VA Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth Speaks at AW2 Training

Tammy Duckworth was sworn in by the VA only a few days ago, but she made it to San Antonio to address staff with the Army’s Wounded Warrior program. Drawing on her own experience as a double amputee, Duckworth described the despair some soldiers feel when they first enter the hospital.

“When you first wake up and somebody tells you – you don’t have legs anymore – or your arm is gone – you know he’s got a brain injury – you think that life has ended and you’re laying there – you’re drugged up and you think that life has ended. But what’s amazing about our military medical system is the fact that everybody around you has much higher expectations,” said Duckworth.

Duckworth was flying a Blackhawk Helicopter in Iraq when she was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade. She lost both of her legs and almost her right arm. Recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington she slowly began learning to walk again. She says that journey would have been impossible without the unwavering support of her advocate from the Army Wounded Warrior Program.

“You need to be the folks out there dealing with your wounded warriors – saying to them – encouraging them – are you going to come to therapy – what do you want to do – do you want to go to school – do you want to go participate in a marathon – what can I do to help you reach those goals,” said Duckworth.

Duckworth became an outspoken activist for military patient rights after leaving Walter Reed. In 2006, she almost won a seat in the U-S Congress. After serving as the head of the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs – she was appointed the VA Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs by President Obama. Duckworth said supporting wounded warriors and their families will be one of her top priorities.