U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM COL David S. Oeschger , AW2 Director
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Transcript of U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM COL David S. Oeschger , AW2 Director
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“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.”
U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM
COL David S. Oeschger, AW2 DirectorSGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major
Prepared by: Ellwood BurdsallFor: AW2 Staff
01 Sep 2014
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
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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.
Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program 3
SSG Julio A. LarreaAW2 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.”
Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program“Building Paths to Independence”
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SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley and his daughter
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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SPC(ret.) Steven Escalera and his DaughterAW2 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 6
AW2 DirectorCOL David S. Oeschger
• 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
OR• Receive a Combined 50% IDES rating for any other Combat or Combat Related
Condition
To be considered an AW2 Soldier/Veteran 7
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
AW2 Soldiers/Veterans: Growth Over 12 Months
Total: 21479As of 1 Sep 14
21479
18295
1859318826
1908719343
19653
20223
20566
2086421118
17945
17000
18000
19000
20000
21000
22000
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
21479
2013
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2014
UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO
AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate Ratio: 102:1
AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate Ratio: 102:1
Increase of 2653since
1 Jan 14
Year Population
2004 340
2005 909
2006 1476
2007 2489
2008 3814
2009 5892
2010 8042
2011 9762
2012 14838
2013 18826
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
Physical Condition Demographics
67%
10%
6%3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1%
2000
4000
8000
12000
16000
20000
PTSDTBI
Ampu
tee
Psych
iatric
Extrem
ityOth
er
Paraly
sis
Diseas
e
Spinal
/ Ver
tebr
a
Blindn
ess /
Visi
on
Burns
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Total: 21479As of 1 Sep 14
*Incl:77 Deceased** Do not contact: 404*** AW2 WTU: 1176
Soldier/Veteran Status – 1 Sep 14
Veteran Population in our
Communities
Severelywounded, injured
and ill***
181 1664
19557**
COAD/COAR/FITWTU / Unit
__
Complex Medical Needs /iDES
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*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
Life Cycle Management Program (LCMP)
LCMP Phase Total
1( Active) 8343
2( 90 Day ) 3154
3( 180 Day) 9578
AW2 TEAM
• 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)
• 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
Advocates assist wherever the Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along their path to independence.
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Ms Roberta Berry and AW2 COAD Soldier SSG Guilling
AW2 Careers
Ms Jeannie JonesContract Regional Coordinator
North Region
• 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
ADVOCATE DEMOGRAPHICS 12
Mr. James AndersonAdvocate
Fort Knox, KY
AW2 Advocate Locations13
Questions?
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