SECNAV Designates November as Warrior Care Month

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- In ALNAV 069/09, released Oct. 30 to all Navy and Marine Corps personnel, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV)designated November 2009 as Warrior Care Month.

Throughout November, the Navy and Marine Corps will focus its attention on one of the Department of the Navy's highest priorities – caring for wounded, ill and injured Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

"More than 10,000 Marines and Sailors have been wounded since September 11, 2001," stated Ray Mabus, SECNAV. "The Department of the Navy remains committed to supporting and assisting our wounded, ill and injured service members and their families through the Navy Safe Harbor program and Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment."

These programs offer a variety of non-medical assistance to wounded, ill and injured service members through a comprehensive approach designed to optimize their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Non-medical care support covers a wide range of areas including pay and personnel issues, invitational travel orders, temporary lodging and housing adaptation, child and youth care, transportation needs, legal and guardianship issues, education and training benefits, commissary and exchange access, respite care, traumatic brain injury/post traumatic stress support services and transition assistance.

Warrior Care Month is a way to highlight these programs across the Department of the Navy so wounded warriors and their families are aware of the various programs, services and support available to them.

"Integral to supporting our wounded warrior is supporting their family," stated Mabus. "I ask all Department of the Navy personnel to join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude and support for our wounded, ill and injured Sailors, Marines, their families and caregivers."

For information on Warrior Care Month activities or about the Department of the Navy's wounded warrior programs, contact Navy Safe Harbor toll free at (877)-746-8563 or visit www.safeharbor.navy.mil.

Contact the Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment via the Sergeant Merlin German Wounded Warrior Call Center toll free at (877)-487-6299 or go to www.woundedwarriorregiment.org.

The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's Wounded Ill and Injured Warrior Support may be contacted at (202) 762-3043.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.