105

Military and Veteran Support Systems

Chapter 7

MILITARY AND VETERAN SUPPORT 

SYSTEMS

MICHELLE L. SPORNER, MS, CRC*; RORY A. COOPER, PhD†; and WILLIAM LAKE‡

INTRODUCTION

MILITARY SEVERELY INJURED SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Army Wounded Warrior Program

Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment

Navy Safe Harbor

Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

Military Severely Injured Center

Operation Warfighter Program 

Defense Department Computer and Electronic Accommodation Program 

Labor Department Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines

Life Insurance, Special Pay Programs, and Travel Benefits

Heroes to Hometowns 

Services Offered by Military Support Systems

VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Disabled American Veterans

Wounded Warrior Project

Other Important Organizations

SUMMARY

ATTACHMENT: REGIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

*Research Assistant, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/University of Pittsburgh, 7180 Highland Drive, 

Building 4, 2nd Floor, 151R1-H, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206

†Senior Career Scientist, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Distinguished Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, 5044 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260

‡Colonel (Retired), US Marine Corps; Associate, Department of IT Strategy, Booz Allen Hamilton Incorporated, 4040 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 

Virgina 22203
106

Care of the Combat Amputee

Warrior Ethos

	 •	 I will always place the mission first.

	 •	 I will never accept defeat.

	 •	 I will never quit.

	 •	 I will never leave a fallen comrade.

The programs embrace the military philosophy that all

service members are brothers and sisters, as expressed

in the Army’s “we will never leave a fallen comrade”

and the Marine Corps’ “once a Marine, always a Marine.” This chapter will examine the different programs

available to injured service members and discuss their

benefits.

To augment and facilitate a wounded service member’s journey through the rehabilitation process, and

to ensure a seamless transition from injury to civilian

life or return to active duty, the US military has initiated several programs. Through the efforts of fellow

military personnel and veterans, these programs offer

support to injured service members and theirfamilies.

INTRODUCTION

MILITARY SEVERELY INJURED SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Army Wounded Warrior Program

On April 30, 2004, the Department of the Army

established the Disabled Soldier Support System

program, which became the US Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) program on November 10, 2005. Serving

over 2,400 soldiers today, AW2 provides a system of

advocacy and personal support for severely wounded

soldiers and their families as they transition from

military service to the civilian community,1 in phased

progression from initial casualty notification until after the soldiers’ return home. AW2 works to facilitate

contact and coordination between the soldier and

external supporting agencies such as the Department

of Veterans Affairs (VA), veteran service organizations, and vocational rehabilitation. The goal of AW2

is to help soldiers receive full Army and VA benefits,

continued healthcare after retiring from the Army,

financial counseling, and all the services awarded for

as long as needed.1,2

To be eligible to receive services from AW2, a soldier must have sustained injuries or illnesses after

September 10, 2001, in support of the global war on

terror (GWOT), or have received or be expected to

receive a 30% rating for one or more injuries rated by

the Physical Disability Evaluation System including,

but not limited to, loss of limb, spinal cord injury/

paralysis, severe burn, traumatic brain injury, or posttraumatic stress disorder. AW2 monitors and tracks

these severely wounded soldiers for 5 years beyond

their medical retirement, ensuring that they and their

families have continued access to an array of nonmedical support services through rehabilitation and

return to duty or separation/retirement.1 AW2 can be

reached through its toll-free number: 1-800-237-1336.

The attachment to this chapter provides a list of soldier

family management specialist locations by state, with

contact numbers.

Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment

The Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment (MWWR)

was created in 2007 from the Marine for Life (M4L)

program (established in 2002 and expanded in 2005

to include the Injured Support System) to serve active duty or honorably discharged marines. The regiment’s mission is “to provide and facilitate assistance

to ill/injured Marines, sailors attached to or in direct

support of Marine units, and their family members

throughout the phases of recovery in order to assist

in rehabilitation and transition.” Transition refers to

a return to active duty or separation from active duty

with all possible benefits. The MWWR helps marines

and sailors with disabilities remain on active duty or

transition from military to civilian life. Marines and

sailors who have sustained severe injuries (and their

families) have support throughout all phases ofrecovery.3 The other military services modeled their support

programs on M4L.

The Marine Corps had been providing similar

support prior to the establishment of the regiment;

however, despite a “unity of effort,” no “unity of

command” existed. Underthe MWWR one command

is accountable for tracking and meeting the needs of

wounded, injured, or severely ill marines and their

families. Under the regiment’s unity of command

and the unity of effort, procedures are standardized,

resources are shared, and transitions from Department

of Defense (DoD) care to VA care are as seamless as

possible.

The MWWR has two battalions, the Wounded

Warrior Battalion East (WWBN-E), located at Marine
107

Military and Veteran Support Systems

Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and the

Wounded Warrior Battalion West (WWBN-W), at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.WWBN-E

was officially formed on July 1, 2007, and WWBN-W

on August 1, 2007 (previously these units were the II

Marine Expeditionary Force Injured Support Unit and

the I Marine Expeditionary Force Injured Support Unit,

respectively). The battalions are home to the wounded

warrior barracks, where marines recuperate from their

injuries with the support of fellow wounded marines

in a cohesive unit that assembles for morning formations, performs tasks appropriate to capabilities, and

provides transportation to medical appointments.

