Archive | Career/Education | Warrior Transition Command

Soldiers Rebuild Futures through Career Transformation

Filed under Career/Education, General, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on November 27, 2012 at 2:19 pm {no comments}

Operation Warfighter candidate SSG Kimberly Webster (left) works with a colleague to provide customer service in the Defense Military Pay Office (DMPO) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

By Alli Kartachak, WTC Stratcom
SSG Kimberly Webster recovered at the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion (BAMC-WTB) after suffering nerve damage to her right knee, leg, and foot from an injury while deployed in Iraq. After her injury, she recalls facing “the challenge of finding something completely new” after working in Army aviation for 23 years. It wasn’t until she learned of Operation Warfighter (OWF) that she became optimistic about her professional future.

As a federal internship program designed to place servicemembers in supportive work settings outside of the hospital environment, OWF seeks to positively impact this population while they seek to join the civilian workforce. The program encourages several strategies for success including resume building, exploring employment interests, developing job skills, and gaining valuable federal government work experience in order to increase employment readiness during their recovery.

Due to the support she received through OWF and WTB Transition Coordinator Zach Gant, SSG Webster is now completing an internship with the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS).

“OWF helped me rehabilitate. It was good to get back to working with a team and into a daily routine,” she said. “After six months, I know what to expect every day. I know there’s a workplace where I belong.”

Transition Coordinators like Gant support recovering Soldiers at 29 WTUs and nine Community-Based WTUs (CBWTUs) nationwide. They work with OWF to help employers at federal agencies and private sector organizations connect with wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers from all services who anticipate transitioning out of the military soon. In the Army, each Soldier recovering in a WTU develops career goals through their personalized Comprehensive Transition Plan (CTP).

“The Soldiers with a plan, and who are working toward it, are the ones who are successful after they leave the WTU,” said Gant.

SSG Claudia Mendez, another Soldier healing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Warrior Transition Battalion (JBLM-WTB), encourages Soldiers to take a chance. With a background in the military medical field, she has now learned that she “loves customer service and being around people,” after working in the installation’s Defense Military Pay Office through OWF.

“You can’t limit yourself to what you’ve always known,” she said. “So many doors can open in your favor.”

For more information about employment opportunities for wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers, visit the Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC) website at www.WTC.army.mil.

No Cost, On-Line Training at Syracuse University for Post 9-11 Veterans and Soldiers

Filed under Career/Education, General, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on November 23, 2012 at 8:00 am {no comments}

1LT Bryan Upham, Fort Belvoir Warrior Transition Unit, prepares for his professional future.

By Luann Georgia, WTC Stratcom
The School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, a member of the Community Support Network*, is offering a “Veterans Technology Program” to post-9/11 Veterans and Soldiers with a minimum of a high school diploma. The program is a non-credit, certificate program that is offered at no cost. There are four certificate programs to select from. Each course is delivered online, which enables students to participate from any location and at a time that is convenient to their schedule.

The program is designed to help post-9/11 Soldiers and Veterans create development plans which are specific to individual skill sets, interests, and goals, as well as gain understanding of and insight into the corporate culture of global companies. Program participants learn to effectively prepare for and execute job searches, as well as resume and cover letter writing. The technical aspects of the Veterans Technology Program allow participants to focus on a specific concentration of their choice and, where applicable, acquire industry certification.

For additional information about the program and instructions on how to apply, log onto: http://get-vet.syr.edu

*Community Support Network has a variety of providers on the WTC and AW2 website that are available to assist in the career transition process. These supporters are actively engaged in helping the wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, Veterans and Family members. They offer opportunities on training, education, apprenticeships, certification and more.

Jon Zagami Proves Disabled Veterans Add Value in the Workplace

Filed under Career/Education, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on November 21, 2012 at 8:00 am {no comments}

Jon Zagami, who lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), demonstrates his leadership abilities and unique skill set in the workplace as a disabled Veteran.

By Alli Kartachak, WTC Stratcom
Jon Zagami’s story is one that serves as a model for employers. As a Veteran living with physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), he can recall a time when he laid in a hospital bed and wondered if he would ever walk again.

Today, Zagami is a leader on his team at Caterpillar Financial, working on the company’s most difficult portfolio. He motivates his peers, demonstrates hard work, and gets results. But in looking back to a time when he was searching for a job, Zagami says he worried about how to convey to employers that he could add value to the workplace despite his injuries.

