Page 29 - January Febuary 2016 Issue
P. 29
Wounded Warriors as Army Professional and Tension Between Selless Service and Self-Interest
like the Army does not trust him to take care of According to the Army IG, WTU cadre
himself. reported that injured soldiers enter the
WTU motivated to return to duty but after
As a WTU wounded warrior, Captain B is a few weeks in the system, they started to
required to participate in Career and Education try to prolong their stay and maximize their
Readiness activities and incorporate them beneits. Consider the case of Social Security
45
into his CTP. Committed to selless service, Disability. A wounded warrior in an online
Captain B wants to use his remaining time in forum posted “OH OH OH!! The number
the WTU to serve his community. Based on the one reason to go to a WTU, is, you are able
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, the to apply for Social Security while on active
CTP seeks to increase physical and emotional duty. But, in a regular unit you can’t. So, that
resilience to facilitate wounded warrior’s is my big reason right there.” As a soldier
46
recovery and transition. The CTP also at a military treatment facility, Corporal C
42
incorporates a career component, but it is based likely qualiies for Social Security Disability
on an occupational model. 43 because he is not performing what the Social
Security Administration considers substantial
While pragmatic, the process suggests that work, the Military Occupational Specialty for
outside of the military, his expertise translates which he was trained. The military job he is
47
to skills and his professional practice is reduced being paid to do, healing and transitioning, is
to an occupation. Volunteer activities are work not considered substantial work and entitles
internships rather than service opportunities. him to disability compensation.
The internships are intended to help Captain
B ind a civilian occupation, rather than foster As a patient in the medical system, Corporal
a life-long commitment to selless service as a C’s point and place of duty is his medical
non-practicing Army professional. appointments. As a wounded warrior,
48
Corporal C has “the right to step to the head
Corporal C is a paratrooper with the 82nd of the line ahead of other military patients and
Airborne. He joined the WTU at Walter Reed veterans at the pharmacy, the various clinics,
after a training accident. Like 95% of the and in (physical therapy).” Messinger
49
current WTU population, he is not a combat observed that “patients recognize that this
casualty. He broke his leg and injured his back priority status has engendered a sense of
44
but doctors are optimistic about his recovery. entitlement for them, and they are wary of
He is expected to be able to make a full what will happen as they return to the duty
recovery and return to full duty. stations or transition to (the VA).” According
50
With the end of the wars, he is planning on to Messinger “one patient mentioned that he
separating from the Army after his End of is acutely aware that as he steps in front of a
Active Service this year. disabled veterans from past wars to receive a
service that he is entitled to at Walter Reed,
As a wounded warrior in the WTU, Corporal the day will come when someone steps in
C is eligible for beneits and compensation he front of him.” For Corporal C, being an
51
would lose when he returns to full duty. obedient soldier and attending his medical
29
like the Army does not trust him to take care of According to the Army IG, WTU cadre
himself. reported that injured soldiers enter the
WTU motivated to return to duty but after
As a WTU wounded warrior, Captain B is a few weeks in the system, they started to
required to participate in Career and Education try to prolong their stay and maximize their
Readiness activities and incorporate them beneits. Consider the case of Social Security
45
into his CTP. Committed to selless service, Disability. A wounded warrior in an online
Captain B wants to use his remaining time in forum posted “OH OH OH!! The number
the WTU to serve his community. Based on the one reason to go to a WTU, is, you are able
Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, the to apply for Social Security while on active
CTP seeks to increase physical and emotional duty. But, in a regular unit you can’t. So, that
resilience to facilitate wounded warrior’s is my big reason right there.” As a soldier
46
recovery and transition. The CTP also at a military treatment facility, Corporal C
42
incorporates a career component, but it is based likely qualiies for Social Security Disability
on an occupational model. 43 because he is not performing what the Social
Security Administration considers substantial
While pragmatic, the process suggests that work, the Military Occupational Specialty for
outside of the military, his expertise translates which he was trained. The military job he is
47
to skills and his professional practice is reduced being paid to do, healing and transitioning, is
to an occupation. Volunteer activities are work not considered substantial work and entitles
internships rather than service opportunities. him to disability compensation.
The internships are intended to help Captain
B ind a civilian occupation, rather than foster As a patient in the medical system, Corporal
a life-long commitment to selless service as a C’s point and place of duty is his medical
non-practicing Army professional. appointments. As a wounded warrior,
48
Corporal C has “the right to step to the head
Corporal C is a paratrooper with the 82nd of the line ahead of other military patients and
Airborne. He joined the WTU at Walter Reed veterans at the pharmacy, the various clinics,
after a training accident. Like 95% of the and in (physical therapy).” Messinger
49
current WTU population, he is not a combat observed that “patients recognize that this
casualty. He broke his leg and injured his back priority status has engendered a sense of
44
but doctors are optimistic about his recovery. entitlement for them, and they are wary of
He is expected to be able to make a full what will happen as they return to the duty
recovery and return to full duty. stations or transition to (the VA).” According
50
With the end of the wars, he is planning on to Messinger “one patient mentioned that he
separating from the Army after his End of is acutely aware that as he steps in front of a
Active Service this year. disabled veterans from past wars to receive a
service that he is entitled to at Walter Reed,
As a wounded warrior in the WTU, Corporal the day will come when someone steps in
C is eligible for beneits and compensation he front of him.” For Corporal C, being an
51
would lose when he returns to full duty. obedient soldier and attending his medical
29
