Founded in 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is dedicated to honouring and empowering Wounded Warriors, focusing on veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001. Starting with simple acts of service, WWP has grown into a comprehensive support network, addressing not just the physical wounds of warriors but also the invisible ones. Through a variety of programmes and services WWP’s vision is to “foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history” and embody its values of service, integrity, loyalty, fun, and innovation.
DW: When and how did the concept of the Wounded Warrior Project emerge?
JW: We were started in 2003 by a group of individuals in the Virginia area who wanted to give back to those first wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.. [The founders] started out with a backpack that they would bring to the hospital filled with personal items and that grew into this organisation. The founders saw the need [to support] people returning from war. In 2006 we moved to Jacksonville, Florida where we are now headquartered, and where WWP has now grown into an organisation of about 1,000 employees.
How would you articulate the core mission of WWP to someone learning about it for the first time?
Our mission is to honour and empower wounded warriors, and our focus is on post 9/11 veteran service members. Our free services in mental health, career counseling, long-term rehabilitative care, and more change lives.
What role does WWP play in raising awareness and educating the public about the challenges faced by wounded veterans?
We have a team within the organisation that advocates for veterans in Washington D.C., We also run TV and radio adverts as well as public service announcements to raise awareness about the challenges and experiences of our wounded warriors. We conduct the largest annual survey of its kind – the Annual Warrior Survey focuses on post 9/11 veterans and service members, that all of our warriors are invited to participate in. This survey helps us stay current with the challenges and successes of our warriors.
How has it been to adapt and evolve with the changing needs of veterans since the project has been started?
JW: This is a question which the organisation is constantly trying to tackle. It has evolved in that it is now an ageing population as it has been over twenty years since the start of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Things like our survey help us stay aware of what the veterans’ current struggles are. Pivoting our resources within our programs and services, [gives us the opportunity to] redistribute and reallocate money depending on the services which they may need more, whether that be regarding mental or physical health.
WWP provides a vast array of programmes to assist veterans and their families, what are some of the current programmes that WWP provides?
Many wounded warriors and their families face emotional and mental health challenges stemming from their time in the service. Our 2022 survey found that more than 75% of our warriors live with post traumatic stress disorder. To help warriors overcome their invisible wounds, Project Odyssey is one of our adventure based mental health programmes where individuals go out into nature as a way of bonding and forming connections together. WWP TALK is a short term non-therapeutic counselling programme that we provide, people within our TALK team do weekly calls with our warriors and family support members. These programmes are always free of charge and accessible to all our warriors.
The community element appears to be an important aspect to WWP, could you elaborate on why this is so key to WWP?:
Connecting with a community is paramount. With such a small percentage of the American population serving in the military, to bridge the gap between those that have served with those who have not, to empathise with and understand the experiences of our warriors is huge. My focus within WWP is third party fundraising, and a lot of the fundraisers I work with are with people who haven’t served but want to financially support our warriors. Having speakers at these events and hearing the first hand experiences of our warriors is quite impactful.
WWP highlights itself as a non-partisan organisation with a focus on WARRIORS rather than WAR, could you speak to that aspect more?
That is key. Indeed, we are a nonpartisan organisation, and we work closely with all parties to ensure warriors receive the benefits they’ve earned. No matter how you feel about wars or politics, we can come together to protect and empower the warriors who have served our country.
What are the long-term goals of WWP, and how do you plan to evolve to meet the changing needs of veterans? And what are the challenges that still lie ahead?
We have strategic five year plans that we work from. But our goal is to serve, protect, honour and empower our warriors for as long as the need presents itself and for as long as they need us. I think it's growing and adapting to the needs of our warriors and every five years that’s reevaluated.
For you personally, what has been the most rewarding aspect of working with WWP?
Next month will be five years that I’ve worked for WWP and I think the most rewarding thing is being able to give back to those who have given to our country. Hearing stories of how our warriors’ lives have improved. Those personal stories that are shared with us as a whole organisation are extremely impactful because the least we can do is support those that have given so much.
