Wounded Warrior workshop scheduled on UHCL campus
JAUMARRO CUFFEE
THE SIGNAL
There are an estimated 22 million U.S. military veterans. Veterans who have been exposed to combat during their service carry with them scars both seen and unseen. Their fight continues.
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is one of many efforts organized to help veterans with their fight to transition into what is often described as a “new norm.”
WWP is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 by U.S. Marine veteran John Melia. Melia, himself a wounded warrior, sustained injuries in a helicopter crash off the coast of Somalia.
Because of his experience, he noticed there were areas where assistance to wounded military members could be improved. When he saw injured troops returning during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he set out to begin addressing the needs of this new generation of warriors while they were still being treated instead of after their release from the military.
Melia invited his father John F. Melia, brother Jim Melia, U.S. Marine veteran Al Giordano and lawyer Steven Nardizzi who worked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims and is now the executive director for WWP, to join him in an endeavor to serve injured military members.
They began by distributing backpacks containing toiletries, socks, T-shirts, playing cards, and other comfort and recreational items. Today, WWP provides a wide range of recovery services for post 9/11 veterans and their families.
John Roberts, executive vice president of Wounded Warrior relations, describes the nearly 20 WWP programs as taking a holistic approach to helping veterans succeed. The programs take a four-prong approach to overcoming the effects of combat. Activity categories include Engagement, Mind, Body and Economic Empowerment.
“Programs available revolve around mental health, physical health, economic empowerment – jobs and education and engagement – getting them around other wounded warriors,” Roberts said.
Combat Stress, Family Support, Peer Mentoring and Physical Health & Wellness are programs WWP designed for physical and psychological injuries. Additionally, WWP has economic empowerment programs to focus on veterans’ successful transition into the workforce and academic environments, and programs to keep veterans connected and informed.
Some veterans are able to participate in the 12-month, in-residence, immersive TRACK program. In this program, veterans participate in academic instruction, performance training and externships.
Not all veterans are able to relocate to Jacksonville, Florida, or San Antonio, Texas, for the TRACK program. WWP’s Campus Services is available to assist student veterans by partnering with vocational programs, colleges and universities nationwide to address combat stress, accessibility and other obstacles veterans may encounter in a campus setting.
“Our goal here is to see that they are successful in their educational endeavors,” Roberts said.
Trisha Ruiz, coordinator for the Office of Veterans Services at UHCL and an Army veteran, recognizes the challenges veterans face when coming into a university environment. Ruiz helps others understand that a veteran’s background differs greatly from the backgrounds of his or her college peers.
Ruiz also explains how an academic community may not understand some of the learned habits that have served veterans in active duty when veterans employ those habits to remain alert and focused in a classroom setting.
A Working With Wounded Warriors Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26. The workshop is designed to help UHCL faculty and staff better understand the breadth of challenges faced by student veterans.
“Wounded Warrior Project participated in UHCL’s First Annual Veterans Resource Fair,” Ruiz said. “Not only did they attend, they generously purchased lunch for everyone in attendance.”
Roberts acknowledges that most veterans hear about WWP through word of mouth or by seeing one of their commercials.
“If they are struggling it is OK to ask for help,” Roberts said. “It takes a very strong person to ask for help.”
Any veteran who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and whose illness or injury resulted from his or her service can go to www.woundedwarriorproject.org to register as part of WWP Alumni Program.
Alumni Program members are eligible to participate in WWP programs and events, receive various discounts, and become part of the WWP online community. Family members can also register for the Family Support Program.
Roberts says that when veterans register they will receive a monthly email about events in the Houston area. One new event coming to Houston in May is the Soldier Ride.
The Soldier Ride is described as a cycling event uniting veterans who ride together during a three-day event. A combination of standard and adaptive bicycles is used to accommodate various levels of ability. Soldier Ride, like other WWP programs, is free of charge to the participating veterans.
“Anything they do with warriors is free,” Roberts said.
WWP is largely funded by contributions and fundraisers. The organization makes financial information, including IRS Form 990, publicly available on its website. The UHCL community can help WWP and UHCL veterans by contributing, organizing fundraisers or volunteering.
“Volunteer with local organizations to show that UHCL supports all veterans in the community,” Ruiz said. “Support our UHCL SVA chapter.”
Ruiz speaks passionately about helping UHCL veteran students achieve their goals. Roberts echoes the same sentiment for WWP.
For more information on Wounded Warrior Project, call the Houston office at 832-536-3098, visit the office at 2200 Space Park Dr., Suite 100, or contact the UHCL Office of Veteran Services.
