Extended FMLA for Federal Employees to Care for Wounded Warriors

Filed under General, Resources by on April 14, 2010 at 1:17 pm {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, STRATCOM

Did you know that federal employees have the right to extend their Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits to care for a military Family member who becomes seriously ill or injured in the line of duty?

Standard FMLA benefits offer employees of most organizations the opportunity to take up to 12 weeks per year for personal illness or to care for an ill or injured immediate Family member, such as a parent, spouse, child, or sibling. After taking FMLA leave, employees may return to the same position or to a position with “equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment.” This is an excellent benefit for AW2 Families, and it demonstrates the American public’s commitment to wounded warriors who have sacrificed so much.

Last fall, Congress extended FMLA benefits to 26 weeks (approximately 6 months) for federal employees caring for military Family members. This also applies to federal employees caring for Veterans undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy for a serious injury or illness sustained on Active Duty within five years of the treatment.

Extended FMLA leave to care for seriously ill or injured servicemembers applies only to federal employees and cannot be combined with other FMLA leave, such as childbirth or caring for another Family member. Federal employees may use annual or sick leave to cover this time, and they only need to take unpaid leave if they run out. However, it offers peace of mind for Family members to know that their job is waiting for them while they stand by their wounded warriors.

OPM Director John Berry’s guidance on these extended FMLA benefits can help answer more questions, and AW2 Family members should talk to their AW2 Advocates for more information on their personal situation.

New Web Site for Veterans Seeking Federal Jobs

Filed under Career/Education, Resources by on April 2, 2010 at 10:10 am {3 comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

Are you a wounded warrior looking for a job with the federal government? Is your retirement date approaching, and you’d like more information about preparing for a federal career search? Are you an AW2 Family member and not sure about your rights and privileges when applying for federal jobs?

There’s good news! The U.S. Office of Personnel Management recently launched FedsHireVets.gov, a new Web site designed to help Veterans find jobs with federal agencies. The site is part of President Obama’s Veterans Employment Initiative established by the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government Executive Order.

The site has a directory of federal agencies looking to hire Veterans and the contact information for the Veteran Employment Program Officer at each of these agencies. Veterans seeking federal employment are encouraged to contact these individuals directly.

There are sections on the site just for Veterans and for transitioning servicemembers. In these sections, you can learn about:

  • Special hiring authorities for Veterans
  • How federal jobs are filled
  • Education and training opportunities, such as programs through the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs

There is even information for Family members, with details about Family member preference and special hiring authorities for spouses and Family members.

In addition to the AW2 Career and Education Section, FedsHireVets.gov is an excellent resource for AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Family members considering federal employment.

Army Community Support Coordinators Build Synergy Across America

Filed under Resources by on March 23, 2010 at 2:01 pm {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

The Army has hired 61 Community Support Coordinators (CSCs) to help build support for all aspects of the Army Family in geographically-dispersed areas. They attend local events, such as Family and Community Covenant signings and Yellow Ribbon activities, to help community leaders understand the wide variety of challenges facing Soldiers and Families.

You can find your CSC through Army OneSource and click on a map to find contact information and a personal Web page for the CSC in your local community. Many CSCs have a lot of valuable information on their pages, and many also offer the opportunity for people to receive RSS feeds, or regular updates when they post new information.

CSCs can be an excellent resource for AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families returning to their hometowns as they transition to life post-injury. AW2 wounded warriors living in geographically dispersed areas should talk to their AW2 Advocate about contacting their local CSC to learn more about additional resources available in their local area.

My Day with Service Dogs

Filed under Advocate Story, Behavioral Health, Community Support Network, Non-profit, Resources, Staff Stories by on March 19, 2010 at 3:38 pm {2 comments}

By Ann Yingling, AW2 Advocate

I had a really cool day recently! Jeff, one of the Veterans I work with, is in the process of receiving a psychiatric service dog through Paws 4 Vets, a member of the AW2 Community Support Network.

I say “process” because it is certainly that. There are applications, interviews, home studies, and “bumps” to attend. (A bump is the process of meeting various dogs to see if any of them bond with the human. And believe me—the dog is the one doing the choosing!) There are trainers to meet, training to attend, and on and on. And it is for good reason that the process is so meticulous—this is serious stuff, not only for the person who receives the dog, but for the dog, too. It’s finding a life partner and making a life-long commitment!

But back to my day… I traveled to Fort Stewart where Paws 4 Vets has a pilot program with the Warrior Transition Battalion there. Both Cadre and Soldiers assigned to the WTB will be training the dogs, which will eventually be assigned to a Soldier or Veteran. Attending that day at Fort Stewart were Terry Henry, Director of Paws 4 Vets, his daughter Kyria who trains the trainers, the Soldiers who will be training the dogs, and Jeff and his parents.

