Army Adds Traumatic SGLI Advisors at 10 Hospitals

By HRC Public AffairsDecember 18, 2007

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 18, 2007) -- Soldiers eligible for, or who want to determine if they are eligible for payments under Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, have a new ally in Soldier Family Support Specialists.

SFSSs are subject-matter experts on the TSGLI program. Now available at 10 military treatment facilities across the country, these specialists provide advice and assistance to Soldiers and Family members so they can file claims for traumatic injuries, said Col. John F. Sackett, Human Resources Command, TSGLI Branch.

"These specialists work closely with the Warrior Transition Units and the Soldier Family Assistance Centers at treatment facilities to provide their services," Col. Sackett said. "They act as vital liaisons between the Soldier and medical community, to help ensure the timely and accurate submission and processing of TSGLI claims."

The SFSSs perform a variety of duties, including claims form and medical documentation assistance; payment information; and issue escalation to TSGLI staff headquarters. Support specialists also provide guidance in helping severely injured, disabled soldiers relearn how to do simple daily-living activities like eating, bathing, dressing and using the restroom.

The SFSS program is just one more way the Army is working to help take care of its injured Soldiers, Col. Sackett said.

"Through this new initiative, we are demonstrating our ongoing and ever increasing commitment to help traumatically wounded or injured Soldiers and their Families in their time of need," he said.

SFSSs are currently located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas; Darnall Army Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas; Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Schofield Army Medical Center, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky.; Guthrie Ambulatory Army Medical Center, Fort Drum, N.Y.; Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga.

While SFSSs operate at these set locations, they will also provide assistance at other treatment facilities throughout the country. In addition, other facilities are now being identified for future SFSS deployments.

For more information about the SFSS program, TSGLI, or TSGLI eligibility requirements and claim submission instructions, contact the U.S. Army TSGLI service center at 1-800-237-1336 or email TSGLI@conus.army.mil. Information is also available on the Web site at <a href="http://www.tsgli.army.mil"target=blank>www.tsgli.army.mil</a>.