Site Geared Toward Wounded Warriors, Families

More than a year and a half after President George W. Bush apologized for substandard conditions found at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Department of Defense officials are trying to make sure that returning soldiers can find the help they need online.

WarriorCare.mil is a new portal site featuring resources from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

In addition, the Department of Defense has declared November as Warrior Care Month for the armed services.

"I am pleased we have made significant strides to improve treatment for our service members. But frankly, much work remains to be done," Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in a news release. "We need to make it easier for our troops and their families to take advantage of all the assistance now available to them."

Bush's apology for conditions at Walter Reed came after a tour of the facility in March 2007. The tour included a building that had moldy walls, rodent infestation and other problems.

The department said its WarriorCare.mil site offers many resources on the site to service members and their families, including prevention and injury-specific treatments.

One of the links takes soldiers or their families to the Wounded Warrior Resource Center, where they can get help by phone or e-mail 24 hours a day.

In addition, the links to the programs offered by the branches of the armed forces offer answers to such important questions as who is eligible for the programs, how long benefits are available and what to do if you're not eligible.

The site also links to the main site for the military's health care system, a family support handbook and information on making the transition to civilian life.

If you're a wounded soldier returning from service in Iraq or Afghanistan – or a family member of one – you owe it to yourself to check out WarriorCare.mil to see what it has to offer.