The Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program is a Congressionally-mandated and federally-funded program that provides personalized care, services and advocacy to total force seriously or very seriously wounded, ill or injured Airmen and Guardians. In addition to well-coordinated & individualized personal support, AFW2 advocates on behalf of our warriors to ensure accessibility of care and provide them with a host of support programs. The AFW2 staff is committed to helping wounded warriors minimize delays and gaps in both medical and non-medical services, while focusing on specific personal and family needs.

AFW2 uses the term "Airman for Life" somewhat loosely. The program's goal is to provide wounded warriors the necessary services so they can successfully recover, move-forward with the necessary resiliency skills and fortitude to go about their daily lives. Because the Department of Veteran Affairs is charged with taking over continued long-term support, AFW2's overall role is very limited once a Service member is permanently separated or retired.

In order for Retired Airmen and Guardians to be considered for entry into AFW2, they must have sustained wounds, illness, or injuries incurred in the line of duty (LOD) after 10 September 2001 and one of the following conditions:

• Very seriously, or seriously wounded, ill, or injured on the Casualty Morning Report or by a Department of Defense medical authority
• Airmen with highly-complex medical conditions that are service related or were sustained in the line of duty and confirmed by a DoD medical authority (examples: tick-borne illnesses, cancer, invisible wounds [PTSD/TBI], chemical exposure, etc.). Final approval authority is AFPC/DPFW
• Airmen diagnosed with service-related or in the line of duty PTSD, TBI, or MST, verified by DoD medical authority and are under consideration or referral for MEB
• Purple Heart recipients
• Air Reserve Components (ARC) who were retained for more than six months on Title 10 medical orders or returned to Title 10 orders for deployment-related conditions

Cases identified through the casualty reports or the Integrated Disability Evaluation System are considered without a referral if enough information is available to make an enrollment determination.

For more information, please visit the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) webpage:
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/

Air Force Wounded Warrior Airman for Life:
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Support/Airman-for-Life/

Office of Warrior Care Policy:
https://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/

Online Resource for Americans with Disabilities:
https://www.benefits.gov/categories/Healthcare%20and%20Medical%20Assistance

Department of the Air Force Instructions 34-1101, Warrior and Survivor Care:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi34-1101/dafi34-1101.pdf

DFAS Disability Retirement Pay
https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/disability/disability/

Air Force Instruction 34-1101: Warrior and Survivor Care
https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/07_PROGRAMS%20AND%20INITIATIVES/08_Recovery%20Coordination%20Program/AFI%2034-1101.pdf?ver=2018-06-21-123727-330