RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 3121244-UUUU--RUCRNAV
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R 081244Z NOV 13 PSN 276014K20
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
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INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
CMC WASHINGTON DC
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ALNAV 077/13

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/NOV//

SUBJ/WARRIOR CARE MONTH//

RMKS/1.  Providing assistance to seriously wounded, ill and injured service 
members and their families is a top priority for the Navy.  We take care of 
our own - including active-duty, reserve, and veteran Sailors and Marines - 
through programs such as Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor; the Marine Corps 
Wounded Warrior Regiment; the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Wounded, Ill, 
and Injured Warrior Program; and the Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support 
Initiative.  To further honor our commitment to wounded warriors and their 
families - while also raising awareness of available support programs - I 
have designated November 2013 as the Department of the Navy's Warrior Care 
Month.  

2.  Warrior Care Month is a Navy and Marine Corps-wide effort to host events 
and share information about wounded warrior support programs and commands 
among service members and their families, as well as government and non-
government partners and the American public.  Warrior Care Month also is a 
time to spotlight the many achievements and contributions of wounded 
warriors, and to recognize the support provided by their families and other 
caregivers.  This year's theme is "Warrior Care - Building a Ready and 
Resilient Force."

3.  Throughout the month, the Navy will emphasize the importance of warrior 
care and how it contributes to a "ready and resilient force."  The Navy is 
committed to the welfare of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and 
Marines - at bedside, during rehabilitation, and throughout their transition 
back to active duty or to civilian life with the support of the Department of 
Veteran Affairs.  Military treatment facilities are providing expert 
restorative and rehabilitative care for wounded warriors on the battlefield 
and beyond.  Wounded warrior support programs address their non-medical 
needs, allowing wounded warriors and their families to focus on recovery 
without distractions.

4.  Promoting resiliency ensures that wounded warriors can cope with 
adversity - on the front lines or at home.  Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe 
Harbor and the Wounded Warrior Regiment are part of an extensive catalog of 
Navy programs that enhance the mental, physical, and emotional health of 
service members.  They provide the gold standard of non-medical care to 
wounded warriors and their families, offering resources that promote healing 
and opportunities for success both within and beyond military service.

5.  Families and caregivers are a critical source of support for wounded 
warriors enduring the physical and emotional challenges that accompany 
recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration.  The Navy connects them with 
critical resources to make their jobs as caregivers more manageable and 
encourage resiliency.  These resources include the Special Compensation for 
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) program, Families 
Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS), Navy Child and Youth Programs, and Military 
One Source.

6.  Adaptive reconditioning promotes health and wellness, and it is critical 
to the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of wounded warriors.  This 
month, select wounded warriors will compete in a joint-service seated 
volleyball competition at the Pentagon Athletic Center, providing an 
opportunity to remain active and to make valuable connections with other 
wounded warriors.

7.  Our commitment to seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and 
Marines, as well as their families and caregivers, is unwavering.  I 
encourage all Navy personnel to take an opportunity during Warrior Care Month 
to join me in expressing heartfelt gratitude and support.

8.  For more information about Warrior Care Month activities or about wounded 
warrior programs, Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor can be contacted toll-
free via 1-855-NAVY WWP (628-9997) or at safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil; 
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment can be contacted toll-free via the 
Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior call center at 1-877-487-6922 or at 
woundedwarriorregiment.org; the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Wounded, Ill, 
and Injured Warrior Support can be contacted via 202-781-5272 or at 
nssc_wwarriorhiring@navy.mil.

9.  Released by Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy.//

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