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AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families Identify Top Issues in Wounded Warrior Care
Last week, more than 60 severely wounded Soldiers, Veterans, and their Family members gathered in San Antonio at the fifth Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Symposium and identified the following top five issues that should be addressed to advance wounded warrior care:
1. Concurrent receipt of retired and Veterans Affairs (VA) disability pay
2. Comprehensive psychoeducation for post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD)/traumatic brain injury (TBI) servicemembers, Family members, and caregivers
3. Veterans Affairs (VA) education for Army Wounded Warrior Program Advocates
4. Stipend for primary caregivers of ill/injured servicemembers
5. Community support coordinators in geographically dispersed areas
The final 2009 AW2 Symposium issues were chosen from more than 70 topics that were discussed in focus groups with categories including: medical, careers, Family, and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). With subject matter experts on site, each focus group discussed issues in one category and then all the groups came together to vote on the top five overall issues. Most issues raised at previous Symposiums have subsequently been resolved, resulting in solutions ranging from expanded facilities to treat traumatic brain injuries to the establishment of Soldier Family Assistance Centers. The remaining issues are currently being addressed.
“The severely wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families who gathered in Texas as AW2 Symposium delegates put in five days of intense work,” said AW2 Director COL Jim Rice. “The input gathered from delegates at this year’s AW2 Symposium is priceless. I am proud of their efforts and am dedicated to seeing these issues progress to resolution.”
AW2 Symposium delegate and spouse, Desirea Jones, spokesperson for the medical issues group, stated, “I came here not expecting much of anything, wanting to forget that my husband was in the Army. Now I’m so proud of his service and so grateful that I’ve had a chance to make things better for my Family and the other Families – and those that will follow.”
WTC Leadership Focuses on Issues
Warrior Transition Command (WTC) Commanding General BG Gary Cheek spent five days at the AW2 Symposium listening to delegates. He observed focus group discussions and spent time with individuals throughout the week.
“The AW2 Symposium was a great experience,” said BG Cheek. “The delegates identified some important issues, and we’re going to fix these to the best of our ability. The delegates have worked hard and done their part, now leadership is going to get to work.”
Career Expo and Job Fair Provided Lessons and Opportunities
Building on the success of last year’s career forum, AW2 hosted a larger career expo and job fair at the Symposium. More than 50 delegates participated in sessions with the AW2 Career and Education Section on topics like resume writing, interviewing techniques, and starting a small business.
Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from 17 employers representing the Federal government, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses.
For more information on the Career Expo and Job Fair, visit the blog entry at https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/10/Career-Expo-Operation-Purple-Camp-and-Press-Conference-Start-AW2-Symposium.aspx.
Exhibit Hall Showcased a Variety of Services
Fifteen organizations participated in the Symposium exhibit hall. These organizations provide a wide variety of services to AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families, including flights for medical treatment, recreational activities, and adaptive clothing and technology. This year’s exhibitors included:
* Air Compassion for Veterans: http://www.aircompassionforveterans.org/
* Bob Woodruff Foundation: http://remind.org/
* Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: http://www.christopherreeve.org/
* Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: http://coalitionforveterans.org/
* Defense Centers of Excellence Real Warriors Campaign: http://www.dcoe.health.mil/
* Disabled American Veterans: http://www.dav.org/
* DoD Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program: http://www.tricare.mil/CAP/
* Lakeshore Foundation: http://www.lakeshore.org/
* Sew Much Comfort: http://www.sewmuchcomfort.org/
* SHARE Initiative/Shepherd Center: http://www.shepherd.org/news/SHAREInitiative.asp
* The Mission Continues Center for Citizen Leadership: http://www.missioncontinues.org/
* Touch Bionics: http://www.touchbionics.com/
* U.S. Army Medical Command: http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/
* USA Cares: http://www.usacares.org/
* Warrior Transition Command: http://www.army.mil/info/organization/offices/eoh/wtc/
AW2 Veteran Derek Duplisea Delivers Message of Hope
AW2 Veteran Derek Duplisea is a success story from the 2008 Symposium Career Forum. His meeting with a recruiter from Raytheon eventually led to a job as the company’s Wounded Warrior Liaison.
“There is life after being wounded in Iraq,” Duplisea told more than 50 delegates attending his presentation, “There are jobs available based on your skills and your will to succeed. You can recover and be a productive member of society.” To read more about Duplisea’s speech, visit the blog entry at
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/10/AW2-Veteran-Delivers-Message-of-Hope.aspx.
