News Release 08-07
US Army Corps Of Engineers
April 3, 2007 Immediate

Daniel J. Calderón
Telephone: (213) 452-3922
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Warriors@Work ‘graduates’ first Wounded Warrior
Program provides work close to home for convalescing Soldiers

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” – Henri Nouwen.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) does not run hospitals. It does not run clinics, does not have a cadre of nurses, doctors and staff on call to help heal the sick or injured. Instead, the Corps’ Los Angeles District offers Soldiers who have been wounded the opportunity to be closer to their families while they are cared for by their physicians. The L.A. District offers Nouwen’s “warm and tender hand” to Soldiers who have answered their country’s call to service and returned as Wounded Warriors. The district’s Warriors@Work program is the means Soldiers have to convalesce closer to home instead of in a hospital hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of miles from their loved ones.
 
“My family is ecstatic that I’m here,” said Staff Sgt. Roberto Soto. “When I was recovering at Fort Lewis [in Washington State], it was difficult for my wife to come up and see me.”

Soto, a Soldier in the Army National Guard who lives in Palmdale, Calif., has been a part of the U.S. Army’s Wounded Warrior (AW2) program since he broke his ankle while on duty in Afghanistan. The 18-year veteran reported to Afghanistan in March 2006 and was injured in January 2007. After being evacuated from the country and treated for his injury, he checked in to Fort Lewis to complete his recovery. Soto’s wife Rocio, who works in the jet propulsion labs for NASA in Palmdale, was hard-pressed to make the journey of more than 1,000 miles more than once in a while.

While recovering, he learned about the Community Based Health Care Organization (CBHCO). The organization “Was created to assist Guard and Reserve service members injured in the line of duty to return to their homes where they will continue to receive care locally while they are evaluated for return to duty, medical release or medical board,” according to the TriWest Healthcare Alliance Web site.
 
While at Fort Lewis, Soto was able to take a trip back home to Palmdale. In a chance meeting at the airport, he met Sgt. Maj. Jeff Koontz. Koontz introduced himself to Soto and asked about his injury and what he planned to do once he recovered.
 
“I wasn’t sure,” Soto said. “The CBHCO helps you get back to work, but I didn’t know what I was going to do while I was in recovery. I thought I’d be at Fort Lewis the whole time until I met Sgt. Maj. Koontz.”

Koontz, the Los Angeles District’s Security Officer, offered Soto the opportunity to work for the Corps under its pilot Warriors@Work program. Under the program, Soto, and Army Reservists or Guard members like him, would continue his recovery; but he would be allowed to work for the Army Corps of Engineers. When Soto found out he could work in the district’s Palmdale field office, he signed up immediately and began with the Corps’ program in April. Koontz said the program had already been conceived, but the district was looking for a Soldier to participate.

“It was all about timing and opportunity,” said Koontz. “I met him at the Sacramento airport and started up a conversation. He was here a day later and we had him working in Palmdale.”

“It’s almost too good to be true,” said Rocio Soto. “He was here when our daughter was born but then got activated soon after. If not for the Corps, he would have missed her first birthday. He was here for it and he’s been able to get acquainted with her.”

“We’re proud to be able to take the Warriors@Work program to the troops,” said Col. Thomas H. Magness IV, Los Angeles district commander. “The Wounded Warrior program is important to aiding in the recovery of our Soldiers and it’s a great benefit to families of our Armed Forces. With the Warriors@Work program, we believe the Corps can help these heroes during their recovery or transition back to civilian life.”

Due to his injury, Soto’s initial work with the Corps consisted of filing and assisting office members with their paperwork to complete projects. In July, Soto’s doctor said he had recovered enough to go out to field locations. The District has projects in locations across southern California, throughout Arizona, Nevada and in parts of Utah. Since being allowed to assist with field operations, Soto has visited projects at Edwards Air Force Base and other locations with other Corps employees.
 
“He’s a definite asset,” said Delvin Rivas, a Corps electrical engineer at the Southern California Office in Palmdale. Rivas travels to Corps sites to ensure the contractors there are following safety standards. “He’s great here, very flexible. Sgt. Soto is always willing to complete whatever is required and he is eager to learn about what it is we do here.”

At the field sites, Soto assists Rivas with his inspections. In addition, he assisted with safety inspections to ensure contractors were provided with and wore their personal protective equipment. The work was only one part of the benefit to Soto, however.  The flexible schedule allowed him to continue his treatment with a local medical facility.

