AF veteran eases transitions for wounded warriors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  When an Airman is wounded, injured or becomes seriously ill, they have many choices to make and options to consider about their future.

One person who can help navigate those choices and options is Jeffrey Leyrer, an Air Force Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC).

"I am an advocate for the member and their interests," Leyrer said. "We provide non-clinical case management [to] help the service member find, based on their medical conditions, what benefits or resources are out there that can help assist them."

RCCs work under the auspices of the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program operating out of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. They are tasked with assisting wounded, ill or injured Airmen who are unlikely to return to duty within a specific amount of time or who may be medically separated from the military.

At that point a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) may be held. Leyrer's office is then tasked with assisting the member until the MEB takes place, at which point responsibility for the member is transferred to AFW2.

"When their Medical Evaluation Board package is submitted to [the Air Force Personnel Center] for the initial review, that's when we are supposed to hand them off," Leyrer said.

However, Leyrer added that an RCC will continue to be involved.

"We're still the boots on the ground," he said. "The member is still going to work with us pretty much up until their separation date or return to duty, because they know us."

Leyrer serves active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard members across North Dakota and Minnesota, in an area of responsibility stretching from Minot, N.D., to Minneapolis.

When an Airman is referred to Leyrer, he works with them to create a Comprehensive Recovery Plan, taking into consideration the member's personal and professional goals. Leyrer then connects the Airman with the right agencies and programs and regularly follows up with them to ensure their needs are being met.

"What I try to do is empower the member," Leyrer said, explaining that while he might contact some agencies, others must be contacted by the members themselves. Regardless, Leyrer ensures the recovery plan is constructed in a way that allows the member to focus more on medical issues and getting well.

Currently, Leyrer is monitoring eight cases. One of those is Tech. Sgt. Joshua Robistow, 319th Civil Engineer Squadron unit training manager. Robistow began meeting with Leyrer in 2013 after sustaining injuries during a deployment.

Robistow described how Leyrer helped him enter the Operation Warfighter program, which is set up to help service members transition from the military to employment with other government agencies.

Leyrer also introduced Robistow to the world of adaptive sports.

"[It] got me out of the house and back into the swing of working out and doing stuff I love," Robistow recalled.

Robistow stated that the service Leyrer provides has been very important as he prepares for his MEB.

"He's the go-to guy. He's there to answer any questions we have about what's going to happen to us," Robistow said, adding that if Leyrer doesn't know an answer himself, he'll track down the person who does.

Leyrer, a 28-year veteran of the Air Force, is actually a contractor in his role as RCC. He said that this allows him to bypass things that might otherwise bog down a patient's case.

"My chain is my program manager in Texas, and then straight to the [Department of Defense Office of Warrior Care Policy at the Pentagon," he said.

While the RCC program has a high visibility with leaders at the national level, Leyrer said that education and outreach at the local level are constant challenges. Patients can self-refer to an RCC or be referred by their doctor, case manager, commander, first sergeant, supervisor or even a family member. Leyrer said that he is regularly looking for ways to show patients he is here to help them.

"Many times I'll find out about someone when I get a name drop from [AFW2] asking 'hey, what do you know about this guy?'" Leyrer said as he urged supervisors and care providers to keep his office in mind when assessing a person's needs. He added that the sooner a person is referred, the sooner they can start receiving assistance.

"It's just knowing your people," Leyrer concluded.

When service members do come to him, Leyrer said it makes the work worthwhile to provide the help and see its positive effects on an Airman and their family.
"When you hear them say 'thank you, I couldn't have done this without you,' it means the world."