Wounded Warrior Project exists to honor and empower Wounded Warriors who incurred service-connected injuries on or after September 11, 2001. With advancement in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of service members are surviving severe wounds or injuries. “As a consequence, our initial focus with Operation Outdoor Freedom is wounded service members and veterans who were injured on or after September 1, 2001,” said Pruden. “However, the formalization of this program by the legislature and outpouring of support bodes very well for the future and the opportunity to broaden the involve-
ment of veterans and service personnel injured prior to 9/11,” he said, noting Florida is home to approximately 1.5 million veterans. “Whether participants have a history of hunting or are making their debut in the field, their involvement in Operation Outdoor Freedom is a major step forward as they benefit from sharing stories and experiences with men and women who have been on similar broken paths,” said Pruden. With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, WWP is the hand
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extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. In addition to OOF, WWP offers a variety of programs and services to help warriors with every type of injury from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. For additional information about Operation Outdoor Freedom and/or how to become a part of the Wounded Warrior Project, contact Pruden via email: JPruden@woundedwarriorproject.org.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
MARCH 2012
37