Wounded warrior battalions are responsible for their

respective geographical area:WWBN-E covers the area

east of the Mississippi River and WWBN-W handles

the area west of the Mississippi. Marines at Brooke

Army Medical Centerin Fort Sam Houston, Texas, are

tracked by WWBN-W.

The MWWR also monitors marines at the VA’s four

polytrauma rehabilitation centers located inRichmond,

Virginia; Tampa, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and

Palo Alto, California. These facilities are designed to

help veterans who have traumatic brain injury in addition to other severe injuries and require specialized

intensive rehabilitation. When a marine is transferred

to a VA facility, the Marine Corps facilitates the transfer via the VA Office of Seamless Transition, which

includes a Marine colonel who monitors the marines

leaving the care of the DoD system and entering the

VA system. Through connections with both systems,

the colonel can alert the VAof the movement timeline.

The MWWRcan request marines’ orders to be adjusted

if the VA is not ready to accept them.

The MWWR is aggressively reaching out to all injured marines to ensure that their needs are being met.

Those identified as seriously ill, who require extensive

treatment and therapy prior to returning to duty or

processing through the disability evaluation system,

are placed in a limited-duty status in excess of 30 days.

The acute phase of recovery includes all critical care

services provided in theater and in the level-IV treatment area in Landstuhl, Germany. Medical and rehabilitation services provided at the medical treatment

facility (MTF) or a VA polytrauma center are typically

a part of the rehabilitation phase.3As injured marines

enter the acute and rehabilitation phases, they receive

support from MWWR headquarters, and during the

separation or retention phase, they receive support

from MWWR district injured support cells, located

regionally throughout the United States, along with

local hometown links. Many hometown links cover an

area in excess of 100 miles to reach as many marines as

possible; for those areas that do not have a hometown

link, M4Lhas partnered with the Marine Corps League

and other veteran volunteers to provide support.4

The attachment to this chapter lists hometown link

contacts by state.

As of April 2006, the US Marine Corps was averaging over 200 injuries a month,5 and the entire

M4L program had served 5,500 marines who served

in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi

Freedom, with 30 to 40 active support cases at any

time.5 Currently the Corps has more than 400 injured

or ill marines and sailors on the regiment’s rolls, with

more expected as units transfer wounded personnel.

The MWWR is expected to grow to 100 active duty,

reserve, and civilian personnel, in addition to 150 individual mobilization augmentees. Marines take care

of each other before, during, and after the battle. The

MMWR is living its motto “taking care of our own”

through unwavering support for wounded, injured,

and ill marines.

Navy Safe Harbor

The mission of the Navy Safe Harbor program is

to provide personalized support and assistance to

wounded, ill, and injured sailors and their families.

Sailors who incurred severe injuries after September

10, 2001, in support of GWOT are eligible for Safe Harbor benefits. The program establishes and maintains

communication with the sailor’s command and works

to encourage active duty retention. Sailors with a disability rating of 30% or greater are provided continuing

supportfortransitioning to civilian life as appropriate.6

For sailors assigned to Marine units, Safe Harbor partners with MWWR to provide support.

Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (formerly

Palace HART) is available to all injured airmen with

a combat-related disability, including Purple Heart

recipients.7 The program ensures that all ill and injured

airmen receive appropriate services by providing a

support system that includes a family liaison officer

to assist them through all phases of the rehabilitation

process and transition, including assistance with filing VA disability claims or potential temporary duty

retirements listing. Airmen also receive case management for 5 years post injury, vocational counseling,

and placement assistance.7

Military Severely Injured Center

In 2005 the DoD opened the Military Severely Injured Centerto ensure that all severely injured men and

women returning from Iraq andAfghanistan received

a seamless transition back to military service or into
108

Care of the Combat Amputee

the civilian community.At the time, each branch of the

military had its own injured support program, but the

DoD saw a need to reach across all service branches to

fill any gaps in the delivery and continuity of care as

these programs developed. Since 2005 the service injured support programs have grown in staff and scope

to the point where the level of augmentation support

provided by the center has significantly decreased. Today, the center provides back-up support as requested

by the services, and in most cases, acts as a referral

agent for injured service members or their families to

the appropriate service injured support program.8

Operation Warfighter Program 

The DoD also sponsors the Operation Warfighter

(OWF) program, which provides temporary assignments in participating federal agencies in the

Washington, DC, area to volunteer service members

in a medical hold status at an MTF.9 OWF’s goal is to

engage injured service members in outside activities

to enhance their well-being. The number of hours

worked per week and the duration of the assignment are determined by an individual treatment

schedule on a strict, noninterference basis with the

service member’s military or medical obligations.

Although not an employment program per se (many

OWF “graduates” have gone on to continue military

service or secure employment at their home or in

another area), OWF exposes service members to an

area within the federal government that interests

them, where they can contribute and are valued for

their experience and training.Although the program’s

primary purpose is to keep injured service members

actively engaged in their recovery, many OWF participants have received mentoring at their federal

agency, and some have received offers of permanent

employment with the agency after completion of their

military service.

