BG Cheek talked with wounded Veterans and spouses at AW2’s Symposium Family Night in TX
By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander
This past week I got to know many of the delegates at the AW2 Symposium—wounded Soldiers and Veterans, along with their spouses and caregivers. They were in Texas once again serving the Army by working to identify and recommend ways government agencies can improve warrior care. It was an honor to listen and learn from them so that I can do better to shape the Army’s programs in the future.
Event delegates spent a week hashing out ways to improve “the system” and then voted on their top five priorities. They selected:
- Medically retired service member’s eligibility for Concurrent Receipt of Disability Pay (CRDP)
- Post 9/11 GI Bill transferability to dependents for all medically retired service members
- Mandatory post-traumatic stress disorder/traumatic brain injury (PTSD/TBI) training for Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare staff
- Transfer option from Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) to Permanent Disability Retired (PDR) for wounded warriors
- Benefits and entitlements information to wounded warrior primary caregivers
Our work at the Warrior Transition Command is such an important mission for the Army and if we don’t do it right, and take the best care of our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Veterans—and their Families—then we will run the risk that young people will not step forward to serve and defend this country in the future. I am honored to have this responsibility.
I told the AW2 Symposium delegates they’ve given us great work to do with these five recommendations and I plan to do it right.
