Since the beginning of the global war on terrorism, thousands of service men and women have been wounded and seriously disabled while serving our country. Unfortunately, the military and civilian communities to which these wounded warriors return are often not adequately prepared with the resources and practical knowledge to help facilitate their re-acclimation to their communities and, ultimately, to the workforce.

VetConnect, is designed to enhance existing rehabilitation programs for wounded veterans and to actively engage local civic, business, and community leaders in the reorientation of wounded warriors to their communities. VetConnect supports the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the many private organizations that address the needs of wounded warriors through the operation of programs that help them adapt everyday routines to their disability, enable them to further their education or vocational training, and, in some cases, help them secure jobs with government and private employers. The first VetConnect initiative, EnabledYoga, was launched in 2006 for patients and staff at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. From the bedside to the mat, wounded warriors and their family members have the opportunity to learn and practice self-healing yoga techniques. These personalized yoga sessions are designed to embrace the confidence and self-esteem of wounded warriors, enabling them to reconnect with their bodies and the world around them. EnabledYoga is funded in part by a grant from Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust (www.dav.org).

USSOCOM Care Coalition Recovery Pilot Program

In March 2007, after a competitive bidding process, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) awarded Enable America a contract to design, develop, and implement the USSOCOM Care Coalition Recovery Pilot Program. The objective of the Pilot Program is to improve the recovery outcome of Special Operations Forces (SOF) wounded warriors through the early introduction of casualty mentors and wellness activities designed to boost the wounded warrior’s confidence and self esteem. In addition to coordinating the mentoring and wellness programs, Enable America will engage in community outreach activities and resource network development designed to provide SOF wounded warriors with access to employment opportunities and a solid foundation for their reintegration into the community. Enable America will support the Pilot Program at the following locations: Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, DC); Brooke Army Medical Center (Fort Sam Houston, TX); Naval Medical Center San Diego (San Diego, CA); and Veterans’ Affairs Hospitals in Tampa, Florida; Richmond, Virginia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Palo Alto, California.

In executing the contract, Enable America will work closely with the USSOCOM Care Coalition, whose vision is to support SOF wounded warriors and their families for life. The USSOCOM Care Coalition strengthens the readiness of Special Operations by advocating for SOF wounded warriors, supporting SOF component family programs, and partnering with both government and non-government organizations to ensure existing support and benefits are provided to SOF wounded warriors who have led the fight on the Global War on Terrorism.

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