FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- "When we first started out, we barely had paper and pens, much less barracks," said David Allard, chief of MEDDAC Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, as he addressed the Soldiers of Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion Nov. 1, during a ceremony celebrating the battalions 10-year anniversary.
Allard, who served as the first command sergeant major of the WTB, helped to stand up the battalion after the Army Medical Action Plan was passed in 2007. The plan is an Army initiative to develop a sustainable system wherein wounded, injured and ill Soldiers are medically treated and rehabilitated to prepare them for successful return to duty or transition to their homes and communities. Warrior Transition Battalions were established at Army posts across the world to serve wounded warriors. Now, about 14 WTBs remain, all of them are located in the United States.
Allard was tasked to stand up the battalion after he sustained a traumatic brain injury while deployed to Afghanistan.
"From bang to flash we had about six months to stand up the [Warrior Transition Battalion]," Allard said.
Over the past decade many things at WTB have changed. The battalion started off with about 30 staff members who served two companies. "Back then we were still trying to figure out how to care for our sick, injured and ill Soldiers," Allard said. "The Army Medical Action Plan was just the ground work to what everybody believed was taking care of the Soldiers. We were trying to figure out how to get the Soldiers healthy to bring them back to the force and how to get them to the point where they can return to the civilian sector if need be."
At its highest capacity, WTB expanded up to five companies, which housed about 750 Soldiers. The battalion had the support of about 200 staff -- civilians and cadre. Now, they are treating about 175 Soldiers with a staff of 113 people.
Since its inception, the demographic of Soldiers who are treated at Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion has changed, said Lt. Col. Shawn Butler, commander, Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion.
"Originally [Warrior Transition Battalions] were stood up to care for Soldiers injured in combat, and it has expanded over the past 10 years," Butler said. "The Soldiers that we see today have injuries that are probably from deployment, but they are not physical. A lot of what we see today are [post-traumatic stress disorder] and behavioral problems. We also have Soldiers with orthopedic injuries -- knees, ankles, shoulders."
Although the wounded warriors' injuries may have changed over time, the mission of WTB has always been to provide medical care for the Soldiers. An adaptive reconditioning program that features swimming, cycling, air and pistol shooting, and archery is available to help Soldiers stay physically fit while they are at Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion. Occupational therapy including knitting and music are also taught to help Soldiers develop their hand-eye coordination.
"We try to tailor everything to the Soldier's physical limitations and we give them a positive profile that lays out the things they can do instead of the things they can't do," Butler said. "It's great if we can find things for them to do that they enjoy because it is also a stress reliever for them."
At WTB, a Soldier's main mission is to heal, Butler said.
"If you are in a unit, you are going to have to go to the field, do trainings, go to the rifle range, and everything, but that potentially delays care that the Soldier may need," he said. "So being here takes away that potential distraction and gives them a chance to focus on healing and getting healthy."
Each Soldier at WTB spends about 300 days in the program. During that time the Soldier has to work toward rejoining the force or transitioning out of the Army. Butler said this can be a difficult decision for many Soldiers.
"When the program first stood up, about 75 percent of Soldiers would return to the Army after treatment," Butler said. "Now, majority of people who come here will take the uniform off for the last time when they leave the Warrior Transition Battalion."
Butler said this is something the battalion is trying to change going forward.
Laverne Woods, who has served at the senior human resource specialist at WTB for the past 10 years, said the program has grown and developed exponentially since its inception.
Woods and Judy Miller, who has served as the financial management specialist at WTB for the past 10 years, laughed together as they listed off the numerous addresses the S-1 shop has held over the years. When first stood up, WTB was contained within four buildings. If someone stood up, their chair would be gone by the time they turned around, Woods said.
"We've moved three times," Woods said. "We've moved a lot of furniture. We've seen a lot of people come and go."
Woods said the location of WTB's S-1 shop is now convenient to the Soldiers, which means leadership sees them often.
"Our headquarters [and S-1] are right here beside their companies and the barracks," she said. "The Soldiers will walk over here all the time to just ask questions. It's so much easier for them to get in touch with us now."
For the past 10 years, Woods has served the Soldiers of WTB by helping them with paperwork, pay problems, pay inquiries, leave forms, getting their awards and getting their evaluations done.
"Basically everything that deals with the day-to-day activity of Soldiers," she said. "Anything dealing with paper comes through me."
Before beginning her position at WTB, Woods served in the Army for 21 years performing a similar role. Woods said she has continued to work with Soldiers because she has a passion for helping others succeed.
"I'm mostly here for the Soldiers," she said. "When you stay somewhere for 10 years, you don't stay unless you really have a purpose and you really see that your main purpose is taking care of the Soldiers one way or the other. It gives you a reason to come into work in the morning."
As an Army retiree, Woods said it was a challenge for her to get accustomed to staying at one installation for more than two or three years, but she has grown to appreciate that she is staying still while the Soldiers move around her.
It is a different environment around WTB every couple of years, Woods said.
"It's just knowing that you are taking care of the Soldiers to the best of your ability," she said. "It's always felt right to me. I can't imagine not doing this … you just get older and wiser."
Miller, who was a military spouse for 26 years, joined the WTB staff after temporarily working at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.
"It was really a breath of fresh air to work here because I liked being around the Soldiers and helping them," she said. "After 26 years of learning stuff from my husband, I felt like I was giving back to the Soldiers. If I can keep [WTB Soldiers'] finances good, then that is one less thing they have to worry about while they are getting medical treatment. I just don't want them to worry about those things so they can focus on healing."
As a financial management specialist, Miller takes care of the military pay side of things for Soldiers at WTB. She ensures the Soldiers do not have any debts and that their pay remains the same. She also updates their accounts if they get married. To do her job, Miller has to be fluent in three pay systems -- active duty, National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve.
Miller said being able to handle the Soldiers' finances and work with them one-on-one is helpful because it puts many Soldiers at ease. Miller said the Soldiers who come through WTB are joining a large, supportive Family, who is eager to help in any way.
"The Soldiers who come here are very unique and special," Woods said. "Here the Soldiers get one-on-one care and they feel more comfortable in their surroundings. In order to make this work we have to have the support from every entity on the installation."
Wounded warriors are supported nationwide, especially during November's, National Warrior Care Month. Robert Gates, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, designated November as Warrior Care Month to inform members of the military and their Families and communities about the programs and initiative provided through the Warrior Care System.
"We have to pause and look back at those Soldiers who are injured, ill and let them know that they are still part of the force and we are here to take care of them," Allard said. "It's especially important for leadership to take a step back and say thank you."
Major Aaron Lockhart, executive officer, Fort Campbell's WTB said although National Warrior Care Month is important, is it always necessary to care for wounded warriors.
"The will of the American people demands that we care for our wounded warriors. There is no Soldier left behind and we understand that, but they have the same sentiment about wounded warriors. There is nothing within the American arsenal and the American treasury that would not support our wounded warriors who put themselves on the line at the furthest reach of our defense. [They are the] guardians of freedom," Lockhart said. "It is our responsibility to support our wounded warriors every single day until the very end. That's why we do it."
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Related Links:
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Twitter
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Facebook
Fort Campbell Courier on Facebook
Related Links:
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Twitter
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital on Facebook
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