FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov.11 2015) -- Leaders at Fort Benning signed the Army Warrior Healthcare Covenant Nov. 3, renewing their dedication and commitment to Soldiers and Families. The Department of Defense designates each November as Warrior Care Month.
"Warrior Care Month is a significant event for us to publicly acknowledge and celebrate our wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, and community supporters for their collaborative efforts to provide each Soldier in Transition with the highest quality of care and a healing environment that focuses on mind, body, and spirit," said Lt. Col. R. Elaine Freeman, WTB's commander. "On this occasion, we pause to say 'thank you' and we appreciate your joint commitment to our mission to establish conditions for Soldiers in transition to heal and promote their timely return to duty or to civilian life."
Soldiers and Families participated in a torch walk to kick off the month and will have numerous events to attend including a Commander's Cup with bowling, cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.
"This month reminds us to take a moment and rededicate ourselves to our creed to 'never leave a fallen comrade' - to follow through with our bond, our covenant that states we will always care for our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and their Family members with the utmost care and compassion," said Freeman.
This year's theme is "Show of Strength" in which the Warrior Care Month campaign aligns with the Army's Soldier for Life and Ready and Resilient Campaigns, she said.
"During this month, we reaffirm our commitment to providing our Soldiers and Families with the best possible programs and services to care for their needs," said Brig. Gen. Peter Jones, commandant of the Infantry School. "And today we sign the Army Warrior Healthcare Covenant as a means of conveying our commitment to our Soldiers and their Families. Signing this covenant represents both a promise and a pledge - a promise to take care of our Army Families, and a pledge to provide the necessary resources to keep that promise."
Jones said the covenant calls on us to provide the highest quality of care for our Soldiers and Families. It is fitting that we should do this, because it is a part of our Warrior Ethos. The Army Warrior Healthcare covenant calls on leaders to provide the highest quality of care for Soldiers and families. The Army has a sacred commitment to warriors who have been wounded or injured in defense of our nation to provide them with the very best health care possible.
"Put simply, the Army Warrior Healthcare Covenant we are signing today calls on all of us to reaffirm our commitment to the thousands of Soldiers and Army Families at Fort Benning," he said. "While these are important words on a piece of paper, it is the action day to day commitment that will make these words a reality."
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