“One of the biggest questions in my mind was, how am I going to explain to people that I left the Army because of injuries?” he said. “And you know, looking at it from an employer’s perspective, I understand that it sounds scary, and a lot of questions arise.”

Although he lives with PTSD, TBI, and physical injuries, Zagami felt that he should give no reason for his employer to feel that he was different from others, so he turned down accommodation offers and opted to not use crutches at work.

“I don’t want any reason to prove to other people that I’m different,” he said. “I just want to come in here, and I want a chance to excel.”

And he does. David Michael, Zagami’s supervisor, says that Zagami comes to work every day and performs at an exceptionally high level, acting as a model employee to his fellow colleagues.

“People look to Jon for direction, and he has a way of motivating those around him toward accomplishing difficult tasks,” he said. “A lot of our customers are having challenging or difficult financial times, and he’s able to calmly work with them and make them feel good about the solutions we are offering.”

Zagami says that his ability to work on the most stressful projects while keeping calm and focused is due to his perspective on life.

“I’m lucky that I have an opportunity to work with the most difficult portfolio that we have. I enjoy it every single day,” he said. “While it stresses some people out, I can keep a smile on my face and say this is not that bad, because I know how bad it really can be.”

Zagami demonstrates leadership and motivation in the workplace, and his actions are telling of his appreciation for his job. He thinks that employers should take the opportunity to hire Veterans for their unique skill set and experience.

“If I had the ability to hire someone who had worn the uniform over a peer with the same education level, or the same experience, it’s a no-brainer to me. I know that this person’s been tried.”

Three Key Misperceptions Prevent the Employment of Disabled Veterans

Filed under Career/Education, General, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on November 20, 2012 at 12:15 pm {no comments}

Disabled Veteran Jon Zagami, (left) who lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), continues to be a model to employers that Veterans are valuable in the workplace.

By Alli Kartachak, WTC Stratcom
Jon Zagami is a leader. He gets results. He motivates his peers, and he works hard. Most employers would be grateful to have an employee like him. Yet each year many employers will turn down the opportunity to hire eligible candidates like Zagami, simply because of one factor –they are disabled Veterans.

Research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that there are three key misperceptions that employers have about hiring wounded warriors like Zagami. These include lack of knowledge about how military skills translate into a civilian job, fear of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on job performance, and confusion that the cost of accommodations will be high.

During the next five years, more than eighty-thousand disabled Veterans will be entering the workforce in search of jobs. BG David J. Bishop, Commander of the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC), says that the Army is doing all it can to help support the long-term success of Veterans.

Part of this support lies in the Army’s “Hire a Veteran” campaign, which aims to eliminate misperceptions that impede the employment of disabled Veterans through employer and Veteran first-hand accounts and new research.

“Our campaign aims to reduce anxiety around hiring a Veteran and level the hiring field for our wounded warriors,” said Bishop. “Veterans bring discipline and leadership to any organization that they join. Employers, and their bottom line, would benefit from their unique skills and experience in the workplace.”

Timothy Warrington, a supervisor for the General Building Laborer’s Local 79 is featured in the campaign’s educational video. He hired disabled Veteran William Plotner, who now works as a laborer for Tishman Construction at World Trade Center projects. Warrington says that Plotner is a benefit to the company, and that other employers should give Veterans a chance like he did.

“You know, we all want to put yellow magnets on our car. We all want to say we support Veterans and that we support the troops,” he said. “Well it is easy to say that, it feels good to say that, but why don’t you just do it? Just do it. Hire the Veteran.”

For more information about hiring disabled Veterans and to access an educational video and online employer toolkit, visit the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command website.

Study Shows “The Tie Goes to the Vet” during Hiring Process for Leadership and Teamwork Skills

Filed under Career/Education, General, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on August 7, 2012 at 2:10 pm {no comments}

By Amanda Koons, WTC Stratcom
Hiring Veterans makes sense. A recent study published recently by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) makes a compelling argument to employers that hiring Veterans is good for business, bottom line.

CNAS used in-depth interviews with 87 leaders of companies to determine the primary reasons business leaders listed for hiring Veterans: their leadership and teamwork skills. Veterans have typically led colleagues, accepted directions from others, and operated as part of a team. One employer said, “We look for people with leadership skills. If someone can lead a team of Soldiers around the world, they can lead our large stores.” All company leaders interviewed said they seek to hire the most qualified candidate but, as one participant said, “The tie goes to the Vet.”

