The Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program is a Congressionally-mandated and federally-funded program that provides personalized care, services and advocacy to Total Force seriously or very seriously wounded, ill or injured service members. In addition to well-coordinated & individualized personal support, AFW2 advocates on behalf of our warriors to ensure accessibility of care and provide them with a host of support programs. The AFW2 staff is committed to helping wounded warriors minimize delays and gaps in both medical and non-medical services, while focusing on specific personal and family needs.

The program’s goal is to provide recovering service members (RSMs) the necessary services so they can successfully recover, move-forward with the necessary resiliency skills and fortitude to go about their daily lives. The Department of Veteran Affairs is charged with taking over continued long-term support, with AFW2 providing limited support once a service member is permanently separated or retired.

Members of the Air National Guard may be considered for enrollment if they are in legal status for benefits (i.e., injuries or illness were service connected and in the line of duty while on active orders).

Service members will be considered for enrollment in the program if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Very seriously, or seriously wounded, ill, or injured on the Casualty Morning Report or by a Department of Defense medical authority
• Service members with highly-complex medical conditions that are service related or were sustained in the line of duty and confirmed by a DoD medical authority (examples: tick-borne illnesses, cancer, invisible wounds [PTSD/TBI], chemical exposure, etc.). Final approval authority is AFPC/DPFW
• Service members diagnosed with service-related or in the line of duty PTSD, TBI, or MST, verified by DoD medical authority and are under consideration or referral for MEB
• Purple Heart recipients
• Air Reserve Components (ARC) who were retained for more than six months on Title 10 medical orders or returned to Title 10 orders for deployment-related conditions

Cases identified through the casualty reports or the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. Are considered without a referral if enough information is available to make an enrollment determination.

Enrollment & Referral
Service members currently not enrolled, those wanting to enroll, or those wanting to refer a service member who may meet the above eligibility requirements, should be referred through one of the avenues listed below:

• Casualty Morning Report (CMR) (VSI/SI)
• Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES)
• Commander, First Sergeant, Supervisor
• Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC)
• Military Treatment Facility
• Self-Referral

OR

Refer a service member into the AFW2 program by submitting a referral form found on the AFW2 website. For additional questions you can contact the AFW2 Program: 800-581-9437.

Continuum of Care
The Department of Defense defines the Continuum of Care as Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration. The Department of the Air Force divided the Continuum of Care into seven phases that align better with a service member’s journey.

The seven phases make it easier for the service member and their caregiver to understand where they are in the process and helps the Care Management Team (CMT) with trigger points to know when to introduce new members required for each phase of care.

AFW2 use the phases to anticipate the service member and family and/or designated caregiver’s needs. Family members and caregivers play an important role in a seriously or severely ill or injured service member’s recovery and transition. They provide emotional support and stability and assist the service member in navigating available transition benefits and programs. The Air Force defined phases of the Continuum of Care are listed below:

• Identification Phase
  • Combat and non-combat ill or injured service members are assigned a CMT consisting of a Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC), Non-Medical Care Manager (NMCM), and a Medical Case Manager (MCM). The RCC will make contact with the servicemember, conduct an initial assessment of needs, and share this information with the CMT. They will also coordinate with the Military & Family Readiness Center, unit leadership, and Family Liaison Officer to address needs of the service member, their family and/or their caregiver.
• Recovery and Treatment
  • The MCM will coordinate the efforts of the CMT members. The CMT will coordinate prioritized medical and non-medical support and services and begin development of the coordinated Interagency Comprehensive Plan. This plan considers the service member’s personnel and financial needs based on initial and ongoing assessment. NMCMs will coordinate resolution of those needs with the Air Force’s Personnel Center and Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
• Rehabilitation
  • The CMT coordinates with the service member, family and caregiver to develop a plan of action for continuance of military service or transition into the civilian community. The CMT continues to monitor the service member, family, or caregiver needs; resolve issues (medical, financial, personnel, logistical); and assist with locating services and resources as needed.

• Fitness Evaluation
  • Service members in this phase are undergoing a Medical Evaluation Board/Physical Evaluation Board. The CMT educates and provides policy guidance and direction based on service member’s goals. The RCC and NMCM advocates for the service member and monitors the evaluation process, ensures personnel policies are afforded as applicable, explores career and education goals, assesses financial wellness, and assists the service member, family and caregiver with their transition goals.

