Enterprise Road to Recovery by Richard D. Smith, SMITH-TRG
Pro Bono Helping Wounded Warriors
1. Marine Cpl. Joshua Pitcher Half of his skull was removed to allow his brain to swell while recovering from a head injury and shrapnel wounds from a grenade blast. Business Community Presentation 2008 www.SMITH-TRG.com The Patriots Project
2. 35,000 to 53,000 But that’s Not the Whole Story! Statistical information referenced during this presentation – collected between June 1 st & August 1 st, 2007. Published Sources: Department of Defense, USA Today, The Washington Post How Many War Wounded?
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4. The Statistics… Loss of Limb – Unknown #’s Spinal/Brain Injury - 5.5 thousand/20% Wounded-In-Action (WIA) - 26.4 thousand Mental Health - 45.5 thousand PTSD Treatment – 26.4 thousand Troops Served in Afghan & Iraq - 1.5 million Veterans Already Discharged – 344 thousand
5. Lee Jones , 24, of Lumberton, N.C., was severely burned on the face, hands, feet and legs when his Humvee was hit with an IED two years ago. A partial amputee with speech and other problems from a severe brain injury. He now does work therapy delivering mail at a VA hospital and tries to re-establish life in a nearby apartment with a wife and baby daughter. Maj. Thomas Deierlein , 39, is a New York City marketing executive who served five years after graduating from West Point. Twelve years later, called up as a reservist, he nearly died of bullet wounds that shattered his pelvis, leaving him with a colostomy and learning to walk again. 7,675 Wounded-in-Action ( WIA’s ) Airlifted to Military Hospitals Who are the wounded? Two more…
6. Most injuries are caused by IED blasts, which send a pressurized air wave through delicate tissues like the brain, sometimes sending it smacking against the inside of the skull and shearing fragile nerve connections that control speech, vision, reasoning, memory and other functions. Lungs, eardrums, spinal cords – virtually anything – can be damaged by the pressure wave. The most important thing to realize – you could have all these problems at once. That means trouble speaking, seeing, walking, hearing, etc. Another 27,103 non-hostile-related Air Transports 20,000 for illnesses or medical issues By Marilynn Marchione, Associated Press
7. Most complicated cases end up at one of four (4) poly-trauma centers: Tampa, Florida Richmond, Virginia Palo Alto, California Minneapolis, Minnesota Troops at these hospitals have average of six (6) major impairments and ten (10) specialists treating them. Harvard University economist Linda Bilmes estimates – $250 billion to $650 billion , Lifetime Health Care tab. Complicated Care – Where?
8. The Impact B ENEFITS Veterans Affairs - Since 2001 138 thousand served T RANSITION From DoD to VA - Pending Disability - Six Months + Wait 378 thousand claims 83 thousand F AMILY T OLL Marital Stress - Substance Abuse - Suicide immeasurable K IDS H ARD H IT Family Violence (Study) - Neglect - Physical 1,771 enlisted families 94% enlisted Army wives Ages 2-12 largest group
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10. To directly help Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom service members and their families transition into civilian life and position themselves for a viable and sustainable future. Career. Education. Family. … A Future How? Our Mission
11. Help Increase Human Potential Help Decrease Human Suffering Help Veterans Build A Future. Our Focus
12. Richard D. Smith, a Vietnam combat veteran, started The Patriots Project initiative February 2007 to raise business community awareness and facilitate their direct pro-bono support for the primary – transition to civilian life – needs of service men and women. Our History
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14. Troops-In-Transition… Need Help Positioning Themselves For A Viable Future! Career. Education. Family. … A Sustainable Future. Situation Summary
15. - Careers for Patriots Directly assist injured/non-injured veterans re-enter the work force. - Education for Patriots Help veterans and/or family members complete college degree programs @ No Cost. - Support For Patriots Family Help address family stress related issues. Building Their Future