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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
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
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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.
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.”
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.
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Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
“Building Paths to Independence”
SPC (ret.) Ronny Wiley
and his daughter
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 nonprofit organization that donated a mortgage-free
home to the Wiley family.
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.”
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Vision
Wounded Warriors and their Families/Caregivers are selfsufficient, 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…”
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Command Relationships
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AW2 Director
COL David S. Oeschger
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
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AW2 Soldiers/Veterans: Growth Over 12 Months
UNCLASSIFIED//FOUO
Total: 21479
As of 1 Sep 14
22000
21000
20000
19000
Year
Population
2004
340
2005
909
2006
1476
2007
2489
2008
3814
2009
5892
2010
8042
2011
9762
2012
14838
2013
18826
21479
21479
21118
20864
20566
20223
19653
19343
19087
Increase of 2653
since
1 Jan 14
18826
18593
18295
18000
AW2 Soldier-to-Advocate
Ratio: 102:1
17945
17000
Sep
Oct
Nov
2013
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
2014
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
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Physical Condition Demographics
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Total: 21479
As of 1 Sep 14
20000
67%
16000
12000
8000
4000
2000
10%
6%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
Soldier/Veteran Status – 1 Sep 14
10
WTU / Unit
COAD/COAR/FIT 181
Severely
wounded, injured
and ill***
1664
__
Complex Medical Needs /
iDES
19557**
Life Cycle Management
Program (LCMP)
Veteran
LCMP Phase
Total
Population in our
Communities
1 (Active)
8343
2 (90 Day)
3154
3 (180 Day)
9578
*Incl:77 Deceased
** Do not contact: 404
*** AW2 WTU: 1176
*Data Source (s): AWCTS; AW2 Db
AW2 TEAM
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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 Jeannie Jones
Contract Regional Coordinator
North Region
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)
ADVOCATE DEMOGRAPHICS
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• 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
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AW2 Advocate Locations
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Questions?
Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program
Building Paths to Independence
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