Bill Would Help Troops Transition to Civilian Life

October 28, 2004

A newly proposed bill would give the Secretary of Defense authority to transfer more funds to the Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) program to help soldiers and their families resolve pay, benefits, entitlement and care issues immediately.

Reps. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Walter Jones, R-N.C., last month introduced in the House the Disabled Veterans Transition Assistance Act of 2004, H.R. 5057.

In October, the same legislation was introduced in the Senate by Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Although DS3 started out in April as a pilot program in the Army, officials pledged that it would help all severely disabled service members, regardless of what service they were in.

The new legislation officially expands the program to provide assistance to all wounded soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, National Guardsmen and reservists.

To date, there are more than 1,000 U.S. military deaths in Iraq and more than 7,000 servicemen and women who have been wounded in combat, Ruppersberger said.

Bond said, of those approximately 7,000 troops who have been wounded, more than half of these were so severely wounded that they are unable to return to duty-now those men and women have to transition from military service to civilian life.

DS3, according to Ruppersberger, needs additional resources-the program is currently staffed by ten people and has a budget of $1 million. It is in the pilot stage.

"Many of these surviving men and women now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives with severe disabilities-some have lost a limb, been blinded or lost an eye, or suffered a disabling brain injury or disfiguring burn or wound. They deserve our help now to transition back to civilian life as they work to put their lives back together," said Ruppersberger.

One military spouse, Rebecca Sides, said the program helped her through one of the most difficult times of her life.

Her husband, now-retired Sgt. James Sides, was a flight medic with the 571st Medical Company, and he had just come out of a coma after a helicopter crash that left him submerged in water. He suffered brain bruises, a broken humerus, a collapsed lung, a stroke and short-term memory problems.

The family lost its military housing and Sides' military income. "This program offers us a place to go when we need help," Rebecca said.

DS3 coordinators serve as advocates for disabled soldiers and their families. Staff help facilitate communication and coordination between soldiers and their families and the pertinent local, federal and national agencies and organizations, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and numerous veterans' service organizations.

"America must guarantee that if they return home wounded we will give them the best assistance possible to help them recuperate and return to their normal lives with their families and loved ones," Jones said.

There is information on the program at www.wblo.org, and program staff can be reached toll-free at (800) 833-6622.