Warrior Transition Battalion complex opens

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Warrior Transition Battalion's Company A held its official opening ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson March 2. The WTB's new Warrior Transition Complex was celebrated by members of the battalion and the 673d Medical Wing, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, and various organizations from the local community during a ribbon cutting.
"This is a wonderful example of our Army's commitment to provide the best possible care for our (injured) Soldiers," said Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Palumbo, U.S. Army Alaska commander and native of Windber, Pa. "These are Soldiers who have either been wounded on some battlefield throughout the world, or have otherwise become injured."

The opening of the new complex reaffirms JBER's commitment to providing high-quality facilities, support and assistance for Soldiers, Airmen and their families during their transition.

"This is about much more than a beautiful building," Palumbo said. "This is a place to heal. This organization is the heart and soul of the warrior care that takes place inside these walls. There are three things that will happen here. The first is that they will get fixed and return to their job. If we can't, we're going to find another job for them. If we can't do that, we're going to help them get back into civilian life so that they can get a good job and be a leader in the civilian world. Our country needs those leaders.

"We have 85,000 Soldiers in Afghanistan from the U.S. Army Alaska and sometimes bad things happen. It's nice to have a wonderful place like this with wonderful leaders coming together to help our Soldiers," he said.

The Warrior Transition Complex also serves as a symbol.

"These facilities were dedicated today as a symbol of our commitment to improve the lives of every Soldier who walks through our doors," said Army Lt. Col. Jason Benefield, Warrior Transition Battalion-Alaska commander. "We've had a world class team for a while and now we have a world class facility to match.

"The Soldiers who come to us experienced something that didn't go according to plan," he continued. "When they get here with us, they have a change in mission; to transition to the next phase of their life, whether that is as a Soldier or veteran. Within these walls, they encounter a strong team that helps them execute their new mission. As a battalion, we accomplish our mission when each Soldier leaves here confident enough and equipped for success in the next phase of their life.

In reality we can only set the conditions. It's the Soldiers that do the work to be successful. It is a great honor to see our Soldiers and our entire team move into a facility that will truly contribute to that success."

The facility is dedicated to all services.

"This dedication is about our joint base here and all our services," said Army Col. George Appenzeller, Army Medical Department Activity, Alaska. "It's particularly about the American people's continued commitment to serve those that have sacrificed so much for the rest of us."

During the ceremony, Army Sgt. Ernest Smith, a truck commander who was hit with an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, was presented with a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the line of duty. His hometown is Ferriday, La.

"This facility gives wounded warriors a sense that people still care," Smith said. "It gives people the focus to either return to duty or to get out into the civilian world. There are a lot of good people here. My stay here has been good. I've been put on the track to return back to duty, that's my focus here."

The WTB consists of multiple capabilities.

"This facility is made up of different buildings," said Russell Black, Director of the Soldier and Family Assistance Center and native of Palmer, Alaska. "We have the Soldier and Family Assistance Center. Next door we have the company area, and next to that is that battalion. The building that's set in the back is the barracks area. It's made to accommodate handicapped and our disabled wounded warriors from Afghanistan or Iraq."

The SFAC, like the rest of the WTB, is aimed at all services.

"At the Soldier and Family Assistance Center, we now take care of Air Force, Marines and Navy as well," Black said. "We have a staff of about four and we are associated with about 47 different agencies off post as well.

We do equine therapy, Healing Hearts that takes soldiers and families out hunting or fishing to help get them integrated back into civilian life. We're partnered with the Wounded Warriors Project. We also partner with Project Healing Waters, where volunteers from the community come over and help Soldiers tie flies for fishing. "
Resources like the examples given are available so the SFAC can meet patient needs.
"We find out the needs of the Soldier, go out and find the resource and bring that resource here for them," he said. "That way we're a one-stop shop. Our mission is that we provide tailor integrated services for Soldiers and family members."

For veterans transitioning to civilian life, one of the resources offered is on the job experience.

"The Department of Defense allows our Soldiers to work downtown with federal agencies for on the job experience before they separate to give them a running start towards civilian employment," said Mark Avery, Warrior Transition Battalion transition coordinator and native to Belton, Mo. "Besides having the military leadership, we have doctors, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, all designed to help a Soldier get well and rejoin his unit. If rejoining his unit is not possible, we want to ensure that the Soldier has as much assistance as possible to make that transition to veteran status."

Regardless whether the service members are able to return to duty or end up joining the civilian world, the Warrior Transition Battalion is there to help.

"We improve the lives of everyone that comes through here," said Army Capt. Mitchell Casteel, Alpha Company commander and native of Jackson, Mo.