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 U.S.
Department of Defense
For Immediate Release
January 27, 2005
The Department of Defense announced today the opening of a new operations
center established to ensure that all severely injured service members
and their families receive support as they transition back to active
duty or into civilian life. DoD is dedicated to taking care of America's
heroes.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Military Severely Injured Joint
Support Operations Center will be held at 2 p.m., on Feb. 1 at 2107
Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Va. Ceremony participants will include
Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy Secretary of Defense, and Gen. Peter
Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The operations center will augment and integrate programs currently
sponsored by the military services, such as the Army Disabled Soldier
Support System, the Marine for Life Injured Support Program, the
Air Force Palace HART program, and the Navy Wounded Marines and
Sailors Initiative, and other government programs.
This umbrella service will be available via telephone (1-888-774-1361)
24 hours a day and seven days a week. This will enhance the range
of resources for the severely injured and their families and centralize
knowledge of the support afforded by hospitals, the military services,
Veterans Affairs and other caring organizations involved in the
transitioning of severely injured service members. Through this
combined support, America can reach out to our deserving heroes
and their families to honor their service and stand by them as the
rebuild their lives.
Operating under the direction of the Office of Military Community
and Family Policy, the operations center will offer personalized
assistance, tailored to meet an individual's unique needs during
recovery and rehabilitation, to include:
- Medical care and rehabilitation
- Education, training and job placement
- Personal mobility and functioning
- Home, transportation and workplace accommodations
- Personal, couple and family issues counseling, and
- Financial resources
As the military services and Veterans Affairs provide support and
assistance, the operations center will track the progress of service
members and their families and ensure they receive seamless support
throughout the process.
In addition to the support provided through the operations center,
ombudsmen will be assigned at or near major military and Veterans
Affairs medical facilities to provide any hands-on assistance with
their transition. These ombudsmen will also be available to the severely
injured and their families as they transition to civilian life by
helping them connect with local agencies and community groups.
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