• Reintegration / Transition
  • Service members in this phase receive their decision from the Physical Evaluation Board and are projected for separation or retirement. The NMCM coordinates to ensure the service member is provided assistance with navigating his/her transition to the civilian community. The NMCM assesses the service member’s needs and, with the help of the RCC, adjusts services to ensure the service member, family, and caregiver are afforded applicable transition services. The NMCM, in coordination with the other CMT members, coordinates a hand-off to outside agencies (VA, Department of Labor, community resources).

• Stabilization / Resolution
  • Service members in this phase have returned to duty, or are separated or retired and are reintegrating either back into their military unit or into the civilian community. The NMCM will continue to proactively foster resilience, independence, and stability with the service member. Ensuring a continuation of care for Retired Service members the CMT will coordinate with the VA Case Manager to ensure all applicable entitlements and benefits have been applied for. NMCMs coordinate transitional financial assistance, troubleshoot retired pay account issues and coordinate with the VA Case Manager to ensure the service member is connected to the VA and other agencies. The goal is to ensure all benefits and entitlements are assured within six months after the service member leaves military service.

• Sustainment
  • These service members have successfully reintegrated, achieved stability and have been made fully aware of all applicable benefits and entitlements. A final assessment will be completed to confirm resilience, independence, and stability. AFPC/DPFW will continue to provide outreach services through events coordination, news bulletins and periodic phone contacts. Wounded Ill/Injured (WII) service members are considered “Airman for Life” and have reach-back capability to obtain assistance with issues or concerns.

Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL)

A service member will be placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List when the member has a condition that meets the requirements for a disability retirement, but the disability has not sufficiently stabilized to accurately assess the permanent degree of disability. TDRL personnel are required by law to undergo physical examinations at least once every 12 months. TDRL Service members can remain on that list for up to three years providing the condition has not stabilized.

Airman for Life (A4L)

Airman for Life is an Air Force Wounded Warrior initiative that provides Wounded Warrior enrolled veterans placed in a permanent discharge status (not on the Temporary Disability Retired List) an opportunity to join a closed social media platform where they can obtain referral resources and specialized information. It also allows for communication with one another or AFW2 staff members who monitor the site. Programs like this further continue to connect Wounded, Ill & Injured Service members with each other and their AFW2 family.

Recovery Coordination Program

The Recovery Coordination Program (RCP) is executed out of the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC). It provides concentrated services to service members who sustain a serious combat or non-combat related injury or illness requiring long-term care that may require an Initial Review In-Lieu-Of (IRILO), Medical or Physical Evaluation Board (MEB or PEB) to determine fitness for duty. This is done with the help of Recovery Care Coordinators (RCC) that provides the support needed, ensuring the Wounded Warriors get the non-medical support they need to create the life they want. The Care Coordination Directorate of the Office of Warrior Care Policy is responsible for policy and oversight of the RCP. Specific guidance can be found in Department of Defense Instruction 1300.24, Recovery Coordination Program, and in Air Force Instruction 34-1101, Warrior and Survivor Care.

Care Management Team – The Care Management Team (CMTs) shall include the service member; the service member's commander; an RCC and or Federal Recovery Coordinator (FRC); and an NMCM. They may also include medical professionals such as Primary Care Managers (PCM), mental health providers, physical and occupational therapists and others including the Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officers (PEBLO), Veteran Affairs (VA) Military Services Coordinators (MSC), chaplains, and family support program representatives. Members of the CMT are not likely collocated except in major medical facilities which means coordination among the members will often be virtual (telephone, email, and teleconference). The CMT members will regularly discuss the status of their activities with each other as they support the implementation of the service member's recovery plan. This continuous exchange of information ensures accountability across providers and eliminates gaps or redundancy in medical and non-medical care support.