Defense Department Computer and Electronic Accommodation Program 

The federally funded Computer and Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP) was established in 1990

to provide assistive technology for DoD employees

with disabilities. Currently 64 other federal agencies

have adopted this program to provide appropriate

accommodations to help injured service members and

veterans return to the workplace. CAP representatives

demonstrate assistive technology devices and capabilities to injured service members and introduce new

career possibilities. CAP provides assistive technology

to any federal employee who needs it. In fiscal 2005

CAP filled more than 3,000 requests for accommodations within the DoD and more than 2,000 in other

federal agencies. Located at the Pentagon, the CAP

center demonstrates assistive technology to visitors

that allows individuals with loss of vision, hearing, or

hand function to interface with a computer, telephone,

and other aspects of their environment. CAP also provides equipment installation and training. In addition,

CAP helps DoD agencies with workers’ compensation

processes, tele-work solutions, and equal employment

opportunity complaints.

Labor Department Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines

Developed by the Department of Labor’s Veterans’

Employment and Training Service (VETS), the Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) program provides information and access to oneon-one employment assistance and online resources

to help wounded and injured transitioning service

members and veterans reintegrate into the civilian

workforce. VETS’ mission is to provide veterans and

transitioning service members with the resources and

services to succeed in the 21st century workforce by

maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights, and helping them meet

labor market demands. The REALifelines program

provides veterans and transitioning service members

wounded and injured as a result of GWOT, and their

family members, with the resources they need to successfully transition to a rewarding career.

Life Insurance, Special Pay Programs, and Travel 

Benefits

Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

(TSGLI) provides monetary support to individuals

covered by Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

(SGLI) who have had an injury resulting in traumatic

loss (eg, loss of limbs, sight, hearing, traumatic brain

injury) and their families. This vital assistance, which

enables family members to join injured service members during recovery, does not affect Army or VA disability compensation determinations. TSGLI coverage,

available for a flatrate of $1 per month for most service

members, can pay between $25,000 and $100,000 depending upon the traumatic loss.10 TSGLI is intended

to cover expenses that may not be compensated by

other mechanisms, for example, loss of spouse or parent income, extended family travel, and equipment or

services not available through the DoD or VA.

Combat-related injury and rehabilitation pay

(CIP) is payable up to $430 a month. Eligible members already receiving hazardous fire or imminent

danger pay are paid $205 month. Basic allowance for
109

Military and Veteran Support Systems

subsistence (BAS) entitlements continue for service

members during hospitalization (BAS-authorized

service members not hospitalized must pay for their

own meals). The 2007 monthly rates for BAS were

$279.88 for enlisted personnel and $192.74 for officers.

Service members who were medically evacuated

from a combat zone and considered hospitalized are

entitled to CIP. For the purposes of CIP entitlement,

service members are considered hospitalized if they

are admitted as an inpatient or receive extensive rehabilitation as an outpatient while living in quarters

affiliated with the military healthcare system, such as

the Fisher House at Walter ReedArmy Medical Center.

CIP is nontaxable, and no forms must be filled out to

receive it. The hospitalized service member is eligible

for CIP starting the month after medical evacuation,

and it terminates at the end of the first month during

which any of the following apply:

	 •	 the member is paid a TSGLI benefit;

	 •	 30 days have passed since the member received notification of eligibility for a TSGLI

benefit; or

	 •	 the service member is no longer “hospitalized” (no longer an MTF inpatient orreceiving

extensive outpatient rehabilitation or other

medical care while living in quarters affiliated

with the military healthcare system).

Combat zone tax exclusion allows military members

to exclude all or a portion of pay and entitlements

earned while serving in designated combat areas from

tax liabilities. The exclusion is also authorized for

each month of inpatient hospitalization as a result of

wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving in

a combat zone. Wounded, injured, or ill service members may qualify for the exclusion for up to 2 years if

rehospitalized for the same injury.

Invitational travel authorizations are government

orders authorizing travel for family members to an

MTF where a wounded, injured, orill service member

is receiving care. Travel to and from the hospital, hotel

costs, meals, and incidental expenses are reimbursed

by the government. Family members are paid a daily

rate (per diem) for meals and incidental expenses,

which differ depending on the location of the MTF. The

local wounded warrior pay support team, located at

the installation’s finance office, provides information

on per diem and maximum lodging rates for various

locations and assists family members in completing

and submitting vouchers.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

has partnered with the Military Severely Injured Centerto help ensure that severely injured military personnel and their families have a smooth and uneventful

airport screening experience. Once flight arrangements

are made with the airline, the service member, family

members, or staff of service programs, MTFs, and VA

hospitals can call the TSA operations center with details ofthe itinerary. The TSAliaison will then notify the

appropriate federal security directors at the involved

airports to ensure that required security screenings

are conducted respectfully by TSA experts to make

the overall experience as expeditious and pleasant for

the service member as possible.

