FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion,
in coordination with Warrior Transition
Command, hosted a “Day in the Life of a WTB
Soldier” at the Fort Sam Houston WTB to better inform the public of all
the services provided.
Members of congress and their staff were invited to
participate in the event to receive a firsthand look at how the Army cares for
and provide services to Soldiers and their families.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and staffer Scott Ferguson were
first to participate in the event Sept. 4, followed by Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas)
and former WTB Soldier Jon Arnold, who visited Sept. 15.
The day included an overview of the WTB’s mission and
purpose, transition and Soldier and family assistance briefs, a WTB barracks
tour and a Soldier Adaptive and Reconditioning Program overview and
demonstrations, emphasizing the importance of Soldiers care and transition programs
for the Army’s wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers.
“This event gave us an opportunity to showcase our
facilities and inform the invitees about the battalion’s mission. It also
allowed us to highlight our partnerships with Department of Defense and local
community organizations that play an important role in assisting our Soldiers
and families during their transition period,” said Maj. Sarah Thompson, S3 WTB
staff and project officer for the event.
The WTB’s mission is to ensure every Soldier receives the
best care and service during his or her transition either back to duty or to
the civilian community. During the visit, WTB commander Lt. Col. Michael Harper
stressed the transition process and the
Soldier’s Comprehensive Transition Plan.
“One of the main components to start the transition process
is through the Comprehensive Transition Plan,” Harper said. “This plan is set
by the Soldier, with support of medical professionals, who will determine how
they want to move ahead in their transition. It is their personal living plan
of action that focuses on their future.
“Once this is established, our team of Triad of Care
professionals, will help them work toward that goal,” Harper added. “We look at
every aspect of care individually and tailor each transition process to achieve
the goals of the Soldier and their families.”
Following Smith’s meet and greet with wounded warriors at
the Center for the Intrepid, Smith praised the work being done to help wounded
warriors transition into civilian life.
“The one place that we don’t have to worry about is here in
San Antonio, the Center for the Intrepid
and the Warrior Transition Battalion. They get first class care all the time,”
Smith said to the staff and patients. “Thank you for what you do.”
In addition to learning about the WTB’s mission, Hurd was
also introduced to the importance of the Soldier Adaptive and Reconditioning
Program and how they play a vital role in helping Soldiers in their recovery,
rehabilitation and reintegration.
“Getting involved with adaptive reconditioning allows
recovering Soldiers to hone different skills, focus and relax,” Thompson said.
“It has a big impact on their recovery and their overall well-being.
“They are able to train in various sports such as cycling,
track and field, archery, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair
basketball or less stringent activities such as fishing, music and horseback
riding,” Thompson said. “Many Soldiers compete in the Warrior Games, and bring
home medals every year – most of them gold and silver.”
“You are an inspiration to a lot of people. Keep up the
great work. This is pretty awesome,” Hurd said. “The WTB doesn’t practice the
common practice, you set the best practice,” he said.
Since January 2007, more than 71,000 wounded, ill or injured
Soldiers and their families received care from the dedicated Warrior Care and
Transition Program with more than 30,000 – approximately 44 percent – of
Soldiers returned to the force.
The Army is caring for more than 3,000 wounded, ill and
injured Soldiers and Veterans between WTB and the Army Wounded Warrior Program
with BAMC WTB having 273 Soldiers assigned to the battalion.
For more information about the BAMC WTB, visit http://www.bamc.amedd.army.mil/wtb.