Near-Term Education Program

The Near-Term Education Program for Wounded Warriors begins when a WW becomes an outpatient in the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU).

The Wounded Warrior is assessed at that time by an Occupational Therapist and is assigned a Nurse Case Manager in the WTU (Army). For the Marines, a Transition Coordinator and Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) is assigned. Depending on the condition of the Wounded Warrior at that time, the Occupational Therapist and the Nurse Case Manager may recommend that the Wounded Warrior go to the Education Center (Army) or the Navy College (Navy or Marine) to be assessed.

About the same time, the Wounded Warrior is recruited by the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program (WWMP) and the following actions take place:

  1. The Wounded Warrior and spouse are interviewed by the WWMP interview team and assessed for educational interests. At that point, a Mentor is assigned and provided a copy of the interview sheet along with specific recommendations for the Wounded Warrior and spouse with regard to education and other matters. At this point, the Near-Term Education Program begins. at which time the Wounded Warrior may or may not have a degree program to pursue in mind.
  2. In most cases, the Wounded Warrior is sent to the Education Center or Navy College, who will normally recommend a General Studies Program consisting of basic English, writing and math courses, psychology, sociology or basic courses in the discipline the Wounded Warrior desires to pursue. The courses can be taken at the Education Center or Navy College at the Military Treatment Facility or at nearby college or community college at no cost to the Wounded Warrior under the Tuition Assistance (TA) Program. All courses taken must be approved by the chain of command and should be accredited and transferable to other colleges or universities. These courses may be traditional or online. The WW has $4,500. per fiscal year for these courses; these courses do not count against the Post 9/11 GI Bill or VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

The Education Center and Navy College contacts and locations are as follows:

Near-Term Education courses may be taken through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) or Central Texas College. Both are located in all the above-mentioned Army Education Centers and the Navy College. UMUC offices and courses are located in the 150 plus DoD Education Centers wherever DoD has a presence. Both Colleges offer transferrable On Line and Face to Face General Studies courses that can be taken under the TA Program.

UMUC offers Bachelors and Masters Degrees in the following fields:

  • Criminal Justice;
  • Cyber Security;
  • Security Intelligence; and,
  • Bachelors Degree in Fire Science online.

For a list of all current courses as well as all the Near Term and Long Term Degree Programs at UMUC and Central Texas State, Wounded Warriors are encouraged to go to the appropriate Army Education Center or the Navy College at Walter Reed.

In addition to the near-term education courses, the following computer non-accredited courses are offered at Walter Reed for Wounded Warriors, their spouses and Non-Medical Assistants. For enrollment, contact Anne Bloesl, Fleet and Family Support Office, at 301-319-4088/4087 Email: anne.bloesl@med.navy.mil, Bldg 11 Room 109.

The following computer courses are offered:

  • Introduction to Computer Technology (8 weeks)
  • Introduction to Computer Maintenance and Repair (8 weeks)
  • Introduction to Computer Networking (10 weeks)
  • Introduction to Computer Security (10 weeks)

Fleet and Family Support is also offering, in conjunction with Metier Corporation, a Project Management Course leading to a CAPM Certification.  The course is nine months in length and the most recent course began on February 7,  2012 with 14 students. Future Project Management Courses will be offered based on demand.

Also on a late notice, the Fleet and Family Support is offering a two-week Cyber Security Course during the month of July 12. It will be face-to-ace in Bldg 11.  If interested in this course, please call Ann Bloesl at 301-319-4088/4087  Email:
ann.bloesl@med.navy.mil

VA Aptitude Test and Counseling

To assist the Wounded Warrior to a career path using the VA Vocational and Rehabilitation Program, the VA requires the Wounded Warrior to complete a VA AptitudeTest and to be counseled by a VA Counselor. The WWMP has arranged for the VA Test and Counseling to be completed a month or two after the Wounded Warrior becomes an outpatient rather than wait until the Wounded Warrior is discharged and goes to the VA 12-15 months later.

The application for this process is completed by the Wounded Warrior at the WWMP intake interview and the application faxed to the VA for the testing and counseling to take place early in the near-term education and career planning process. The tester and counselor will contact the Wounded Warrior to be tested and counseled to arrange a place and time convenient to the Wounded Warrior.  The  VA Testing and Counseling greatly assists the Wounded Warrior to select an education and career path.  This serves to fulfill another requirement in that the Wounded Warrior must complete the VA Testing and Counseling to be eligible for the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program, which is described below.

VA Ch 35 Additional Education for Spouses and Children of Seriously Injured Wounded Warriors

VA Ch 35 provides for 45 months of education benefits independent of the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Vocational Rehabilitation Programs at a rate of $957 per month. Ch 35 benefits are available after applying and being approved by the VA.  Wounded Warriors must be declared 100% or totally disabled by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) in order for spouses and children to be eligible for this benefit.  For more information on this program, see the VA Survivors and Dependents web page.

The VA has established a waiver process for eligible spouses and children who believe their spouse will be declared 100% disabled by the PEB. The approved waiver allows the spouse or child to begin taking courses at any approved college or university as soon as the Wounded Warrior becomes an outpatient. Should a spouse or child of a seriously injured Wounded Warrior want to begin taking courses after the Wounded Warrior becomes an outpatient during the 12-to-18 month healing process prior to the PEB, the Wounded Warrior and spouse/child jointly apply for a waiver using VA Form 22-5490. A copy of the marriage certificate and a birth certificate of the spouse or child is required.

The completed form is submitted to the local VA office which will review the form and attach the appropriate medical records prior to submitting the waiver form to the VA Ch 35 approval office. The approval process should take approximately 30 days after which the approved paper can be taken to the VA official at the college admissions office for the spouse or child to be enrolled. Wounded Warriors who believe they will be declared 100% disabled by virtue of a combination of physical injuries and TBI or PTSD are encouraged to apply.

Near Term Education courses may be taken through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) or Central Texas College. Both are located in all the above-entioned Army Education Centers and the Navy College. UMUC offices and courses are located in the 150 plus DoD Education Centers wherever DoD has a presence. UMUC offersBachelors and Masters Degrees in the following fields: a. Criminal Justice b. Cyber Security and c. Security Intelligence as well as a Bachelors Degree in Fire Science online. For a list of all current courses as well as all the Near Term and Long Term Degree Programs at UMUC and Central Texas State. For current course listings, Wounded Warriors are encouraged to go their Education Centers including the Navy College at Walter Reed.

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