WTU surgeon discusses entry procedures

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lance Pounds | Maj. Alcario Serros, the Warrior Transition Unit surgeon, gives a class to more than 20 nurse case managers on the Warrior Transition Unit’s entry criteria for active duty Soldiers July 31, at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on post. The focus of the lecture was to streamline the nomination process of wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers by their commands. (Photo by Sgt. Lance Pounds, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

08.05.2014

Story by Sgt. Lance Pounds 

13th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas – In a classroom environment, more than 20 nurse case managers receive training from the Warrior Transition Unit surgeon, Maj. Alcario Serros, on the process of admission for Soldiers into the unit July 31 at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on post.

In order to be considered eligible for entry into the Warrior Transition Unit program, Soldiers must meet entry criteria.

For example, active duty soldiers may be eligible if they have or anticipate to have a profile in excess of six months, which precludes them from training or contributing to unit mission accomplishment, and the complexity of the their condition requires clinical case management.

Or, if the Soldier's psychological condition, evaluated by a qualified medical or behavioral health provider, poses a substantial danger to themselves or others in the unit.

The WTU eligibility requirements vary slightly between active duty Soldiers and the Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Eligibility is then determined based on the Soldiers status, active or inactive.

It is at the discretion of the Soldier’s command to determine eligibility or ineligibility.

Serros said, most of the packets that get sent back to the Soldier’s command is because of administrative errors or because the Soldier has some sort of pending adverse action against them.

The packet is lengthy and includes documents such as, a commander’s referral, a personnel action form, the Soldier’s current profile, a commander’s performance and functional statement, and statement from the Soldier’s medical provider. The full list of required documents can be found on the Fort Hood WTU’s official website.

Ideally, those who benefit from this training would be the wounded, ill, or injured Soldier and their command, said Serros as he expressed his desire to streamline the nomination process.

Once a Soldier has been accepted into the WTU, they will receive a plan for treatment provided by a physician. They will also receive assistance with any administrative, financial, or family issues during their treatment.

A medical evaluation board will determine, at treatment completion, if a Soldier is fit for duty. In which case, the Soldier will be returned to their respective unit. Those not deemed fit for duty will begin the transition process.

The Fort Hood Warrior Transition Unit’s mission is to provide command and control, primary care and case management for Soldiers in transition to establish conditions for healing and to promote the timely return to the force or transition to continue serving the Nation as a Veteran in their community.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2014
• Date Posted: 08.11.2014 13:24
• Story ID: 138977
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US