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.” V1 031500QSep2014

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

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: http://wtc.armylive.dodlive.mil/#sthash.rQp330Kr.dpuf

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.”

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…”

Command Relationships AW2 Director COL David S. Oeschger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Questions? Picture

Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program Building Paths to Independence

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

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

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. Picture