• Medical Care Case Manager (MCCM) - Located at military treatment facilities; ensures the wounded warrior and their family/caregivers understand their medical conditions, treatments and the wounded warrior receives appropriate coordinated health care.
• Non-Medical Care Manager (NMCM) - Non-Medical Care Managers (NMCMs) serves as a subject matter expert and support Recovery Care Coordinators (RCCs) in the field while a Recovering Airman (RA) recovers from their injuries or illnesses. When a determination as been made that the Recovering Airman (RA) and family will transition out of the Air Force and into the civilian sector, the NMCM will normally take the lead coordinator role and assist the Recovering Airman (RA) and family throughout the transition period. This includes, but is not limited to, benefits, entitlements, housing, and transportation counseling. They also serve as a referral agent to other helping programs and organizations to include AFW2 career readiness, caregiver assistance, and mentorship programs. Lastly, NMCMs are responsible of providing non-medical care when a Recovering Airman (RA) is placed on the Temporary Disabilities Retired Listing (TDRL) as well as helping them transition to the Veteran Affairs (VA) support system.
• Family Liaison Officer (FLO) - Appointed by the unit to assist seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and their families. FLOs are responsible for logistical support to the member and family, such as meeting family members at the airport and arranging lodging and transportation. FLOs also serve as an “facilitator” by assisting the wounded warrior and family navigate the various agencies involved in recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Enrollment and Support (EAS) - The Enrollment and Support (EAS) coordinates enrollment consideration for all seriously injured (SI) or very seriously injured (VSI) service members and service members who have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) regardless of the severity of the injury. Anyone, including the service member, can submit a referral for enrollment determination into AFW2 through the WII Cell. The WII Cell coordinates all assignments of the Case Management Team (CMT) for all approved enrollments. The WII Cell is also the Air Force Office of Primary Responsibility for both the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) and the Emergency Family Medical Travel (EFMT) Program.
• Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) - The primary mission of the Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) is to facilitate, monitor, and ensure access of care and resources for seriously or very seriously wounded, ill and injured (WII) service members and their families, and to allow for a smooth transition from immediate hospital recovery to long-term adaptability and care. RCCs are considered the program's "boots on the ground" and advocate for the Recovering Airman (RA), and caregiver. Every installation has an assigned RCC; however, the RCC may not be located on an installation. Each RCC is responsible for a region and are strategically stationed where there is historically a high volume of service members being treated. Most RCCs work in the Military Treatment Facility so they can work closely and collaborate with the medical team. RSMs through the first four phases of the Continuum of Care and serve as the local area referral expert for RSMs in need. The RCC's goal is to prevent unnecessary delays, reduce anxiety, and obtain accurate and responsive information and services. RCCs work closely with service members, their leaders, M&FRC and the medical staff to offer multi-vectored solutions to complex non-medical needs.
• Invitational Travel Orders - Invitational Travel Orders (ITOs) are government-funded orders that provide for travel to and from the hospital, lodging costs, meals, and incidental expenses.  EFMT, provided as ITOs can authorize up to three persons designated by a service member to travel to a medical facility while the service member is receiving official treatment, but must be identified as necessary by the primary medical authority. For EFMT, the following rules apply:
  • VSI / SI: Designated individuals may be provided one round-trip between the designated individual’s home and medical facility in any 60-day period.
  • Not Seriously Ill/Injured (NSI): Designated individuals are authorized a 30-day maximum stay providing the following conditions are met: (1) the member must be in a hospitalized status; (2) the injury must have occurred in a combat zone or combat operation; and (3) the medical facility must be in the U.S.
• Emergency Family Medical Travel Program - The EAS team will contact unit commanders when Emergency Family Member Travel (EFMT) is requested for active-duty service members who are identified by a medical authority as VSI or SI for the assignment of a FLO. Unit commanders are responsible for determining whether the assignment of a FLO is required. National Guard Bureau Warrior and Survivor Care will designate a FLO for any ANG member identified by a medical authority as VSI or SI. The EAS team provides training and guidance to the FLO and identifies them to the Care Management Team when tasking out the referral.

Support Programs

The mission of AFW2 is to create effective channels of support for AFW2 Warriors, Veterans, caregivers and families through donations and commercial sponsorships.

C.A.R.E events provide a holistic approach which integrates restorative care and services for seriously wounded ill and injured service members, caregivers and families…all in one platform.

AFW2 aims to ease financial obstacles enabling AFW2 Warriors, caregivers and families to participate in Adaptive Sports and Warrior C.A.R.E events which strengthen mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being while connecting with programs that aid in recovery and resiliency. To achieve this end, they offer a variety of support programs listed below.

Caregiver Program

The Caregiver Program links caregivers together and provides training and education to strengthen family resiliency, while connecting with community resources. A caregiver is the recovering service member’s family member (spouse, mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, etc.) or friend who provides them non-professional assistance with one or more activities of daily living. Through the program, caregivers learn positive coping skills, how to enjoy personal time without guilt, and to avoid burnout while learning to thrive. Some of the many tools offered are skill building and holistic training such as resiliency, personality inventory, communication, financial wellness, PTSD/TBI awareness, benefits & entitlements, and suicide awareness. The DoD Military Caregiver Personalized Experiences, Engagement and Resources (PEER) Forums are offered. Ambassador and Mentorship trainings are also available to caregivers who are ready to share their stories and to help other caregivers. For more information, please email: AFPC.DPFWS.Caregiver@us.af.mil

Adaptive Sports Program (ASP)

AFW2’s Adaptive Sports Program provides rehabilitative/competitive athletic activities to all recovering service members to improve their physical and mental quality of life. Each sport offers a world-class coaching staff, adaptable equipment, virtual training, nutrition plans and links that connect service members to community-based sports programs.

