>>Our Hero Handbook
Our Hero Handbook is a comprehensive guide to help Servicemembers and their families understand what happens when a Servicemember is injured. The guide covers DoD procedures regarding notification, travel, and medical care and includes extensive information on military medical facilities. The guide also has a list of government agencies and private organizations that provide assistance and support to wounded Soldiers and their families. Some further resources are listed below:
>>American Red Cross
The American Red Cross provides services ranging from emergency communications, access to financial assistance, counseling, and assistance to veterans.
>>America Supports You
America Supports You is a Department of Defense program to highlight the efforts of American citizens to support Servicemembers, veterans and their families. The website also has an extensive list of organizations that can provide assistance to military families.
>>Army Emergency Relief
AER is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to "Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own".
>>Army Wounded Warrior Program
The Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) the Army's severely disabled Soldiers and their families with a system of advocacy and follow-up with personal support to assist them as they transition from military service to the civilian community.
>>Army Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline
The Army has established a hotline for injured Soldiers and their family members facing problems associated with medical care. The Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline can be reached at 1-800-984-8523 24 hours per day, 7 days per week .
>>Aid for Wounded Soldiers
Aid for Wounded Soldiers is a non-profit project that provides comfort and relief items for soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines sick, injured or wounded from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Specific items requested by Military Medical Centers, VA Medical Centers and Fisher House rehabilitation facilities are purchased and donated each week.
>>The Blewitt Foundation
The Blewitt Foundation provides recreational activities and retreats for military families, with a focus on children, who are suffering loss.
>>Career Center for the Military Severely Injured Center
Military.com, in partnership with the DoD Offers a career search and resume building tips for injured veterans seeking work in the corporate and federal sectors. The Military Severely Injured Center offers 24/7 support at 1-888-774-1361.
>>Caring Bridge
A free service for military families that helps them keep family and friends up to date through personalized web pages.
>>Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
Provides financial aid, career assistance, and handicapped- accessible homes for wounded vets and their families.
>>Combat Related Special Compensation
Information about a compensation program for disabled military retirees administered by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.
>>Comfort for America's Uniformed Services (CAUSE)
CAUSE organizes recreational and entertainement programs for members of the US Armed Forces recuperating from injuries suffered in Iraq, Afghanistan and other military theaters.
>>The Coming Home Project
Offers healing workshops and retreats for Iraq-era veterans and their families
>>Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
The mission of the DVBIC is to serve active duty military, their dependents and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through state-of-the-art medical care, innovative clinical research initiatives and educational programs.
>>Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The VA is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the interests of veterans and their family members. Some of its programs and offices include:
>>DisabilityInfo.gov (Federal and State Resources for Individuals with Disabilites)
This website is a collaborative effort between 22 federal agencies to provide a one-stop information and referral service for individuals with disabilities. The website has also has state map feature to make it easier to find disability-related information in your community. To browse through state information, just select one of the nine subject tabs — benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology or transportation — at the top of any DisabilityInfo.gov page. Then click on the State and Local Resources map on the right-hand side bar to find information on that subject in your state.
>>The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is open to all uniformed service members that are disabled veterans of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The bootcamp consists of training courses for entrepreneurship and small business ownership. Applications must be submitted for acceptance into the program.
>>Fallen Patriot Fund
The Fallen Patriot Fund was established to provide support to the spouses and children of U.S. military personnel who were killed or seriously injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
>>Fisher House Foundation
The Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of 32 comfort homes on the grounds of military and VA major medical centers to support families of patients receiving care at the nearby medical center.
>>Heroes to Hometowns & The Project for Financial Independence
Free financial planning services for severely-injured Servicemembers.
>>Homes For Our Troops
The website of a nonprofit organization building specially designed and adapted homes for disabled veterans.
>>Iraq Star
A Los Angeles based organization run by medical professionals to provide cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to injured Servicemembers.
>>Jets for Vets
Jets for Vets provides airplane seats to injured Servicemembers as well as their family and friends.
>>Lakeshore Foundation Lima Foxtrot Program for Injured Military Personnel
Lima Foxtrot Program was established to allow injured military personnel to maintain an active lifestyle through recreation, fitness and sport.
>>Legal Assistance for Injured Servicemembers
Disabled American Veterans, in partnership with three national law firms, provides legal assistance to Servicemembers navigating the medical disability review board process at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
>>Medical Holdover Soldier's Handbook
A handbook for Reserve Component Soldiers on the Medical Holdover Program.
>>Medicare: Caregiver Information
This site provides information to caregivers on navigating medicare, care options, billing information and resources to assist caregivers.
>>Military OneSource 1-800-342-9647
Military OneSource is a “one stop shop” for information in all aspects of military life. In addition to the comprehensive information available on line, there are 24 hour a day seven day a week (24/7) representatives available at the 800 number provided above.
>>NACCRRA Child Care Programs
NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, assists the families of severely injured Servicemembers in finding and paying for licensed child care services for six months during their period of recuperation. For more information call 1-800-342-9647.
>>The National Amputation Foundation
The National Amputation Foundation has programs and services geared to help the amputee and other disabled people.
>>Operation Hero Miles
Operation Hero Miles takes donations of unused frequent flier miles to help soldiers travel on emergency leave. They can also be used to help families fly to hospitalized soldiers.
>>Operation Life Transformed (OLT)
OLT provides career training for the spouses and caregivers of injured troops.
>>Operation Mend
Operation Mend is a unique partnership between Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and the Veterans Administration of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Operation Mend has been established to help treat U.S. military personnel wounded during service in Iraq and Afghanistan through medical treatments.
