JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The Air Force Wounded Warrior, or AFW2, Program continues to lead the way in fostering an environment of connectedness with warriors, caregivers and their families. AFW2 regularly provides multitudes of support resources with the help of AFW2 Community Programs, to ensure Warriors and their families connect to a network of support and receive aid throughout their journey of recovery.
AFW2 Community Programs connects warriors and their families to events, opportunities and resources from the roughly 46,000 veteran service organizations located nationwide. The team uses social media platforms to connect with veteran service organizations and obtain vital information, which they streamline and share to warriors and their families.
“We create a monthly calendar broken down into the six AFW2 care management regions and publish a quarterly newsletter to highlight specific events and organizations,” said Bobby Puckett, AFW2 Community Programs manager. “We provide personal assistance locating resources on a case-by-case basis, but the most efficient way to share information from these organizations is through the AFW2 Community Programs Facebook page.”
The Community Programs team works to ensure warriors and their families never feel isolated, particularly during times of transition such as residing in a new community or retiring from active duty. Their newest initiative, Warrior and Family Social Connections, or WAFSC, allows AFW2 Warriors to stay connected with fellow Warriors in their local area and engage in community-based events. The goal is to build national local communities amongst Warriors and their families.
“I’ve definitely enjoyed having that sense of community and ability to connect with other local warriors and getting out and doing fun stuff,” said retired Capt. Rob Hufford, AFW2 warrior. “I’ve seen it help me in my recovery and I know it’s helped others in theirs. We’ve even expanded our local WAFSC with warriors from other service branches and shared social experiences with them.”
Life may look different now, but that has not hindered the ongoing efforts of the community programs team to continue serving warriors and their families during this time. The team stays readily available to assist and keep Warriors informed on current events happening in their community.
“Many organizations have created programs to help Warriors and their families get through these times, and we share a lot of information about these new programs,” Bobby said. “It is equally important to know which organizations, in which state, are still doing events and which have been canceled. We place a significant amount of time researching everything pertaining to the pandemic situation.”
Community Programs also assists Warriors who may be seeking adaptive sports equipment to further their recovery or use to participate in our virtual sports competitions. The team collaborates with the VA and Non-Profit organizations that offer grants for equipment based on eligibility requirements the Warrior must provide, such as a medical clearance or documentation supporting the need for equipment.
Warriors may register through the VA at, www.benefits.va.gov/compensation, to determine their eligibility for adaptive sports equipment. They can also connect with non-profit organizations such as Hope for the Warriors, Play Foundation, Independence Fund, Team Semper Fi/America’s Fund, IM Able Foundation and Kelly Brush Foundation to learn more about their qualifications and application process.
Tune in to the AFW2 Facebook page and witness the first-ever AFW2 Virtual CARE Week happening 18-21 August. Learn more about the recovery and support programs our Warriors and Caregivers will be participating in this week. To refer an Airman, or learn more about the AFW2 Program, visit www.woundedwarrior.af.mil for additional information and resources.