New Warrior Transition Battalion barracks unveiled during TAMC's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | Tulsi Gabbard, Congresswoman of Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, speaks to an audience about the service and sacrifice given by wounded warriors, during the Tripler Army Medical Center's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Warrior Care Kick-off Event Oct. 31, 2014, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The ceremony officially unveiled the WTB's new five story barracks and honored the service and sacrifice of wounded warriors. The construction of the barracks was managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

10.31.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal 

DMA Pacific - Hawaii Media Bureau   

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Service members and civilians gathered at the new Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) Campus for the WTB, Tripler Army Medical Center's (TAMC) Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Warrior Care Month Kick-off event here Oct. 31.

The Ceremony unveiled the $60 million construction project that includes a 120-room, five story barracks constructed and designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st. Class. Bonifacio Castro II, Hawaii WTB Headquarters and Headquarters Company cadre and platoon sergeant, explained to the audience how his initial idea of what defined a wounded warrior was changed to a more open mind set upon arrival to his assignment at the WTB.

"I always thought that wounded warriors were only soldiers who got hurt in combat," Castro said. "That was me being wrong and not open minded. Once I came back from the cadre course I was eager and excited to help out these wounded warriors. I remember I was informed that I was receiving two soldiers that were being medevac’d."

Upon meeting the two soldiers, Castro said he was confused because he had expected them to be recovering from physical injury but they appeared healthy.

"Once I got to meet the soldiers I first looked at them and took a second look again because they both looked perfectly fine," Castro said. "They were smiling and had all their limbs, no bandages and no wounds. I thought to myself, 'these two are perfectly fine.' But the truth was that medically, they were far from fine. That's when I realized that how I saw a wounded warrior was wrong."

Through his time assigned to the WTB as a cadre, Castro began to see the Army in a different light.

"I started to see a side of the Army that I've never seen before," Casto said. "It’s bigger and there is more to it than jumping out of planes, grabbing your gun, and ruck sacking and moving on."

Soldiers moved into the new five story barracks on Sept. 17, 2014 and the event offered a chance to honor the men and women of the WTB as well as the efforts that were made to make the WTB Campus a reality.

Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District Congresswoman was the keynote speaker of the event.

"It's deeply personal for me to have the opportunity to be here today opening this and blessing this Warrior Transition Battalion because I have got a lot of friends who are going through here now, been through here before and can relate at some level to some of the experiences that Sgt. 1st. Class Castro shared," Gabbard said.

The new campus is located next to the Schofield Barracks Health Clinic, bringing soldiers closer to medical facilities creating improved access to health care. It is also centrally located of Schofield Barracks support facilities on the post.

• Date Taken: 10.31.2014
• Date Posted: 11.04.2014 17:41
• Story ID: 146977
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US