Wounded Warrior Blog

The Rest of the Story (Final Symposium Issues, Part 2)

2008-07-23T19:18:00Z

By MAJ Deb Cisney, AW2 Operations During the 2008 AW2 Symposium the delegates discussed more than 80 issues that were previously submitted by AW2 Soldiers, Family members, prospective employers and others involved in wounded warrior care and transition. During four days of focus group sessions, the delegates worked with facilitators and subject matter experts to combine similar issues and determine which were the most important. At the conclusion of the Symposium, each focus group briefed their top...(read more)

Final Symposium Issues: Part 1

2008-07-16T18:49:00Z

By MAJ Deb Cisney, AW2 Operations They did it! The 2008 AW2 Symposium delegates used their personal experiences to tell the Army how to improve care for Soldiers and Families. Two and a half weeks ago, 74 AW2 Soldiers and Family members rolled up their sleeves and put their hearts, minds and souls together. This dedicated group spent a week in six different focus group rooms, working through the issues that were submitted to this year’s AW2 Symposium. After much gnashing of teeth and shedding...(read more)

Sew Much Comfort

2008-07-02T14:43:00Z

By Jeanne Keffer, Outgoing Inventory Director, Sew Much Comfort Our non-profit organization, Sew Much Comfort , was thrilled when COL Rice invited us to attend the AW2 Symposium this year, which was the first AW2 Symposium to include an exhibit hall. We were proud to be there and in the company of other non-profits, veteran service organizations, and Army programs, all sharing a mission of helping the most severely wounded Soldiers and their Families. The event was a wonderful opportunity for us...(read more)

Giving a Hero the Moon

2008-06-30T19:05:00Z

By Emily Oehler, AW2 Strategic Communications For several days, I have been immersed in the logistics of the AW2 Symposium ... helping with media briefing, editing newsletters, getting photographs, creating PowerPoint slides, answering questions as a subject matter expert. Nose to the grindstone. Occasionally looking up to really see, I mean really see, what was around me. Tonight, it all hit me like a ton of bricks. Throughout the week, I have interacted with the kids in Operation Purple. The first...(read more)

Small Things Making a Difference

2008-06-30T18:55:00Z

By Jeffrey M. Cox, LICSW, BCD US Army Wounded Warrior Advocate I am pleased that I was invited to provide support to the 2008 AW2 Symposium in Indianapolis, IN. We met at the Sheraton Hotel overlooking the Civil War Monument reminding us that our work of remembering those who fought and wounded did not start four years ago when this program started. I had a simple responsibility: Hall Monitor. I was responsible for assisting the logistical flow of the work and support delegates with numerous small...(read more)

As a Family

2008-06-27T17:56:00Z

By Amanda Pringle, 17-year old daughter of AW2 Soldier BLAMJJAUGS. This stands for: Brittany, Lexie, Amanda, Mark, Joen, Josh, Alexis, Vivian, George and Sadaruis. We just met 6 days ago at the AW2 Symposium. And now, we all see ourselves as a Family. We are a group of kids who share something in common, something that brought us all together as one. As a Family. We finally have others who understand our emotions towards Iraq and what it has done to our Families. Operation Purple helped us during...(read more)

The Martin Family

2008-06-26T19:51:00Z

By Tiffany Martin, AW2 Symposium Delegate My entire family is spending the week in Indianapolis, participating in the AW2 Symposium. My husband, Michael, is an AW2 Soldier who suffers from traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as back injuries. Michael and I are serving as delegates for the Symposium, participating in focus groups in the career issue area. I am really enjoying being part of the Symposium process and contributing my ideas and thoughts on Soldier care. I feel like I am being heard...(read more)

Our Son is our Hero

2008-06-25T20:27:00Z

By Gregg and Donna Lee, parents of AW2 Soldier, Cpl. Quentin A. Lee Everything changed when we received that dreaded phone call on August 22, 2007. That was when we were informed that our son, Cpl. Quentin A. Lee, had been severely injured in combat. That was the worst day of our lives. Our son's injuries include traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a bilateral tympanic membrane rupture from the blast, which have left him with severe hearing loss. We had the...(read more)

Career Forum Underway!

2008-06-24T20:38:00Z

By Roberta Berry, AW2 Career Coordinator and Rose Marie Tinker, AW2 Career Coordinator At the 2008 AW2 Symposium this week, we successfully kicked-off our first annual Career Forum. AW2 is a holistic program and one of the services that we offer is assistance to Soldiers and their Families in pursuing career goals. The Symposium career forum includes career experts who are available to assist Symposium delegates with resume and interview tips, networking and job opportunities, vocational and rehabilitation...(read more)

Youthful Perspectives

2008-06-23T19:18:00Z

There is an abundance of energy, youthful grins, and pattering feet in the hallways of the Indianapolis Sheraton this week. This year, for the first time, the AW2 Symposium has included children in the event. The AW2 Program recognizes that the entire family is paramount to a Soldier’s recovery and that these are trying times for the children of wounded Soldiers, our youngest heroes. Eight months ago, while planning the Symposium, we vowed to include children, and, through a collaboration with...(read more)

AW2 Symposium is Underway!

2008-06-22T18:49:00Z

This is a big week for the AW2 Program! AW2 has brought together more than 70 severely wounded S oldiers, Family members and caregivers from around the country for the fourth annual AW2 Symposium in Indianapolis. Based on their personal experiences, wounded Soldiers and Family members will engage in a week of intensive focus group discussions and select the top five issues in soldier care, to be presented to Army leadership. You can learn more about the Symposium process through daily updates on...(read more)

My Patriot Paw, Archie

2008-05-30T12:28:00Z

By SGT. Clay Rankin, AW2 Soldier I injured my lower back in Iraq in 2003 during combat operations; I also suffer from PTSD from my war experiences. My disabilities significantly limited my ability to live independently; I became more and more dependant upon my wife and children to live day to day. I began looking for ways to regain my independence and was referred to Patriot Paws in August 2006, to explore the possibility of having a service dog to assist me in doing day to day activities. My service...(read more)

Social Security Commissioner: Remembering Those Who Serve

2008-05-23T14:21:00Z

By Guest Columnist Michael J. Astrue Commissioner of Social Security With Memorial Day approaching, I think it’s important to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We at Social Security honor the heroism and courage of our military service members and mourn for those who have given their lives in defense of freedom. It is also important to recognize those service members who are still with us, especially those who have recently been wounded. That’s why I’d...(read more)

Striving for the Peak

2008-05-14T19:42:00Z

By MAJ Marc Hoffmeister, AW2 Soldier I’ve always loved the outdoors. I used to spend all of my free time climbing in the back country or dreaming about climbing the big peaks. I stopped dreaming the day the enemy got lucky and I earned a purple heart. Until I realized that only the circumstances have changed and I can adapt. Next year, I intend to climb 20,320 foot Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, in the company of likeminded wounded warriors. It wouldn’t be an easy...(read more)

AW2 Advocate Annual Training

2008-05-07T20:05:00Z

Last week, AW2 Advocates from around the country came together for a week of intensive education and collaboration, at the AW2 Advocate Annual Training. Here is more about the training from two AW2 Advocates, Ayandria Barry and Regina Webb: By Ayandria Barry Northeast Region AW2 Advocate The AW2 Advocate training last week was awesome and made me realize how far our program has come in just four years! I was one of the first four AW2 staff members and being here from the beginning, I’ve seen...(read more)