For many individuals across the Department of Defense, caring for wounded, ill, and injured service members, families, and those who support them is a year-round mission. However, November is an especially important time for all of us to reflect on how best to provide exceptional care and support for those who have sacrificed for our Nation.
In 2008, Robert Gates, then-secretary of defense, established November as “Warrior Care Month” to raise awareness of programs and resources for our wounded, ill, and injured service members. Today, nearly a decade later, Secretary of Defense Mattis said that there is
Warrior Care Month remains a highly visible, Department-wide opportunity to educate military and civilian audiences of the programs and resources to aid wounded, ill, and injured service members – as well as their families, caregivers, and others who support them – through recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration back to duty or transition into the community.
This November, take the initiative to become more informed about and share warrior care resources; explore new ways to exhibit your own strength by helping our wounded, ill, and injured service members, families, and caregivers realize their own potential. Make a pledge this November to start conversations in your own communities to inspire year-round actions to support warrior care priorities today and tomorrow.
Notable Warrior Care events occurring throughout the month of November include:
- Warrior Care Twitter Chat: 10-Year Anniversary of the DoD/Department of Veterans Affairs’ Integrated Disability Evaluation System (November 8, 1200-1300 EDT; on Twitter Twitter.com/WarriorCare). Follow the conversation with the #DESTalks hashtag.
- “A Day of Healing Arts: From Clinic to Community” event hosted by the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and Warrior Care, showcasing healing arts and art therapy programs (November 16, 1000-1500 EDT; Sunset Room, National Harbor, Maryland).
- Warrior Care Facebook Town Hall highlighting support for caregivers and families of wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans (November 29; 1400-1500 EDT; on Facebook Facebook.com/WarriorCare).
- Various Air Force Wounded Warrior Program “CARE” (Caregiver Support, Adaptive Rehabilitative Sports, Recovering Airman Mentorship Program, Employment Readiness) events, featuring:
- CARE Fair to connect wounded, ill, and injured with viable programs to aid with recovery and rehabilitation
- Sitting Volleyball Competition
- Wheelchair Rugby Competition
- Wheelchair Basketball Competition
- A Wounded, Ill, and Injured Recovery Care Coordinator Learning Course
For more information regarding military department and Special Operations Command warrior care program events and resources, visit:
Be sure to check out DoD's Warrior Care Month Special Report and follow @WarriorCare on Twitter and Facebook for live updates throughout November. Tune into the #ShowofStrength, #WarriorCare, and #WarriorCareMonth hashtags to track online conversations.