By Alan Morales, WTC Stratcom

As of September 1 the AW2 Call Center toll-free phone number will change to:

New AW2 Call Center Number:       (877) 393-9058
New AW2 Call Center DSN:             (312) 221-9113

Please make note of this change to prevent any confusion.

The AW2 Call Center is a resource for you. Whether it’s a question about AW2 in general or resources available to you as an AW2 Soldier, Veteran, or Family Member, the Call Center is here to provide you the information you need.

AW2 is in the process of updating all public materials, including brochures and magnets. Therefore, materials located in places such as your home or office may list the incorrect phone number.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the new phone number listed above or contact your AW2 Advocate.

alanmorales1 General, Resources AW2 Call Center, New AW2 Call Center Number, Resources

By Melvin Kearney, AW2 Advocate

Two years in a row an AW2 Veteran has presented the award for “Best Looking” vehicle at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System OEF/OIF Welcome Home Celebration and Car Show.

While I watched the 2010 award presentation by AW2 Veteran Amanda Mikulka, last year’s presenter, AW2 Veteran Ira Brownridge commented, “… two years back to back–seems like AW2 Veterans are leading the way!”

And he’s right. When Amanda spoke about her “road to recovery” and all of the encouragement she received, I was reminded of the reasons why I love being an AW2 Advocate.

The event was held at Wayne Ford Civic League in Wayne, MI, in conjunction with Car Show for Veterans, which is sponsored by the Motor City Motor Club, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 1A.

Indoor and outdoor activities were available, including a 250 muscle car exhibit and free food and beverages for OEF/OIF Veterans and their Families. More importantly, this year’s special attraction was a Veteran employment and education fair.

Over 85 vendors showed up to the event, including 50 employers and educational institutions.  In addition, resume building and other employment coaching was available for Veterans on-site.

After the event, I heard several OIF/OEF Veterans, including AW2 Veterans, rave about the fair. They all said that the overall experience at the Welcome Home Event was very beneficial.

Throughout the day, several Veterans gathered in front of the AW2 display and shared stories while giving advice to each other.  I laughed when one Veteran told me, “Kearney, your AW2 display stands out, it’s like you put up a 10 foot Army flag with a banner letting everyone know, “ALL ARMY VETERANS MEET HERE!”

They got no complaints from me.

The event was a success because the Veterans and Families really appreciated the interaction between other OEF/OIF Veterans and Families, local communities, VA volunteers, and educational institutions. 

I can only think about how excited I am to see which AW2 Veteran leads the way at next year’s 2011 Welcome Home Celebration and Car Show in the Great state of Michigan.

aw2stratcom Advocate Story, Career and Education, Resources Amanda Mikulka, AW2 Advocate, Career and Education, Ira Brownridge

By Judy Troccano, Guest Blogger

Editor’s Note: CaringBridge is a participant in the AW2 Community Support Network.

CaringBridge provides free, personalized websites to help wounded warriors and their Families stay connected to their strongest support groups–their extended Family members. These websites are designed specifically to help Families communicate critical information and stay in touch in a healthcare crisis. After a combat injury, setting up a CaringBridge website is the fastest, easiest way to keep in touch with Family, friends and those still deployed in the field.

The free, nonprofit web service simplifies communication by providing one central place to update everyone. A CaringBridge website includes a journal to post health updates, a photo album, and a guestbook for loved ones to leave messages of support and encouragement. It connects a Soldier’s entire community, creating a network of support for everyone involved.

Families going through a serious health event can be overwhelmed by medical terminology, treatment decisions and hospital visits. In times like these, support from extended Family and friends can be essential.

The website can be an important tool to help wounded warriors reduce isolation and stress in a difficult time, giving them a much-needed outlet for sharing their experience and receiving support.

CaringBridge has grown to host more than 170,000 personal sites that connect over half-a-million people daily. The free websites are not just for war-related injuries–they are also used for Families facing cancer, a serious car accident, premature birth and much more. Learn more or create a site today at www.CaringBridge.org.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

aw2stratcom Community Support Network, Resources Community Support Network, Resources

By Alan Morales, WTC Stratcom

SFC Karl E. Pasco and his wife Joy at the Walter Reed Malogne House in Washington, DC.

“I was like a piece of equipment needing some repairs,” these were the words spoken to me by SFC Karl E. Pasco while we sat with his wife Joy on the patio of the Mologne House at Walter Reed in Washington, DC. Developing a vivid image in my mind, I realized that this image is one that many wounded Soldiers and Veterans compare themselves to while undergoing treatment stateside. For Pasco, it’s the way he has seen himself over the years as he completed, and still completes, several surgeries and treatments for his injuries—until this week.

