Across America, war veterans are coming home to a new life. These war veterans possess an instinctive sense of self-direction instilled by honorable duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. Returning home, they seek new pathways to fulfill the next chapter in their lives.

Many war veterans have found that the challenge of returning to civilian life is just another test. It is more than a test of the honor, courage, and commitment; it is the test of life.

It is a test that has been passed by millions of war veterans nationwide. From the greatest generation of World War II, to the forgotten generation of Vietnam, the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces clearly understand that life is full of curves. Along those curves, there are lessons learned.
 
In Oregon, the National Guard Reintegration Team works to straighten those curves. Known as Team Oregon, team members provide, “postmobilization support to commanders and soldiers by establishing a centralized point of contact on the multitude of agencies that provide support and benefits to soldiers and their dependents”. The team is full of committed veterans who have banded together to build a better pathway for servicemember support.
 
The mission “actively assists demobilizing Oregon National Guard members transition back to their families, their job or school, and their community.” Since the establishment in early 2005, the team has expanded to assist war veterans of all branches of service. In other words, servicemembers are not denied access to services based on their military branch.
 
One of the main reasons the team was formed was to reduce the time lag of wounded soldiers being delayed on medical hold. As war veterans transitioned back to U.S. military bases, those with injuries and wounds would be held back. Leaders were also finding that servicemembers were hesitant to talk about medical issues for fear of being placed on medical hold, lengthening their time away from home.
 
Servicemembers are surviving attacks that in years past would have taken their lives. Family members are transitioning into head of households or what is commonly referred to as breadwinners. Many times, this transition occurs while their loved ones recover in hospitals across the nation.
 
Vietnam veteran Jim Willis sees this as an important step in supporting the men and women serving in the longest all-volunteer war in American history. “In the years after the Vietnam war, we had far too many veterans who would only speak to those who had been in the war,” stated Willis, the Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
 
Willis understands that creating mechanisms to move folks in the right direction is significant at a dangerous time in U.S. history. Describing the importance of the team, Willis said, “History will prove that the work being done by Team Oregon is necessary and will make a brighter tomorrow for the future lives of the men and women who took up arms in defense of our most precious American possession, freedom.”

Greater challenges are ahead for Oregon; in 2009, National Guard forces will deploy 3,500 soldiers to the Global War on Terror (GWOT). “Team Oregon” will work closely with Guard leadership, soldiers, and families prior to, during, and after their deployment - to help them not only be successful soldiers, but to again be successful citizens upon return. Integrating wounded servicemembers back into the ranks has become a priority at the highest levels of the Department of Defense.
 
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen stood up the Joint Staff Wounded Warrior Integration Team in late April and appointed his strategic plans and policy chief, Marine Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, to head it up.
 
The new team reports to Admiral Mullen every two weeks and will include recommended changes or improvements. In early April, Mullen stated, “We haven’t changed the processes to represent the fact that we are a nation at war, and certainly a military at war,” Oftentimes, wounded servicemembers are fulfilling their entire enlistment contracts and some can be provided re-enlistment opportunities.
 
This shift works for some, for others career assistance works on behalf of servicemembers seeking employment when they return from the war. The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) is a key component to the Oregon efforts. CTAP collaborates with private and public employers alike.

Team members are COL (Ret) Scott McCrae, Director; LTC (Chaplain) Daniel  Thompson, Deputy Director; SGM (Ret) Barry Vertner, Operations NCOIC; SFC Phillip Jacques, Reintegration Area Manager; SSG (Ret) Luke Wilson, Reintegration Area Manager; SSG Kevin Coady, Medical Hold Liaison; SGT Benjamin Heir, College Veteran Center Liaison.
 
Veterans can call the 24-hour toll-free number at 1-888-688-2264. Information can be found online at www.orng-vet.org and www.oregon.gov/ODVA.
 
Christopher Dauterman, Staff Writer, ODVA