Welcome to the AW2 Community Support Network

Filed under Community Support Network by on April 29, 2011 at 4:04 pm {no comments}

By Patty Sands, WTC Stratcom

Join me in welcoming the newest organizations in the AW2 Community Support Network. These organizations are part of the 223 AW2 Community Support Network organizations that help better the lives of AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families. Click on the links below to get to know them.

The AW2 Community Support Network was created based on direct requests from severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and Families. Wounded Soldiers stated that connection with their local community and community leaders was essential for their success and reintegration. For more information, please visit the AW2 Community Support Network webpage.

Do you know of a caring organization that wants to assist wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers, Veterans and their Families? If so, please email the AW2 Community Support Network at the below email address. I welcome your recommendations and referrals.

Send organization referrals to AW2CommunitySupportNetwork@conus.army.mil

Counseling Awareness

Filed under Community Support Network by on April 20, 2011 at 11:16 am {2 comments}

By Patricia Sands, WTC Stratcom

Give an Hour is one of several organizations that provide free counseling to help AW2 Soldiers and Veterans.

AW2 Soldiers, Veterans and Family members deal with many stressors on their road to recovery. Their lives have changed dramatically and the impact is felt by everyone involved. This stress can manifest in many challenges including:

  • Poor communication between an AW2 Soldier or Veteran and their spouse or caregiver
  • Lack of sleep from worry
  • Kids of Warriors in Transition slipping in school and withdrawing socially.

Having an impartial professional help you work through your thoughts and feelings can make a huge difference. Trained professionals can help a person step back and evaluate their choices for the future before he or she actually makes them. A counselor can assist Warriors in Transition by helping them better understand how to communicate with their Family, how to help their kids better adjust and succeed, and how to release stress for both the wounded warrior and their Family.

To help the AW2 community succeed, there are many resources available to address the various different challenges in each of the stages of the warrior care lifecycle. Along with the Army and VA resources, several organizations in the AW2 Community Support Network have stepped forward to assist.

An example of this support is AW2 Community Support Network Member, Give an Hour. Give an Hour provides free counseling and other mental health services to active duty service members, members of the National Guard and Reserve forces, and Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have separated or retired from any branch of military service.

These services are also available to parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are not entitled to receive mental health benefits through the military or VA. To learn more, please visit Give an Hour’s website.

In conclusion, the benefits of counseling are tremendous. Counseling can help heal unseen wounds. We encourage anyone that is struggling to reach out as there are many caring people ready to assist.

Resiliency and How Local Organizations Can Support Wounded Warriors

Filed under Community Support Network by on April 8, 2011 at 3:49 pm {no comments}

By Patty Sands, WTC Stratcom

Last week, the AW2 Community Support Network held its first 2011 quarterly conference call. During the call, participants from across the country discussed the various aspects of resiliency and how to view resiliency from a variety of perspectives. Facilitating the call was AW2 Director COL Greg Gadson, who provided insight into the areas of resiliency he felt Community Support Network organizations should target in their support of wounded warriors. COL Gadson stated, “There are five aspects of resiliency that play into recovery: spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and financial.” COL Gadson then asked, “Where does your organization fit in?”

In preparation to that question, AW2 Community Support Network organizations were asked to send in a statement on how they support resiliency. I found many of them compelling and wanted to share with you one that spoke to each area of resiliency.

Financial—Sew Much Comfort, “…provides free adaptive clothing to support the unique needs of our wounded service members…we have distributed more than 95,000 pieces of adaptive clothing.”

Social—Pets for Patriots, “…supports resiliency by giving service and Veteran members of the U.S. military a renewed sense of purpose through the companionship of adopted pets.”

Physical—U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Program, “…supports wounded, ill and injured service members by using sport to enhance the rehabilitation process.”

Emotional—Air Compassion for Veterans, ”…we help support, fortify and create a resilient format for our wounded and their families to be able to integrate into productive lives dealing with their new limitations.  We have flown over 18,000 flights so far making sure they can access these services.”

Spiritual—Irunforgod, “…helps [wounded, injured, and ill] achieve their personal, social, spiritual, and professional goals by providing them with a life transforming experience.”

Each quote demonstrates that organizations provide multiple types of support that strengthen wounded warrior resiliency. Although It is hard to categorize these resources, each phase of recovery needs different types of support for both wounded warriors and their Families.

In conclusion, COL Gadson said, “There are great resources available to assist wounded warriors and their Families. Our goal is to have them connect.” And that, is our goal.

If you know of an organization that also supports wounded warriors in their local communities, please point them to the AW2 Community Support Network Web page or email recommendations at AW2CommunitySupportNetwork@conus.army.mil

Welcome to the AW2 Community Support Network

Filed under Community Support Network by on April 7, 2011 at 5:29 pm {no comments}

By Patty Sands, WTC Stratcom

Join me in welcoming the newest organizations in the AW2 Community Support Network.  These organizations are part of the 192 AW2 Community Support Network organizations that help better the lives of our AW2’s and their Families. Click on the links below to get to know them. 

The AW2 Community Support Network was created based on direct requests from severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers, Veterans, and Families. Wounded Soldiers stated that connection with their local community and community leaders was essential for their success and reintegration.

Do you know of a caring organization that wants to assist wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers, Veterans and their Families?  If so, please email the AW2 Community Support Network at the below email address. I welcome your recommendations and referrals. 

Send organization referrals to AW2CommunitySupportNetwork@conus.army.mil

Strengthening the AW2 Community Support Network

Filed under Community Support Network by on March 1, 2011 at 3:48 pm {no comments}

By Patty Sands, WTC Stratcom

The AW2 Community Support Network has an ambitious goal for 2011. At this time, less than 200 registered organizations are in the Network.  As a new program, this is a great start. However, our goal is to increase this number to 300 organizations by the end of the year. Why do we need to expand?  Because the need for help is growing.

There are more than 8,000 AW2 Soldiers and Veterans that are recovering and integrating back into their communities. In each phase of their recovery, the needs change for both them and their Families. The free services and products provided by the AW2 Community Support Network organizations can and do make a positive difference in their lives and yours.

I ask that you recommend organizations that support AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families to us. You can also make a resolution to mention and forward the AW2 Community Support Network Web page  to these organizations.

Lastly, I’d like to welcome the newest organization in the AW2 Community Support Network: 

PoWER Center,  www.powervets.com

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at  AW2communitysupportnetwork@conus.army.mil or fax (703) 428-8358.

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