Branches of the Military

Army- Founded in 1775
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Navy- Founded in 1775
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Referred to as Marines
Coast Guard- Founded in
1790
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Referred to as Sailors
Marines- Founded in 1775
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Referred to as Soldiers or
Warriors
Referred to as Guardians
Air Force- Founded in 1947

Referred to as Airmen
Branch Components

Active Duty
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Full-time, paid through federal government
All branches have an active component
During deployments Service Members may be required to work long
hours to complete missions
Reserve
Part-time, paid through federal government
 Typically train one weekend a month and two weeks a fiscal year
during Annual Training (AT)
 May be called suddenly to active duty orders/assignments or
deployments
 Leave family, jobs, school and community
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National Guard
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Part-time, paid through state and federal government
Army and Air Force only
Deployment length:

Army
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Navy
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Marine deployments are typically 6-9 months
Marine Reservists could miss 1-2 semesters
Air Force
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Typically serve on ships, some are assigned to other branches
Sea to shore ratio depends on job and rank
Marine Corps


Typical deployment is 12 months.
Reserve/Guard soldiers may miss 2-3 semesters.
Standard deployment length is 4 months
Reserve/Guard may miss 1-2 semesters
Coast Guard

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Most units do not deploy because of domestic mission
Three month deployments for select units and special missions
Rank and Structure

There are three types of rank:
 Enlisted- includes noncommissioned officers and petty officers (pay
grades E-1 through E-9) (84% the military is enlisted)
 Warrant Officers- highly specialized subject matter experts (pay
grades W-1 through W-5)
 Commissioned Officers- highest ranking officials, either attended a
military service academy or ROTC at a four-year college (or attended
an officer cadet training course as prior enlisted) (pay grades O-1
through O-10) (14% of the military)
 For a visual guide to enlisted rank structure, go to:
http://www.defense.gov/about/insignias/enlisted.aspx

For officer rank, go to:
http://www.defense.gov/about/insignias/officers.aspx
Job Specialty:
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MOS: Military (or Marine) Occupational Specialty
NEC: Navy Enlisted Classification
Rate: Coast Guard term for job title
AFSC: Air Force Specialty Code
MOS/NEC/Rate/AFSC indicates the type of job, duties or specialty
performed in the military.
For example: In the Army, Infantry Soldiers (Basic Rifleman) have an
MOS designation of 11B (or 11C if they have additional training as mortar
man), but in the Marine Corps an infantryman has an 03 (0311=rifleman)
indicator.
Every enlisted Service Member goes through Basic Combat Training or
“Boot Camp”!
In Basic Combat Training…

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You are broken down to be built back up.
You are stripped of your individuality.

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Degredation ceremony-used to initiate people into a total institution such as mental hospitals,
prisons, and military units. The purpose is to deprive people of their former identities and dignity in
order to make them more accepting of external control. (about.com)
Team work, camaraderie and espirit de corps are all emphasized.
You are assigned a “Battle Buddy”
Introduced to a structured chain-of-command
You are trained for combat and to be ready when called upon
YOU LEARN A NEW
LANGUAGE…
Military acronyms:

AWOL-Absent With Out Leave

BAH-Basic Allowance for Housing

DFAC-Dining Facility

DZ-Drop Zone

FOB-Forward Operating Base

G.I.-General Issue

IED-Improvised Explosive Device

JAG-Judge Advocate General

KIA-Killed in Action

MEDEVAC-MEDical EVACuation

MIA-Missing in Action

RECON-Reconnaissance

SOP-Standard Operating Procedures

OIF-Operation Iraqi Freedom
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OEF-Operation Enduring Freedom

Operation New Dawn

GWOT-Global War on Terrorism
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VA-Veterans Administration
NCO- Non-Commissioned Officer
ROTC-Reserve Officer Training Corps
DoD-Department of Defense
MRE-Meal, Ready to Eat
OPSEC-Operation Security
EAP-Emergency Action Plan
ROE-Rules of Engagement
RUF-Rules of the Use of Force
OPORD-Operations Order
FRAGO-Fragmentary Order
Dependent-Spouse, child, or other
person who is dependent of the service
member for support
AT-Annual Training
MUTA-Military Unit Training
Assembly
The military…

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Emphasizes group cohesion & espirit de corps that connect service
members to each other.
Has a distinct set of ceremony and etiquette that create shared rituals and
common identities.
Maintains a high standard of discipline that helps organize and structure
the armed forces
Emphasizes the importance of always doing your best and giving 100%
(anything less isn’t acceptable and, in combat, can lead to people getting
hurt or killed.)
Emphasizes attention to detail.
Emphasizes punctuality


If you show up early, you’re on time. If you show up on time, you’re late.
Establishes a professional, or warrior, ethos of loyalty and selfless-service
that maintains order during battle.