Heroes to Hometowns 

The Military Severely Injured Center also sponsors

Heroes to Hometowns (H2H), a program designed to

engage local community and state support groups to

organize and welcome home an injured service member and his or herfamily to the community. Through an

official memorandum of understanding, theAmerican

Legion has partnered with the DoD to mobilize its

nearly 20,000 legion posts worldwide to act as facilitators in local communities to connect returning service

members with needed resources. States have formed

H2H committees consisting of the state American

Legion adjutants, state VA directors, and the National

Guard state family program directors to help mobilize

local community support.

The purpose of H2H is to help returning service

members become active and contributing members of

the community and help them understand their local,

state, and federal benefits. Ways in which the community can be involved include organizing a welcome

home celebration, helping secure temporary or permanent housing, assisting in adapting a home or vehicle to

the injury, finding jobs and educational opportunities,

and creating a carpool for hospital visits.Acommunity

can also provide childcare, financial support, entertainment options, counseling, spiritual support, and family

support. More information about H2H can be found

at: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.

Services Offered by Military Support Systems

All of the military support systems offer the following services to assist injured service members

throughout their rehabilitation and for many years

afterward:

	 •	 medical care and rehabilitation;

	 •	 case management;

	 •	 education, job training, and employment assistance;

	 •	 personal mobility and functioning;

	 •	 home, transportation, and workplace accommodations;
110

Care of the Combat Amputee

	 •	 personal, couple, and family counseling;

	 •	 financial resources;

	 •	 TSGLI claims submissions;

	 •	 military liaisons;

	 •	 return to active duty transitioning;

	 •	 VA transitioning;

	 •	 child care;

	 •	 informationonandresources formajorinjuries;

	 •	 injured support processes; and

	 •	 communication with veteran service and

charitable organizations.

Table 7-1 provides a list of military support organizations and their Internet contact information. DisabilityInfo.gov is a user-friendly Web site that contains

links to information for people with disabilities, their

families, employers, service providers, and other community members.

TABLE 7-1

MILITARY SUPPORT SYSTEMS INTERNET ADDRESSES 

Program Internet Address

US Army Wounded Warrior Program	 https://www.aw2.army.mil/index.html

Marine For Life	 https://www.m4l.usmc.mil/

Navy Safe Harbor	 http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/SafeHarbor/

Air Force PALACE HART	 http://www.socom.mil/care_coalition/docs/Palace_Hearts.pdf

Military HOMEFRONT/Military Severely Injured Center	 http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance	 http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm

VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a congressionally chartered service organization founded in 1946

to provide support and assistance to veterans with

spinal cord injuries and dysfunction.11 PVA advocates

for all veterans with spinal cord injuries or dysfunctions for quality healthcare, performs research and

provides education on spinal cord injury and dysfunction, protects civil rights, and provides opportunities

to maintain independence and increase the quality of

life of all PVA members.11

Helping veterans, especially those who served in

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring

Freedom, secure the benefits and healthcare they are

entitled to is central to PVA’s mission. Through its

congressional charter as a veteran service organization, PVA members can be accredited to represent

claimants before the VA. PVA has 34 chapters and

many more service offices, including 24 offices in VA

medical centers that provide spinal cord injury care.

Service offices help veterans file claims for benefits,

monitor their healthcare and the progress of their

claims, and serve as advocates for veterans with the

VA. PVAnational service officers, available regionally

across the United States and in Puerto Rico, provide

no-cost representation to veterans with spinal cord

injury and their dependents to the VA, DoD, and other

local agencies.

PVA has a number of programs to help veterans

receive benefits and live healthy and productive lives.

When necessary, the PVA appellate services program

provides legal representation at the VA Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, DC. Appellate services

also prepares and presents cases before various military

boards to ensure that PVAmembers receive maximum

benefits from the military. Research and education

supports investigations into the cure of spinal cord

injury and dysfunction as well as the development of

innovative treatments and critical new technologies.

A key function of the research and education division

is support for Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Formed to fight forthe rights of paralyzed veterans,

PVA remains involved in the creation of nearly every

piece of influential disability legislation and federal

regulation through the work of its legislative division. PVA is also involved in broader issues such as

military retirement benefits. PVA maintains an office

of the general counsel, which works closely with the

PVA veterans’ benefits department and also monitors

overall trends in the VA’s administration of benefits

and healthcare. General counsel works to provide

internal legal counsel for issues within PVA and its

member chapters, but also provides critical legal in-
111

Military and Veteran Support Systems

terpretations of changes in legislation or regulations

affecting veterans.

The PVAaccessible design division works to ensure

that veterans with disabilities have access to public facilities and housing forindependent living, providing

example home layouts for wheelchair accessibility and

consulting on major public venues to ensure maximum

usage by veterans with a wide range of disabilities.

The sports and recreation division provides a wide

variety of opportunities for veterans with disabilities

to learn and participate in activities that promote a

healthy lifestyle, including the annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games.12

Disabled American Veterans

After World War I, Disabled American Veterans

(DAV) was formed to help wounded veterans receive

the care and benefits they deserved. With over 1.2 million members, 52 state departments, and almost 2,000

chapters located throughout the United States today,

DAV continues helping veterans receive benefits, and

its active legislative department ensures that privileges

earnedby veterans areprotectedandrelevantto the current environment.13 DAV helps service members with

disabilities acquired during military conflict to transition from active duty to veteran status, and cosponsors

the National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic with VA.14

Wounded Warrior Project

“Putting veterans first in America” is the motto of

the Wounded Warrior Project, a 501c(3) organization,

originally partnered with theUnitedSpinalAssociation,

that provides free assistance to veterans in the process

of applying for benefits from VA and other agencies.

