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Warrior Care Month helps Soldiers' morale

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Service members from the Walson Medical Support Element and community members gathered to celebrate 'Soldiers Appreciation Month' at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center Nov. 15, 2012, for the service members currently attached to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst's Warrior Transition Unit.

The Secretary of Defense designated November as Warrior Care Month in 2008 in order to inform service members, their families and local communities about the programs and initiatives currently provided through the Warrior Care system. The observance of WCM was deferred by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to the military services, with each military service responsible for recognizing WCM in some capacity such as employment fairs, professional development sessions, open houses, media days and celebrating the resiliency of Soldiers and their families in 2009.

"At the present time, we have approximately 30 service members in the WTU here," said Sgt. 1st Class Francis Kuwornu, WMSE WTU 3rd platoon sergeant.

The Soldiers assigned to the WTU are a mix of reserve component service members, 60 percent from the Army Reserve and forty percent from the Army National Guard from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Army Medical Command and its subordinate commands have been instructed to highlight and communicate WCM messages through outreach events throughout November.

"We are required to conduct, at a minimum, two events during WCM," said Kuwornu, a resident of New York City. "For the first event, we had an Open House Nov. 7 at the Timmermann Center where approximately 70 participants had the opportunity to connect with 29 community partners."

A WTU closely resembles an Army unit, with a cadre and integrated Army process built on the Army's strength of unit cohesion and teamwork. The unit allows wounded Soldiers to focus on healing and transitioning back to Army or to civilian status.

"Most of the Soldiers are assigned to the WTU for up to 60-days," said First Lt. Dustin Gaworski, WTU commander. "After the 60days, unless special care or additional treatments is needed, the service member is transferred to another WTU closer to their home of record and family support."

The Army has in place the Community-Based Warrior Transition Unit in addition to the WTU. The CBWTU functions as a WTU for Soldiers who receive care in their community at Department of Defense, TRICARE or Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.

The CBWTUs primarily provide outpatient care management and transition services for Army Reserves and National Guard Soldiers who do not need the day-to-day management provided by WTUs on Army installations.

Another event for fulfilling the requirement of WCM was a luncheon held at the SFAC by the members of WSME and some of its civilian counterparts. The participants were able to partake in board and video games and socialize with one another in addition to the luncheon.

Maj. Gen. William D. Razz Waff, 99th Regional Support Command commanding general, was the guest speaker and expressed his commitment to helping the WTU.

"I want to reassure you of my support," said Waff." We are here for you."

Waff also had words of encouragement to the Guard Soldiers.
"To our brothers and sisters of the guards, we are going to take care of you," he said.

Waff, a health care practitioner with a doctorate in medical records, stressed the importance for proper documentation.

"The things we want to do is get things correct, we don't want to just do a check the box and move you on, I don't want anyone rushed out," said Waff. "Your continuity of care is covered by the Health Insurance Protection Act and I teach HIPA in my civilian life."
The 99th RSC provides base operations support to all Army Reserve Soldiers, units, facilities and equipment for Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire and the District of Columbia.