ORLANDO - The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Simulation and Training Technology Center has taken an active role in the community to support wounded warriors. Over the past three years the STTC has worked closely with the Wounded/Injured Soldiers from Florida National Guard under the Community Based Health Care Organization to provide subject matter expertise to engineers while receiving their medical treatment.

Currently the center has one CBHCO Soldier assigned and one that just finished his medical rehabilitation. Sgt. Peter Nelson was attached to 364th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Bragg N.C. and deployed to Afghanistan in April 2006. He was assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Ghazni Province located approximately 3 hours south of the Capital of Afghanistan (Kabul). Nelson served as the non-commissioned officer Team Leader for the PRT Civil Affairs Team. His responsibilities included making certain the entire team had all gear, equipment and necessary supplies required to be mission prepared as well as ensuring the weapons and vehicles were maintained and mission ready.

Nelson was injured from a fall, tearing his right rotator cuff and suffered neck and back injuries. Once he was back state-side the CBHCO of Orlando linked Nelson up with the STTC where he would become an integral part of the research team providing the civilian employees insight and a better understanding of the needs and requirements of our deployed Soldiers.

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Zglenski was released from Active Duty and returned to civilian life in February. He served as the command sergeant major of a Civil Affairs Battalion at Camp Liberty in Iraq for a year, prior to sustaining a knee injury. Zglenski spent five months at the STTC as part of the wounded warrior program. He was able to draw from his special ops, civil affairs, command sergeant major knowledge and civilian police training to provide impact on our medical simulations, cultural training and game-based technologies.

Both Soldiers participated in numerous events including assisting at conferences, demonstrations of technology at the center and assisting with the STTC's Anti-Terrorism training.

"The program allows Soldiers to relay real world experiences that can be implemented to improve working projects or make changes to the ever changing situations on the ground," said Zglenski. "The STTC should be proud with their part and contribution to the Warrior in Transition program. It is programs such as this that are essential and beneficial to Soldiers that enable them to recover and return to a normal life no matter what their injuries."