Goals ofthe organization are to give a new generation of

veterans a voice as they enterthe rehabilitation process,

promote mutual assistance among service members as

they reintegrate into communities, and let them know

they are not forgotten.15 Like the military support systems,theWoundedWarriorProject assists with housing,

daycare, identifying services, vocational support, and

peer counseling, but also offers funding and sponsorship for adaptive sports and recreation, ranging from

skiing in Colorado in partnership with Disabled Sports

USAto deep-sea fishing inAlaska.The organization has

delivered “wounded warrior packs” containing items

such as telephone calling cards, magazines, clothing,

and personal CD players to over 2,500 service members

atMTFs.Inaddition to supportfornewly injuredservice

members,theWoundedWarriorProject offers continued

services and events to alumni long aftertheir service to

establish and maintain camaraderie among current and

former service members.16

Other Important Organizations

There are many veteran service organizations and

similar groups available to help veterans with disabilities successfully reintegrate into society, such as

Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and

the Marine Corps League. The National Veterans

Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that helps

all veterans and their families and children. Its mission is to continue the process of rehabilitating and

integrating American veterans into productive roles

in society, and to facilitate, maintain, and operate a

toll-free crisis management, referral, and information

hotline for veterans and their families. The Armed

Forces Relief Trust is a nonprofit fund created by the

National Association of Broadcasters and the military

aid societies to collect and distribute donations and

loans in support of troops and families in need.

Newer organizations such as the Semper Fi Fund

and Iraq War Veterans were created during Operation

Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom to assist

veterans and theirfamilies. Iraq War Veterans supports

veterans of the war and theirfamilies, and its Web site

links to other assistance and support organizations.

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes was created

to provide a way for individuals, corporations, and

others to help severely wounded and disabled veterans

and their families rebuild their lives.

The VA, in cooperation with the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, initiated the

State Benefits Seamless Transition Program, which

placed VA staff at 10 DoD medical facilities. VA staff

identify injured military members who will be transferred to VAfacilities and contact state veterans affairs

offices on the patients’ behalf. The state offices, in turn,

contact the veterans to inform them about state benefits

for them and dependent family members. Most states

and territories offer a range of benefits to veterans.

The Red Cross offers assistance to military members

on active duty and their families, as well as veterans.

The Fisher House program is a private-public partnership that supports America’s military in times of

need,recognizing the special sacrifices of US men and

women in uniform and the hardships of military service by offering humanitarian services beyond those

normally provided by DoD and VA. Fisher Houses

provide homelike settings where injured service

members, veterans, and their families can stay while

undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Operation First Response provides sweatshirts, socks,

underwear, toothbrushes, razors, and other essentials

in backpacks, as well as assisting families of wounded

service members with travel expenses and financial

burdens incurred during rehabilitation or medical

treatment.
112

Care of the Combat Amputee

SUMMARY

Many organizations are currently working to ensure

wounded service members the support and assistance

they need and deserve. These organizations have been

established to give injured service members a voice

and show them their sacrifice has not been forgotten.

The attachment to this chapter lists several charitable

organizations and useful resources for service members and their families.

REFERENCES

	 1.	 US Army Human Resources Command. US Army Wounded Warrior Program. Army Wounded Warrior Web site.

Available at: https://www.aw2.army.mil/index.html /. Accessed December 12, 2007.

	 2.	 US Army Human Resources Command. Wounded Warrior Lifecycle of Care and AW2. Army Wounded Warrior Web

site. Available at: https://www.aw2.army.mil/about/lifecycle.html. Accessed December 10, 2008.

	 3.	 US Marine Corps. Wounded Warrior Regiment Web site. Available at: http://www.woundedwarriorregiment.org/

WWR.aspx. Accessed December 1, 2008.

	 4.	 US Marine Corps. Marine for Life. US Marine Corps Web site. Available at: https://www.m4l.usmc.mil/. Accessed

December 14, 2007.

	 5.	 Shafer JR. Marine for Life injured support: hometown link conference. Paper presented at: Annual Marine For Life

Hometown Link Conference; May 2, 2006; San Diego, Calif.

	 6.	 US Navy. Safe Harbor—severely injured support. US Navy Web site.Available at: www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/SafeHarbor/. Accessed December 14, 2007.

	 7.	 US Air Force. PALACE HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together). Washington, DC: USAF; 2006. Available at: www.

socom.mil/care_coalition/docs/Palace_Hearts.pdf. Accessed December 14, 2007.

	 8.	 US Department of Defense. Military severely injured support. Military HOMEFRONT Web site. Available at: www.

militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_HOME_1?section_id=20.40.500.393.0.0.0.0.0. Accessed

December 14, 2007.

	 9.	 US Department of Defense. Be a part of Operation Warfighter. Military HOMEFRRONT Web site. Available at: www.

militaryhomefront.dod.mil/dav/lsn/LSN/BINARY_RESOURCE/BINARY_CONTENT/1952741.pdf. Accessed

December 15, 2007.

