Palace HART making a difference in the lives of Airmen

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
A vehicle operations journeyman by trade, Tech. Sgt. Corey Carter found running convoy security escort missions while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to be an exciting change of pace.

That was until an encounter with an improvised explosive device Sept. 5, 2004, near Balad, Iraq, resulted in an injury that ended his military career.

Now, thanks in part to an Air Force initiative called Palace Helping Airmen Recover Together, or Palace HART, Mr. Carter is again serving in the Air Force, as a civilian employee with the 88th Air Base Wing's Civil Engineer Directorate here.

Palace HART is directed by the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas. The program targets Airmen who have an illness or injury associated with OIF or Operation Enduring Freedom and are medically separated or retired.

Palace HART mirrors Department of Defense programs of other military services such as the Army's "Wounded Warriors" and Marine Corps "Marine for Life."

The program has more than 200 enrolled Airmen and is growing each month, said Dave Clark, with the Airmen, Family and Community Operations Branch at AFPC.

"Our focus is to provide each injured Airman with personal support," Mr. Clark said. "We're readily available to help guide them through the sometimes complex process of the transition to civilian life."

Palace HART consultants at AFPC set up personalized follow-up contact with each enrolled Airmen.

"When we contact Palace HART participants, we ask how things are going and if they have any issues that we can help with," Mr. Clark said. "Each case file is reviewed and we determine if pending issues were resolved since we last made contact. Each participant also understands they can reach the program by calling our toll free number if they need help."

If necessary, the Palace HART consultant can act as a liaison to arrange face-to-face assistance with local Airman and Family Readiness Centers or other helping agencies.

Mr. Carter came to know a few Palace HART consultants on a first name basis, typically speaking to them once a month. During one of those conversations following his medical retirement from the Air Force, he said he had been laid off from his new civilian job.

Since Mr. Carter lived outside of Columbus, Ohio, the Palace HART team at AFPC contacted Eric Dilworth, director of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Civilian Personnel Office, to see if a position could be found on base that matched Mr. Carter's skills and interest.

"Mr. Dilworth briefed Col. Colleen Ryan (the 88th Air Base Wing commander), who was very supportive about the program and hopes to be fill more jobs with Palace HART candidates," said Becky Short, a Palace HART program manager at Wright-Patterson AFB. "Tom Davis and Jim Tufano with base civil engineering were excited about helping out and Mr. Carter, a Purple Heart recipient, was placed as a maintenance worker motor vehicle operator in early August."

"It works out for everyone," Ms. Short said. "Mr. Carter remains employed, and the base gets a hero.

"When possible, the Air Force tries to keep skilled, motivated, and trained men and women on active duty, consistent with the Airman's preference," Ms. Short said. "If it isn't feasible for them to remain on active duty, separating Palace HART Airmen can expect to receive personnel services support, extended transition assistance, financial benefits and entitlements counseling, as well as civilian job search assistance. Additionally, the Palace HART team at AFPC conducts five-year case management follow-up with the Airman and their immediate family members.

"The Air Force will provide the same level of loyalty and commitment in the care of those combat-related ill and injured as it does in preparing them for deployment and combat," Ms. Short said.

Mr. Carter, who is married and has three children, actually got to meet two of his Palace HART counselors in December 2006 at Florida's Walt Disney World during a trip sponsored by the Salute Heroes organization. He said he's pleased with Palace HART and hopes military members from other services get support as good as he's encountered.

"I'm just really glad they were able to help out me and my family," he said. 

"We're moving ahead," Mr. Clark said. "This is a dynamic program and we are always looking for ways to improve and that's exactly what we are doing."

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