We started out with basic introductions—Jeff and another Veteran (Navy!) who will also be receiving a dog, told the group their “story”. It was very emotional—both heart breaking and heart warming, listening to these two Veterans talk about their service in Iraq, their struggles with PTSD, and the hope for a “normal” life that the dogs have given them. All the while they were speaking, several beautiful golden retrievers and a black lab lay quietly and patiently at their feet. The Soldiers who are training the dogs then spoke about how this program has given them something worthwhile to get excited about—knowing that they will be helping out a fellow wounded warrior. They also told of the benefits received from the dogs in their own healing process.

Then we got to see Sallie, one of the goldens, in action! She showed us just one way that she will be helping a wounded warrior who suffers from agoraphobia (the fear of crowds or open spaces). If Jeff (for example) and Sallie are out in public, and someone is approaching Jeff from behind, Sallie will nudge Jeff in a special way to alert him. If Jeff is not paying attention, Sallie will nudge a second time, a little harder. If the person has approached within an arm’s length of Jeff, Sallie gives a very definitive bark to alert him. Another way a psychiatric service dog has been known to help is that they can “sense” things we humans can’t. For example—for someone who is prone to seizures, flashbacks, or nightmares, the dog might sense the event before it actually happens. Dogs have been known to warn a person of an oncoming seizure—alerting the person so that he can get to a safe place before the onset of the seizure. Dogs can wake a person up before the he becomes too entrenched in a nightmare or flashback. Also, the responsibility of having a service dog is another “hidden” benefit. A dog has to be let out and has to be walked and fed. These responsibilities can help get a person out of the house, give the person a mission or something to focus on.

At Fort Stewart that day, I saw lots of neat “tricks” that a psychiatric service dog can do and I also witnessed the most basic benefit of a service dog: the love and companionship provided. No one loves you as unconditionally as a dog!

Working Together Makes a Difference

Filed under General, Resources, Warrior Transition Command, WTC Commander by on March 19, 2010 at 2:25 pm {one comment}

BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

I had an opportunity yesterday to present the Army’s warrior care story to a dozen Veteran service organizations (VSOs) such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America. I was the guest of Dr. Michael Kilpatrick of Force Health Protection. Although I covered the nuts and bolts of how the Warrior Transition Command and Army Wounded Warrior Program operate, it’s hard to truly summarize what we do and the impact we have on helping wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers move forward.

I think the key to what we have done is that we understand that every Soldier we work with is a unique individual with distinct challenges—and so we created a uniform system with flexibility. We exist to help Soldiers chart their own path forward to a rich future and provide assistance in their following of a Comprehensive Transition Plan based on their goals.

In my discussions with the VSOs, I emphasized that this is a team effort between the Soldier, WTC, MEDCOM, VA, VSOs, and other organizations such as the USOC Paralympics. I also demonstrated what our team effort can accomplish by sharing the inspiring stories of a few of our Soldiers who have continued to serve after injury, including CPT Scott Smiley, who is blind. Knowing we’ve made a difference validates everyone’s hard work and commitment.

AW2 Weekly Digest March 1-5

Filed under Soldier Story, Weekly News Digest by on March 8, 2010 at 4:37 pm {one comment}
  • AW2 Soldier PVT Joshua Lindsey was featured in Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an article about the community and a nonprofit organization coming together to build him a house.
  • AW2 Veteran Shannon Meehan, featured on CNN, discussed post-traumatic stress disorder and his current endeavors.
  • AW2 Veteran Pedro “Pete” Perez, featured in the Herald Tribune, is more hopeful today than at any time since his injury day because of a yellow Labrador retriever.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

National Resource Directory Overhaul

Filed under Resources, WTC Commander by on February 25, 2010 at 11:51 am {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online database of thousands of resources for wounded warriors.

The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online database of thousands of resources for wounded warriors.

It seems like every day I am learning about a new organization that supports our wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers and Veterans, as well as their Families. For almost any goal a Soldier sets, there is a group to help the servicemember achieve that goal. It’s impressive to see the growing commitment by the American public at both the national and local level.

There are so many resources, in fact, that navigating them can be challenging to Soldiers. The Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs collaborated to produce the National Resource Directory (NRD), an online database of thousands of resources for wounded warriors. I spent some time looking through the site and was impressed by the wide range of resources available from Federal, state, and local government programs, as well as Veteran service organizations, nonprofit and community-based organizations, academic institutions, and professional associations.

The NRD re-launched this week, and it is now much easier to use. Some of the Web site’s improvements include:

  • RSS feeds and an e-mail subscription service allowing users to sign up for content updates
  • “In the News” and Spotlight features to highlight news and updates in the wounded warrior, Veteran and caregiver community
  • New “homelessness” section of the site featuring VA resources for homeless Veterans
  • Improved search function to allow users to search by national or state resource, as well as government or non-government
  • Alphabetical and popularity-based views for NRD resources

I encourage all wounded warriors and their Families to use the National Resource Directory as a starting point to find available local resources that meet their individual situations.

