By BG Darryl A. Williams, WTC Commander
I’ve been traveling to WTUs a lot over the last few weeks—most recently to Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. It’s important for people to understand what’s going on at these units, especially the people there. So I’m going to start blogging every time I visit a WTU, and I encourage you to read these posts to learn more about the people who make up the Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program.
I’ll start with my recent trip to the Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB). They’re doing a lot of things right, especially the team they’ve built. The “warrior leaders”—that’s what they call WTU cadre at Fort Campbell—are incredible. They’ve got an unrelenting commitment to the 573 wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers recovering at the Fort Campbell WTB. They’re postured to provide comprehensive support to the Soldiers already assigned to the WTB and those returning from deployments who may require six months or more of complex medical care.
The WTB leadership was impressive. I especially want to congratulate LTC Christopher Jarvis, the WTB Commander, COL John Cook, the Commander of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, and CSM Cody Mosier, the Command Sergeant Major who recruited several Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard to serve as WTB cadre. And even though the leadership will be transitioning over the next several weeks, these leaders laid solid groundwork for success for those who follow.
In my strategic vision for the Warrior Care and Transition Program, I have four pillars: set the team, set the environment, set the program, and tell the story.
The folks here at Campbell have done an excellent job setting the team. The “warrior leaders” here demonstrated an unrelenting commitment to the Soldiers they serve. They’re passionate about helping Soldiers recover and transition and move forward with their lives. I was particularly excited by the nurses, AW2 Advocates, and liaisons from the Department of Veterans Affairs, who all work together to support the wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. And there were a few people who particularly excited me, including:
- SSG Jason D. Jacobs, who serves as a squad leader. On top of his squad leader duties, he leads adaptive swimming sessions for 300 Warriors in Transition, three times a week, to help them understand their abilities and how much they can still accomplish.
- SPC Bryan Camacho, a COAD Soldier who works at the SFAC. SPC Camacho made it his personal mission to mentor Warriors in Transition who use wheelchairs—to make sure they understand how much they can still accomplish.
- Ms. Ronette Bailey, a licensed clinical social worker whose infectious laugh and enthusiasm brightened the days of everyone she met, including the wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Families that she counsels throughout the recovery and transition process.
I wish there was room to list all the incredible people I met on this trip, and to tell you more about the good things happening at Fort Campbell. And Campbell isn’t alone. There are dynamic teams at all 29 WTUs and 9 CBWTUs, and I can’t wait to meet the rest of them. I encourage you to check back to the blog soon to read about my visits to other WTUs and the people who are making a difference there.
