Navy Wounded Warriors Share Experiences at National Conference

Washington (NNS) -- Two Navy wounded warriors served as panelists at the 2012 Warrior-Family Symposium in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13.

Retired Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Derek McGinnis and retired Construction Electrician 3rd Class Benjamin Host discussed their personal journeys of recovery and subsequent retirement from military service.

McGinnis is enrolled in Navy Safe Harbor - which supports seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen - and Host also received assistance from the program.

The annual symposium was hosted by the Military Officers Association of America and the National Defense Industrial Association. Rep. Jeff Miller (FL), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (VA), addressed the audience - which included military personnel, policymakers, and government and community leaders - at the kick-off of the event.

Marine Corps Maj. Justin Constantine, who served as the master of ceremonies, highlighted the work of Navy Safe Harbor in his remarks, noting, "all Navy Safe Harbor cares about is taking care of their [wounded, ill, and injured] Sailors."

Throughout the day, wounded warriors - as well as their families and caregivers - recounted their experiences since serious illness or injury first impacted their lives. Their testimony shed light on the growing and changing needs of the wounded warrior population, and provided helpful feedback to the organizations and government programs that assist them. Topics of discussion included medical-disability benefits; family and caregiver support; and employment and transition services.

McGinnis spoke on a panel entitled "The Early Years - How Wounded Warriors-Families are Doing Today." McGinnis was wounded during combat operations in Iraq in 2004, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg, a traumatic brain injury, and partial loss of vision. He is now medically retired and working at a VA community-based outpatient clinic in Stockton, Calif.

After becoming wounded, McGinnis "felt anger, hatred, and frustration. I wondered, who is this new me, with cognitive defects, and can I accept this?"

"My hope is that people can take our stories, our journeys, and our experiences as a way to plant the seeds of post-traumatic growth as they learn how to live their new lives," he added. He said that he feels blessed to have lived through the experience.

Host spoke on a panel entitled "Transitions & New Beginnings - Linking Alliances to Evolving Needs." Host was a Seabee wounded in combat in 2004, and he grapples with the effects post-traumatic stress disorder. He currently is a student.

"I deal with things on a regular basis that you don't know about. I seem normal to you, but I'm not," he stated plainly while addressing the audience.

He said he credits the VA in Los Angeles, which specializes in brain research, for much of his progress.

"I thank them for teaching me to have the poise to present myself, to stop, think for a minute, and then react," he said.

Navy Safe Harbor Family programs and Charitable Resource Coordinator Dario Santana attended the conference, where he met with wounded warriors and potential community partners.

"We are incredibly fortunate that these service members, as well as their families and caregivers, were willing to share their personal stories so publicly and candidly," said Santana. "Their testimony provided incredible insight to those of us who work on behalf of wounded warriors, and it will help us improve the care we provide."

The Navy Safe Harbor program is a key component of the Department of the Navy's 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative, which is designed to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency, and hone the most combat-effective force.

For more information about Navy Safe Harbor, visit http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil or email safeharbor@navy.mil.

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