Support Agencies for Wounded Servicemembers, Wounded Families
By Debbie Fryar
Spring 2006
Spouses, children, parents and siblings of servicemembers injured defending our country experience many uncertainties. The fear of the unknown that lies ahead in coming weeks, months or even years weighs heavily on their minds.
Wounded servicemembers have wounded families. The emotional and financial adjustments these families face can prove overwhelming. Where can they turn for support?
What support agencies are available for wounded servicemembers and their families?
The Department of Defense (DoD), other government agencies and several. non-profit organizations offer programs to support wounde,/pd servicemembers and their families. Here are some of them:
The Air Force Palace HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together) program follows Air Force wounded-in-action until they return to active duty or are medically retired. The program then provides post-injury follow-up assistance for five to seven years. The Air Force works to retain injured servicemembers on active duty when possible. If the airman is unable to return to active duty, it attempts to employ the individual as an Air Force civilian employee. The Air Force also provides counseling on potential benefits available from the Defense, Veterans Affairs and Labor departments. For an immediate, 24-hour response and to obtain a service point of contact, Air Force members can call the Military Severely Injured Center at 1-888-774-1361 (toll free) or e-mail severelyinjured@militaryonesource.com.
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2, formerly DS3)
The Marine for Life Injured Support (M4L) program provides information, advocacy and assistance from the time of injury through return to full duty or transition to the Veterans Administration (VA) up to one year after separation. The program is being introduced by M4L staffers to Marines, sailors and their families at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., with a plan to expand to all major naval hospitals. Medically discharged Marines are being contacted. Injured Marines, sailors or family members needing assistance can call 1-866-645-8762 (toll free) or e-mail injuredsupport@M4L.usmc.mil. For more information, go to https://www.M4L.usmc.mil.
The Navy Sea Warrior/Safe Harbor program offers a coordinated and tailored response for its men and women returning home with debilitating injuries from Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of conflict. The Navy team provides a strong, unified approach to assist members and their families in recovery and reintegration. For immediate, 24-hour response and to obtain a service point of contact, sailors and their families can call the Military Severely Injured Center at 1-888-774-1361 (toll free) or e-mail severelyinjured@militaryonesource.com.
The Military Severely Injured Center (MSIC) is a central DoD resource complementing existing service programs by offering support services for seriously injured servicemembers and their families. Support services are provided as long as seriously injured servicemembers and their families require quality-of-life care, and are tailored to meet the individual's unique needs during recovery and rehabilitation. The MSIC offers counseling and resource referral in areas such as financial support, education and employment assistance, VA benefits, family counseling, resources in local communities and child care support. For more information, visit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil, click "Troops and Families," then go to "Military Severely Injured Support." Call 1-888-774-1361 (toll free) or severelyinjured@militaryonesource.com.
The Deployment Health Support Directorate addresses deployment-related health threats to servicemembers and ensures that medical lessons learned from previous conflicts and deployments are integrated into current policy, doctrine and practice. Current information on deployment-related health issues is published at the DeploymentLINK website. The Directorate operates a direct hotline number where staff members assist callers in finding answers concerning current and past deployments, locating lost medical records and providing contact information in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Call 1-800-497-6261 (toll free).
How does the family get to the wounded servicemember? Who funds the travel?
For patients designated "very seriously injured/ill" or "seriously injured/ill," the primary next of kin may receive Invitational Travel Orders (ITOs) if the attending physician determines it is essential to the recovery of the patient and it is verified by the hospital commander. The Service may provide transportation and lodging for up to three immediate family members. The Service point of contact or hospital will provide information concerning travel regulations. Cases are evaluated every two weeks and, at the discretion of the attending physician, family members are authorized additional time at the bedside.
Where will the family members stay while visiting?
If the family members are traveling on ITOs, the Service arranges for lodging before they travel to join the wounded servicemember. Families are housed in a local hotel, installation guest quarters or (if available) a Fisher House, a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide low-cost (or no-cost), comfortable, temporary housing for families of servicemembers recovering from serious medical conditions. The homes normally are located within walking distance of the treatment facility, or transportation is available. For more information, go to www.fisherhouse.org.
Is child care available?
Hourly child care slots often are difficult to access on military installations, so families should not assume child care will be available. Child care is an added expense for families and is not covered in the ITO reimbursement. The individual who notifies family members about a servicemember's injury can help direct them to the installation child development center for possible child care arrangements; community resources also may be available. Remember to bring a copy of the child's vaccination record, because it will be needed to register the child at any child care facility. Some medical facilities maintain family assistance centers (FACs), which help families of wounded servicemembers once they arrive at the military treatment facility. The FACs should be able to provide child care information.
Who will work with the family during the recovery period?
Case managers are assigned to provide information and help assist the servicemember and family during the recovery period. These individuals also provide information on VSOs.
To download copies of the National Military Family Association's wounded servicemember fact sheet and to view frequently asked questions about the notification process, go to www.nmfa.org, click on the "Publications" link, then "Fact Sheets," then scroll down to the appropriate information.
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Debbie Fryar is a deputy director of government relations for the National Military Family Association (www.nmfa.org).
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Traumatic Injury Protection
A new DoD program, known as TSGLI, provides traumatic injury protection insurance under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. It is designed to provide financial help for servicemembers during their recovery from a serious traumatic injury. On Dec. 1, 2005, all members eligible for SGLI became insured for traumatic injury protection of up to $100,000 unless they decline SGLI coverage.
A flat $1 monthly premium is added to the monthly SGLI deduction, regardless of the amount of SGLI coverage the member has elected. Coverage is retroactive: Any servicemember who suffered a qualifying loss between Oct. 7, 2001 and Dec. 1, 2005 will receive a benefit under the TSGLI program if the loss was a direct result of injuries received during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.
For more information, members should contact the TSGLI representative for their respective service, and check www.insurance.va.gov/sglisite/legislation/TSGLIfacts.htm.
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Resources For Wounded/Injured Servicemembers
American Legion: www.legion.org
Department of Veterans Affairs (readjustment and bereavement counseling): www.va.gov
Disabled American Veterans: www.dav.org
Fisher House: www.fisherhouse.org
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: www.ncptsd.va.gov
National Military Family Association: www.nmfa.org
Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647): www.militaryonesource.com (user name: military; password: onesource)
Military Order of the Purple Heart: www.purpleheart.org
The Military Coalition: www.themilitarycoalition.org
Tragedy Assistance Program: www.taps.org
TRICARE: www.tricare.osd.mil
United Spinal Association: www.unitedspinal.org (click link to “Vets First”)
Veterans and Families: www.veteransandfamilies.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars: www.vfw.org
Veterans Service Organizations: www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view