Give an Hour Provides Free Counseling

Filed under Behavioral Health, Community Support Network, Non-profit, Resources by on February 25, 2010 at 10:00 am {no comments}

By Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., Founder & President of Give an Hour

Give an Hour is a national nonprofit organization delivering free mental health counseling services to active duty service members, members of our National Guard and Reserve forces, and Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have separated or retired from any branch of military service.  In addition to these military personnel and their spouses and children, Give an Hour offers services to parents, siblings, and unmarried partners.  Through our network of nearly 5,000 providers nationwide, we aim to provide easy access to skilled professionals offering a wide range of services including:

  • individual, marital, and family therapy
  • substance abuse counseling
  • treatment for post-traumatic stress
  • counseling for individuals with traumatic brain injuries

Returning combat Veterans suffering from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are not routinely seeking the mental health treatment they need.  Many fear that seeking mental health services will jeopardize their career or standing.  Given the military culture’s emphasis on confidence, strength, and bravery, others are reluctant to expose their vulnerabilities to counselors who are often military personnel themselves.  By providing free and confidential services that are separate from the military establishment, we offer an essential option for men and women who might otherwise fail to seek or receive appropriate services.

AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Family members in need of services can visit www.giveanhour.org and use a zip-code finder to locate a provider in his or her area.  Give an Hour is a participant in the AW2 Community Support Network.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

Grants Available from Our Military Kids

Filed under Community Support Network, Non-profit, Resources by on February 16, 2010 at 2:45 pm {2 comments}

By Mary Carolyn Voght, Guest Blogger from Our Military Kids

For some military children, the stress and anxiety caused by a parent’s deployment do not end once their father or mother has returned home.  Children of injured servicemembers face new challenges that come with learning to adapt to physical, mental, and emotional changes in a loved one.  Our Military Kids, a non-profit based in Washington, DC, is a member of the AW2 Community Support Network and provides grants to children of injured servicemembers for extracurricular activities.  The grants help these children cope with the strain of having a parent recovering from physical and/or mental wounds by getting them involved in a sports, fine arts, or academic tutoring program.

Since January 2009, Our Military Kids has awarded over 200 grants to Families of the severely injured in 32 states across the country, including one Family from Indiana with six children.

“You cannot believe the difference this makes for my Family,” the mother told Our Military Kids. Her children received grants for gymnastics, music lessons, martial arts, and tutoring. “There is no way we could have afforded all of these activities without the grants, particularly with their father still recovering in the hospital.”

Children of severely injured servicemembers are eligible for a grant covering up to $500 of an activity.  To apply, Families must submit the following documentation:

  1. Completed application form
  2. Servicemember’s most recent military orders (even if they are retired)
  3. Form of ID for the child (birth certificate or military ID)
  4. Brochure or flyer documenting the cost of the activity
  5. Letter from the servicemember’s case manager certifying that they are injured as a result of being deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom

Our Military Kids processes applications within a week to ten days.  Once a grant has been approved, the check is mailed directly to the organization providing the activity and an award packet is mailed to the Family.

In addition to receiving a letter, certificate and patch with their grant, children of injured service members also receive a special reMIND dog tag and ring provided by the Bob Woodruff Foundation.  The rings and dog tags help raise awareness about war injuries that cannot be seen, and their prevalence shows that many Americans want to support and honor all of our wounded warriors.

Our Military Kids is pleased to recognize injured military personnel and their Families for their service to our nation.  Helping these children to participate in an extracurricular activity of their choice is a small way of saying thank you to those who are sacrificing so much for our country.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

AW2 Community Support Network Update

Filed under Community Support Network, General, Non-profit by on February 2, 2010 at 10:13 pm {no comments}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

Between December 15 and February 1, 12 new organizations have registered for the AW2 Community Support Network to demonstrate their support for AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families. I encourage you to visit their Web sites to learn more about the unique services each organization offers.

AW2 also recently hosted the first quarterly conference call with AW2 Community Supporters and focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and AW2 encouraged AW2 Community Supporters to send their success stories for use in the AW2 blog and other AW2 publications. AW2 Veteran Matthew A. Staton also joined the call to discuss how he manages his PTSD and TBI and the important role AW2 Community Supporters have played in his recovery and transition.

Federal Organizations (registered between December 15 and February 1):

Additional Organizations (registered between December 15 and February 1):

Any AW2 Soldier, Veteran, or Family member can nominate an organization for the AW2 Community Support Network by contacting me at AW2CommunitySupportNetwork@conus.army.mil or (703) 325-0397. For more information, please visit the AW2 Community Support Network section of the AW2 Web site.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

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