Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life
Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life
Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life
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Return <strong>and</strong> Recreate: The Department, working with the Services, recognizedthe need to develop a post-deployment recreational program. Service members returningfrom the intense conditions <strong>of</strong> war can get their adrenaline pumping <strong>and</strong> fill their bodieswith good endorphins in our high-adventure recreation programs, like rappelling, rockclimbing, mountain biking, jet skiing, white-water rafting, paintball, or windsurfing.With free time <strong>for</strong> the first time in a long time, they have many choices on how to spendit, including MWR outdoor recreation programs. The Army, <strong>for</strong> example has createdWarrior Adventure Quest (WAQ), which <strong>of</strong>fers high adventure programs that are fun,challenging, supervised, <strong>and</strong> provided in a safe environment. WAQ is currently targeted<strong>for</strong> fourteen installations with high rates <strong>of</strong> deployment; family members can alsoparticipate.Heroes to Hometowns: The American public's strong support especially shows intheir willingness to help Service members who are severely injured in the war <strong>and</strong> theirfamilies as they transition from the hospital environment <strong>and</strong> return to civilian life.Heroes to Hometowns' focus is on reintegration back home, with networks established atthe national <strong>and</strong> state levels to better identify the extraordinary needs <strong>of</strong> returningfamilies be<strong>for</strong>e they return home. They work with local communities to coordinategovernment <strong>and</strong> non-government resources necessary <strong>for</strong> long-term success.The Department has partnered with the National Guard Bureau, The AmericanLegion <strong>and</strong> the National Association <strong>of</strong> State Directors <strong>of</strong> Veterans Affairs, to tap intocorporate <strong>and</strong> non-pr<strong>of</strong>it resources at all levels to garner community support. <strong>Support</strong> hasincluded help with paying bills, adapting homes, finding jobs, arranging welcome homecelebrations, help navigating through the bureaucracy, providing entertainment options,mentoring, <strong>and</strong> most importantly, garnering hometown support.Adaptive sports <strong>and</strong> recreation: The ability <strong>of</strong> injured Service members to engagein recreational activities is a very important component <strong>of</strong> recovery. We continue towork with the United States Paralympics Committee <strong>and</strong> other organizations so that ourseverely injured have opportunities to participate in adaptive sports programs, including27
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