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The Defense Department is launching a new program soon that's designed to assist transitioning service members in accessing help for mental health issues, a U.S. Public Health Service officer announced in Washington, D.C., Mar. 23. The Transitional Support Program is "designed to bridge potential gaps in psychological health services that can occur during periods of transfer," when service members complete military service and re-enter civilian life, according to Cmdr. Guy Mahoney, who is detailed to work with the Defense Department.

Eighteen months ago, Lt. Col. KC Bolton took command of the newly created Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Lewis, where 99 combat-wounded soldiers are recovering from injuries suffered "in theater."

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, launched last year by the Pentagon, is designed to ease the transition home for reservists.

The Army's top civilian leader visited Fort Bragg's wounded soldiers Monday, days after a news report that they are being punished three times as often as healthy soldiers on post.

The Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs are making "great strides" in the ability to electronically share the medical records of troops and former troops under their care who are transitioning between the health care systems of the two departments.

If they are able, every wounded soldier is assigned a job, internship or takes continuing education classes during their recovery, said Col. Jimmie Keenan, chief of staff of the nation's Warrior Care and Transition Office. The goal is to place troops in jobs that match existing skills, help them learn new ones, or, if an injury means they need a new career, help them find one.

The Defense Department recently handed out contracts to three companies to design independent living systems for injured vets. They're supposed to help the wounded make the transition from hospitalization to home, and then provide long-term care. Two of the systems being developed, from Ingenium Care, LLC and Camris International, use a wireless network packed with touch screens, motion detectors and wearable, pre-programmed schedulers.