Category Archives: Department of Defense

Pentagon Exhibit Showcases Wounded Warriors’ Therapeutic Art

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By Paige LaPlant

MSgt (Ret) Justin Jordan discusses the art process with U.S. Navy VADM Raquel Bono, Director, Defense Health Agency, at the opening of the Wounded Warrior Healing Arts Exhibit at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on April 12, 2017. (DoD photo by Roger L. Wollenberg)

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2017 — Healing arts therapy for wounded warriors can have a profound impact on those who have post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and it also educates the medical community on treating such signatures of war, the director of the Defense Health Agency said today at the opening of the 2017 Wounded Warrior Healing Arts exhibit at the Pentagon.

Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) Raquel C. Bono spoke at the kickoff of the Pentagon Patriotic Arts Program’s newest display, which will grace the walls of Apex 1 and 2 on the Pentagon’s second floor for a year.

The exhibit reflects the therapeutic artwork of service members who have suffered such maladies and found an outlet in many forms of art to help in managing their symptoms.

The military has used therapeutic arts programs since the inception of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence healing arts program in 2010 at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It’s an expanding program across the nation’s military facilities, with numerous such programs in place or under way.

Signature Wounds

“One of lessons we took away from 15 years of war … is we realized there’s much more than fixing a person’s physical ability and injury,” Bono pointed out. And often, coping with such disorders with art therapy involves the community around the affected service member, she said. “l see it has a profound impact not only on your own healing, but to rest of community in terms of understanding and appreciation,” the admiral said.

Caring for a Network

“We learned we must be able to take care of the entire family and the entire network of our wounded warriors, and that was a real signature lesson we carried forward,” Bono noted.

But another piece of that equation, she said, is that military medicine learned to take care of spiritual, intellectual, mental, physical and religious domains that are important as wounded warriors transition from the military.

The DHA director told the numerous artists from the program who were in the audience that their ability to display their art in the halls of the Pentagon is an incredibly powerful way to express their messages that often cannot be put into words.

Likewise, she added, the artists’ sharing of their work with a broad audience will help others understand that complexities exist in everyone, and the complexities can exceed simple treatment and therapy.

“I want people to know who you are and what you’ve done,” Bono told the artists. “I thank you all for sharing, because I know this is a deeply personal part of who you are and what you’ve experienced.”

For more information, visit Healing Arts and the Military Health System and Pentagon Patriotic Art Program: Wounded Warrior Healing Arts Exhibit. View more photos from the opening event on Flickr and follow @WarriorCare on Twitter and Facebook for the latest in adaptive reconditioning events and updates.

By Terri Moon Cronk, DoD News, Defense Media Activity
Originally published on Defense.gov

JLUS Policy Committee awarded Department of Defense Joint Land Use Study Grant

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FLAGSTAFF – The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment has awarded a $532,700 grant to Coconino County for a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS), which provides recommendations for land uses that are compatible with the missions of military installations while also supporting economic development and community values.

In June 2016, Coconino County convened a JLUS Policy Committee, chaired by Flagstaff City Councilmember Celia Barotz, with stakeholders from the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, State of Arizona Departments, U.S. Forest Service, Arizona Army National Guard Camp Navajo, U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Northern Arizona University, Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA), Lowell Observatory, developers, and local businesses and civic associations. The Policy Committee met several times to determine the scope of study for the grant application.

“I extend my sincere thanks to Coconino County for taking the lead on this important planning effort; the stakeholders who are members of the Policy Committee for engaging in this effort thus far; and the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment for awarding the grant for the study. As the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County grow, it’s essential that we plan now to try and minimize future land use conflicts around our local military installations,” said JLUS Policy Committee Chair Flagstaff City Councilmember Celia Barotz.

“We appreciate that the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment saw the value in this project and awarded this grant,” said Supervisor Ryan. “This grant will allow the Policy Committee to study the best uses for this land and determine what is in the best interest of our community while fulfilling the missions of our military installations.”

The grant will be used to hire a consultant who will conduct the study that will identify land uses that are compatible with United States Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station and the Arizona National Guard Camp Navajo in Bellemont. Additional objectives of the study include increasing public awareness of the military missions and improving communications between the military and community stakeholders.

“This is a fine example of many partners coming together to work on a joint project. I thank my colleagues Supervisors Art Ryan and Art Babbott, and all the staff for their effort on this project. Their hard work and determination in assembling the JLUS Policy Committee and drafting the application made this grant possible,” stated Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “I look forward to the process unfolding and the final recommendations.”