WEST POINT, N.Y. -- On January 9, the Army announced the closure of the West Point Warrior Transition Unit as one of several changes to the Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) designed to meet the evolving needs of the Army. These changes include: Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) organizational modifications, some other WTU inactivations and a shift in how the Army manages care and transition for Soldiers who are healing in their home communities.
The West Point WTU is a company-grade unit under the command of Keller Army Community Hospital, a military treatment facility of the Northern Regional Medical Command (NRMC.)
The low number of WTU Soldiers assigned to West Point was noted during a periodic review of the WTU force structure and was considered in the decision to close the WTU. The Army Medical Command will implement the closure by Sept. 30.
Col. Felicia F. Pehrson, Keller commander, said that closure of the West Point WTU and the reorganization of the WCTP will not impact the care of Soldiers assigned to the West Point WTU. She added that recovering Soldiers and their families will remain a priority and they will continue to receive world class care during the transition.
"Each Soldier's situation is unique," Pehrson said. "We as leaders will remain flexible and adjudicate each situation on its own merits. We take very seriously our mission of supporting these Soldiers in their mission of healing and recovery."
The primary cause for the changes, according to Army leadership, is the decreasing number of wounded, ill or injured Soldiers assigned to WTUs. Over the past 14 months, the Army-wide number of Soldiers receiving care and transition support declined by more than 2,800, as a result of reduced contingency operations.
Warrior Transition Units are the backbone of WCTP, providing recovering Soldiers a standardized framework care that includes the Triad of Care -- a primary care manager, nurse case manager and squad leader supporting every Soldier. They are structured like line units, with squads, platoons, companies, and, in some cases, battalions and brigades.
As the West Point WTU approaches inactivation, Soldiers assigned will process through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, or transfer to a larger WTU to continue their recovery.
The other Northern Regional Medical Command WTU slated for inactivation is Fort Dix WTU at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J which has 11 Soldiers assigned. All inactivating WTUs have fewer than 36 Soldiers assigned.
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