Symposium Receives Unprecedented Media Coverage
AW2 Stratcom hosted a press conference at the AW2 Symposium to share the importance of Soldier, Veteran, and Family care with the San Antonio community. AW2 Director COL Jim Rice, AW2 Soldier SSG Shilo Harris, and AW2 Career Coordinator Roberta Berry spoke to reporters during the event, and several additional delegates shared their stories with reporters throughout the week.
AW2 received favorable coverage from five local television stations (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and Univision), the Pentagon Channel, the Associated Press, two local newspapers, and two local radio stations.
AW2 Soldier SSG Shilo Harris told reporters that his primary goal for the week was to “focus on continuing to provide for my Family. My Family means everything to me. They stand beside me, behind me, and sometimes for me.”
To read the Killeen Daily Herald article featuring AW2 Soldier SGT Shawn Pryor, click here: http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=34471.
NMFA Hosts Operation Purple Camp for AW2 Children
While the AW2 Symposium delegates engaged in focus groups, AW2 kids participated in Operation Purple® camp, hosted by the National Military Family Association. Kids ages 5 to 18 went swimming nearly every day and enjoyed trips to Sea World, the Alamo, the IMAX theater, the San Antonio Children’s Museum, and the Incredible Pizza Company. They also spent a significant amount of time bonding with each other and sharing their stories about their parents’ injuries.
“I expected my eight-year-old to enjoy Operation Purple® camp,” said AW2 spouse Christina Grimes, “but my teenage daughter was even more excited. On the first day, she met three other girls whose fathers had traumatic brain injuries, and they spent most of the week talking about their experiences.”
To read more about Operation Purple® camp, visit the AW2 blog at https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/default.aspx or to find out about other Operation Purple® camps visit http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=op_default. Most of the entries provide a daily recap on camp activities.
AW2 Advocates Serving Soldiers, Veterans, and Families
Sixteen AW2 Advocates attended the AW2 Symposium in San Antonio. At least one Advocate attended each focus group meeting, and for the first time, AW2 included Advocate Mentors. These were AW2 Advocates who were either AW2 Soldiers themselves or Family members of AW2 Soldiers.
“No one can do what the Advocate Mentors do,” said AW2 Operations Officer MAJ Deb Cisney. “They have walked in our Soldiers’ shoes.”
AW2 Advocates and Mentors were available to support delegates with any situation that arose. “I attended as a delegate last year, and this year was so different, because I spent my time taking care of Soldiers,” said AW2 Advocate Mentor Clay Rankin. “I love taking care of Soldiers whether they’re sick, upset, or just need a few minutes of down time.” Rankin and his service dog Archie were among the most popular Symposium participants. “We even joined the Medical group for a while to talk about the financial issues facing Veterans with service dogs. And everyone loves Archie!” he added.
Read More on the AW2 Symposium Blogs
This year, AW2 blogged live from the Symposium. To read these entries featuring comments from attendees and more AW2 blogs, click here:
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/default.aspx
AW2 Symposium Report Out and Closing Ceremony https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/14/AW2-Symposium-Report-Out-and-Closing-Ceremony.aspx
AW2 Symposium: Wrapping Up
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/13/AW2-Symposium-Wrapping-Up.aspx
AW2 Symposium Q&A with AW2 Leadership
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/13/AW2-Symposium-QA-with-AW2-Leadership.aspx
AW2 Symposium: How AW2 Symposiums Use the AFAP Process
AW2 Symposium Q&A with WTC Leadership
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/12/AW2-Symposium-QA-with-WTC-Leadership.aspx
AW2 Symposium: Making Progress and Having Fun
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/12/Making-Progress-and-Having-Fun.aspx
AW2 Symposium Helps Families Reconnect
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/11/AW2-Symposium-Helps-Families-Reconnect.aspx
AW2 Symposium Opening Ceremony, Focus Groups, and Operation Purple Camp
AW2 Symposium Career Expo, Operation Purple® Camp, and Press Conference
AW2 Symposium: Veteran Delivers Message of Hope
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/10/AW2-Veteran-Delivers-Message-of-Hope.aspx
AW2 Symposium – Welcome!
https://www.aw2.army.mil/_blog/post/2009/07/08/Welcome-to-the-2009-AW2-Symposium.aspx
For more information about AW2 or the AW2 Symposium, please visit our Web site at www.AW2.army.mil. To contact us, please email AW2Stratcomm@conus.army.mil or call toll free 1-800-237-1336.
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