Critical Literacy Project #1

By Robert McClean

We, who have seen war, will never stop seeing it.

Since October 2001, approximately 1.6 million members of the Armed Forces have served in

Iraq or Afghanistan.

Over 300,000 of them have been identified as having varying degrees of Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder

Over 30,000 have become permanently disabled due to a war related injury.

Many of these Veterans find it difficult to integrate themselves back into society.

Those who now have a physical disability can become frustrated that their body is no

longer able to do what it once did.

For those suffering with PTSD, the wounds are not so obvious. Left untreated, they will begin to feel disconnected from their family,

friends and society.

Whether they suffer from a somatic injury or a mental one, these Veterans are likely to experience depression, become quick to anger and

violence and are at a higher risk to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Veterans are also more likely than the general population to become homeless

and lose contact with their families.

And are twice as likely to commit suicide.

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines come from all walks of life.

These issues our Veterans face are not just specific to one community. They affect all communities across the United States.

In 2003 a group of Veterans who had participated in previous military conflicts saw these issues begin to rise as a new generation

returned from war.

These Veterans, still believing that you never leave a fallen man

behind, decided to reach out and help those returning Veterans who

were in need.

Beginning with small inspired actions, this group formed an

organization that would reach out and tell these heroes, “if you feel like you can’t walk, we are here to

carry you”.

They founded……..

Headquartered in Jacksonville Florida, Wounded Warrior Project has begun expanding across the country, recently opening offices in New York City, Washington DC and San Antonio.

We are able provide aid to Veterans with the help of both monetary contributions, in-kind contributions and our fundraising efforts. 82% of monetary contributions go directly to our Veteran aid programs.

Our MissionTo raise public awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs

Our Values• Fun• Integrity• Loyalty• Innovation• Service

Our Service Model• Advocate • Serve • Support • Unite

• Rehabilitate • Educate • Employ • Empower

And……..Just some of the services we provide

include• Benefits

Counseling• Family Support• Educational

Assistance• Employment

Assistance

Wounded Warrior Project constantly looks at ways we can improve the services we provide our Veterans

There is no single solution that will solve these dilemmas. Finding effective solutions to the various problems requires

that we analyze how and why our Veterans are more likely to become homeless or commit suicide.

By deeply exploring the issues that affect this generations Veterans we can create substantive and innovative solutions.

This allows us to better serve those who have served their country.

How The ShuttleWorth Foundation Can Help

Like the ShuttleWorth Foundation we believe in finding fresh and innovative ideas.

We believe that despite their injuries this generation of Veterans has the ability to change the world for the better.

With the help of the ShuttleWorth Foundation we are looking to fund and expand a unique program that we have developed.

The TRACK Program

• TRACK is a residential college and vocational skills program for wounded warriors. TRACK is unique because the warriors attend classes as a group, with the ability to build new experiences with other wounded warriors. In addition, warriors receive individual academic, career, and health counseling, with extensive goal setting and peak performance training. Upon completion of TRACK, the warriors are prepared to be successful in college, vocational training, or a civilian job search.

• TRACK provides both an educational/vocational and financial foundation for future success in the business world

The TRACK Program• TRACK prepares warriors to succeed when they proceed to a university or

continue to a vocational training program. WWP feels that we must address the overall health and well-being of the warriors and prepare them for success in the classroom. The attention to the Mind, Body and Spirit of each warrior is critical to warrior's success.

• TRACK is the first education center in the nation specifically for wounded warriors with facilities located in Jacksonville, FL and San Antonio, TX. TRACK's one-year program gives warriors a jump-start on meeting educational goals with the full support of the WWP team. TRACK students enter as a team, or cohort, and continue through the program together, offering the ideal environment for students at all ability levels, including those who might not have been successful in traditional educational opportunities in the past.

The TRACK Program• Participants learn to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, while

improving their self image.

• TRACK is an approved Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E). The program pays all class fees, books, and a subsistence allowance.

TRACKS Goals

• To prevent Veterans from turning to drugs, alcohol or suicide by helping them become adept at balancing school and work, while maintaining an active lifestyle and teaching them how to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

• To keep Veterans from becoming homeless by giving them valuable training in a civilian workforce environment.

"I was impressed with the innovation of the TRACK program. With a motivated set of students, and a dedicated staff, these troops have a plan for a quick recovery and reintegration in society. This is the kind of work that VA can and should do with interested groups such as Wounded Warrior Project. I want to emphasize how impressed I was with the total concept." - VA Deputy Secretary Mansfield

“TRACK really concentrates on healing the Veteran holistically. They help you with counseling, physical fitness, physical therapy, college classes, training, etc. You are in classes with other Veterans like you. Your expenses are taken care of and you leave there ready to succeed. I am so excited, I couldn’t ask for more of a blessing.” -Danelea Kelly

TRACKS Progress

• Since opening our first facility in 2008, over 100 students have completed the TRACK Program

• In January of 2011 we opened our second facility with 16 students enrolled.

• Students who completed the TRACK program often found jobs with the companies that they completed externships with while enrolled.

But We Can Do Better

Because we cover all cost’s for students we are forced

to keep our class sizes limited.

With your help we can increase the number of students we are able to

enroll and open additional facilities in other parts of

the country

Our vision, to cultivate the most successful, well-adjusted generation of

wounded warriors in this nations history is possible.

Our Veteran population is rising rapidly and there are many challenges they will

face.

The breadth of these challenges cannot be solved

with one simple solution.

Real solutions to those challenges require looking at it from multiple angles to find the best approach. Every contribution helps us to grow

these programs and generate better ways to help our wounded warriors overcome the challenges that they will face.

Ways to contribute

Volunteer Sponsor Donate

Visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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