Welcome to the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program 

In 2004 the West Point Class of 1958 initiated a mentoring program for wounded Soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. when it became apparent that Wounded Warriors needed more individual attention than the Army could provide.  We found that Wounded Warriors needed additional, one-on-one, assistance to orient them on a new profession and a new life, as well as counseling on benefits, jobs, educational opportunities, and handling of finances as well as navigating the complexities of the military medical system.

Lee Miller '58, Bruce Holmberg '61, Greg Gadston '89, Alton McCallum '02, and John Herren '58

Since then the program has grown to include MENTORs from all three service academies, active duty and retired U.S. Marine and Special Forces officers and senior NCOs, and their associates. We are now mentoring over 250 wounded soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC); National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Bethesda; Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center (KACC) Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; and DeWitt Health Care Network (DHCN) Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

WWMP matches volunteer MENTORs with Warriors in Transition (WT) Wounded Warriors (WW) & Wounded, Ill and Injured (WII) Marines and selected Navy personnel at the local Washington D.C. medical treatment facilities.  The MENTOR develops a bonding relationship with the Wounded Warrior with a horizon for the Warrior of three to five years in the future. In so doing the MENTOR may also be asked for advice on anything from family relationships to financial matters.  We also offer advice to the WTs WWs/WIIs in navigating the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services and benefits to include the DoD Disability Evaluation System (DES) consisting of two parts: the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) & Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) as well as their VA Disability Compensation and Benefits claim.

The WWMP  assists Army and Air Force Warriors in Transition (WT) Wounded Warriors (WW) & Wounded, Ill and Injured (WII) Marines and selected Navy personnel to transition to a new productive civilian life and profession or continued military service by establishing a supporting relationship with them, guiding them in their professional or educational development, locating and assisting with guidance to internships, jobs, and career opportunities, and finding qualified persons to be follow-on MENTORs once they leave the Washington, D.C. area.

After hospital recovery and rehabilitation, when the Wounded Warriors leave the familiar environment of the hospital support system and their buddies, many need MENTORs to continue supporting them. So in some cases, they are matched with follow-on MENTORs.  

This program enjoys the full support of the WRAMC hospital commander and staff and the Warrior Transition Brigade commander and the entire chain of command.  We also have available an entire support team to help us in almost every phase of our support to our Wounded Warriors.