Mother Of Wounded Soldier Spread s Word Of Suppor (NAPSA)—Rosie Babin did not choose to be an expert on support e ae re | i" ee f py sige aa Vv Ae! a H v: 4 Bey ‘a ery for severely woundedsoldiers. But when her son was severely wounded in March 2008 during the first days of the war in Iraq that choice was madeforher. Cpl. Alan Babin, a combat medic, was moving to provide aid to a fellow soldier when he was struck by enemyfire, resulting in extensive and severe internal injuries. Since then, he has undergone more than 70 surgeries—all with his family by hisside. “We were forced to figure everything out on our own, with only the assistance of friends and family back home,” said Rosie Babin, mother and caregiver. A lot has changed since then. In 2004, the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) was established to provide personalized support to severely wounded, injured andill soldiers and their families. This year, AW2 marksfive years of support to wounded soldiers and their families. After the Army established AW2, Rosie Babin saw a notice- able difference. “IT literally went from being highly stressed out one hour Rosie Babin, left, became an ex- pert on support for wounded sol- diers after her son Alan, bottom, was severely woundedin Iraq. knowledge and experiences with other families. This year, Rosie Babin was a delegate representing AW2soldiers and families at the 2009 Army Family Action Plan conference. The conference identifies issues impacting soldiers and families and briefs those concerns to Army leadership. For Babin to attend the conference, she needed to coordi- nate for the care of her son in her absence. With the progress she saw at week’s end, Babin said it was we received to being totally at peace and feeling hope when the AW2 Advocate took it over and had it handled.” More than 120 AW2 Advocates provide personalized support to well worth theeffort. “I departed reinspired to continue sharing our six-year experience with what works and what improvements can be made. I’m thankful that today the AW2 program exists and severely wounded soldiers and their families always have a place to turn to in the Army country and beyondfor as long as it takes. This support can take the form of connecting soldiers To help spread the word and honor five years of support to severely wounded, injured andill educational opportunities, financial and career counseling, or launching the AW2 Affiliate Program. Organizations wishing to show their support of severely woundedsoldiers and their families should contact AW2 throughits Web site at www.aw2.army.mil or call (800) 237-1336. because of a $70,000-plus invoice soldiers and families across the and families with full benefits, assistance in continuing to serve in the Army. Today, Babin says it’s not about how AW2canassist her family, it’s about how she can share her even after they leave the service.” soldiers and their families, AW2 is
