good sunday morning. i'm pat lawson muse. today we honor our wounded warriors and visit the old soldiers home where workers are working to course used by veterans and wounded warriors for recreation. more than 200 injured service members will take part in warrior care month of. joining us is james rodriguez with the office of warrior care policy. thank you for being with us, mr. rodriguez. we know that ill or injured service members often come home

battles we bhehe living with the loss of limbs or ptsd. >> it is a tough transition in many cases when someone has suffered an injury or illness, but we have programs in place now that help with that process. we help ensu veteran's space once we get them fully rehabilitated. >> you have what's called a customized recovery and rehab process. explain what that is and exactly how that works. >> we have an individual comprehensive plan for service member that's going through this process. it allows us to customize individual resources.

streamline the individual's recovery and/or treatment. and it's something that is carried over once they go into the veteran status. so we take that from the department of defense duty component and transfer it to the veteran's space. >> with the new administration coming in, how will it affect the programs and services that you're currently providing or do you even know yet? have you been able to make that assessment? >> we do know that the that exist are work for us. we hope they will continue to help us with this. we understand it's important for us to work collaboratively with the va. so we're hoping the administration will help to continue that. >> is it, though, a nervous time for those of you who work in the

have a new administration coming to town and maybe different budget priorities? >> so i think it may be somewhat of a little nervous time for people because of the process may change a little bit. but overall, i think we have a mission, and we know what that mission is, and that's to support wounded, ill and injured and we pretty much stay focussed on that mission whether i'm here or someone else is in this seat, support our men and women who need these programs. >> you will be making a transition, though. >> i will. >> tell us what your plans are. do you know yet? >> i don't know. i'm in the process right now like a lot of our service members, figuring out what is best for me, and the role i can continue to serve. >> continuity is important.

standpoint, we have phenomenal commanders at the ground level that are in charge of transition units from all of our services and they maintain that continuity within their programs. the ability to maintain our position will be in place, because we have people who work with me to make sure that the mission continues. >> so a lot of people are nervous, but they don't need to be too nervous yet. >> not at all. we know what our mission is and >> it's been 15 years now that the u.s. as been involved, u.s. service men and women have been involved in combat in the middle east and other places. tell us how the department of defense and veterans affairs are working together to improve the care and the services that they're providing for service men and women who've been in iraq, who've been in afghanistan. >> so we have a couple of collaborative committees, actually, that are probably not

affairs. we have leaders from organizations coming together to map out these transition challenges, if you will. we talk about the resources that we have in place to help with the benefits piece of it, the health care piece of it, and we also have another committee called interagency core care committee, that works on long-term care for our severely injured service members. so we have amazing collaboration long-term support from active duty into the veteran space. >> you have a whole month of activities planned for wounded warriors. we're going to continue our talk about this right after break, stay with us.

welcome back. we're talking this morning about

and mr. rodriguez, the warriors you're caring for now have a higher survival rate than in previous years. there aren't as many coming back home injured, but those who are injured are living much longer. you have better technology to take occasion of them. better medicine. talk about the challenges. >> some of the challenge is that transition piece of it, is understanding that for many no longer going to be able to continue on active duty. so understanding that we need to change the mind-set or help with that transition mind-set, if you will, to help them understand that we are trying to prepare them through the recovery process. and all the resources that we have to prepare for that transition. and we have programs in place, as i mentioned earlier, working with the va, to help with the long-term success of that transition. >> mm-hm.

coming home with ptsd, traumatic brain injuries, they present their own challenge. tell me how your programs for them have changed. >> you're exactly right. they do present some of their own challenges. but, again, some of the resources we have, our rehabilitative art therapy, something simple as yoga is a major resource that we use for helping that mind-set. so we have various resources at the unit level that they are using to help with post-traumatic stress. >> good medical care is a primary need, but sports and arts are good medicine for bodies and souls, aren't they? >> they are. and naturally, athletes tend to become service members. so getting them back into sports is something that we find very rewarding, because that helps

service members are using their skills that they acquired during their rehabilitation to pursue other types of activities that they may not have used or pursued before they were injured or ill, and they're participating in various events from archery to track and field to swimming and skiing. i could go on and on. but they also use the arts as well. we know that that does a very good job, if you will, with helping people they have different talents that they can use to express their feelings, and that's working out for us. >> you're sponsoring warrior care activities and your theme is "show of strength." tell us about the month you have planned. >> we have various activities throughout the month. the warrior care month highlights the resources we have within the department that the service members can use. and we have a wheelchair rugby,

monday. we have a hiring heroes career fair that helps them see how they can use their experiences to help with the transition process. thursday evening we have an art display, an expo. we get to see a lot of the art on display that the service th aut the rugby wheelchair. >> it's like crash car. >> we're not crashing. >> there's a little bit of crashing, but the chairs are designed specifically for wheelchair rugby, because of the physical nature of it, it helps with the service members want to get involved in it, because it helps them become independent, if of will, and it also helps them to become part of a team again, they get to compete

you play army versus navy and marine corps versus air force. >> how are the teams formed? is there a league? >> no. as part of our sports process within the warrior transition commands, there's an opportunity for somebody to play the sport or learn the sport, rather, and then they form teams, and then they come and do these types of clinics throughout the country, and warrior care months they come and compete here. >> so >> yes. they're trained. >> to compete in the wheelchair in the game of rugby. >> we'll have professional players come and train them and get out and coach them during the process of playing the game. >> all right, we'll take another break and we'll be back.