Introductory Adaptive Sports modify the way traditional sports are offered to meet each member’s abilities. After attending an adaptive sporting training event (virtually or in-person) AFW2 offers a Developmental Track to hone those newfound skills and prepare interested service members for applying to DoD Warrior Games and Invictus Games.

Examples of adaptive sports at Regional Warrior CARE events or through Community Programs offered through benevolent organizations and the VA may include:

Individual Sports:

• Shooting (Air Rifle/Pistol)
• Archery (Compound & Recurve)
• Cycling (Upright/Recumbent & Hand Cycle)
• Indoor Rowing
• Swimming
• Track & Field
• Powerlifting

Team Sports:

• Wheelchair Rugby
• Sitting Volleyball
• Wheelchair Basketball

Ambassador Program

AFW2’s Ambassador Program assists wounded warriors in shaping and telling their own story of resiliency in recovery to audiences across the Air Force and Space Force. Being able to put words to individual experiences allow service members to endure their journey and heal. Ambassadors receive personalized guidance and feedback to create multiple messages and calls to action that empower their audience. Outreach engagements include media opportunities and leadership courses to help spread awareness and utilization of AFW2 programs and services available.

Recovering Airman Mentorship Program (RAMP)

AFW2’s Recovering Airman Mentorship Program (RAMP) assists recovering service members by helping them establish peer-to peer mentorship relationships to help navigate recovery and build resilient service members. The support provided by mentors cover a broad spectrum of illness and visible and invisible wounds, while encouraging confidence and a team approach to recovery.

Empowerment to Employment (E2E)

The Air Force Wounded Warrior Empowerment to Employment (E2E) Program equips, encourages, and empowers recovering service members and caregivers in the development and achievement of long-term career and life goals. Participants receive personalized coaching and guidance to ensure positive management of career changes, building effective ways forward and to take charge of their post-military lives. For more information, please contact AFPC.DPFWS.EIT@us.af.mil.

Community Programs

Community Programs create a unified effort to promote and connect wounded warriors and their loved ones with community-based events, growth opportunities, resources, and services. It focuses on developing a network of organizations to meet the needs of our AFW2 population. Community Programs provide Warrior and Family Social Connections, which uses Facebook to introduce the local AFW2 population to each other and Veteran Service Organizations in their respective community.

Resiliency Programs

The Resiliency Program works with all programs within AFW2 to help strengthen the mental, social, spiritual, and physical domains of the Comprehensive Airman Fitness Model for our Warriors and their caregivers enrolled in our program. They do this through both virtual and in-person CARE Events, as well as teaching classes, connecting through social media platforms, and providing personalized support to those who are at high risk and are struggling with maintaining their resiliency.

CARE Events

AFW2 works with each RSM to provide a thorough analysis of opportunities and benefits that are available to medically retired and separated combat veterans. The Warrior Care Division at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) is charged with providing non-medical care management and RSMs. This support is provided through four annually-offered regional Warrior CARE Events integrating all support programs into one platform to strengthen mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being of enrolled Wounded Warriors and caregivers. “CARE” represents four AFW2 support programs: Caregiver Support, Adaptive Sports and Ambassador Workshop, Recovering Airman Mentorship Program and Resiliency Programming, and Empowerment to Employment.

For more information, please visit the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) webpage:
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/

Air Force Wounded Warrior Airman for Life:
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Support/Airman-for-Life/

Office of Warrior Care Policy:
https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/

Online Resource for Americans with Disabilities:
https://www.usa.gov/benefit-finder/disability

Department of the Air Force Instructions 34-1101, Warrior and Survivor Care:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi34-1101/dafi34-1101.pdf

DFAS Disability Retirement Pay
https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/disability/

Air Force Instruction 34-1101: Warrior and Survivor Care
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/07_PROGRAMS%20AND%20INITIATIVES/08_Recovery%20Coordination%20Program/AFI%2034-1101.pdf?ver=2018-06-21-123727-330

Unit Leadership Guide for Supporting Our Wounded Warriors
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/01_HOME/1%20Jan%202024%20Revised%20Warrior%20Care%20Leadership%20Guide.pdf