M.O.M.S HVEEAP info
HVEEAP | Fort Lewis | Fair Child AF
HVEEAP Hospitalized Veterans Emergency Exit Assistance Program
Mothers of Military Support, in association with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and Mr. Steve Gill , have created the Hospitalized Veterans Emergency Exit Transition Assistance Program (HVEETAP). This program is designed to give you an opportunity to reach out and touch one of our great Service Members and offer them assistance in a time of need. The Warrior Transitional Battalion (WTB) is located on Ft.Lewis, WA, close to Madigan Army Hospital.
Wounded Soldiers are supported, treated and vocationally
rehabilitated to prepare them to successfully return to duty or transitioned to active
citizenship.
WTB provides services for wounded soldiers directly on Ft. Lewis. The injured do not have
to leave their immediate facilities in order to get information, assistance, or access
services that are readily available to them.
Interdisciplinary teams work within the Phoenix battalion at the WTB. Educational
counselors, Social workers, Employment Security staff, Education counselors, human
resources, Veteran Benefit Specialists (VBS), Veteran Service Officers (VSO) from the
American Legion are a few to list. Other organizations that are looking to reach out,
hire, and/or assist soldiers are present as well.
Moral Welfare and recreation (MWR) are also a big part of assisting soldiers within the
WTB. They provide transportation for the soldiers to Madigan hospital and other
destinations they may need to go to. Before the battalion was in place, the soldiers were
housed at Madigan and one small bus was used for transportation. MWR has purchased upscale
Econo-Line vans that make for an easier transport of injured Soldiers. MWR also provides
TV rooms, Game Rooms and offsite activities such as, golf, pro basket ball football,
baseball games.
There is approximately 700 Soldiers in WTB but not all are housed on post. Some live at
home with parents or wives off base. Those that do live in the barracks are single
soldiers or soldiers far away from their home, receiving medical care.
Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) helps transition the Soldier out of the
military by helping them find housing, healthcare, Veteran benefits, and entitlements that
will help assist him/her after leaving Ft. Lewis. WDVA identifies resources that will help
them beyond their stay at WTB.
The plans for a newer facility is in the making and construction is set to begin in 2009
and completed in 2012.