>>Operation Second Chance
Supports Servicemembers during recovery, aids in modifying housing for veterans with disabilities, assists the families and facilitates the transition back to duty or civilian life.
>>Operation Family Fund
Provides financial grants for those injured or killed and their families as part of the Global War on Terrorism, whether domestic or abroad, military or civilian. Assistance is available for food, mortgage/rent, utilities, emergency transportation, vehicle repair, funeral, legal, medical/dental exspenses and more.
>>Operation First Response
Offers financial assistance to wounded Servicemembers for rent/mortgage payments, utilities, vehicle payments and repairs, food, clothing, transportation and personal items.
>>Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront can provide financial assistance to military families in need as well as help with emeregncy household and vehicle repairs.
>>Project Valour-IT
Project Valour-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Servicemembers recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Visit the website to learn how to make a donation or request a laptop.
>>Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation
Provides four year “life scholarships” to wounded Servicemembers to help them settle back into civilian life.
>>Silver Star Families
Founded in 2005, the Silver Star Family of America provides information, support, education, and advocacy to injured Servicemembers and their families.
>>Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists (SOFAR)
SOFAR is a pro-bono program run by mental health professionals to provide support and counseling and educational services to the families of National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.
>> The Purple Heart Project
The Purple Heart Project provides free "life coaching" to wounded warriors -- those servicemembers who have been injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
>>The Wounded Warrior Project
The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization that offers support to injured Servicemembers by raising public awareness of their needs and providing direct assistance. WWP also runs a sports project for injured veterans.
>>Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)
TSGLI helps severely injured Soldiers with a one-time payment to help offset financial difficulties in the initial period after the injury occurred.
>>United Spinal Association
United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the lives of all individuals with spinal cord injury or disease by ensuring quality health care, promoting research, advocating for civil rights and independence, educating the public about these issues, and enlisting its help to achieve these fundamental goals.
>>Unmet Needs
VFW sponsored program to help military families with financial hardship. Apply online or download application from this website.
>>USA Cares
USA Cares is dedicated to helping service members and their families with quality of life issues using grants, counseling and mentorship. Requests for financial assistance can be done online.
>>US Government Disability Information
The federal government's one-stop website for people with disabilities, their families, employers, and veterans.
>>US Government Benefits
GovBenefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government and provides information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs.
>>Veterans and Families Coming Home
Veterans and Families Coming Home is a non-profit organization founded by veterans, community members and military families and seeks to make the transition easier for Soldiers and their families and build healthy relationships upon their return.
>>Veterans Airlift Command
The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. Veterans of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) is VAC's top priority. As capacity allows, their mission will expand to serve veterans of other conflicts.
Veterans Organizations
Veterans organizations play a vital role in advising, supporting and advocating for injured and disabled Servicemembers and their families.
- The American Legion
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization.Provides free, professional assistance for any veteran or veteran’s survivor to file and pursue claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs; assists deployed service members’ families with practical and emotional support; and offers temporary financial assistance to help families meet their children’s needs.
- AMVETS
As one of America’s foremost veteran’s service organizations, AMVETS (or American Veterans) assists veterans and their families.
- Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)
The Blinded Veterans Association, an organization specifically established to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. BVA is here to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness.
- Disabled Veterans of America (DVA)
Disabled Veterans of America provides a variety of free services to veterans and service members and their families. Services of interest include a review of the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) review, representation before a Personnel Evaluation Board (PEB), and submission of claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs for disability compensation, as well as rehabilitation and other benefit programs.
- Non-Commissioned Officers Association
The Non Commissioned Officers Association has established a worldwide network of trained Veteran Service Officer (VSOs) to provide assistance to members of all components of the Uniform Services, military retirees, veterans and their families.
- The Military Order of the Purple Heart
The Military Order of the Purple Heart provides support and services to all veterans and their families. This web site includes information on VA benefits assistance, issues affecting veterans today, and links to other key web sites for veterans.
- Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
The PVA has a wide range of expertise in representing veterans with severe injuries, especially spinal cord dysfunction.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
The VFW has more than 100 trained service officers to assist any veteran, or their dependents, obtain federal or state entitlements.
>>Wall Street Warfighters
WSWF provides career training for disabled veterans who want to enter the financial services industry. The purpose of the program is to facilitate rewarding career opportunities for disabled veterans who have made great sacrfice.
>>Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation
Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation provided additional funding to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) families caring for loved ones at medical facilities. The funding can include plane tickets, childcare and monthly rent payments.
>>Wounded Heroes Foundation
Assists severely injured Servicemembers with physical, emotional and financial support, such as paying a missing mortgage payment, building or remodeling homes, purchasing a handicap accessible van and more.
>>Wounded Warrior MilAir Initiative/ Air Mobility Command
As of March 2007, military personnel on active duty who have been injured in a combat zone and are currently receiving treatment at a medical treatment facility will be offered excess seats on any DoD aircraft in the continental United States supporting DoD senior officials.
>>Wounded Artist Project
The Wounded Artist Project creates and provides, free-of-charge art kits (beginner, intermediate and advanced) for war wounded recovering in military hospitals.
>>Wounded Warrior Project (associated with United Spinal Association)
1-540-342-0032
Email: info@woundedwarriorproject.org
The WWP provides programs and services designed to ease the burdens of the wounded and their families, aid in the recovery process, and smooth their transition back to civilian life.
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Yellow Ribbon FundYellow Ribbon Fund assists injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center by offering free car rentals, cab vouchers, hotel rooms, apartments, job mentoring and internship programs and free tickets to cultural and sporting events