	 10.	 US Department of VeteransAffairs. Traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI).

Department of Veterans Affairs Web site. Available at: www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm. Accessed

December 14, 2007.

	 11.	 Paralyzed Veterans of America Web site. Available at: www.pva.org/. Accessed December 21, 2007.

	 12.	 US Department of Veterans Affairs. National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.

Available at: www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2008/default.cfm. Accessed December 21, 2007.

	 13.	 Disabled Veterans of America Web site. Available at: www.dav.org/. Accessed December 21, 2007.

	 14.	 US Department of Veterans Affairs. National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.

Available at: www1.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2007/default.cfm. Accessed December 21, 2007.

	 15.	 Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Our Hero Handbook. Washington, DC: WRAMC; 2004. Available at: www.wramc.

army.mil/WarriorsInTransition/handbooks/WalterReedHeroHandbook.pdf. Accessed December 14, 2007.

	 16.	 Wounded Warrior Project Web site. Available at: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/. Accessed December 14,

2007.
113

Military and Veteran Support Systems

ATTACHMENT: REGIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

Army Wounded Warrior Soldier Family Management Specialist Locations

State Telephone Number

Alabama	 205-382-3353

Alaska	 703-325-9976

Arizona	 703-325-9976

Arkansas	 703-325-9959

California	 703-325-9980

703-325-9958

619-476-0226 (San Diego VAPTC)

310-478-3711 ext. 40935 (Los Angeles

VAMC)

650-387-2435 (Palo Alto VAPTC)

Colorado	 719-238-0777 (Fort Carson)

719-338-5284 (Denver VAMC)

Connecticut	 NA

Delaware	 617-314-5104 (Boston VAMC)

District of	 202-356-1012 ext 40380

Columbia	 (WRAMC Outpatient)

202-782-9713 (WRAMC Inpatient)

202-341-0044 (Washington VAMC)

Florida	 813-979-3638 (Tampa VAPTC)

Georgia	 706-631-0411 (Augusta VAMC)

912-435-5750 (Fort Stewart MTF)

Guam	 703-325-9980

Hawaii	 703-325-9980

Idaho	 703-325-9976

Illinois	 703-325-9070

708-408-2708 (Hines VAMC)

Indiana	 703-325-9070

708-408-2708 (Hines VAMC)

Iowa	 703-325-9982

Kansas	 785-223-1297 (Fort Riley MTF)

Kentucky	 270-562-1780 (Fort Campbell MTF)

270-985-8509 (Fort Campbell MTF)

Louisiana	 703-325-9959

Maine	 NA

Maryland	 703-325-9993

202-330-1281 (National Naval Medical

Center)

Massachusetts 	 617-314-5104 (Boston VAMC)

Michigan	 703-325-9070

Micronesia	 703-325-9980

State Telephone Number

Minnesota	 612-467-3578 ext 64810 (Minneapolis

VAPTC)

Mississippi	 703-325-9957

Missouri	 314-652-4100 ext 64810 (St Louis VAMC)

Montana	 703-325-9976

Nebraska	 703-325-9982

Nevada	 703-325-9976

New Hampshire	 NA

New Jersey	 703-325-8452

New Mexico	 703-325-9982

New York	 718-772-2332 (Bronx VA)

North Carolina	 703-325-8452

703-325-9966

910-907-7165 (Fort Bragg-WomackAMC)

910-864-8768 (Fayetteville VAMC)

North Dakota	 703-325-9982

Ohio	 216-791-3800 ext. 6227 (Cleveland VAMC)

Oklahoma	 703-325-9971

Oregon	 703-325-9958

Pennsylvania	 703-325-9993

Rhode Island	 NA

South Carolina	 703-325-9957

South Dakota	 703-325-9982

Tennessee	 703-325-9966

Texas	 703-325-9987

210-275-5966 (BAMC Outpatient)

210-916-6417 (BAMC Inpatient)

214-797-4921 (Dallas VAMC)

713-857-5823 (Houston VAMC)

254-288-8139 (Fort Hood–Darnall AMC)

Utah	 703-325-9976

Vermont	 NA

Virginia	 703-325-9992 (AW2 Headquarters)

804-399-8048 (Richmond VAPTC)

Washington	 703-325-9958

206-764-2945 ext. 62945

(Fort Lewis–Madigan AMC

and Seattle VAMC)