“I really appreciate what the Corps of Engineers is doing for me and my family,” Soto said. “I’m back home, getting the treatment I need and I’m working. Not only did I have time to recuperate and receive my proper medical treatments on time, it also gave me an insight into the Army Corps of Engineers as a whole.”

Soto said he first became interested in the Corps when he was stationed in La Paz, Bolivia for a six-month tour. There, he saw a hotel with a plaque which read “Built by the Army Corps of Engineers”

“I thought, ‘Wow, our guys built that,’” he said. “From that day on, I would just read about the Corps of Engineers and the various projects going on around the United States and around the world.”

In addition to filing and assisting Rivas with his work, Soto was able to learn about other functions performed at the Southern California Office.
 
“It was fascinating to learn about Contracting – how they do the contracting procedure,” he said. “That was kind of unique.”
Soto’s experience, however, is not unique. Already, the district has brought aboard another Soldier to participate in the Warriors@Work program. Cpl. Lance Carver, a Kansas National Guard Soldier who moved to the Palmdale area, was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device blast while serving as an infantry Soldier and convoy driver in Iraq. He is currently undergoing treatment and working at the Southern California Office.
 
“I think this is great,” he said of the Warriors@Work program. “I have two daughters and they’re here with me, both are in school right now. I’m doing my medical treatment here. I have no idea how long I’ll be here. There’s a lot of medical treatment to do.”

Due to his injuries, Carver will likely be fitted with hearing aids. In addition, he has a broken leg from another injury received while on duty. Like Soto, Carver will begin his time with the Corps working in the office. However, Carver said he plans to use skills he has gained over the years, both in the Army and outside, to help rebuild shelves and make other improvements at the office. Soto said his military chain of command has been very supportive of him and appreciates what the Corps has done for him and is continuing to do for other wounded Soldiers.
 
“They’re all very impressed,” he said. “They’re always asking how everything is here. They always wanted to make sure we made a good impression. Overall, they’re very very happy. They’re happy with the Corps. They’re happy with the opportunities offered to the wounded warriors.”

“That’s the whole idea of what we do,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Ahmu, who is with the CBHCO out of Fort Lewis. “This [CBHCO] program is for getting Soldiers home. Bringing it together with the Army Corps of Engineers makes absolute sense.”

While working with the Corps under Warriors@Work, Soldiers can learn new skill sets. In effect, each Soldier works as an intern with the Corps while still on active duty. Once the recovery time is complete, the participating Soldier is eligible for possible full-time employment with the Corps. Each Soldier is responsible for continuing his or her schedule of treatment as prescribed and ensuring the military chain of command is informed of any developments.
 
“[The Warriors@Work program] is a very intelligent idea,” Ahmu said. “We have Soldiers coming though here all the time and I know there are more across the country who can benefit. Right now, we’re looking at the Army Corps of Engineers for employment for more Soldiers while they’re in recovery.”

Corps officials said this program is a benefit to Soldiers, to the Corps and to the country.
 
“This is the proverbial ‘win-win’ for the Corps and for any Soldier involved,” said Kevin Inada, assistant chief for the Construction division. “The Soldier can continue his or her treatment at a facility close to home since there are Corps offices around the country; the Corps benefits from the Soldier’s knowledge and work ethic; and the country benefits because these Soldiers continue to contribute to its welfare. The Corps’ mission is all about service to the community and the Soldiers involved in our program will be a major factor.”

Soto’s last day with the Corps was Feb. 1. He will be on leave for a month before returning to his civilian job with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in Ventura. Once he returns, Soto said the first few months will be spent in refresher training to get back to full speed on changes or updates in pertinent laws and regulations. He looked back on his time with the Corps fondly.
 
“It’s been a time I’ll probably never forget,” he said

Harold Hartman, who is in charge of the District’s Southern California Office, is hoping the program will spread to other departments within the L.A. District. The greater goal is to spread the program throughout the Corps nationwide.
 
“We know it’s a great program,” said Hartman. “Sgt. Soto is a shining example of how well this can work out for Soldiers and Corps offices around the nation. Soldiers are ready to work – to continue to serve the nation--and the Corps is ready to accept their help.”

Currently, the program is available for Reserve and National Guard Soldiers in the L.A. District’s area. The goal is to take the program nationwide. Soldiers involved in AW2 from California or Nevada interested in participating in the Warriors@Work program should contact Lt. Col. Frederick Borowicz at (916) 830-1450. Soldiers from Arizona should contact Lt. Col. Lynn Hinckley at (801) 878-5560. For more information about the Warriors@Work program, contact Sgt. Maj. Koontz at (213) 452-3969 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .