A Rewarding Challenge for an Artilleryman

Filed under WTC by on August 26, 2010 at 4:56 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

Hearing wounded warriors stories inspired BG Cheek throughout his two years as Commander.

With all our moves, tours, and policy changes, no military career is without surprise. I know I was shocked when I was asked to establish the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) that was to oversee the Army’s program to take care of our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and their Families.

Me, a field artilleryman, an Assistant Surgeon General? 

But to build a systematic, yet personalized approach to warrior care that would positively impact retention, make a positive contribution to Army Force Generation, and help ensure a combat ready operational Reserve Component was a challenge I was honored to face.

While I worked to create the vision for the new command, I was constantly inspired by the wounded warriors that I met at Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) around the country. Their dedication to Continue on Active Duty, work hard to change MOS, and the ambitious and forward looking goals they set as Veterans kept me motivated to do my best. I couldn’t give less in my job than they did in theirs as they worked to recover and transition to life post injury. 

Each Warrior in Transition (WT) and Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Soldier or Veteran has a story to tell–many of which you can read about on both the WTC and AW2 blogs, such as:

  • Captain Scott Smiley, a blind Soldier who is currently commanding the West Point WTU
  • The wounded warrior athletes who represented the Army at the inaugural Warrior Games
  • Diana Hume, a reservist’s spouse, and her awe inspiring story of fighting for and being there for her Soldier with PTSD

To these and all the other Soldiers, Veterans, and Family Members I met, thank you for sharing your dreams and accomplishments with me. I will carry them with me as I move forward. To all the many brave warriors I came to know, thank you for your service. You are a dynamic group of Soldiers that I have been proud to serve. 

But like anything in the Army, it’s all about the team. Just as our WTs and AW2 Soldiers and Veterans rely on their triad of care or their Advocate, I relied on my staff at WTC. Their dedication to this mission and the care of our wounded, injured, and ill was at times Herculean. An idea is easy—building the required infrastructure is not. They never took the easy way, never shied away from an obstacle. I could not have asked for a stronger team, and that includes the WTU Cadre and our partners throughout the Army, the VA, and the Department of Labor—thanks for all your hard work. 

As an artilleryman, I approached my two years here with calculated focus. Identifying the necessary actions to reach the target and then move out. My successor, COL Darryl Williams, will no doubt keep the WTC and Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program moving forward.  Coming from the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, he understands the effort and reward of setting up Soldiers for long-term success. 

Before I move on to Army G1 as Director of Military Personnel Management, I want to share one last thought.  

Taking care of those who serve this country, as well as those in need around the world, is our responsibility. Our government. Our Department of Defense. Our Army. Our Medical Command. Our Military Health System. Our Department of Veterans Affairs. Our Veteran Service Organizations. Our corporate leaders. Our local non-profits. Our citizens. One organization alone cannot do it all. Together, our efforts will ensure that our wounded, ill, and injured Service Members can continue to serve in uniform or transition into productive retirement post injury. 

It has indeed been the good fight, the right fight. Keep up the good work.

A Rewarding Challenge for an Artilleryman

Filed under General, Warrior Transition Command, WTC Commander by on August 26, 2010 at 4:54 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

Hearing wounded warriors stories inspired BG Cheek throughout his two years as Commander.

With all our moves, tours, and policy changes, no military career is without surprise. I know I was shocked when I was asked to establish the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) that was to oversee the Army’s program to take care of our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and their Families.

Me, a field artilleryman, an Assistant Surgeon General? 

But to build a systematic, yet personalized approach to warrior care that would positively impact retention, make a positive contribution to Army Force Generation, and help ensure a combat ready operational Reserve Component was a challenge I was honored to face.

While I worked to create the vision for the new command, I was constantly inspired by the wounded warriors that I met at Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) around the country. Their dedication to Continue on Active Duty, work hard to change MOS, and the ambitious and forward looking goals they set as Veterans kept me motivated to do my best. I couldn’t give less in my job than they did in theirs as they worked to recover and transition to life post injury. 

Each Warrior in Transition (WT) and Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Soldier or Veteran has a story to tell–many of which you can read about on both the WTC and AW2 blogs, such as:

  • Captain Scott Smiley, a blind Soldier who is currently commanding the West Point WTU
  • The wounded warrior athletes who represented the Army at the inaugural Warrior Games
  • Diana Hume, a reservist’s spouse, and her awe inspiring story of fighting for and being there for her Soldier with PTSD

To these and all the other Soldiers, Veterans, and Family Members I met, thank you for sharing your dreams and accomplishments with me. I will carry them with me as I move forward. To all the many brave warriors I came to know, thank you for your service. You are a dynamic group of Soldiers that I have been proud to serve. 

But like anything in the Army, it’s all about the team. Just as our WTs and AW2 Soldiers and Veterans rely on their triad of care or their Advocate, I relied on my staff at WTC. Their dedication to this mission and the care of our wounded, injured, and ill was at times Herculean. An idea is easy—building the required infrastructure is not. They never took the easy way, never shied away from an obstacle. I could not have asked for a stronger team, and that includes the WTU Cadre and our partners throughout the Army, the VA, and the Department of Labor—thanks for all your hard work. 

As an artilleryman, I approached my two years here with calculated focus. Identifying the necessary actions to reach the target and then move out. My successor, COL Darryl Williams, will no doubt keep the WTC and Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program moving forward.  Coming from the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, he understands the effort and reward of setting up Soldiers for long-term success. 

Before I move on to Army G1 as Director of Military Personnel Management, I want to share one last thought.  

Taking care of those who serve this country, as well as those in need around the world, is our responsibility. Our government. Our Department of Defense. Our Army. Our Medical Command. Our Military Health System. Our Department of Veterans Affairs. Our Veteran Service Organizations. Our corporate leaders. Our local non-profits. Our citizens. One organization alone cannot do it all. Together, our efforts will ensure that our wounded, ill, and injured Service Members can continue to serve in uniform or transition into productive retirement post injury. 

It has indeed been the good fight, the right fight. Keep up the good work.

A New Change. A New Opportunity.

Filed under Warrior Transition Command, WTC Commander by on August 13, 2010 at 1:47 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

Many people out there may have heard that I am leaving WTC and yes, it’s true. At the end of this month, I will be moving on. As is often the case with everyone serving in our Department, missions are intended to change. Now mine will soon be as Director of Military Personnel Management at the Army G-1 Office at the Pentagon.

It has indeed been a rare honor and privilege to be the first Commander of Warrior Transition Command. These past two years have been filled with many successes and with much progress. I have seen the Command shape the Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program while it met the challenges that are often associated with a new Command. We have taken a step forward. A step in the right direction.

While there has been much to look back on with satisfaction, the Command’s mission is not done. I am confident that my successor, COL Darryl Williams, who takes over command August 26th, will lead Warrior Transition Command and the Warrior Care and Transition Program on to even greater heights. He will take the baton and continue to build “Soldier Success Through Focused Commitment.”

I look forward to the new challenges that lie before me and see this new assignment as an opportunity to continue to support what we all collectively have accomplished. As I face my last two weeks at WTC, I plan to take a moment to reflect on not just our progress, but our results.

WTC has given me a lot to think about and has given me experiences that will help me establish new and improved military personnel policy that will serve America’s brave men and women. This is an invaluable thing and I am honored. More to hear from me soon.

We Cannot Do It Without You

Filed under AW2, WTC Commander by on June 29, 2010 at 3:29 pm {no comments}

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:

  1. Medically retired service member’s eligibility for Concurrent Receipt of Disability Pay (CRDP)
  2. Post 9/11 GI Bill transferability to dependents for all medically retired service members
  3. Mandatory post-traumatic stress disorder/traumatic brain injury (PTSD/TBI) training for Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare staff
  4. Transfer option from Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) to Permanent Disability Retired (PDR) for wounded warriors
  5. 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. 

AW2 Kids Serve Too

Filed under AW2 by on June 28, 2010 at 11:14 am {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

AW2 Director COL Jim Rice teaches AW2 kid Drayson Hill the fundamentals of archery at Operation Purple®, a camp for the children of wounded warriors hosted by NMFA.

AW2 Director COL Jim Rice teaches AW2 kid Drayson Hill the fundamentals of archery at Operation Purple®, a camp for the children of wounded warriors hosted by NMFA.

Being an Army brat isn’t easy. I should know—I used to be one. Over the last few days, I’ve gotten to meet some very special Army brats: the children of severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and Veterans.

While their parents spend the week working at the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Symposium, these kids had a blast. At Operation Purple®, an urban adventure camp hosted by the National Military Family Association (NMFA), they got to do some really cool stuff. They went to Sea World, horseback riding, archery, swimming, and so much more. I have to admit that I was a little jealous of AW2 Director COL Jim Rice, who got to spend a whole day with the kids at Camp Flaming Arrow.

The kids did some work too in the middle of all that fun. On the last night of the AW2 Symposium, 17-year-old Kyle McCormick briefed me, AW2 staff, NMFA, and all the parents on the ways to make camp even better next year, including:

  1. Separate activities for each Operation Purple® camp (OPC) age group
  2. Make OPC a residential, not day, camp
  3. Create a website and Facebook page for AW2 teens
  4. Establish longer duration of OPC to two weeks with more hours each day
  5. Allow more free time during OPC

Afterward, Kyle talked about his OPC experience.  “I didn’t expect to have fun,” he said. “But the counselors were really good at knowing what teens want to do. I really had an awesome time.”

And the parents agreed.

“My 15-year-old daughter fought me about coming to camp,” said AW2 caregiver Maria Mendez-Valentin. “After the first day, she was so excited—there were a lot of other kids her age, and they talked about their feelings toward their injured Soldier. It was really helpful in opening up the conversation for our Family.”

Thanks to all the AW2 kids—both the ones who came to OPC and those throughout the country who are dealing with a wounded parent. Thanks for the support you give your parents and the joy you bring to their lives. You are an important part of their recovery and return back to life.

Biking with Wounded Veterans in Texas

Filed under Adaptive Sports, WTC Commander by on April 9, 2010 at 3:51 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

Warrior Transition Command commander, BG Gary Cheek (center), congratulates SSG Kenny Griffith, A Co., 1st Bn. Fort Hood Warrior Transition Brigade (WTB), on completing the San Antonio to Fort Hood leg of the Ride2Recovery 350-mile cycling challenge for wounded warriors. At left is SFC Jason Kirk, A Co., 1st Bn. WTB. Both Soldiers are competing in Warrior Games in May. (Photo by Gloria Montgomery, WTB Public Affairs)

Warrior Transition Command commander, BG Gary Cheek (center), congratulates SSG Kenny Griffith, A Co., 1st Bn. Fort Hood Warrior Transition Brigade (WTB), on completing the San Antonio to Fort Hood leg of the Ride2Recovery 350-mile cycling challenge for wounded warriors. At left is SFC Jason Kirk, A Co., 1st Bn. WTB. Both Soldiers are competing in Warrior Games in May. (Photo by Gloria Montgomery, WTB Public Affairs)

As a Soldier, physical activity is a part of my daily routine. It keeps me fit and focused. It’s also fun – especially the past couple of days as I’ve biked with wounded Veterans in Ride 2 Recovery. Having done this before, it’s an event I always look forward to. Open air. Open road. Open conversations.

For me, biking is normally a way to relax but with Ride 2 Recovery this week it’s been more about inspiration. Seeing a Veteran with a missing leg or missing arm pumping the pedals next to me is fantastic! It’s an honor to get to know them and the mindset it takes to rebuild their life post injury. To not accept defeat. To learn new ways of doing their favorite activities. These are lessons that can benefit us all.

AW2 Veteran Receives Purple Heart from BG Cheek

Filed under Advocate Story, Soldier Story by on March 5, 2010 at 10:00 am {no comments}

By Ayandria Barry, AW2 Advocate

(L-R) BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander, AW2 Veteran Mike Timm, and AW2 Advocate Yan Barry at the Purple Heart ceremony.

(L-R) BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander, AW2 Veteran Mike Timm, and AW2 Advocate Yan Barry at the Purple Heart ceremony.

