Wounded Warrior Anchor Program
Why Should Wounded Warriors Enroll In The Anchor Program?
Transitioning out of active-duty service – even in the best circumstances – is rarely easy. Wounded warriors may have special challenges due to illness or injury. The Anchor Program was established to provide enrollee families with added transition and reintegration assistance. Upon retirement from the military, wounded warriors may be returning to their communities or settling elsewhere. The Anchor Program provides volunteer mentors that will help them feel at home. The mentors identify local services and organizations that will support their transition goals.
How Long Are Wounded Warriors Enrolled In The Anchor Program?
Wounded warriors may be enrolled in the program as long as they need local community support.
What Do Anchor Program Mentors Do?
The mentors offer a wide range of support, including serving as social contacts, providing personal referrals – recommending anything from the best nearby restaurant to the most reliable plumber – and establishing connections with local employers. They also help an enrollee maintain contact with NWW by communicating regularly with his or her Non-medical Care Manager. But, perhaps most importantly, the mentors are available to lend an ear – and a hand – to an enrollee as he or she grapples with the challenges associated with returning to civilian life. Their experiences with the military – on active duty and in retirement – make them ideal companions for a wounded warrior.
Who Are Anchor Program Mentors?
The Anchor Program matches Sailors and Coast Guardsmen in transition with two mentor volunteers: a peer mentor from a local Reserve component and a senior mentor selected from a pool of community veterans and retirees. Volunteer mentors are requested to support a
wounded warrior for at least one year, with a minimum of monthly telephone or in-person contact. They are committed to respecting the privacy of the enrollee and his or her family, limiting information sharing with NWW only.
How Can Wounded Warriors Enroll In The Anchor Program?
Once a wounded warrior decides to leave active-duty service, they are eligible to become involved in the Anchor Program. Their NWW Non-medical Care Manager will assist them with submitting the necessary enrollment forms. The NWW Program Coordinator will contact the Navy Operational Support Command and partner organizations with the enrollee’s information, and coordinate initial contact between the enrollee and mentors.