West Virginia	 703-325-9993

Wisconsin	 703-325-9070

Wyoming	 703-325-9976
114

Care of the Combat Amputee

Marine for Life Hometown Link Locations

State City Phone E-mail

Alabama	 Birmingham	 334-826-6460	 birmingham@m4l.usmc.mil

Mobile	 205-965-1927	 mobile@m4l.usmc.mil

Alaska	 Anchorage	 206-793-9800	 anchorage@m4l.usmc.mil

Arizona	 Phoenix	 NA	 Phoenix@m4l.usmc.mil

Tucson	 480-226-6921	 Tucson@m4l.usmc.mil

Arkansas	 Little Rock	 703-499-4118	 LittleRock@m4l.usmc.mil

California	 Bakersfield	 661-326-3672	 Bakersfield@m4l.usmc.mil

Camp Pendleton	 619-520-3836	 CampPendleton@m4l.usmc.mil

Fresno	 559-213-8538	 Fresno@m4l.usmc.mil

Los Angeles	 310-261-8538	 LosAngeles@m4l.usmc.mil

Sacramento	 916-416-5994	 Sacramento@m4l.usmc.mil

San Bernardino	 310-420-3306	 SanBernardino@m4l.usmc.mil

San Diego	 310-420-3338	 SanDiego@m4l.usmc.mil

San Diego	 619-250-7268	 SanDiego@m4l.usmc.mil

San Francisco	 415-850-8385	 sanfrancisco@m4l.usmc.mil

Colorado	 Colorado Springs 719-491-1080	 ColoradoSprings@m4l.usmc.mil

Denver	 719-491-1080	 Denver@m4l.usmc.mil

Connecticut	 New Haven	 619-293-4102	 NewHaven@m4l.usmc.mil

Delaware	 NA	 NA	 NA

Florida	 Jacksonville	 904-338-5385	 JacksonvilleFL@m4l.usmc.mil

Miami	 786-229-6442	 miami@m4l.usmc.mil

Orlando	 NA	 orlando@m4l.usmc.mil

Pensacola	 703-499-4168	 Pensacola@m4l.usmc.mil

Tampa	 813-241-7201	 tampa@m4l.usmc.mil

Georgia	 Albany	 703-296-0577	 Albany@m4l.usmc.mil

Atlanta	 770-294-0677	 Atlanta@m4l.usmc.mil

Hawaii	 NA	 NA	 NA

Idaho	 Boise	 208-627-0053	 Boise@m4l.usmc.mil

Couer d’Alene	 NA	 CouerdAlene@m4l.usmc.mil

Illinois	 Chicago	 773-617-2228	 chicago@m4l.usmc.mil

Indiana	 Indianapolis	 317-223-8899	 Indianapolis@m4l.usmc.mil

Iowa	 NA	 NA	 NA

Kansas	 NA	 NA	 NA

Kentucky	 Bowling Green	 703-296-0405	 bowlinggreen@m4l.usmc.mil

Lexington	 703-843-6060	 Lexington@m4l.usmc.mil

Louisville	 502-432-7996	 Louisville@m4l.usmc.mil

Louisiana	 Shreveport	 318-771-1512	 Shreveport@m4l.usmc.mil

New Orleans	 504-915-1062	 NewOrleans@m4l.usmc.mil

Maine	 Augusta	 617-892-5269	 Augusta@m4l.usmc.mil

Maryland	 Andrews Air Force Base	 410-212-5608	 andrewsafb@m4l.usmc.mil

Baltimore	 301-573-3018	 Baltimore@m4l.usmc.mil

Massachusetts 	 Boston	 508-326-3988	 Boston@m4l.usmc.mil

Michigan	 Detroit	 586-630-7357	 Detroit@m4l.usmc.mil

Lansing	 616-293-0527	 Lansing@m4l.usmc.mil

Minnesota	 Minneapolis	 651-497-0066	 Minneapolis@m4l.usmc.mil

651-497-0105

Mississippi	 Gulf Port	 703-843-5830	 gulfport@m4l.usmc.mil

Jackson	 703-499-4109 	 JacksonMS@m4l.usmc.mil

Missouri	 Kansas City	 913-927-4042	 KansasCity@m4l.usmc.mil

St Louis	 314-226-6120	 stlouis@m4l.usmc.mil
115

Military and Veteran Support Systems

Montana	 NA	 NA	 NA

Nebraska	 Omaha	 703-499-4167	 omaha@m4l.usmc.mil

Nevada	 Las Vegas	 702-349-9608	 LasVegas@m4l.usmc.mil

New Hampshire	 Manchester	 703-296-6730	 Manchester@m4l.usmc.mil

New Jersey	 Newark	 862-849-9683	 Newark@m4l.usmc.mil

Trenton	 609-209-0843	 trenton@m4l.usmc.mil

New Mexico	 Albuquerque	 505-975-6512	 Albuquerque@m4l.usmc.mil

New York	 Buffalo	 585-356-9582	 Buffalo@m4l.usmc.mil

New York City	 NA	 M4l.nyc@gmail.com

Rochester	 703-296-6561	 Rochester@m4l.usmc.mil

North Carolina	 Camp Lejeune	 910-237-5618	 CampLejeune@m4l.usmc.mil

Charlotte	 803-389-7067 	 Charlotte@m4l.usmc.mil

Raleigh	 919-644-2296	 Raleigh@m4l.usmc.mil

North Dakota	 Central HTL	 719-380-6731	 CentralHTL@m4l.usmc.mil

Grand Forks	 NA	 GrandForks@m4l.usmc.mil

Ohio	 Cincinnati	 513-200-8103	 Cincinnati@m4l.usmc.mil

Cleveland	 216-214-6248	 Cleveland@m4l.usmc.mil

Columbus	 614-402-7322	 Columbus@m4l.usmc.mil

Dayton	 937-605-4506	 Dayton@m4l.usmc.mil

Toledo	 419-574-2641	 Toledo@m4l.usmc.mil

Oklahoma	 Oklahoma City	 405-409-7971	 OklahomaCity@m4l.usmc.mil

Oregon	 Portland	 503-209-4613	 Portland@m4l.usmc.mil

Pennsylvania	 Allentown	 347-234-3856	 Allentown@m4l.usmc.mil

Philadelphia	 610-476-1609	 Philadelphia@m4l.usmc.mil

Pittsburgh	 NA	 Pittsburgh@m4l.usmc.mil

Rhode Island	 Providence	 508-326-3988	 Providence@m4l.usmc.mil

South Carolina	 Charleston	 803-317-4933	 CharlestonSC@m4l.usmc.mil

Columbia	 803-317-4933	 NA

Greenville	 864-844-4433	 greenville@m4l.usmc.mil

South Dakota	 NA	 NA	 NA

Tennessee	 Knoxville	 615-414-4171	 Knoxville@m4l.usmc.mil

