for Soldiers and their Families / Caregivers
Contact Center
Provides contact point for referrals and information
Investigative outreach to locate Soldiers
Lifetime follow-up for LCMP 4 Soldiers/Veterans
Advocate 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

18. Advocate Branch Advocate Roles
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 Experts
Benefits Advisers – navigating the maze
Military Transition Specialists
Education and Career Guides
Life Coaches – Empowering Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers to make informed and relevant decisions
Advocates assist wherever the Soldiers and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along the path to independence.
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