Secretary of Defense designates November Warrior Care Month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has designated Nov. 2008 as Warrior Care Month to raise awareness of resources and programs available for wounded service members and their families. 

"We need to make it easier for our troops and their families to benefit from all of the assistance now available to them," Gates said. "This month, let us rededicate ourselves to helping those who have sacrificed so much on our behalf." 

The Air Force defines a wounded warrior as any Airman that has a combat or hostile-related injury or illness requiring long-term care that will require a Medical Evaluation Board or Physical Evaluation Board to determine fitness for duty. 

Since Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the Air Force has cared for our Airmen, continually improving care and support through lessons learned and Airmen feedback.

Roughly 350 wounded Airmen and their families are being supported under the umbrella of Air Force's Warrior and Survivor care program. The program focuses on specific family needs, providing the best individualized support based on identified needs. 

"Our medical professionals are on the ground at forward bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the globe," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "Once wounded warriors reach these treatment facilities, they have a 97 percent chance of surviving, the highest survival rate in the history of warfare." 

The program works with wounded warriors and their extended families providing a thorough analysis of opportunities and benefits that are available to medically retired and separated combat veterans, including vocational, disability retirement income, civil service and private sector employment and educational opportunities. 

The Air Force also provides a Family Liaison Officer who is a personal representative to help the family in all matters and is a link to a wide range of assistance for transportation, information, finance, and more.

Airman & Family Readiness Center counseling consultants support both the wounded warrior and their extended family throughout their recovery process.

"Many of our great Airmen are suffering from traumatic brain injury, and even more suffer the effects of post traumatic stress," said Chief McKinley. "These warriors need our understanding and attention," he said. "They need appropriate guidance and support from their leadership, peers and medical professionals to obtain the best treatment possible." 

Chief McKinley also said that today's Airmen have a unique advantage over other wounded warriors in the past. The reach of Air Force aeromedical evacuation and the ability to move patients within days or hours if necessary is phenomenal. Since 2001, the system has treated and transferred more than 54,720 patients from the battlefield to medical facilities outside the war zone. 

For information on the Air Force Wounded Warrior program, go to www.woundedwarrior.af.mil, call (800) 581-9437, or send an e-mail to afwounded.warrior@randolph.af.mil