Memphis	 901-301-4839	 Memphis@m4l.usmc.mil

Nashville	 347-623-3408	 Nashville@m4l.usmc.mil

Texas	 Austin	 512-748-2372	 Austin@m4l.usmc.mil

Dallas Ft. Worth	 972-880-0779	 DFW@m4l.usmc.mil

El Paso	 915-726-4250	 ElPaso@m4l.usmc.mil

Houston	 281-802-8107	 Houston@m4l.usmc.mil

Houston	 281-642-5696	 Houston@m4l.usmc.mil

San Antonio	 210-389-7630	 rudyleos22@aol.com

Utah	 Salt Lake City	 NA	 SaltLakeCity@m4l.usmc.mil

Vermont	 NA	 NA	 NA

Virginia	 Charlottesville	 540-295-9267	 Charlottesville@m4l.usmc.mil

Richmond	 804-400-0871	 Richmond@m4l.usmc.mil

Roanoke	 540-295-9267	 Roanoke@m4l.usmc.mil

Virginia Beach	 757-435-9524	 VirginiaBeach@m4l.usmc.mil

Williamsburg	 804-400-0871	 Williamsburg@m4l.usmc.mil

Woodbridge	 703-296-6727	 Woodbridge@m4l.usmc.mil

Washington	 Seattle	 206-281-7917	 Seattle@m4l.usmc.mil

Spokane	 509-370-0109	 Spokane@m4l.usmc.mil

Washington, DC	 Washington, DC	 202-207-7837	 washingtondc@m4l.usmc.mil

West Virginia	 NA	 NA	 NA

Wisconsin	 Green Bay	 920-392-1005	 GreenBay@m4l.usmc.mil

Milwaukee	 414-236-1968	 Milwaukee@m4l.usmc.mil

Wyoming	 NA	 NA	 NA
116

Care of the Combat Amputee

Useful Resources and Organizations for Veterans

American Legion	 www.legion.org

American Red Cross	 www.redcross.org

America Supports You	 www.americasupportsyou.mil

Fisher House	 www.fisherhouse.org

Disabled American Veterans	 www.dav.org

Fallen Patriot Fund	 www.fallenpatriotfund.org

Helping Our Heroes Foundation	 www.hohf.org

Homes for Our Troops	 www.homesforourtroops.org

Injured Marine Corps Semper Fi Fund	 www.semperfifund.org

Intrepid Museum/Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund	 www.intrepidmuseum.org/pages/intrepidfoundation

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America	 www.iava.org

Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation	 www.mc-lef.org

Military OneSource	 www.militaryonesource.com

National Veterans Wheelchair Games	 www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2008/default.cfm

National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic	 www1.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2007/default.cfm

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society	 www.nmcrs.org

Operation Comfort	 www.operationcomfort.com

Operation Hero Miles through Fisher House Foundation	 www.fisherhouse.org/programs/heroMiles.shtml

Paralyzed Veterans of America	 www.pva.org

Veterans and Families Homecoming Initiative	 www.veteransandfamilies.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars Unmet Needs	 www.unmetneeds.com

Wounded Warrior Fund	 www.woundedwarriors.org

Resources at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Soldier Family Assistance Center

The SFAC is a team consisting of enlisted soldiers and civilian employees appointed by the Garrison Commander to

coordinate resources and act as a point of contact for patients and their family members.

The SFAC is open to assist patients who have been evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Operation

Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The SFAC also assists the family members of those patients.

The SFAC encourages family members to come to the SFAC after arriving at WRAMC. SFAC staff will attempt to answer

any questions you may have during your stay.

Warrior Transition Brigade

The Warrior Transition Brigade provides command and control, primary care, and case management for service

members receiving treatment for wounds suffered deployed in the war on terror. The unit works to “promote their timely

return to the force or transition to civilian life.”

Army Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline: 1 (800) 984-8523

The Army Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline provides wounded and injured soldiers and their family members

another way to resolve medical issues. The hotline provides an information channel for soldiers’ medical-related issues to

go directly to senior Army leadership and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Reproduced from: Walter Reed Army Medical Center Web site. Available at: www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/WarriorsInTransition/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed June 5, 2008.