FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Selfless service. It is not just an Army value for Soldiers -- it is the driving force behind their every action. Their dedication to their battle buddies and to the mission is so deeply rooted that it can sometimes be difficult for an ill or injured Soldier to pause and take the time to care for himself or herself.
For the past decade, cadre and staff members at Fort Drum's 3rd Battalion, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment, Warrior Transition Battalion, have been helping Soldiers "take a knee" and focus on healing and preparing for the next step in their lives -- whether that step is returning to duty or transitioning to veteran status.
"The 3-85th serves as the premier center for the treatment of wounded, injured and ill Soldiers for Fort Drum and the entire Northeast region -- for our National Guard and Reserve," said Lt. Col. Brad Johnson, who served as WTB commander for two years, before relinquishing command on Tuesday.
Johnson said that the 93 individuals who work within the WTB are dedicated to the Army's "enduring mission" of warrior care.
"Our cadre and staff encompass a whole host of different functions and specialties," he said. "They are a team of professionals caring for Soldiers with dignity and respect -- that is really the cornerstone of what we do."
From medical and non-medical providers and support staff who make up the civilian side of the house, to the military personnel responsible for conducting day-to-day operations and providing leadership and accountability for Soldiers assigned to the battalion's Warrior Transition Unit, the staff and cadre have three core functions, Johnson said.
"We provide medical treatment, career and education readiness and adaptive reconditioning that is tailored to the unique needs of each Soldier."
Johnson said that Soldiers assigned to the WTU have their own "individual mission" to accomplish and they receive care that is tailored to their unique needs. The key to success, Johnson said, is to help Soldiers take charge of their recovery by setting their own goals for the future.
"When Soldiers first receive their assignment to the Warrior Transition Unit, it can be hard for them to see past the challenges they are facing," he said. "Our job is to help them create a comprehensive transition plan that defines what their goals are -- what they want to pour their energy into and what they want to achieve as they transition back into the Army or into the civilian sector."
Each Soldier is backed by a "Triad of Care," a team consisting of a primary care manager, nurse case manager and squad leader. These three individuals, assisted by an interdisciplinary team of professionals, are charged with supporting Soldiers and their Families as they navigate the road to recovery.
Few people understand just how involved this recovery process is better than Command Sgt. Maj. Oscar Mullinax, the battalion's senior enlisted adviser.
Mullinax, whose family members trace their military service back to the Revolutionary War, said he had always wanted to be a part of that legacy.
"As a kid, I remember listening to my grandfather tell stories about his time in France during World War II," he said. "My father was a Ranger in the Army, and he and his buddies would talk about their time in Vietnam. My dream was always to be a Soldier and be deployed as much as possible -- down in the trenches doing the job my country asked me to do."
Mullinax enlisted as a cavalry scout in 1995 and began living out his dream of working his way up the ranks to achieve a senior leadership position.
In 2007, he was involved in an accident and was referred to The Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for treatment of his injuries.
There, a team of medical providers performed surgeries and eventually fitted Mullinax with an Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis brace -- a device capable of restoring functionality to patients who have experienced nerve and muscle loss to their ankle and foot.
Mullinax said that at first it was hard for him to accept the physical limitations of his injuries.
"I was not mentally prepared for it," he recalled. "I had done triathlons, I maxed out my PT test scores and I was always one of the first people done any time we did a road march. It was extremely important to me to lead from the front, and this included being as physically fit as possible."
His doctors and physical therapists cautioned him that recovery would be slow and painful, and although he immediately told his care team that he intended to return to duty, they were uncertain if this would be possible. Mullinax said there was never any doubt in his mind that he would exceed everyone's expectations.
"I just kept getting up and putting feet to pavement," he said. "I pushed through and returned to duty ahead of schedule -- ready to continue to do great things for the Army."
Mullinax transitioned back into the force, and in 2014 he completed Command Sergeants Major Academy. He arrived at Fort Drum last fall, and he said he is proud to serve alongside a team of staff members devoted to helping wounded warriors.
"We, as leaders, have been charged by the American public to take care of their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives," he said. "We are stewards of the profession, and we care for our Soldiers. Whether we're leading them downrange or standing beside them as they navigate the road to recovery, it's all the same. Taking care of Soldiers is paramount."
Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Taylor said that this support system was vital to his recovery -- especially given the uncertainty he faced while recovering from an illness that forced him to return early from deployment in the winter of 2016.
"I had deployed with my platoon, and I was getting ready for a PT test," Taylor recalled. "I was working out twice a day, and when I first started feeling weak and sick, I thought I had just overdone it a bit."
Within a matter of days, Taylor had a fever of over 104 degrees. His lab work showed decreased kidney and liver function. He was medically evacuated to Germany, where he hoped to recover and return to his platoon. Instead, he was advised to return to the United States for additional medical care. He was sent back to Fort Drum, where staff members from the Warrior Transition Unit awaited his arrival.
"I was shocked," he said. "I thought I would be going back to my unit and receiving medical care. When I was told that I had been assigned to the WTU, I assumed that meant that I wouldn't be returning to active-duty status."
This is a common misconception, Johnson said.
"Our primary objective is always to look at whether a Soldier can heal and return to duty," he said. "It depends upon the complexity of their illness or injury, but -- Army-wide -- the rate of Soldiers returning to duty is a lot higher than people would expect."
Taylor met with his care team, who he said was phenomenal.
"They looked at my history and told me 'we are going to do everything we can to get you better and back to active duty,'" he said. "It was reassuring to know that everyone was on the same page and that they were going to work hard to help me."
Taylor received care for ongoing digestive issues. He worked with staff from the Army Wellness Center to change his diet and fitness routine. As he healed, he also was encouraged to take advantage of the many transition resources offered through the WTB and other post organizations.
"For a long time, we didn't know if returning to duty was going to be an option," he said. "My transition counselor told me about several different career and education opportunities. I took college classes and I completed (vocational and technical) certification courses. I completed the Soldier for Life -- Transition Assistance Program classes, because I wanted to be prepared for whatever came next."
During a checkup, one of Taylor's doctors decided to run one final laboratory test to rule out a rare disease caused by bacteria. The test came back positive, and Taylor said he was elated to learn that it was treatable.
"I underwent an intensive round of antibiotics, and then I was released to return to duty," he said.
Taylor said that he feels even more prepared for the future -- both in and after the Army -- since coming to the WTU.
"Coming here allowed me to concentrate on getting better, but, even more than that, it gave me a chance to start getting myself set up for success in the future. I plan to stay in for at least another six years, but this opened my eyes to the fact that it's never too early to start preparing for what comes after the Army."
Johnson said that the role of the WTB is to help wounded Soldiers realize that they are capable of not just overcoming their challenges, but of thriving in spite of them.
"Our adaptive reconditioning program is really beneficial to these Soldiers," he said. "When they first come into the unit, they are given a positive profile -- one that tells them what they can do, rather than what their limitations are."
In addition to working with occupational therapists to learn how to modify everyday tasks, WTU Soldiers can participate in a variety of recreational activities. From swimming, golfing and mountain biking, to making pottery and participating in mindfulness and meditation classes, the program gives Soldiers an outlet to relax, relieve stress and enjoy life, Mullinax said.
"When you've been injured or recovered from a serious illness, you're not always going to be the same as you were before," he said. "The important thing is to remember that you are still fully able. It's just a matter of learning to function -- and thrive -- at 100 percent of your new norm."
It's important to remember that "the body can do more than the mind thinks it's capable of," Mullinax said.
To show his Soldiers that the only limitations to what they can accomplish are the barriers they themselves build, he decided to try out to represent the Army in the Department of Defense Warrior Games this year.
The Warrior Games were established in 2010 to enhance the rehabilitation of wounded warriors from all branches of military service and to give them an opportunity to network and participate in adaptive sports competitions.
Mullinax attended the 2017 Warrior Games Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas, in April, where he competed in discus, shot put and swimming. He also earned gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter races -- earning a slot on Team Army. He will go on to compete in the DOD Warrior Games in Chicago from Friday to July 8.
While he would love to bring home a gold medal, Mullinax said that his goal is to represent 3-85 WTB and the 10th Mountain Division (LI), and -- most importantly -- to show recovering Soldiers that they are capable of anything if they are willing to put in the hard work it takes to achieve their goals.
"At the end of the day, I won't let my injury define me," he said. "Competing at the Warrior Games is a way for me to show other Soldiers who are struggling that they are not alone. If they see me moving forward -- even on my most challenging days -- and it inspires them to keep going, that's all that I want."
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