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In the dead of night above the mountains of Afghanistan, an
unidentified U.S. Air Force special operations Airman noticed
something suspicious while walking the perimeter of the base during
a security check. He approached the suspicious package. BOOM!
Everything went black and he was numb all over. The Airman was later
informed unless he completely healed from this traumatic event, he
would no longer be able to accomplish his duties.
 If
a similar situation ever happened to you or someone you know, keep
in mind the Air Force has several resources to help. One of these is
the Wounded Warrior Program.
The Air Force Wounded Warrior
Program was created in 2005 to support and care for seriously
wounded, ill and injured Airmen. The federally-mandated program
provides well-coordinated and personalized support to wounded
warriors, caregivers and their families.
The Air Force
Personnel Center reviews injured military members to see if they fit
the criteria to be considered a wounded warrior. Airmen with highly
complex medical conditions as outlined by a Medical Authority or a
medical diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain
Injury or any serious or severe medical conditions such as cancer,
major depression, or severe anxiety are almost always accepted.
"The program exists to make sure wounded warriors are taken care
of," said Robert Snyder, Air Force recovery coordinator. "It's to
ensure accessibility and minimize delays and gaps in medical and
non-medical services such as career and transition guidance and
connecting with local resources Department of Defense and Veteran
Affairs Programs."
Fairchild currently has 17 wounded
warriors including members of Active Duty, Reserve and Guard
components. Overall, the base has had over 100 wounded warriors
since the program started in 2005.
Snyder works at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Washington, and visits Fairchild four times a year to
help wounded warriors.
"I visit Fairchild to sit down and
talk to them face-to-face," said Snyder. "It's good to interact with
them, not just through emails or phone calls, but to actually see
how they are and what their concerns are."
Recovery care
coordinators are the focal points for non-clinical case management
for the wounded warriors and their families. They work to streamline
and improve the way care and support are delivered. They also
advocate for and offer a single point of contact for Airmen and
their families along their road to recovery.
"Personally,
knowing I help alleviate roadblocks for them is rewarding," Snyder
said. "I'm here to prevent stress and make it easier for them to
recover. The recovery team doesn't only include us, but there are
also representatives from the medical team and Airman & Family
Readiness Center."
The Air Force is the only service that
stays in contact with the individual and their families even after
they recover or receive a medical treatment, Snyder added. The Air
Force stays in contact with wounded warriors from time to time to
make sure they are still cared for.
Wounded warriors also
have the opportunity to interact with other wounded warriors through
the Warrior Care Support Programs, some of which are the Adaptive
and Recreational Sports Program and Recovering Airman Mentorship
Program where wounded warriors can work as mentors to other wounded
warriors, said Snyder.
"The goal is to prevent veterans from
being on the side of the road asking for help because they don't
have money or someone who can take care of them," Snyder concluded.
By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Janelle Pati�o
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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