Photo By Connor Kelly | U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Averre, a Team Army competitor, receives his medal for archery at...... read more read more
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- After enduring a serious injury or illness a Solider may require extra focus and attention to properly heal and reset for their next chapter in life.
That’s why in 2008, the Secretary of Defense designated November as Warrior Care Month.
This month highlights all resources and support systems in place for wounded, injured, or ill Soldiers and their family members.
Capt. Casey Turner, a physical therapist in the Army Reserves, had a severe injury she endured during an annual combat support training exercise and was assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion to focus on recovery.
“When you work an 8 to 5 job you don’t have the opportunity to focus on your healing process,” said Turner “But the mission of the WTB is to heal! That’s their first and foremost goal. Appointments and medical needs are always top of their priority.”
Fort Bragg’s WTB is geared to provide focused care and management to wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and their families.
Soldiers assigned to WTBs include active duty who require at least six months of rehabilitative care and complex medical management and Reserve Component who require definitive medical care.
One day Sgt. Aaron Averre woke up, after suffering from a serious injury, fearing to have lost all memory of his previous life.
“I was told I may never regain my memory, but with the support of my nurse case managers, my primary care physician at Womack and the Intrepid Spirit Center, I’m able to walk, talk and have regained all of my memory,” said Averre.
He suffered from violent seizures that caused him to receive extensive rehabilitation while assigned to WTB since 2016.
Depending on the Soldier and family members’ circumstances along with Army Regulation 40-501, they can choose a pathway along the road to recovery with rehabilitation and return to duty or reintegration into the civilian community.
Turner is on the RTP pathway and has recovered so well she participated in the 2019 Warrior Games local trials.
“I would have never had this opportunity to turn a major injury into a triumph and compete and travel in these games. This is a great program and as a leader I plan to take this back to my formations and ensure that all Soldiers that need this (treatment) are afforded the opportunity,” said Turner.
Averre also competed in the 2018 Warrior Games and had such great recovery he is now cleared to return to duty.
“I’m very satisfied with the treatment that I received here,” said Averre. “I feel that I am ready to move on to the next step in my life with all of the resources that the WTB provided me. During every step of this process, I was always asked ‘what I wanted to do’. So, I’ve always felt included in the process.”
The 10th Warrior Care Month celebration showcases the perseverance service members show through the observance theme “Show of Strength.”
The strength is apparent in the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, familial and career-readiness activities service members, their families and caregivers engage in to overcome challenges.
That strength also is evident in the commitment the Department of Defense and its partners reaffirm daily, to provide our service members, their families and caregivers with the care and support they seek and deserve.
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2018 13:34 |
| Story ID: | 300126 |
| Location: | NC, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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