Heather Forsgren Weaver, a colleague of mine at American Forces Press Service, is a regular contributor to Family Matters. Heather’s been heavily involved in this blog from the start. She edits, helps write and posts content on a daily basis.
In this blog, Heather writes about a U.S. Army program to help families of the fallen, and an Air Force program that helps wounded warriors’ families.
‘I’m Here for Whatever You Need’
By Heather Forsgren Weaver
June 28, 2010
The military has always recognized the sacrifices of the families of fallen or wounded warriors, but I’d like to share some information about some ways the Army and Air Force are reaching out to help them.
The Army’s Survivor Outreach Services is a relatively new program that supports families of fallen heroes in a number of ways, and for as long as they want.
Â
I read about the program in an Army News article, “SOS Keeps Survivors Connected to Army Family.”
“The SOS program works with the spouse, children, siblings, parents and loco parents of the deceased servicemember, and not just in war time,” Janine Smith, Army Community Services SOS coordinator for Installation Management Command Europe, told Army News.
“Once the casualty assistance officer goes away, that survivor is left alone – that’s where ACS SOS comes in,” Smith said.
Whether it is helping to set up child care, or helping a widow to arrange the shipment of household goods back to the States, “We’re just a phone call away, a walk through the door, a website away,” she said.
In Europe, the SOS program provides assistance to family members from all of the service branches and military retirees. It doesn’t matter when the servicemember served or died. The program is even reaching out to widows, mostly elderly German women, from World War II.
I think the SOS website says it best: “Our Fallen Warriors have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Army has a commitment to their families.… By providing access to support, information and services … when and for as long as they desire.”
That is a pretty big commitment.
The Air Force fulfills its commitment to do whatever is necessary for wounded warriors’ families by assigning a liaison officer to work with each family when the wounded arrive in the states for treatment.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chyenne A. Adams, assigned to the 11th Wing at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., recently wrote an article for American Forces Press Service about how this program changed one airman’s life. The article, “Face of Defense: Family Liaison Duty Changes Airman’s Life,” tells the story of Air Force Sgt. Robert D. Greenberg.
Greenberg’s assignment to help Senior Airman Michael Malarsie’s family began in January after Malarsie was injured in an improvised explosive device attack near Kandahar, Afghanistan. It was Greenberg’s first family liaison assignment.
When Greenberg arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, D.C., he had one simple message for Malarsie’s family: “I’m here for whatever you need.”
From that day on, Greenberg was a constant presence. “For the next six weeks, I was there every day, Monday through Sunday, for eight, nine, maybe 10 hours. I ate lunch with the family, dinner sometimes, too,” he said. He even sat with the family through the numerous surgeries Malarsie experienced.
The experience changed Greenberg’s life and career.
Spending time with Malarsie’s father, Jim, convinced Greenberg to retire so that he could spend more time with his own son.
“I would not give up my years in the Air Force for anything. I’ve lived my career in keeping with the core values, most specifically, ‘service before self.’ So much so, that my family often came second,” Greenberg said. “The next time my 8-year-old son says he’d really like me to be at the Cub Scout meeting, I want to be there.”
I get chills when I read these stories. The selfless sacrifice of our military and the many ways it is reaching out to the families of our fallen and wounded warriors is truly inspiring.