Photo By Spc. Walker Pino | U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Ivan Lugo, assigned to 2-13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, TEXAS — Caring for a unit’s family member following the unexpected death or injury of a service member is a difficult task. The Care Team is an Army wide program that consists of trained volunteers to help provide Soldiers and their families support in their time of need.
The program usually consists of personnel assigned to the same unit as the affected Soldier. The Care Team won’t be contacted until the next of kin is notified, and it is up to the family if they want assistance from them or not.
“The Care Team program is designed to train the families of units in case a service member is injured or has passed away,” said Zenon Molina, an Army Community Service Specialist. “The other families are gonna come in and help, so we train them.”
Molina has been an ACS Specialist at Fort Bliss for nine years with about 250 people attending the training each year. Depending on the family’s needs, support can be provided in the form of Go Team, Home Care Assistance Team, Call Support Team, Childcare Support Team, Meal Support Team, and Subsequent Team.
“These families [Care Team] can take care of cleaning the house, taking care of the children [and] cooking for them,” said Molina. “The Care Team will be there to take this burden off so that they can take care of themselves and their family.”
The Care Team is a commander’s program, which enables them to vet Soldiers in their unit to see who they want as a Care Team member.
“[Commanders] need to identify the right people to be a part of the Care Team,” said Manuel Lara, the Army Community Services Mobilization and Deployment Program Manager. “It’s gonna be a stressful situation. You’re gonna be dealing with service members or families who are probably experiencing one of the worst days of their life.”
Despite the hard topics the program covers like dealing with a casualty or an injured Soldier, it is a necessary part of the Care Team to assist families in those circumstances.
“It’s one of those things you’d rather have and not need than need and don’t have,” said Molina. “It could be the worst time in somebody's life, and this can make the difference for some people.”
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2023 08:57 |
| Story ID: | 437226 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 436 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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