Before former Army
Capt. Gregory David Estevez removed his uniform for the last time, the Army worked
to ensure he was able to achieve a stable return to civilian life.
Estevez, who’d
served as an operations officer for the Joint Base San Antonio Warrior
Transition Battalion, sustained injuries during his service in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
It can take time,
sometimes months or even years, before wounded service member can make the transition
from military to civilian life. Estevez credited the success of his transition on
many things, including in-depth treatment, his family, physical therapy and an
upbringing that emphasized the value of hard work.
Headquarters Company
Estevez began his
transition at the transition battalion’s headquarters company, where he was greeted
and registered. Registration is a significant step in the transition process because
it marks the point where the healing journey begins.
“Soldiers in-process
with our unit and there’re a lot of appointments that are scheduled to develop
their plan for treatment based on their injury,” said Army Capt. Randal W. Maurer,
commander of the Warrior Transition Battalion. “Once that plan of care is
developed, they will go to the line company based on their injuries. They will
continue their treatment, eventually allowing them to return to the Army or
transition into the civilian world.”
Estevez worked
with Army, civilian and contractor staff during his transition, and Opal J.
Charles, the warrior transition liaison, served as the link between Estevez and
his family when they needed the support. Charles works with different
organizations to provide support services to the families of the wounded and
helps families who work and cannot take time off.
“My position is
between the government and the community and non-profits,” Charles said. “I
provide all the things the family [needs] that is not a traditional benefit to
these families through the government.”
Case Managers
Georgeann Jackson
is an assigned nurse case manager whose responsibilities include receiving and analyzing
each case to ensure that every service member obtains the proper care. This can
be a challenge, because military personnel are sometimes not forthright about
everything that may be affecting their recovery, she said.
“We have to
listen to the service member, and try to find out what they are not talking
about to determine their true problems. We want to bring that to the forefront
of the conversation so that we can treat their ailment,” Jackson said.
Estevez met throughout
his transition with Jackson to talk. She conducted an interview with him every
time they sat down to discuss recurring or new ailments that might have emerged
since their last meeting.
“She is great,
and very well-respected among the soldiers, to include the staff,” Estevez said.
“Sometimes patients are stubborn, but I will admit it -- I am too. She is the
checks and balances in the system and says, ‘Hey you need to see this doctor or
take this physical therapy.’”
“We have to know as
much as possible about the patient. We include the family, and the spouse.
Everything is included,” Jackson said.
Sports Therapy
The Warrior
Transition Battalion provides different types of physical therapy treatments
and practices, including track and field exercises, archery and swimming. The
activities provide transitioning soldiers with outlets to cope with some of
their physical and mental challenges. Through the interviews and counseling,
Estevez chose horseback riding as one of his physical therapy treatments at the
WTB.
“We have to groom
the horses before we put the tack and saddle on them. We take them out for a
ride, but we then have to take the equipment off the horses and bathe them
before returning them back to the stable, “Estevez said. During the ride,
however, he focuses on the muscle areas he needs to strengthen.
“It is better
than going to the gym [and] doing the same routine,” Estevez said.
These programs
are available to all soldiers who come through the WTB. The organization
provides these activities at no cost and provides all the necessary supplies.