Our SOF Warriors have seen first hand, the Our SOF Warriors have seen first hand, the enormous price of freedom…it is essential to enormous price of freedom…it is essential to

protect our heroes and their families.protect our heroes and their families.General Brown, Commander, USSOCOMGeneral Brown, Commander, USSOCOM

LEAVE NO ONE LEAVE NO ONE BEHINDBEHIND

USSOCOM Care Coalition Mission

Provide Special Operations Warriors And Their Provide Special Operations Warriors And Their Families A Families A Model Advocacy ProgramModel Advocacy Program In Order To  In Order To Enhance Their Quality Of Life And Strengthen Enhance Their Quality Of Life And Strengthen Special Operations Readiness.Special Operations Readiness.

“ We have no choice. We are going to scale the daunting mountains, make the impossible missions possible.”

– GEN Brown, Fort Campbell, KY, Dec 2004

Commander’s Vision

SOF WARRIOR FOR LIFE• Family First, Warriors Always• Wounded GWOT Veterans • Assist In The Medical Process• Lace-up Existing Programs• Team with Coalition of SOF Organizations

1. Humans are more important than hardware

GOAL: Establish the model care program in DoD that makes a difference for SOF warriors and their families.

Statistics

Special Operations Forces Are:Special Operations Forces Are:

• 3% of the total military force• 3% of the force deployed to OEF/OIF• Twice as likely (17%) to be injured or killed in OEF/OIF than

conventional forces (8%)

• Twice as likely the return to duty rate (70%) of other forces (35%)

• The most likely to stay in the service (~90% retention)

• The least likely to seek support from outside the community

SOF Take Care Of Their OwnSOF Take Care Of Their Own

USSOCOM Care CoalitionFocus Areas

1. Support Component Family Programs2. Contact and Advocate for SOF GWOT

Casualties and Their Families3. Be A Conduit Between SOF Warrior NEEDS

and Government or Non-Government Organization MEANS

Knowing What’s Out There and What’s Not – Getting BothKnowing What’s Out There and What’s Not – Getting Both

Focus Areas(Continued)

1. Support Existing Component Family Readiness & Advocacy Programs

•Ensure Services Are Supporting Programs•Looking for Trends in SOF•Ensure DoD Family Policies Provide SOF

Coverage•Look for USSOCOM Family Support Standard

Focus Areas(Continued)

2. Maintain Contact With and Advocate for SOF GWOT Casualties and Their Families

• Contact all OEF/OIF Casualties – Regardless of Status

• Maximize Use of SOF Hospital LNOs• Provide Advocacy, Advice, Direction• Resolve Individual Issues Quickly Through

Government or Non-Government Means• Identify Gaps in Policy and Fill Them

Focus Areas(Continued)

3. Serve as Conduit Between SOF Warrior NEEDS and Government or Non-Government Organization (NGO) MEANS

• Seek the Government Solution First• Understand NGO. Mission and Focus• Establish Trusting Relationship With NGO• Maintain Personal Privacy Until Released By The

SOF Warrior• Help SOF Warriors Transition to Careers• Track What Works

www.socom.mil/care_coalition

Casualty Support

Benevolent Organizations

Non-Casualty Registration

LEAVE NO ONE BEHINDSuccesses and Challenges

• Successes:– Website and Database– Partnerships with Benevolent Organizations– Landstuhl and Walter Reed Hospital LNOs– TRICARE Support– Medical and Physical Evaluation Boards– Traumatic Injury Benefit

• Challenges:– Getting The Word Out About The Program– Service Physical Evaluation Board– Contacting The Casualties and Their Families

Contact Information

Director

Mr. Jim Lorraine (lorraij@socom.mil)

Office: Comm: (877) 672-3039 DSN: 968-6037

Website: http://www.socom.mil/care_coalition

What it’s all about….taking care of those who are taking care of us!