FORT SILL, Okla. (July 31, 2014) -- Soldiers who are ill or have been wounded or injured in combat or training; but are not in the Wounded Warrior program, may participate in the upcoming Operation War Fighter (OWF) and Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) Outreach and Training Event.

This is also for Soldiers who are transitioning out of the Army through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), or Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) processes. The event will be held Aug. 6 and 7 at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC), 2703 Pittman St. on Fort Sill.

"The OWF program was developed after President [Barack] Obama signed an executive order in 2009. This program allows Soldiers to go to federal agencies and work in a

nonpaid internship," said Stacy Dancy, Warrior Transition Unit transition coordinator. "They get to network and develop good relationships with the people who work there. After the internship if there is an opening in that agency and if the Soldiers have shown dedication, diligence and all of the other things they have been taught in the military, they could end up getting a job."

"Even if they don't get a job, the least they can get is another very good reference and learn valuable job skills they can put on their resume," said Mary Ellen Saur, SFAC director. "That's what we are trying to do with these Soldiers who are going through the Army Career Alumni Program transition process; trying to get them to feel good about the whole process of transitioning out of the Army to a job in the civilian world, because the unknown is scary."

Dancy said that the OWF and E2I programs work to assist Soldiers early in their recovery process to identify their skills, and match them with educational and career opportunities that will help them successfully move forward to civilian life.

She said it is imperative for Soldiers to understand what OWF and E2I do here. To help make that goal possible, she is trying to get commanders, sergeant majors and anyone else who has an impact on Soldiers involved and aware of the programs to help those Soldiers as they transition out of the Army.

"We want to give them opportunities to complete an internship, or educational training and employment initiative that can successfully enhance their military-to-civilian transition," Saur added.

For more information, contact Stacy Dancy, Warrior Transition Unit transition coordinator at 580-442-4502, (email: stacy.dancy.civ[AT]mail.mil), or Mary Ellen Saur, SFAC director at 580-558-4987, (email: mary.e.saur.civ@mail.mil).