WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 4, 2008) -- For wounded Soldiers, there are two new units available in Germany to help them transition back to the military or civilian sector.
The Warrior Transition Company, located on U.S. Army Garrison Heidelberg, unfurled its guidon -- officially signifying its fully operational status -- during a ceremony Jan. 3. But the WTC has been helping Soldiers there since June 15.
Forty Warriors in Transition are currently assigned to the WTC at USAG Heidelberg. And since operations began, eight Soldiers have completed their medical evaluation board process and one has completed complex care that required more than six months of treatments.
WTC commander, Capt. Chad Hyder, said the company is now fully capable of doing what it was chartered by the Army to do -- help facilitate the best care possible for Soldiers that have sustained injuries while in service to their country.
"We are here to make sure that the Warriors are able to execute their mission of healing and transitioning back to the military or civilian sector," he said. "It is a challenging task to ensure that we meet the needs of our Wounded Warriors, but taking care of Soldiers is a rewarding job and that is what we do."
Just an hour north of Heidelberg, at USAG Wiesbaden, more than $400,000 has been invested to provide a facility for injured Soldiers. Four buildings there have undergone renovation work to convert them into wheelchair accessible accommodations as part of the Warrior Transition Unit.
Warrior Transition Companies are also located at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Wuerzburg, Germany.
The Army is establishing 32 Warrior Transition Units at major installations across the force to streamline care for wounded Soldiers. The new units are the centerpiece of the Army Medical Action Plan. The WTU mission is to facilitate the healing and rehabilitation of Soldiers, return them to duty when possible, or to prepare them for a successful life as a veteran in their community.
The Army has allocated some $1.2 billion in Military Construction funds for Warrior Transition Unit facilities and projects.
Prior to the creation of the WTUs, most active-component Soldiers requiring complex treatment remained assigned to their parent units or to a rear detachment. Some were assigned or attached to Medical Hold Companies overseen by the Army Medical Command.
The WTU program is yet another way the Army is working to provide the best care possible for Soldiers injured while serving their country, officials said.
(Karl Weissel from Wiesbaden contributed to this article.)
Related Links:
Commentary from Private-sector Healthcare Exec: Warrior Transition Brigade Worth Emulating
Social Sharing