Mission First!
Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Integrity first
Selfless-Service
Honor
Honor
Courage
Integrity
Commitment
Personal
Courage
Service
before
Self
Excellence in
all we do
Honor
Honor
Courage
Respect
Commitment
Devotion to
Duty
Core Values
Understanding our current conflicts (2001-Present)…

Global War on Terrorism
Operation Active Endeavor (Mediterranean Sea) 2001-Present
 Operation Enduring Freedom (2002-Present)





Afghanistan
Philippines
Horn of Africa
Trans Sahara
Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010)
 Operation New Dawn (Iraq after August 2010)

Service members can be deployed multiple times in support of these
conflicts.
Common military stressors/experiences

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Acculturation into the Armed Forces (Basic Combat Training/Boot
Camp)
Exposure to combat or life threatening situations
Loss of a close friend, team member or leader
Inner conflict/self-doubt
Wear and tear

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Operational Stress-Lack of sleep/rest
High expectations at all times
Physically and mentally worn down
Common myths about the military:

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People who join have low intelligence or are without opportunities
Women have a hard time achieving success
Military jobs and training have little relation with the civilian world
The military is only for people who like war/fighting
War=Combat
Once you go to war, you come home and are done with your military
service
The military will let anyone in who applies
Transitioning service members can often…
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Feel “lost” or “alone” (no one understands them or can relate to their
experiences)
Struggle with not having structure or goals
Worry about finances or taking care of their family
Miss the adrenaline rush associated with various military experiences
Become easily annoyed with civilians who take things less seriously or
are too “laid back”
May have anger or resentment towards those who did not serve or
towards other military personnel
Feel and edge or tense
Feel that everything back home has changed
Feel down or depressed soon after being separated from service or
coming home from deployment
Myths about Veterans:

They’re “crazy” or “ticking time-bombs”

Ready to snap at any moment

They’re “baby killers” and “war mongers”

They all have PTSD or TBI issues

About 11-20% of OIF/OEF Veterans, and 10% of Gulf War
Veterans experience PTSD.
They challenges they face…

Service Connected Injuries/Disabilities
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Transition from military to civilian life
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PTSD and TBI
Sleep issues
Hearing loss/tinnitus
Back/Leg problems
Concerns about personal safety (hyper- vigilance)
Lack of strong support network/structure (interdependence)
Financial issues
Retirement issues
Leadership Characteristics:

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Lead by example
Carefully consider directions
Inspire and influence

Providing purpose, direction and motivation
Collaborative Team Member:

Complete their duties by accomplishing
tasks as part of a team.
Flexibility and Adaptability:

Learned to be flexible and adaptable to meet the constantly changing
situation, mission and environment.
Self-Directed:


Trained to understand and solve difficult problems and complex tasks.
Their ability to function efficiently independent makes them dependable
and reliable.
Outstanding Work habits:

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Possess pride and enthusiasm for their work.
Personal integrity by adhering to moral principles.
Invested in their Community:

Strong desire to be productive citizens and serve their community with
selfless sacrifice.

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Share if you have a personal connection to the military
Validate their military background and show “respect” to build
rapport and trust
Being punctual
 Directly connecting to needed services
 Giving clear steps for “mission” that needs to be accomplished
 Follow-up after appointments (stay on their radar)

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Need to be direct and concise with requests

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Being mindful of political sensitivities/patriotism

