Warrior Care Month_SecNav Mabus

R 021928z Nov 11 PSN 442691H26 Fm SECNAV Washington DC To ALNAV ALNAV 069/11 Subj/Warrior Care Month// Rmks/1. Recognizing and appreciating the sacrifices of wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families continues to be a top priority for the Department of the Navy. Through programs such as the Navy's Safe Harbor, the Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment, and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's Wounded, Ill, and Injured Warrior Support, as well as the Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Initiative, we are taking care of our own. There is nothing of greater importance than caring for wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Marines who are in active duty, reserve, and veteran status. To further honor our commitment to wounded warriors, their families, and caregivers, while showcasing the programs that support them, I have designated November 2011 as Department of the Navy Warrior Care Month.

2. Warrior Care Month is a Navy and Marine Corps-wide effort to increase awareness and understanding of wounded warrior programs and services available to Navy and Marine Corps service members and their families, government and non-government partners, and the American public. Warrior Care Month also affords opportunities to highlight the achievements of service members overcoming challenges and recognize the families and programs supporting and fostering their success through local events and awareness initiatives. This year's theme is "Unleashing Unlimited Potential: Healing a Wounded Warrior's mind, body, and spirit."

3. Families and caregivers serve as a critical support system for wounded, ill, or injured service members as they endure the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) to help offset the loss of income by those who provide non-medical care, support, and assistance to service members who have incurred a permanent catastrophic injury or illness and who meet the criteria of this program. As of this year, department of defense policy makes SCAADL available for all eligible catastrophically wounded, ill, and injured service members. Warrior

Care Month honors the families and caregivers providing strength and support to our wounded warriors during difficult times.

4. We have a moral obligation to help our nation's heroes in finding meaningful careers. Currently there are more than 12,000 wounded warriors transitioning out of the military in any given month and many are seeking employment. Reintegration into the civilian workforce in the current economic environment poses significant challenges with one in four wounded warriors joining the unemployment rolls every day.

5. The Department of the Navy is dedicated to hiring wounded warriors and supporting them in the workplace. The wounded warrior hiring and support initiative coordinates the wounded warrior employment effort and ultimately aims to increase employability by ensuring access to education, training, and employment opportunities.

The 2nd annual Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Conference, "Hiring Our Nation's Heroes," will be held 9 – 10 November at the Sheraton Premiere Tysons corner in Vienna, VA. The forum will provide useful tools and resources for employers and Human Resources professionals to learn how to recruit, hire, train, and retrain our wounded warriors in the civilian workplace. Those interested in attending may register at http://www.donaa.navy.mil/.

6. While our commitment to wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Marines, their families, and caregivers has no boundaries, I encourage all Department of Navy personnel to take the opportunity during Warrior Care Month to join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude and support.

7. For more information on Warrior Care Month activities or about the Department of the Navy Wounded Warrior programs contact: Safe Harbor toll free at 1-877-746-8563; on the web at www.safeharbor.navy.mil. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment may be contacted via the Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior call center toll free at 1-877-487-6299; on the web at www.woundedwarriorregiment.org. The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Wounded, Ill, and Injured Warrior Support may be contacted at 202762-3043. The NAVSEA Wounded Warrior program can be contacted at 202-781-5272; or on the web at nssc_wwarriorhiring@navy.mil.

To learn more about the NAVAIR Wounded Warrior Program, email NAVAIRWoundedWarrior@navy.mil.

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Released by Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.