Among the other reasons business leaders in the study listed for hiring Veterans are:

Character: Veterans are perceived by employers as being trustworthy, dependable, and having a strong work ethic.
Structure and discipline: Companies, especially those that emphasize health and safety, appreciate Veterans’ experience following established procedures.
Expertise: Companies value Veterans’ skills, job-specific experiences, and understanding of the military community.
Dynamic environment: Veterans are used to performing and making decisions in dynamic and rapidly changing circumstances.
Resilience: Veterans are accustomed to working in difficult environments, traveling, and relocating.

Employers actively recruit Veterans through military career fairs, partnerships, employment websites, web portals, headhunters, and employee referrals. WTC offers additional recommendations for wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers as they focus on preparing for the next step in their careers, whether they’re returning to the force or transitioning to civilian life. Suggestions and resources for career planning for active duty Soldiers, Veterans, spouses, and employers are included on the Careers and Employment section of the WTC website.

CPT Alvin Shell Continues to Serve – Just in a Different Uniform

Filed under Career/Education, General by jvargas on February 29, 2012 at 3:08 pm {no comments}

Retired Army CPT Alvin Shell was burned over 30 percent of his body as he rescued a fellow Soldier from a burning vehicle. He has successfully transitioned as a federal employee of the Dept. of Homeland Security and shared his story with the Wounded Warrior Employment Conference attendees at the Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club on February 28.

By Erich Langer, WTC Public Affairs
Retired Army CPT Alvin Shell has been overcoming obstacles all his life. Since being severely injured in Iraq in 2005, one would think that overcoming the big obstacles would be behind him. For Shell, an Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Veteran, there were more obstacles to navigate.

With too many injures to count, his Family held vigil throughout his recovery, knowing he would wake from his coma, that he’d talk again, walk again, and do much, much, more.

He had severe burn injuries over many parts of his body; broken bones and invisible behavioral health wounds. It would be easy for someone in Shell’s place to take the easy road. But for Shell, such a path was not part of his mettle.

“When I awoke from that coma, my Family was there; my mom, my dad and my wife were all with me. I’ll never forget the first words out of my dad’s mouth. ‘Son, you’re a hero,’” he said.

Hearing Shell explain his injuries was difficult for many attending the Wounded Warrior Employment Conference hosted at the Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club. The skin grafting processes he routinely went through for more than two years was arduous—the excruciating and continuous pain he suffered was just as difficult.

“The doctors would remove my damaged skin and muscle tissue and then replace the burned skin with skin tissue harvested from other parts of my body” said Shell. “Doctors would remove the undamaged skin with a tool similar to a wood planning machine you’d find in a wood working shop. They’d take the ‘good skin’ and stretch it tight, then staple it to the area needing replacement skin.”

In many ways, securing employment was every bit as challenging as the recovery process. Finding a job to support his Family was essential. Shell attacked the employment process with gusto. “I filled out more than 100 federal job applications—I also got more than 100 rejection letters.” The young man with a bachelor’s degree, an Army commission, a wife, three kids, and two dogs had no job. After two years in Army hospitals, he was ready to show employers what he could do.

“I run four miles a day, don’t tell me what I can’t do!”

When hired at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there were more obstacles to maneuver. “I think when I was hired at DHS, people thought I would sit dutifully at my desk and folks in the agency would come by and express their appreciation for my service and my contribution to my country—that would be about it. Well, I’m not made that way; I had much more to contribute than sitting behind a desk and being recognized!”

Shell would get away from that desk, go to meetings, and ask questions, lots of questions, of his fellow DHS employees. It wasn’t uncommon for Shell to invite himself to meetings and briefings where he served as a voice for wounded Veterans and their capabilities.

But obstacles persisted.

“I learned from my first-line supervisor that I wasn’t being considered for a position because I was blind, couldn’t run, and couldn’t shoot,” he said with a smirk. “I quickly put that to rest. I’ve got 20/20 vision in one eye and even better in the other. And running, well all that was required was completing a 1.5 mile run…I could do that without getting out of bed.”

By stepping up and making a strong case for himself, he soon found himself off to Georgia to attend federal law enforcement training. He graduated with high marks and for a guy who couldn’t shoot, he’d notch the class’s best shooting scores.

“I learned to shoot left-handed and qualified on the M-4 and nine millimeter pistol,” said Shell. “It is all about confidence in your abilities and in some instances retraining yourself. I shot tops in my class.”

Now a supervisor at DHS, Shell has hired eight or nine individuals – 85% have been Veterans. Today, he has a better understanding of the hiring practices from the hiring managers’ perspective.

