U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM COL David S. Oeschger , AW2 Director

1. U.S. ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR (AW2) PROGRAM COL David S. Oeschger, AW2 Director SGM Patrick S. Fatuesi, AW2 Sergeant Major Prepared by: Ellwood Burdsall For: AW2 Staff 01 Sep 2014 “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.” V1 031500QSep2014

2. 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

3. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program 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. SSG Julio A. Larrea AW2 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.”

4. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program “Building Paths to Independence” • 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. SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley and his daughter 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.”

5. 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. 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. SPC(ret.) Steven Escalera and his Daughter AW2 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…”

6. Command Relationships AW2 Director COL David S. Oeschger

7. To be considered an AW2 Soldier/Veteran • 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

8. AW2 Soldiers/Veterans: Growth Over 12 Months Total: 21479 As of 1 Sep 14 UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO 21479 Increase of 2653 since 1 Jan 14 AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate Ratio: 102:1 2014 2013 *Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db

9. Physical Condition Demographics Total: 21479 As of 1 Sep 14 67% 20000 16000 10% 12000 6% 8000 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 4000 2% 1% 1% 2000 TBI Other PTSD Disease Burns Amputee Paralysis Extremity Psychiatric Spinal / Vertebra Blindness / Vision *Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db

10. Soldier/Veteran Status – 1 Sep 14 AW2 Severely wounded, injured and ill*** WTU / Unit __ Complex Medical Needs / iDES 21479* COAD/COAR/FIT 181 1664 19557** Veteran Population in our Communities *Incl:77 Deceased ** Do not contact: 404 *** AW2 WTU: 1176 *Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db

11. AW2 Team Advocates assist wherever the Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families/Caregivers are located, as they progress along their path to independence. • 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 Ms Roberta Berry and AW2 COAD Soldier SSG Guilling AW2 Careers • 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) Ms Jeannie Jones Contract Regional Coordinator North Region

12. AdvocateDemographics • 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 Mr. James Anderson Advocate Fort Knox, KY

13. AW2 Advocate Locations

14. Questions?

15. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program Building Paths to Independence