JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Tex. -- I took over program management of the Empowerment in Transition Program in January of this year. Little did I know that the way we do business would change across all of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2). It wasn’t that long after I took over that the first reports of the global pandemic started to come in. We knew things were really starting to heat up when they postponed our Air Force Trials at Nellis Air Force Base. Then, we began to telework. Here we are, many months later and I cannot be prouder of the work AFW2 has put in to stay connected with wounded warriors.
I’m really most proud of the growth that the Empowerment in Transition Program (EIT) has gone through this year. The global pandemic really hit everyone hard, making it more difficult for our wounded, ill and injured service members as they transition out of the military. This impact is really one of the reasons we’ve seen so much growth as we’ve worked to dramatically increase our caseload to help those wounded warriors who need us most.
All of this is because of the team I work with. They’ve been flexible and creative in coming up with solutions, including holding open office hours for safe, face-to-face contact, helping wounded warriors and caregivers review resumes and prepare transition plans that will help them navigate what can be a really difficult transition.
Since we began maximum teleworking in March, we’ve had to come up with ways of connecting with wounded warriors. At first, we were unsure of how to go about that, but then the AFW2 Program came up with Virtual Service Delivery; a new way to stay connected. This gave us a platform to reach more wounded warriors and share just what our program does to help them. We’ve held events like Deloitte’s Virtual Employment Bootcamps and are finalizing plans for a workshop we’re holding later this month. It’s a great opportunity to continue the growth we’ve seen so far and we’re hoping to get great ideas from the warriors we come in contact with for ways they think we could help.
When I took over this program in I did not expect the difficult times that were coming, but with this team it has been easy. Okay, not always easy. There have been rough patches, but that is to be expected when you are dealing with a situation that is unpredictable.
That unpredictability keeps us focused and reminds us that we are helping those who need a hand up, many of them facing very unpredictable circumstances themselves. The fear of the unknown is something that all transitioning military families become familiar with. Our EIT Coordinators are here to help turn fear into fuel and help those who are willing to help themselves succeed!
To connect with the AFW2 EIT Team:
Email:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1677243602548198/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/afw2
Email: AFPC.DPFWS.EIT@us.af.mil