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SUBJ/WARRIOR CARE MONTH//

RMKS/1.  RECOGNIZING AND APPRECIATING THE SACRIFICES OF WOUNDED, ILL AND 
INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES REMAINS A PRIORITY OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON).  THROUGH THE NAVY SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM, THE 
MARINE CORPS WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT, AND NAVY MEDICINE, WE TAKE CARE 
OF OUR OWN BY SERVING WOUNDED WARRIOR SAILORS AND MARINES WHO ARE IN 
ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, AND VETERAN STATUS.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HONOR 
OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND SHOWCASE THE PROGRAMS THAT 
SUPPORT THEM.  IN A MONTH THAT HONORS VETERANS, AND CELEBRATES A DAY OF 
THANKSGIVING AND THE U.S. MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY, IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT 
I DECLARE NOVEMBER 2010 AS DON WARRIOR CARE MONTH.

2.  WARRIOR CARE MONTH IS A NAVY AND MARINE CORPS-WIDE EFFORT TO 
INCREASE THE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAMS 
AND SERVICES TO THE FOLLOWING AUDIENCES: SERVICE MEMBERS, FAMILIES, 
GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE AMERICAN 
PUBLIC.  THE 2010 THEME IS "FOCUSING ON ABILITIES - SUPPORTING WOUNDED 
WARRIORS THROUGHOUT RECOVERY, REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION."

3.  IT IS SAID THAT CRITICAL TO REINTEGRATION IS FINDING A FULFILLING 
CAREER.  BUT FOR SOME OF OUR RETURNING BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, 
REINTEGRATION TO THE WORKFORCE IN THE FACE OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC 
DOWNTURN POSES A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. OVER 140,000 VETERANS OF 
OPERATIONS IRAQI AND ENDURING FREEDOM ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED; 
THE CHALLENGE IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE IF THE RETURNING SAILOR OR MARINE IS 
WOUNDED, ILL OR INJURED.  IN ADDITION TO WEEKS, MONTHS, OR YEARS OF 
RECOVERY, THEY FACE THE POTENTIAL TRAVESTY OF UNEMPLOYMENT.  WARRIOR 
CARE MONTH ACKNOWLEDGES THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS 
FIND MEANINGFUL CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WILL 
HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESS STORIES.

4.  WHILE IT IS THE WOUNDED, ILL OR INJURED SERVICE MEMBER WHO 
PHYSICALLY ENDURES RECOVERY, REHABILITATION, AND REINTEGRATION; IT IS 
THE FAMILY THAT SERVES AS A CRITICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR HEALING.  TO 
THIS END, FAMILIES MAKE MANY SACRIFICES; IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INCLUDE AND 
HIGHLIGHT FAMILIES DURING WARRIOR CARE MONTH.  WARRIOR CARE MONTH 
ACKNOWLEDGES A WIDE VARIETY OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, FEDERAL AND 
NONGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS RANGING FROM CHILD CARE TO CAREGIVER 
RESPITE CARE.

5.  THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER, THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS WILL HIGHLIGHT THE 
ACHIEVEMENTS OF SERVICE MEMBERS OVERCOMING THEIR WOUNDS AND RECOGNIZE 
THE FAMILIES AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND FOSTER THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH 
LOCAL EVENTS AND AWARENESS INITIATIVES.

6.  FOR SERVICE, SACRIFICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOUNDED, ILL AND INJURED 
SAILORS, MARINES, THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS; I ENCOURAGE ALL DON 
PERSONNEL TO JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND SUPPORT.

7.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WARRIOR CARE MONTH ACTIVITIES OR ABOUT THE 
DON WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAMS CONTACT:  SAFE HARBOR TOLL FREE AT 
(877)746-8563, ON THE WEB AT WWW.SAFEHARBOR.NAVY.MIL, OR ON FACEBOOK AND 
TWITTER.  THE MARINE CORPS WOUNDED WARRIOR REGIMENT MAY BE CONTACTED VIA 
THE SERGEANT MERLIN GERMAN WOUNDED WARRIOR CALL CENTER TOLL FREE AT 
(877)487-6299 OR ON THE WEB AT WWW.WOUNDEDWARRIORREGIMENT.ORG.  THE 
BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY WOUNDED, ILL AND INJURED WARRIOR SUPPORT 
MAY BE CONTACTED AT (202)762-3074.

8.  RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//

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