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Be clear and up front
Don’t ask the wrong questions
Know current Veteran Resources available in the
community, at the VA and other resources to support
Veterans and their families
USMC
Wounded Warrior Regiment
GySgt Heydo Zando
District Injured Support Coordinator (DISC)
Warrior Summit
Provides and enables assistance to wounded, ill, and
injured (WII) Marines, sailors attached to or in support of
Marine units, and their family members in order to assist
them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life.
• Serves the total force – active duty, reserve, retired, and veteran
Marines.
• The only official Marine Corps unit charged with providing nonmedical care to WII Marines.
IED Blast
Cancer
Training Accident
Gunshot
Chronic Illness
Vehicle Accident
Traumatic Brain
Injury
Mental Health
Post Traumatic Stress
Wounded Warrior Regiment support is not a factor of luck and location
22
Providing individualized support through the phases of recovery.
Photo by Dan Gross, The Gazette
Marines Stay in the FIGHT!
2323
Complex Care
(Active Duty / Reserve)
As of August 2014
Marines
Joined to the
WWR
East: 315
West: 177
492
Joined Marines :
• Transferred by Service
Record (TR/SR) or
Temporary Assigned
Duty (TAD)
• Assigned an RCC
Total
Marines in
the
IDES
Process
Veteran
2,730
Sergeant
Merlin
German
Wounded
Warrior
Call Center
+
External
Marines
Supported by
an RCC
453
22%
TOTA
945
L
=
External Marines :
• Not joined to the WWR
(Marines who have
stayed with their parent
unit)
• Assigned an RCC
• Receive support from the
WWR (example)
Incident Type: Joined and
External Population
Patients
supported by
the WWR at a
MTF (not part
of total
number)
PTSD,
Trainin
g
Acciden
t
Ill/Injure
d In
Combat
Zone
19%
50
Combat
Wounded
26%
TBI, Gun
Shot,
Burns
Auto
Accident,
Cancer
Ill/Injure
d Outside
Combat
Zone
55%
N=945
Source:
(MCTFS)
Source: Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS)
Marines joined to the
WWR or supported by an
RCC in the IDES Process
589
Marines joined to WWR or
supported by an RCC in various
MEB Phase IDES phases
154
Transition
VA Benefits
Source: Veterans Tracking Application (VTA)
3,598 Marines who remain
with parent unit
Active Duty /
Reserve
29,096
Veteran
Source: MCWIITS
210
169
PEB Phase
District Injured Support
Coordinator Support
764 Disability retired and
Veteran Marines receiving, as
needed, short or long-term
recovery support
Source: DISC Program Manager
44
(12 Cases Between Phases
WWR Staffing
Marine
: 320
(Active Duty and
Reserve)
Civilians: 120
(GS and NAF)
Contractors: 104
Total: 544
CMC expressed intent that WII Marines should remain assigned to their parent
units, so long as their medical conditions allow and their units can support them.
WWR provides services to help Commander’s ensure WII Marines’
productive recoveries via:
•
Wounded Warrior Battalions East and West Contact Center:
Outreach to Marines (Active Duty and Reserve) who remain with
their parent commands
•
Recovery Care Coordinators: RCCs support qualified external cases
with Comprehensive Recovery Plans
•
WWR Medical Cell: Medical Advocacy (TBI and PTS) and liaison to
the medical community
•
District Injured Support Coordinators: Support transitioning
Marines in their communities
•
Administrative Support (WWR has sole responsibility for Traumatic
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, Special Compensation for
Assistance With Activities of Daily Living, Pay and Allowance
Continuation)
•
Integrated Disability Evaluation System Advocacy
WWR provides
Commanders tools and
guidance to help them
support their WII
Marines:
“Does my Marine
require an RCC?”
“Does my Marine
qualify for special
compensation?”
25
25
Communication is Key to Support
WWR Call Center / Contact Centers
• Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior Call Center
 Monthly call volume: 9,500 outreach / 1,200 incoming
 Target population: Veteran Marines (TDRL, Purple Heart, PCR)
 Population total: Nearly 30,000
• Wounded Warrior Battalion Contact Centers
 Monthly call volume (combined): 3,500 outreach / 400 incoming
 Target population: Recovering Marines with their parent commands
 Population total: Nearly 4,000
Social Media
• Facebook
 Includes a Support Form
 Over 100,000 Followers!
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Flickr
WWR Mobile Application
• Recent launch of version 2.0
• Provides prompt and easy access to WWR resources
• Over 6,000 downloads!
WWR Quarterly Report
• One-page report suitable for internal and external audiences
• Downloadable from the WWR website
Sergeant Merlin German


Whether at war or in times of peace the WWR
will continue to care for our WII Marines.
Never before has recovery care been so
comprehensive.


Care assets are aligned under a single command
– the WWR.
Support must be enduring in view of issues
resulting from the current decade of war:
Catastrophic injuries and illnesses requiring
acute care
 Traumatic brain injuries
 Psychological health problems including PTS


Conditions such as TBI and PTS are not
solved by short-term care, and will require
continuing services.
“I think it’s probably one of
the greatest success stories
coming out of this war.”
“The wounds of this war will
be with us for a long time.”
“We also have typical things
that happen to our young men
and women – cancer,
accidents, tragedies that
happen.”
“My sense is that it will be
around for a long time.”
Gen Amos: Speaking about the
WWR
27

John P. Teske, Psy.D.
920-498-5595
 John.Teske@nwtc.edu


Jeremy Galica
920-498-5744
 Jeremy.Galica@nwtc.edu



GySgt. Zando

414-350-2618

Heydo.Zando@usmc.mil
Wendy Burdick
608-372-3971 (x66810)
 Wendy.r.burdick2.ctr@mail.mil

Thank you for your contribution to
helping our veteran students