JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The Air Force Wounded Warrior, or AFW2, program is instrumental in connecting seriously wounded, ill and injured service members to programs and people who can best help them manage the ravages of war and service. Their programs require not only a skilled team of professionals but the coordinated support of the Air Force Services Activity to ensure the AFW2 Adaptive Sports program across the nation is supplied and supported to best help members in need.
AFW2 coordinates personalized support for the Air Force's wounded, ill and injured service members, caregivers and their families by ensuring accessibility and minimal delays in gaps of medical and non-medical support and services. AFW2 also helps service members transition back to duty or civilian life, and their families so they can manage challenges as a result of a loved one’s injury or illness.
“Services and AFW2 have a great relationship working together to serve our Warriors,” said Marsha Gonzales, branch chief, Warrior Care Support. “(This particular program) transitioned from the Air Force Services Activity, also known as AFSVA, to AFW2 in January 2013, integrating a program that facilitates restoring wellness and function with its intended population. In January of 2013, AFW2 hosted its first introduction to adaptive sports camp, quadrupling historical camp attendance!”
“AFSVA has always played a vital role in the success of the adaptive sports program,” said Juan Jasso, AFW2 adaptive sports program manager. “Without their support, the program simply can't execute its mission.”
Supporting wounded warriors is more than just work for Richard Jones, chief of the Commander’s Smart Buy Program Branch under the AFSVA Directorate of Nonappropriated Funds Purchasing.
“It's very important as a veteran, myself, feeling very close to the military, to support our Wounded Warriors,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to be able to support them. It's a worthwhile program and it's nice to be a part of that.”
Jones also believes the men and women who support AFW2 are good for America’s service members.
“They're very dedicated to the program,” he said. “It's good we can do this for our service members and veterans. It improves camaraderie and their overall outlook on life. It keeps them active.”
Support from services personnel like Jones has a lasting impact in AFW2’s ability to create a difference in Airmen’s lives.
“Overall, our program services have made a very positive impact and difference in our warriors’ recovery, rehabilitation and overall quality of life,” said Jasso. “Daily we hear warrior, caregiver and family testimonials of how a relationship with AFW2 has aided them during delicate times in their lives, providing support and encouragement during some of life's toughest decisions, career vs. transition, amputation vs. another painful surgery, family vs. isolation, and even life vs. death.”
AFW2 currently serves over 4,800 wounded service members, a number which grows every day. For members who engage with the program – voluntarily or by referral – it has been shown to reduce their risk of homelessness, incarceration, suicide and other major life issues. The relationship between AFW2 and the wounded warrior population has increased the chances of a focused recovery, provided a consistent link to needed support services and accurate information members need, ensured members received entitlements and benefits, and provided a life-long connection with the Air Force.
In order to continue that support of wounded warriors, Jasso said a strong relationship with AFSVA is vital.
“We have tools in place to ensure we can expeditiously execute this mission across the Air Force, and having people like (AFSVA), executing the operational pieces to make it work, ensures overall success for the program, warriors, caregivers and their families,” said Jasso.
Gonzales agreed.
“We can't express the importance of ensuring we maintain the working relationships that we have and the current level of support that we receive from AFSVA,” she said. “I would personally like to say that we consider (AFSVA’s) Alison Reid, Rich Jones and Tony Alcala as key players on our team. Without their continued dedicated, behind-the-scenes support, this program wouldn't be where it is today.”
Support like that helps Gonzales continue to see real change in people’s lives.
“The best part is seeing the transformation, healing, and recovery that happen during these (AFW2) events,” she said. “Imagine seeing recovering service members who have been isolated by their injury, or illness or recent amputation, completely change their lives through sport and in just a few short months go from looking at what they can't do to standing on the competition line, then winning a gold, silver or bronze medal. The medal doesn't represent the win; to me it represents the recovery. I truly feel like the luckiest person in the Air Force to have this job!”