Warrior Caregivers United — support group for combat health care providers
What is Warrior Caregivers United?
Heartbeat—Serving Wounded Warriors offers a specialized support group for combat health care providers. The group is confidential and uplifting.
The goal is to provide education and assist the warriors in growing supportive networks. Members develop, strengthen, and learn to use positive coping skills. This is critical for a healthy and productive life.
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What is a combat health care provider?
Combat medics, doctors, Navy corpsmen, and trauma nurses are military staff trained to provide medical care on the battlefield. This includes trauma care, first aid, and surgery. Each position differs slightly. Some might also oversee the troops’ ongoing health. Training for field medicine is rigorous and challenging; not all service members can complete the training.
The combat medical team also includes chaplains, who are vital to the team’s success. Warrior Caregivers United welcomes all combat chaplains.
When a service member is hurt on the battlefield, the brave combat medics are first on the scene. They have to make quick life-and-death decisions, which can include amputation and other life-changing procedures.
When necessary, these caregivers also fight alongside their fellow warriors. No one is free from potential harm.
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Who is eligible for the warrior support group?
Heartbeat invites all men and women who have served on the combat health care team:
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Medics
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Doctors
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Navy corpsmen
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Trauma nurses
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Chaplains
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How does the support group help warriors?
Compassion fatigue is the extreme emotional drain on combat medics, doctors, corpsmen, nurses, and chaplains. The strain of constant exposure to working with combat patients is debilitating. On top of that, fellow warriors are like family—treating their serious wounds is emotionally devastating. Symptoms affect daily functioning:
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Depression
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Low self-esteem
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Difficulty sleeping
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Difficulty concentrating
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Irritability
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Cynicism
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Substance abuse
The Warrior Caregivers United group is a positive path to the warriors’ health and their families’ well-being. The group helps on many levels:
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Develop an individual self-care plan
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Clarify professional and personal boundaries
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Build strength and perseverance
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Build resilience
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Become rejuvenated
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Why does Heartbeat offer the warrior support group?
Heartbeat and its supporters firmly believe we owe it to our heroes and their families to help them heal. We believe that it’s time to let the healing begin.
Combat health care providers put their lives on the line while serving others. It’s one of the toughest jobs in the military. Quick care for wounded troops is critical. Many service members like to say that combat medics “stand tall when they kneel to treat the wounded.”
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What is my donation used for?
Heartbeat can offer this important program because of our generous donors. Expenses for Warrior Caregivers United include speaker costs, educational materials, health-enhancing retreats, events, and miscellaneous costs. Please contact Heartbeat for more information. You can donate online or by mail. Heartbeat is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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Who runs the warrior support group?
Experienced volunteers run the Warrior Caregivers United group: Capt. Cheri A. Lay, a military trauma nurse, and Master Sgt. John Ames. Both are from the Warrior Transition Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington.
Lay is responsible for developing this vital, innovative support group. Please contact her for more information at (253) 968-4083. You may also contact Sgt. Ames at (253) 966-1351.
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How can I join the support group?
It’s easy. We’re here to help. Please contact Capt. Lay at (253) 968-4083.
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