'Army Helps Wounded Warriors Heal Closer to Home' - FRAGO 4 to EXORD 118-07 (Healing Warri

By Tim Pooch, MEDCOMMay 25, 2009

What is it'

FRAGO 4 is the fourth "fragmentary order" issued from the Army Execute Order (EXORD) 118-07 (Healing Warriors) that established the Army Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP). FRAGO 4 refers to the Army's implementation of refined criteria and instructions for assignment to Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) that will result in more Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers recovering in their hometown, utilizing local civilian health care, but remaining under the supervision of Army unit leaders and medical case managers.

What has the Army done'

The Army established WTUs at most active duty Army posts, and at nine community based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs) located around the U.S. CBWTUs have Army cadre and medical case managers comparable to active duty WTUs, but assigned Soldiers normally live at home and undergo treatment in the local civilian Tricare health network. In the past, reserve component Soldiers who were mobilized for active duty deployment and became ill or injured were routinely assigned to the active duty WTU at the mobilization station or Army post where they reported for deployment.

Under the new guidance, commanders of WTUs and Army hospitals who determine Soldiers' eligibility for WTU assignment will have the authority to transfer a wounded, ill or injured reserve component Soldier to the CBWTU or WTU nearest to the Soldier's hometown.

Clinical care requirements will always drive the determination for WTU assignment. Each candidate Soldier undergoes a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine WTU eligibility. If a reserve component Soldier qualifies for retention on active duty for medical reasons but does not require the daily medical care management provided by an active duty WTU or military treatment facility, the Soldier will be assigned to the CBWTU closest to his or her hometown or support network, provided the location has the medical capacity to meet the Soldier's treatment needs. If the Soldier's condition requires daily care management, he or she will be assigned to the active duty WTU at the military treatment facility closest to his or her hometown. Commanders will also have the ability to transfer a reserve component Soldier to a CBWTU from a WTU after the medical condition has been stabilized and the Soldier meets CBWTU eligibility.

Why is this important to the Army'

The new policy enables wounded, ill and injured reserve component Soldiers to undergo treatment and care management closer to hometowns and family support networks, and makes the Warrior Care and Transition Program more compassionate and responsive.

Resources:

Information about FRAGO 4 can be found at: <a href="http://www.army.mil/warriorcare" target="_blank">Warrior Transition Command Web site </a>

<a href="http://www.army.mil/warriorcarenews " target="_blank">Warrior Care Page</a>