The transition from active duty to civilian life doesn’t begin when a wounded U.S. servicemember arrives home after leaving the military. It starts before the servicemember even checks out of the hospital, which is why The American Legion will now have an even greater presence at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
During the organization’s Washington Legislative Conference in March, The American Legion signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Walter Reed Army Medical Center establishing an office at the facility with paid staff – provided by The American Legion – to assist in the transition of wounded servicemembers from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agreement is a step toward ending recent problems brought to light at Walter Reed due to delays in timely out-processing of soldiers, resulting in backlogs and some being housed in deplorable facilities.
"The American Legion’s presence at Walter Reed will assist servicemembers in cutting through the red tape that now hinders a truly seamless transition between DoD and VA," National Commander Paul A. Morin said. "Our goal is to streamline the process to reduce or eliminate the need for housing recovering servicemembers in facilities not intended for long-term accommodation. We as a nation have an obligation to not only give our wounded warriors the finest health care, but to ensure their recovery takes place in the best accommodations we can give them."
Morin signed the MOU with Terry Quattlebaum, Walter Reed’s chief transitional services officer.
"One of your members asked, ‘What will you do to follow soldiers once they leave Walter Reed?’" Quattlebaum said. "My answer is now, as our partner, what will we do to make sure soldiers and families are taken care of when they leave Walter Reed and any other medical facility."
Morin said the MOU complements The American Legion’s "Heroes to Hometowns" program, which identifies returning U.S. servicemembers who need direct assistance after returning home. Legionnaires nationwide offer them help in navigating the VA health-care system, as well as meeting other day-to-day needs of their families during the transition to civilian life.
"This is a natural extension of our Heroes to Hometown program," Morin said. "Our commitment is to these men and women who have fought valiantly, sustained life-changing injuries and need a helping hand in transitioning to life out of uniform."