On April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Iraq, AW2 Soldier SGT Mike Timm’s platoon had just returned from patrolling in the city and within 10 minutes there was a call for the entire Forward Operation Base to load up. He wasn’t clear on what the mission was but within minutes they were loaded up and moving out of the base in a convoy. SGT Timm was in the back of a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), when they were told that they were going to rescue a patrol that had taken fire and was pinned down in the city.

On the way to rescue them, many of the roads were blocked by makeshift road blocks and tire-fires. As SGT Timm’s patrol made a turn a few blocks from the objective they came under heavy fire, and he was the first of many to be hit. A bullet went through his left forearm and entered his right forearm, blowing out an inch of bone and leaving him unable to use his hands. The next few minutes were horrible as he lay on his back unable to do anything while his fellow comrades were under fire. After what seemed like forever they started moving and he was hit again in his right knee, leaving it peppered with shrapnel. To this day, he is still seeing doctors to remove the shrapnel that pierced his leg.

On January 7, 2010, AW2 Veteran Mike Timm was presented his Purple Heart in a ceremony performed by BG Gary Cheek, Commander, Warrior Transition Command. As Mike’s AW2 Advocate, I worked with the Army Awards Section to ensure this Soldier’s award was rceived. I helped review his records and get the proper documents to the Awards Branch and on August 26, 2009, he was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received in the attack that ended his military career.

When BG Cheek presented the Purple Heart during the ceremony at the Warrior Transition Command, Mike said, “Before today I did not feel like I was still a part of the military, today I know that I am still a part of the Army Family and it feels good.”

Seeing Mike receive his Purple Heart was a great experience for me. Being the daughter of a Soldier that was killed in Vietnam, I was proud to be in attendance to personally see the Soldier receive his Purple Heart.

Fort Stewart WTB Change of Command

Filed under WTC Commander, WTU/WTB by on February 22, 2010 at 4:02 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

Last week I went to Fort Stewart, GA, to attend the change of command ceremony for one of our great Warrior Transition Battalion commanders. LTC Jim Kanicki relinquished command to LTC Bill Reitemeyer on a breezy, sunny day at Marne Garden. In his remarks, Jim very eloquently summed up not only the mission of the battalion, but the mission of the Army’s overall Warrior Care and Transition Program. He said that his success as commander will be measured by how successful his assigned Soldiers are when they transition to the next phase of their lives—either returning to duty or integrating into civilian life. In that mission, Jim has indeed been very successful. His battalion transitioned close to 200 Soldiers during his tenure—basically a complete turnover—with 41 returning to active duty. And like all great leaders, he gets satisfaction when those who have moved on call him up to say they are doing well, and to thank him for what the battalion has done for them.

The Army measures its success too in terms of the success of transitioning Soldiers. To that end, we are putting in place the mechanisms that help Soldiers step with confidence into the next chapter of their lives. WTUs are in the process of implementing Comprehensive Transition Plans for all assigned Soldiers that provides a roadmap, with milestones, for personal and professional goals. We are also implementing education, employment, and internship opportunities that enable WTU Soldiers to maximize their rehabilitation period by acquiring new skills and knowledge for use after they leave the WTU. As the program matures, we will continue to add programs and features that set Soldiers up for success.

On behalf of the Army and our Warrior Care community, I want to thank LTC Jim Kanicki for his exceptional service, and wish him all the best as he takes command of the 1-228th Aviation Regiment in Honduras. At the same time, we heartily welcome LTC Bill Reitemeyer—a seasoned Veteran who has served with the 7th Special Forces Group and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan. I know that Bill will build on the great success already achieved at Fort Stewart, and continue to serve our Soldiers, as Jim did, with accessibility, responsiveness, and compassion.