“I can’t be more proud of what all these folks at the Wounded Warrior Employment Conference are doing in the federal and civilian sector to hire wounded Soldiers and Veterans,” said Shell. “I’m equally proud of what this conference can do for our service members and Veterans as they learn methods to make themselves more marketable and ultimately employable. I’m so proud of each and every one of you for assisting with employment.”

My father and grandfather were both Veterans, but programs like the ones we have today weren’t around then. I never knew about all the initiatives available until I needed them,” Shell said. “I make it a point to encourage all Veterans seeking employment to learn as much as they can about a prospective employer. Get on the phone and call all those 1-800 numbers at USA Jobs and talk to people. You’ve got to be persistent.”

He interviewed for his DHS job while he was recuperating in bed—he didn’t let that stop him. Shell searched the Internet and learned as much about the agency, division, and branch, as well as supervisors and personnel that worked there.

“You have to be able to sell yourself. I told the three-person interview panel that I could do anything they wanted me to do in Homeland Security…I just didn’t know what they wanted me to do.”

Today, Alvin Shell knows what he is doing and is reaching out to Soldiers, Veterans and hiring mangers to assist all who need help getting a job or learning about the process.

Hats off to Shell and other passionate wounded warriors assisting their fellow comrades in arms.

Individuals Don’t Suffer From, but Live with PTSD and TBI

Filed under Career/Education, General, Warrior Transition Command by cmccarrie on February 29, 2012 at 1:51 pm {no comments}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom
“What do you think the most frequently requested accommodation is for people with disabilities in the workforce?” Lisa Stern, National Resource Directory, asked the employers during the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/traumatic brain injury (TBI) recognition and response session at the Wounded Warrior Employer Conference.

“The most frequently requested accommodation for people with disability in the workforce as a whole is a flexible schedule. Does that really cost money? Not really,” Stern said. “Usually you get more out of people when you’re flexible then when you make them come from a certain time to a certain time.”

This was just one bit of information provided to the audience during this session by Stern and COL Irwin Lenefsky, Behavioral Health Consultant, Warrior Transition Command.

During the session, the two speakers reiterated that transition is not necessarily what it appears to be and explained how many people make assumptions about military members and disabilities.

According to Stern, it is important to determine the accommodations needed for success, because individuals live with PTSD instead of suffering from PTSD.

The back-and-forth informative session by the two speakers and the presentation showing some of the potential impact, symptoms, and additional ways to help wounded, ill, and injured Veterans adapt in their work environment provided valuable insight into people living with PTSD and TBI.

“PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder in the mental health realm,” Lenefsky said. “It is something that someone works through, throughout their life.”

Speakers asked if the audience had ever experienced some of the symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, or personality changes which can be experienced by individuals living with PTSD and TBI.

Many of them seemed to nod their heads up and down. Not that they thought they had PTSD or TBI, but the idea of understanding what some of the wounded, ill, and injured Veterans are living with on a daily basis, seemed to resonate with the idea that they cope with some of the same symptoms.

Before the end of the session, the ideas of flexible schedules, providing more or longer work breaks, providing additional time to learn new opportunities, provide job sharing opportunities if possible, and encouraging an employee to use a daily to do list or providing a daily list were a few examples of accommodations that may be overlooked with employing servicemembers or Veterans living with PTSD and TBI.

“It truly just takes one. One employer…one job…one Veteran,” Stern said. “Helping people understand this is the path to PTSD. It’s not the same for everyone.”

Commander’s Drumbeat: Military Athletes Compete at Warrior Care Month Sitting Volleyball Tournament

Filed under Adaptive Sports, COAD/COAR, General, Warrior Care Month, Warrior Transition Command, WTC Commander, WTU/WTB by jameswenzel on November 23, 2011 at 3:09 pm {no comments}

Soldiers playing sitting volleyball block at the net

SGT Juan Alcivar, left, and SSG Jessie White block at the net during a sitting volleyball match between the Army and a Pentagon team of Navy Reservists at the Pentagon Athletic Center on Nov. 22. WTC hosted the All-Service Sitting Volleyball Tournament as a part of Warrior Care Month. Photo Credit: James R. Wenzel

By BG Darryl A. Williams, WTC Commander

The energy was off the charts yesterday as the Pentagon Athletic Center filled with people cheering on our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines—Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve—during the Army Warrior Transition Command Warrior Care Month Sitting Volleyball Tournament.

