CMSAF Perspective: Wounded Warriors

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Rodney J. McKinley
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Our American warriors sacrifice much in service to our great country. Our wounded warriors and their families sacrifice even more. As a nation, we made a pledge to our servicemembers - you take care of us and we will take care of you. It is our solemn duty to keep this promise.

The Air Force keeps the promise by providing the very best medical care available, at the nearest place to the point of injury. Our medical professionals are on the ground at forward bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the globe. Once wounded warriors reach these treatment facilities, they have a 97 percent chance of surviving - the highest survival rate in the history of warfare.

A unique and vital capability the Air Force provides to the joint fight and our wounded warriors is aeromedical evacuation. Our immediate medical treatment record, coupled with our ability to move patients to extended treatment locations in theater and Europe and then to the continental U.S. within days, hours if required, is phenomenal. Since 2001, our aeromedical system has treated and transferred over 54,720 patients from the battlefield to medical facilities outside the war zone.

In our Air Force, we continue caring for our Airman and their families care through the Air Force Warrior and Survivor Care Program. This program follows our Airmen and their families through treatment, recovery, and if needed, into a post-separation period. For Airmen who move to civilian status, the program continues for a minimum of five years, or as long as the families need, assisting with extended transition assistance, employment applications, civilian job searches, financial planning and assistance, relocation and integration back into civilian communities.
Another often overlooked group of our returning heroes suffer the less visible signs of war. Many of our great Airmen are suffering from traumatic brain injury, and even more suffer the effects of post traumatic stress. These warriors need our understanding and attention. They need appropriate guidance and support from their leadership, peers and medical professionals to obtain the best treatment possible. We remain committed to these heroes and their families - their pain is our pain.

The families of our wounded Airmen sacrifice too. I have seen them pick up and leave at a moments notice to rush to the side of their hero to be the first person their loved one sees or hears when they wake up. These spouses, children, parents and siblings - the bedrocks of our service - sleep sitting up, living in hospitals sometime for days and weeks, to give the strength and love only a family member is able to provide. We must never forget the sacrifices of these families, and we must continue to support them in any way possible. Some of our wounded warriors are no longer employable, so it's important we care for the whole family, to include job assistance for spouses who may have to shoulder the financial burden of sustaining the household.

Our nation remains resolved to care for our wounded warriors and their families - our Air Force stands on the front lines to make sure the care happens.