News & Information - The Mercury - December 2008 Mercury

by Sharon McBride
Fort Richardson

A Fort Richardson, Alaska, noncommissioned officer went from kicking in doors during deployments to helping establish the tenets of care for wounded warriors.

SFC David Waite, a senior cadre member at the Fort Richardson Warrior Transition Unit, said he originally planned on staying in the Army as an infantryman until he retired. However, after a rocket attack in Afghanistan in 2003, his plans dramatically changed.

During the rocket attack, Waite was hit in the legs and back. The blast not only shattered bones and joints, but it also took part of his stomach, spleen and intestines.

He said he was lucky to survive. After extensive surgery and rehabilitation that lasted for months, he came home to Fort Richardson in 2004.

"I'm not one of those people that like to sit around on their butts, Waite said. "They let me work in an office and gave me what I could handle.

Driving a car presented a significant challenge. It was the Soldiers and chain of command of his unit who made sure he got to his medical appointments and helped out with day-to-day errands like grocery shopping.

Good idea

Waite said he was really glad when the Army created the concept of the WTU.

"There was nothing like this when I got hurt, Waite said. "But I find I'm a little rough around the edges, and I don't have a whole lot of sympathy when Soldiers complain.

A WTU creates the familiar environment of a military unit and surrounds Soldiers and their Families with comprehensive care and support, all focused on the wounded warriors' mission to heal, explained CPT Nathan Colvin, Fort Richardson's WTU commander.

"I tell the Soldiers assigned to the WTU that our jobs are to set them up for success by helping them figure out a plan for the future and the steps they have to take to get there," Waite added.

Adapting

Since it stood up, the WTU at Fort Richardson has been constantly adapting and changing to meet the needs of the wounded warriors assigned to the unit, Colvin explained.

"No two WTUs are ever going to be the same," Colvin said. "I like to explain it like this to people: A regular unit only has one training plan for everyone. Here at the WTU, we have 149 individual training plans."

Having Waite as a senior member of the cadre has been invaluable, he added.

"He's been there, and he brings not only a lot of experience as an NCO to the table, he's a wounded warrior himself," Colvin said.

Even though his wife, Shelley, complains about the long hours he works at the WTU, Waite said he's glad he has the opportunity to continue to serve.

"I've always hated doing paperwork," Waite said. "But I'd rather be here doing paperwork than anywhere else."

From the December 2008 Mercury, an Army Medical Department publication.