Across the Army this month, units and installations have hosted events and engaged local communities and media to highlight warrior care. This tournament was the Army’s Warrior Care Month pinnacle event in the National Capital Region. I wish all of you could have experienced the excitement of being among so many people joined together celebrating these wounded, ill and injured men and women—celebrating their service, their abilities, and their amazing spirits. Among the attendees were several senior military leaders including the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Director of Army Staff and the Army Surgeon General.

Three of the four sitting volleyball teams were made up of wounded, ill, and injured service members—Army, Marines and a Joint team. The fourth team was a Pentagon team of Navy Reservists. I offer a huge shout out to the Pentagon team—they won the tournament with the Army taking second place. It wasn’t an easy win, these players gave their all.

Army Sgt. Jonathan Duralde said it best, “The other teams were great; it was especially good to see the strategy of the Pentagon team. For us it was a competition and we were there to play regardless of the teams and regardless who won.”

Duralde, a below the knee amputee, wounded in Afghanistan in June 2010, recently reenlisted and is continuing on Active Duty. He is assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Belvoir and will soon start working in the Warrior Transition Command.

My biggest shout-out goes to all of the competitors. The tournament was about teamwork, cohesion and esprit d ‘corps. You all exemplify the best part of who we are.

Not only did we see world class military athletes compete, we were privileged to have world class support and participation at this event. Well deserved shout-outs go to some special people:

John Register, one of our tournament commentators. A Paralympics athlete and Army Veteran, he understands the healing power of sports and the significance it can play in the rehabilitation and recovery of our wounded, ill, and injured.
John Kessel, Managing Director, Region Services, USA Volleyball. Kessel joined Register as a commentator and between the two of them kept everyone up to speed on each and every play with interviews about the power of adaptive sports and reconditioning activities between games.
Kari Miller, a former Soldier who lost both her legs as the result of an auto accident involving a drunk driver, who went on to win a Paralympics silver medal in sitting volleyball in 2008. She taught the athletes the tips and tricks of sitting volleyball and refereed the tournament.
Elliot Blake, Sitting Volleyball and Athlete Recruitment Coordinator, USA Volleyball. He also coached and refereed.
Vic Breseford and his team from the Army Media & Visual Information Directorate. They did a super job with sound and getting us live coverage on DVIDS and the Pentagon Channel.
Defense Media Activity (DMA) supported with visual and print staff.
Candice Barlow-Jones. An invaluable member of the WTC team who lent her exceptional voice to our national anthem, kicking off the event.

Congratulations to all of the participants.

I’d enjoy hearing about your Warrior Care Month plans and experiences. Please post your comments on this blog by clicking on the headline and scrolling to the bottom of the page to the comment box.

More information on events at WTUs around the country is available on the WTC website at http://www.wtc.army.mil/.

AW2 Soldier Receives Highest Military Award for Heroism

Filed under COAD/COAR, Soldier Stories, Warrior Transition Command by alanmorales on July 13, 2011 at 5:20 pm {no comments}

By SSG Emily Anderson, WTC Stratcom

AW2 Soldier SFC Leroy A. Petry was awarded the Medal of Honor yesterday, the nation’s highest military award for valor.

Yesterday, AW2 Soldier SFC Leroy A. Petry was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for heroism, by President Barack Obama at the White House.

“The service of Leroy Petry speaks to the very essence of America—that spirit that says, no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don’t quit. We don’t give up,” President Obama said during the award ceremony.

Leroy Petry “showed that true heroes still exist and that they’re closer than you think,” President Obama added.

After months of rehabilitation and therapy, Petry, who joined the Army in September 1999, was able to continue his military career through Continuation on Active Duty (COAD)—an Army program offering many wounded, ill, and injured warriors who desire to continue their Army service, if approved, an opportunity to do so.

Soldiers who meet at least one of three requirements—have served 15-20 years of service, qualify in a critical skill or shortage military occupational specialty, or have a disability as a result of combat or terrorism—can apply to serve through the COAD program, regardless of the extent of their injuries or time in service.

Nearly 177 AW2 Soldiers who are severely wounded, ill, and injured continue to serve in the military. Maintaining these experienced Soldiers is a win-win situation for the Soldier because they are able to continue their military careers, and for the force because the Army benefits from these Soldiers’ skills, experiences, and expertise.

On May 26, 2008, Petry, a Ranger assisting in a daylight helicopter assault mission near Paktya, Afghanistan, and another Ranger, entered an outer courtyard to secure an inner area. Once the inside area was cleared, the two Rangers moved to secure the rest of the vicinity. Unknown to them, the Rangers moved into a section containing enemy fighters.