Announcing the Inaugural Warrior Games

Filed under Warrior Games, WTC Commander by on January 8, 2010 at 5:48 pm {no comments}

By BG Gary Cheek, WTC Commander

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek, right, commanding general, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command, announces the inagural Warrior Games at a Pentagon press conference, Jan. 7, 2010. (DoD photo by R. D. Ward)

BG Gary Cheek announces the inaugural Warrior Games at a Pentagon press conference, Jan. 7, 2010. (DoD photo by R. D. Ward)

Yesterday, I was proud to join Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics from the U.S. Olympic Committee to announce the inaugural Warrior Games at the Pentagon. On May 10 – 14, wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen will battle at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Warrior Games will host 200 wounded warrior athletes to compete in the following events:

  • Archery
  • Cycling
  • Discus
  • Shooting
  • Shot put
  • Sitting Volleyball
  • Swimming
  • Track
  • Wheelchair Basketball
  • Ultimate Warrior Competition (pentathlon format)

At the press conference, I met SGT Juan Alcivar, who has been working toward recovery at Walter Reed. SGT Alcivar competed in sports for most of his life, and he is applying to compete in the Warrior Games in sitting volleyball, shot put and discus, and cycling.

SGT Alcivar told members of my team, “Staying in the Army is my biggest goal right now, and training for the Warrior Games will help me get in shape for my PT test. My squad leader is very supportive of things like this that help me to move forward with my life. Plus, I’m excited for the chance to beat a couple of my Marine buddies from physical therapy.”

I was so inspired listening to two-time Paralympian and Army Veteran John Register who stated:

“I saw the angel in the marble, and I carved until I set him free.” When I was a soldier, I was a part of an elite group called the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. It’s a program that allows a service member to train three to four years prior to an Olympic or Paralympic Games. I’d just graduated the University of Arkansas, where I was a four-time All-American there. And not only did the Army allow me to pursue my athletic careers, it also allowed me to pursue my military careers. I fell in love with the Army. I loved the discipline of it.

He closed his remarks by telling reporters, “These athletes are the angels in the marble. Through the support of the Department of Defense, the USOC and the Paralympic branch, and other partners, sports will be the chisel to set them free.”

I encourage all Wounded Warriors to strive to test new limits and achieve new goals as they demonstrate the power of ability over disability. Our servicemembers continually rise to the occasion both in the call to duty and in their efforts to recover from serious injury. The Warrior Games will provide a unique challenge for those who wish to learn more about Paralympic sports and compete at a national level.

Wounded Soldiers interested in competing in the Warrior Games should contact their squad leader for more information about the nomination process at their WTU.

Good luck to SGT Alcivar and all wounded warriors training for the Warrior Games. I look forward to the competition in May.

You can watch video of yesterday’s press conference at the PentagonChannel.mil and read the transcript on Defense.gov.

Five Years of Support

Filed under WTC by on April 16, 2009 at 2:37 am {no comments}

This April, the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) marks five years of service to severely wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers and their Families. I had the opportunity to meet with some of AW2’s Soldiers and their Families at last year’s Symposium in Indianapolis. I look forward to the same opportunity in 2009.

AW2 has a unique mission providing personalized support to the most severely wounded Soldiers and their Families. This is a critical mission in our Army. When Soldiers volunteer to serve we ask them to take a solemn oath to our country. In turn, the Army makes a commitment to Soldiers and Families. It is the solemn and honorable task for those of us here at home to care for our nation’s Soldiers who have raised their hands and sacrificed on behalf of our country.

The Army takes this mission very seriously.

The Army recently aligned warrior care services under one organization, the Warrior Transition Command (WTC). WTC provides Soldiers and Families with unified support from the battlefield to the home front. And now, as commander of the newly formed WTC, I am very proud to have AW2 integrated into our collective efforts, working side by side.

AW2 was the Army’s first program put in place to serve the most severely wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers—most returning from post-9/11 combat deployments. Over its five years in existence, AW2 has set the standard for care and compassion and its mission will not change under WTC.

The Army has not always gotten it right. The Army has, however, always worked to fix issues and to make improvements.

Soldiers serve our country every day on the front lines. As tough as their battles can be at war often the more difficult battles take place at home for wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers and their Families. It is our mission in Army warrior care to support Soldiers and Families as they heal, recover, and transition to their new normal. I am proud to be a part of this mission.

I look forward to continuing this noble endeavor with AW2, and I am counting on the continued dedication and enthusiasm of all who serve our wounded, ill, and injured heroes.

Thank you for your service.

BG Gary Cheek
Commander
Warrior Transition Command

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