Pasco and his wife traveled to Walter Reed to undergo surgeries for various serious injuries he sustained during two separate deployments in Iraq. In May 2004, Pasco’s vehicle ran over a 500 pound improvised explosive device (IED) inflicting, among other injuries, a shattered leg, bruised heart, broken upper jaw, and 10 broken ribs. After recovery, Pasco deployed to Iraq again when in November 2007, he was hit by another IED, this time with shrapnel puncturing through his chest and into his jaw, tearing his upper lip, and causing various other injuries. Since then, he and his wife have undergone many challenges in managing Pasco’s treatment. But now after six years, two OEF/OIF deployments, and countless procedures and trips to Walter Reed, this particular trip to DC would prove to add new experiences that would have a lasting effect.

The first of these occurred when Pasco and his wife were invited to attend a commemoration ceremony celebrating 20 years since the passing of the American Disabilities Act. Hosted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Pasco among other guests, participated in the ceremony this past Monday. It was here where Pasco and his wife were able to walk into the gallery where legislation is passed on Capitol Hill and interact with various Congressional figures and guests from across the United States. Although this was a very impactful and meaningful event, Pasco noted that his time in DC would lead him to an additional eye-opening experience that would empower him to inflict positive change.

The following day, Pasco participated as a panelist for the National Summit on Disability Policy. Leading a discussion entitled, “Living, Learning, Earning: Snapshots from the Field,” Pasco not only shared his thoughts with the 200+ group, but also helped alleviate a gap that often goes unnoticed. As Pasco explained to me, wounded Soldiers and Veterans typically don’t see themselves as disabled. The perception that he was just “a busted up guy,” helped facilitate this belief and has fueled it for many years. It seemed that it would be during this summit when this perception would change. “You know, I never thought of myself as a disabled person until I realized… here I am speaking as a panelist at a conference held by the National Council on Disability. That’s when it finally hit me. I am a disabled person,” described Pasco.

Pasco went further to explain, that recognizing oneself as disabled opens doors—doors that would not have been opened had it not been for the accomplishments and strides made by the disabled community over the decades. It is this realization that Pasco takes with him as he plans to return back to his home in Texas next week. It is also a realization that he hopes many others will have so they can help make their lives a little easier. As Pasco says, “it takes a long hard time to let go and accept reality, but as coach and mama said, ‘What do you do when you get knocked down? You get up.’”

alanmorales1 Resources, Soldier Story American Disabilities Act (ADA), National Summit on Disability Policy, SFC Karl E. Pasco

By Alan Morales, WTC Stratcom

One of the major obstacles Soldiers and Veterans face upon return from combat are those related to psychological health and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Due to the overwhelming need to address these challenges, the Department of Defense stood-up the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) in 2007. As an organization determined to improve the way psychological health and TBI are treated, DCoE has made strides to ensure that America’s service members and Veterans have access to the information necessary to start taking steps towards effectively dealing with these challenges.

One of the many ways DCoE is educating individuals is through its monthly webinar series aimed to provide information and facilitate discussion on a variety of topics related to psychological health and TBI. This Thursday, July 22nd at 1300-1430 EST, DCoE plans to present its next webinar entitled: “Reintegration: Adjusting to Life at Home After Deployment.” With discussions led by medical subject matter experts, the webinar plans to unravel many of the challenges service members face during the reintegration process. These challenges include, but are not limited to:

• Readjusting to Family life
• Going back to work
• Coping with combat related stress and injury

This webinar will also feature personal accounts of deployment to Afghanistan, bringing a closer look to readjustment through the words of those who have travelled down the road of reintegration. In addition, DCoE has selected various types of resources to compliment this week’s webinar. To take a look at these resources, click this link: http://www.dcoe.health.mil/Training/MonthlyWebinars.aspx.

The webinar is planned to be very insightful and can easily be viewed from your computer screen at home. If you have a moment to check it out, please share your thoughts with the AW2 Blog so you can continue to support AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families by sharing with them what you learned.

To register for the webinar, to be added to the distribution list, or for more information, e-mail your contact information to DCoE.MonthlyWebinar@tma.osd.mil

aw2stratcom Behavioral Health, DoD, Resources Behavioral Health, DCoE, DoD, psychological health, Resources