The Wounded Warrior Handbook: A Resource Guide for Returning Veterans

by Don Philpott, Janelle Hill, Barry McCaffrey (Foreword by)

Overview

The typical wounded soldier must complete and file 22 forms following an active-duty injury. To many soldiers and their families coping with the shock and reality of the injuries, figuring out what to do next_even completing tasks as seemingly easy as submitting paperwork_can be overwhelming and confusing. Written with these men and women in mind, The Wounded Warrior Handbook provides our wounded heroes and their families with quick, straightforward answers to the questions they suddenly face and guides them through the deluge of processes, procedures, and policies they must adhere to in order to receive the care they deserve and need. Comprehensive and easy-to-use, the Handbook compiles information regarding medical treatment, rehabilitation, counseling, support, and transition, including Symptoms, treatment options, and information resources of common injuriesPrograms to help families reach and care for their injured soldiersDefinitions of the seven classifications of 'casualty' and the notification process for next of kinDocuments family members should carry when traveling to see their loved onesChallenges of reintegrating into everyday life, and tips and resources for succeedingGuidance for finding a job that matches an injured soldier's physical abilities and skillsOrganizations offering advocacy and legal assistanceLocations of Veterans Affairs hospitals, medical centers, and clinics Whether you work with members of the military or support a community that does, you can help our embattled men and women make the transition from active duty to post-war domestic life with this time-saving and life-restoring book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605902739
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/16/2009
Series:	Military Life , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Don Philpott has been writing, reporting, and broadcasting on international events, trouble spots, and major news stories for almost 40 years. He is the author or coauthor of more than 80 books, including The Integrated Physical Security Handbook (Homeland Defense Journal, 2006) and Education Facility Security Handbook (Government Institutes, 2007). Janelle Hill is the President and lead consultant of PBS Marketing/Federal Concierge LLC., a consulting provider supporting a variety of project and program needs to businesses, contractors, and the federal government. She is an Alumna of the National Defense University and a United States Marine Corps Volunteer. Barry McCaffrey, who wrote the foreword, served in the United States Army for 32 years and retired as a four-star General. At retirement, he was the most highly decorated serving General, having been awarded three Purple Heart medals for wounds received in his four combat tours, two Distinguished Service Cross awards, the nation's second highest award for valor, and two Silver Star awards for valor.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments v

Preface vii

Foreword General Barry McCaffrey ix

Chapter 1 Introduction: Pre-Battlefield Injury to Recovery 1

Chapter 2 Medical Issues: Things to Know 7

Chapter 3 From the First Day 41

Chapter 4 Support 83

Chapter 5 Recovery and Transition 91

Chapter 6 Benefits, Taxes, and Legal Issues 151

Chapter 7 The DoD and the VA 177

Chapter 8 Success Stories 207

Chapter 9 Handling Bereavement 223

Chapter 10 Resources 243

Index 311

About the Authors 315

Editorial Reviews

The Wounded Warrior Handbook brings together information concerning medical treatment; rehabilitation; counseling; support; transition; and financial, legal, and tax matters. This handbook is a good purchase for academic libraries and is particularly recommended for public libraries.” —Booklist

“This Handbook first addresses the recovery process, from the traumatic injury event onward, for the active serviceman or woman. It gives practical advice on everything from spotting the symptoms of depression to travel instructions for visiting family. It explains the terms of separation from military service and the process for determining and appealing the so-important physical disability status. . . . One useful chapter includes a discussion of financial, legal, and tax issues faced by active and discharged troops. Finally, a chapter on bereavement covers everything from grief support to burial expenses, military funerals, and death benefits. . . .Readers will discover that, despite recent scandals in VA hospitals and the common perception that the US does not support its wounded veterans and their loved ones, assistance in every conceivable aspect of transition and reintegration is available. And throughout, Philpott and Hill offer names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web addresses.” —Foreword Reviews

“It contains a wealth of data that is and will be helpful on a continuing basis for different segments of our population. . . . It's pertinent information for those seeking specific kinds of post deployment/combat assistance, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. . . . The Wounded Warrior Handbook does an excellent job of making clear what can benefit those who have served our country.” —The Standard Times

“Philpott and Hill have compiled an invaluable list of things that vets, their families, other loved ones, friends and even private citizens can do to help vets return to society.” —Veterans For Peace