As the enemies fired upon them, Petry and another Ranger moved to find cover behind a chicken coop, the only available area to shield them.

Before reaching the chicken coop, Petry was wounded by one round, which went through both his legs and the other Ranger, was hit in the side by a separate round. Petry successfully moved the other Ranger out of enemy fire and immediately reported the situation.

When a third Ranger came to their assistance the enemy threw a grenade toward the three Rangers, wounding two of them. Shortly after the first, the enemy threw a second grenade. Realizing the threat, Petry risked his life to save the other Rangers by grabbing the live hand grenade and throwing it away from his fellow Rangers, removing the immediate threat to their lives.

Unfortunately, Petry sustained additional injuries when the grenade detonated shortly after he threw it. The explosion caused the loss of his right hand and multiple shrapnel pieces to penetrate his body.

Despite suffering numerous injuries, Petry remained calm, quickly placed a tourniquet on his right arm and continued to lead.

Once they were out of immediate danger and received medical attention, Petry continued to remain calm and informed the medics about his injuries, which helped them assist Petry with treatment.

“This is the stuff of which heroes are made. This is the strength, the devotion that makes our troops the pride of every American. And this is the reason that—like a Soldier named Leroy Petry— America doesn’t simply endure, we emerge from our trials, stronger, more confident, with our eyes fixed on the future,” said President Obama.

Petry plans to continue what he has been doing for the last 11 years. He will put on the uniform, lace up his boots, and serve his country. He plans to retire from the Army after many more years of service.

Read more about Petry’s story on the U.S. Army website and the Department of Defense website.

Second Class of AW2 Soldiers and Veterans Graduate from Kansas University

Filed under Career/Education, COL Gadson, Staff Stories by jvargas on May 27, 2011 at 1:27 pm {one comment}

By Jim Merrill, AW2 Advocate

The month of May saw many college graduations and ceremonies across the country, as well as events commemorating the armed forces. Along with COL Greg Gadson, AW2 Director, I had the pleasure of attending a special graduation and Warrior Appreciation Rally.

The master’s hooding ceremony for the second class of graduates of the AW2 Education Initiative was at the University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, KS. These new graduates, one AW2 Soldier and five AW2 Veterans, were the second group selected to take part in an innovative cooperative program between the Department of the Army (DA) and KU. Soldiers that possessed bachelor’s degrees could attend KU as either COAD (Continuation on Active Duty) Soldiers or as paid DA civilians, with all fees paid, to obtain their master’s degrees. In return, they become instructors at the Command and General Staff College (C&GS) at Fort Leavenworth, or will be employed in some other capacity within the Army.

Congratulations to the Soldier and Veterans who completed the AW2 Education Initiative program this year. Their names, degrees, and next assignments are:

Retired SGT Nathan Dehnke, Master in Political Science, G-1 Headquarters, DA, Washington, DC
Retired CPT John Gelineau, Master in Global and International Studies, Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, VA
1LT Jason Gladney, Master in History, C&GS, Fort Leavenworth, KS
Retired SPC Michael Hogg, Master in History, C&GS, Fort Leavenworth, KS
Retired SGT Tom Wiggins, Master in Curriculum and Instruction, School for Advanced Leadership and Tactics, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Gadson and I attended both the hooding ceremony and a reception that followed. My life has changed by meeting Soldiers such as these and others assigned to AW2. Speaking as a proud and patriotic American, thank you, gentlemen, for what you have done, your pain, suffering, and sacrifices for this country, and the continuing service you are providing.

First Annual Warrior Appreciation Rally

Despite predictions of rain and storms for Kansas City, Gadson and I also attended the 1st Annual Warrior Appreciation Rally held in Kansas City. Many AW2 Soldiers, wounded servicemembers, Veterans from different conflicts, active duty Soldiers from nearby Fort Leavenworth and Veterans in general attended the rally organized by community organizations, with events benefiting wounded warriors. AW2 Veterans Mike Davis, Alan Norton, and Scott Stevenson had the difficult task of being judges for a cover girl and bikini contest. The Kansas City Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital also supported the event with the Mobile Veteran’s Outreach vehicle, as well at the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Nurse Case Manager and two of the VA’s psychiatrists donating their time. VA staff made a determined effort to reach out to all Veterans and explain benefits and assistance available to them. We, along with the rally participants, enjoyed the fun filled day.

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