FORT DIX, N.J. (January 15, 2014) -- On February 9, the Army announced the closure of the Fort Dix 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 Fort Dix WTU is a company-grade unit under the command and control of Walson Medical Support Element, a military treatment facility of the Northern Regional Medical Command (NRMC), where it's Soldiers receive medical care.
At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the very low number of Soldiers assigned to the Fort Dix WTU receiving care here 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.
Warrior Transition Units are the backbone of WCTP, providing recovering Soldiers a standardized framework of 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.
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.
As the Fort Dix WTU approaches inactivation, the 11 Soldiers assigned will return to duty, process through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System or transfer to a larger WTU to continue their recovery.
Col. Jacqueline P. Allen, the Walson commander, said that closure of the WTU and the reorganization of the WCTP will result in enhanced cadre support and staffs for the Soldiers who transfer. She added that the WTU will ensure that the transition between units is a smooth one for Soldiers and families.
"We'll be watching Soldiers and their families closely during this transition," Allen said. "Our WTU and gaining WTUs will ensure 100 percent continuity of care and oversight through multiple transfers of authority interactions. The care of these Soldiers is a responsibility we, and the Army, take very seriously."
The other Northern Regional Medical Command WTU slated for inactivation is the West Point WTU, located at West Point, N.Y. All of the closing WTUs have fewer than 36 Soldiers assigned.
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