Our mission is to proactively support wounded, ill, and injured service members in their recovery and reintegration or transition to civilian life. To achieve this, we focus on our vision to ensure the nation’s wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and caregivers are not forgotten.
The Disability Evaluation System:
The Disability Evaluation System (DES) combines the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability processes and allows the Departments to simultaneously complete the disability determinations of seriously ill or injured service members before they separate from military service. The DES allows both Departments to provide disability benefits for separating service members at the earliest point allowed under law. Learn more
Recovery Coordination Program:
The Recovery Coordination Program (RCP) provides Recovery Care Coordinators to ensure wounded, ill, and injured service members receive the non-medical support they need to create the life they want. Coordinators assist in the development of a comprehensive plan for service members to identify needs, goals, and resources required to succeed. Learn more
Military Caregiver Support:
DOD provides resources and information exclusively for military caregivers who assist wounded, ill, and injured service members with activities of daily living. Since 2013, DOD’s support for military caregivers has positively impacted thousands of lives by addressing key issues that affect caregivers in the short and long term. These issues often include finances, education, employment, transportation, maintaining a strong family, keeping mentally and physically healthy, navigating through legal issues, and housing. Learn more
Education and Employment Initiative:
The Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) is a collaborative effort, led by DOD with support from Federal agencies and non-federal entities, to assist wounded, ill, and injured service members with improving their career readiness by identifying skills and abilities to help facilitate transition to a productive and successful post-military service future. Learn more
Operation Warfighter:
Operation Warfighter (OWF) is a DOD internship program that provides opportunities for wounded, ill, and injured service members to participate in internships with federal agencies during their rehabilitation process. These federal internships allow wounded, ill, and injured service members to expand their knowledge, skills, and abilities in preparation for transition to the civilian workforce or reintegration to military service. Learn more
Military Adaptive Sports Program:
The Military Adaptive Sports Program (MASP) provides opportunities for all wounded, ill, and injured service members to participate in adaptive sports and reconditioning activities. Adaptive sports and reconditioning activities are an essential way of understanding what each wounded, ill, and injured service member is able to achieve—focusing on levels of ability rather than disability. Learn more
National Resource Directory:
The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a website providing access to tens of thousands of services and resources at the federal, state, and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation, and community integration for service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and their families. Resources range from homeless assistance to benefits and compensation to volunteer opportunities. Learn more
To download fact sheets about our programs and resources, please visit our Reference Center.
To learn more about the wounded, ill, and injured programs for each military service, please visit them here.
For more information about our resources, contact us at osd.warriorcare@mail.mil.