Courtesy Photo | Army Wounded Warrior Advocate Richard Rodriguez, December 20, 2018. (Photo courtesy of...... read more read more
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Army Wounded Warrior Program Advocate Richard Rodriguez: Living his purpose
By Annette Gomes, Warrior Care and Transition
ARLINGTON, Va. – The story of Richard Rodriguez’s pathway to joining the military was well scripted until the script derailed. In 2002 he began a two year battle with stage two lymphoma. After winning the battle with lymphoma, Rodriguez deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an Operations Specialist (Petty Officer 1st Class) in the Navy. During the deployment, his unit was struck by roadside bombs, encountered daily firefights, and faced direct and indirect mortar fire. Now as an Army Wounded Warrior Program advocate he’s helping other wounded, ill and injured Soldiers regain a starring role in their own movie entitled “Life Happens.”
“Since I was injured in combat, I had a very different view of military service than most sailors,” Rodriguez said. “I was still very young and naïve and didn't know what to expect in my recovery process, nor what kind of services were available to properly recover. Eventually my injuries became so severe that they ended my military career,” he added.
The New Jersey native was faced with an uncertain future after leaving the Navy.
“When I left the Navy in 2012, I had the typical challenge of "What do you want to be when you grow up"? My mindset was to help others who had to go through a harsh recovery process and see if I can mitigate those hardships via the proper navigation or programs and benefits available, “Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez became a Veterans Affairs Benefits Advisor at the Norfolk Naval Base and pushed himself to learn everything that Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense offered to the disabled population.
“I learned everything I wished I had known during my own recovery process. I always wondered why there aren't people actively helping patients in recovery from the start to help them properly recover and continue their career or transition out with all the benefits and entitlements in place,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez left his advisor role and went on to create a program to support the Navy Explosive Ordnance Technicians and Navy Diver population at the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Headquarters in Little Creek, Virginia.
“For five and a half years, I handled all active duty, reserve and transitioning service members, roughly 22,000 sailors, who were wounded, ill and injured,” said Rodriguez. I've had cases with basically every kind of hardship imaginable. Seeing others going through severe injuries and being able to coach them into recovery and transition is exactly what I've been able to excel at.”
His time at the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Headquarters showed him how much his skills were needed. Soon after Rodriguez transitioned to serve the Army Wounded Warrior Program in an effort to reach a much larger population of the wounded, ill and injured Soldiers.
“I wanted my talents to impact and help more people in need. I was only touching about one percent of the Navy’s injured population,” Rodriguez explained. “Given that the Army is by far the largest branch of service, I would be able to maximize my impact to [the injured] population as well as continue growing my skillset with new ways to assist service members on the DoD and VA side of transition.”
Recently, Rodriguez was recognized for his efforts for coming to the aid of a Marine struggling with medical hardships, including cancer and suicidal ideation. The case was a referral from a local women’s clinic and Rodriguez did his diligence to help the Marine resulted in extensive treatment.
“Advocates serve as liaisons to expedite solutions to basically any hardship. We have a deep commitment to helping veterans regardless of their branch of service,” Rodriguez said. “Granted, AW2 advocates do not actively case manage veterans of other services, but we are able to answer their questions to guide them towards a better quality of life.”
Rodriguez says he and his fellow advocates all have a drive to help veterans and service members in need. What keeps Rodriguez going is knowing that he’s making a positive change in someone's life. And although Rodriguez says his path to becoming and advocate had its peaks and valleys, he says he knows he is right where he is supposed to be.
“My purpose is to help others with my knowledge and make their lives easier. I can't imagine myself doing anything else, as long as I keep helping those in need I'm living my purpose.”
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2018 15:40 |
| Story ID: | 304646 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 609 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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