“Offers a well-organized checklist of do's and don'ts for veterans, their families and friends and for others who want to understand their problems and challenges and to help them. The value of this book extends beyond health and injury related issues to broader aspects of reintegrating into civilian life.” —Gazette

“Philpott and Hill offer straightforward answers to questions commonly asked by wounded U.S. military veterans and their family members as they struggle with the complexities of receiving their needed care. As the authors reveal, over 25,000 service members have sustained injury in the war in Iraq, and approximately half of these injuries have been serious enough to require medical evacuation back to the United States. Well organized, comprehensive, and relatively easy to follow, the material covers, e.g., obtaining medical treatment and post-treatment rehabilitation, setting up mental-health counseling, family support, and the difficult transition from wounded soldier to citizen veteran. The authors also explain filing for support from agencies like the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Department of Defense. The extensive listing of web sites and other contact information for veteran support agencies is alone worth the price of this valuable resource. Essential for all helping professionals who work with veterans and their family members, this belongs in all VA hospitals and clinics. Highly recommended for university libraries supporting the helping professions and larger public libraries” —Library Journal, Starred Review

“This item will be of interest to veterans and those who live with or serve them, and is suitable for the reference or circulating collections of public, academic, and hospital libraries, along with VFW halls and medical professionals dealing with this type of patient.” —American Reference Books Annual

From the Publisher

Philpott and Hill have compiled an invaluable list of things that vets, their families, other loved ones, friends and even private citizens can do to help vets return to society.

Veterans For Peace

This Handbook first addresses the recovery process, from the traumatic injury event onward, for the active serviceman or woman. It gives practical advice on everything from spotting the symptoms of depression to travel instructions for visiting family. It explains the terms of separation from military service and the process for determining and appealing the so-important physical disability status.. .. One useful chapter includes a discussion of financial, legal, and tax issues faced by active and discharged troops. Finally, a chapter on bereavement covers everything from grief support to burial expenses, military funerals, and death benefits.. . .Readers will discover that, despite recent scandals in VA hospitals and the common perception that the US does not support its wounded veterans and their loved ones, assistance in every conceivable aspect of transition and reintegration is available. And throughout, Philpott and Hill offer names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web addresses.

Foreword Reviews

The Wounded Warrior Handbook brings together information concerning medical treatment; rehabilitation; counseling; support; transition; and financial, legal, and tax matters. This handbook is a good purchase for academic libraries and is particularly recommended for public libraries.

Booklist

This item will be of interest to veterans and those who live with or serve them, and is suitable for the reference or circulating collections of public, academic, and hospital libraries, along with VFW halls and medical professionals dealing with this type of patient.

American Reference Books Annual

Offers a well-organized checklist of do's and don'ts for veterans, their families and friends and for others who want to understand their problems and challenges and to help them. The value of this book extends beyond health and injury related issues to broader aspects of reintegrating into civilian life.

Gazette

It contains a wealth of data that is and will be helpful on a continuing basis for different segments of our population.. .. It's pertinent information for those seeking specific kinds of post deployment/combat assistance, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.. .. The Wounded Warrior Handbook does an excellent job of making clear what can benefit those who have served our country.

The Standard Times

This Handbook first addresses the recovery process, from the traumatic injury event onward, for the active serviceman or woman. It gives practical advice on everything from spotting the symptoms of depression to travel instructions for visiting family. It explains the terms of separation from military service and the process for determining and appealing the so-important physical disability status. . . . One useful chapter includes a discussion of financial, legal, and tax issues faced by active and discharged troops. Finally, a chapter on bereavement covers everything from grief support to burial expenses, military funerals, and death benefits. . . . Readers will discover that, despite recent scandals in VA hospitals and the common perception that the US does not support its wounded veterans and their loved ones, assistance in every conceivable aspect of transition and reintegration is available. And throughout, Philpott and Hill offer names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web addresses.

ForeWord Reviews

The Wounded Warrior Handbook brings together information concerning medical treatment; rehabilitation; counseling; support; transition; and financial, legal, and tax matters. This handbook is a good purchase for academic libraries and is particularly recommended for public libraries.

Booklist

This item will be of interest to veterans and those who live with or serve them, and is suitable for the reference or circulating collections of public, academic, and hospital libraries, along with VFW halls and medical professionals dealing with this type of patient.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)