welcome back. we're talking about warrior care month. and mr. rodriguez, hiring, you have a career fair, called "hiring heroes", and it's different than "hiring our heroes" that nbc 4 has participated in. tell us about the fair. >> the fair, it's a comprehensive way to help service members understand how they're going to prepare for transition. there's a with resume building. then after that, they have employers come in and do interviews with the service members and help them understand how to use their skills and resources that they look for their next opportunity. and they will, the service members themselves will understand what the organization or corporations, if you will, have to offer and how they can maybe see themselves within that type of employment. >> we reported in the news this past week how most employers say they've hired veterans.

important to get a job that leads to a career. >> correct. >> than just a job, isn't it? >> it is. and i can tell you from my personal standpoint, that's one of the most important things. when you are leaving the service, you're looking for the next opportunity where you can build the continuation of your career. so finding organizations that are building internal resources to help with that process, i think it's important to service members. >> so that takes place on the 16th. and also on the 16th, healing so what happens there? >> so we'll have some artwork on display, the service members who've used art as a healing process. they'll be there to talk about a lot of their work, and they get to interact with the audience. it comes out personally and their through art. it's very important for the healing process. >> and then on the 17th, the sitting volleyball tournament.

pentagon athletics center. >> yes. we'll have teams from all the services represented. they'll come and do sitting volleyball. it poses its own unique challenges because you're sitting versus standing up. >> no sand involved. >> no sand involved. it's on the basketball court. and we'll have participants from all the different services competing for the trophy at the end and to have bragging rights, which we all look forward to having after we've participate because it's interservice rivalry. and it poses a good challenge for everybody. >> and do you require a fee? >> no fee, no registration. if they're on active duty and a member of the war transition command or navy programs or air force programs, they automatically get to participate. and a lot of them are pursuing challenges or sports that

them, it's a challenge for them. >> one of the challenges for a sick or injured family is providing the care they need. >> we understand that our caregivers are a tremendous part of the process. so we have caregiver support programs, peer to peer networks all across the country where caregivers can get together and share resources and discuss we have monthly town halls, if you will, on the phone that people call in from all across the country and share stoies and resources. it's an opportunity to connect together. >> also helping those who helped us, our wounded warriors james rodriguez, thank you. and we will have a list of all of these events that he's talked

log onto nbc washington.com and search warrior care month. and when we come back, the armed forces retirement home, home to hundreds of retired service men and women, we'll talk about their efforts to save

the armed forces r retired service men and women. it's also home to president lincoln's summer cottage and the place where the president and his wife mary went for solace after the death of their son. it has a hidden pleasure, a nine-hole golf course.

one of the golf course guardians. thanks for being with us this morning. tell us a little about the history of the golf course. it was built in the 193 0s. >> actually, i think it was opened in 1922. it was part of the home that was the griggs farm. and the golf course was built in 1922. >> okay, we're off a few years there. >> yes. >> over the years, the golf course has suffered and fallen that members can play there for the coming year. one of the big attractions is that membership is relatively cheap. tell us about the amenities. >> so the golf course is built for the residents, the retirees that are there. and in addition, and there are 400 retirees that live at the home. and this is one of only two homes in the country that are for retirees, and it has, it's

associate members to join in, if they're sponsored by a veteran, to come in and play at the home. and i happen to be fortunate to be one of those associate members. >> and people don't have to reserve tee times. they can go any time they want. >> that's correct. it's a very friendly walk-up course. >> normally you have to reserve tee times. and many have but what you have is a family of members who consider this a precious place to go, and get some therapeutic recreation. >> that's exactly right. it's a jewel for us. and beautiful vistas at the golf course. it's one of the secrets of washington. and it is a nine-hole course. and they have an alternate hole for number two. so it has a beautiful finish all

always looking at different sights in washington, d.c. >> until now,'s been funded by the defense department, the military. you have a non-profit set up. tell us about the funding problem that you've run into. >> so there was a system rule that said that because the maintenance of the grounds was divided into maintenance for the golf course and maintenance of the grounds. >> for the home. >> for the home. that says they cannot use the trust fund money to do golf maintenance or recreation. and so we found this out in september. the senior residents that are there found that out in september. and they asked the associate members to help. so we set up to try to raise the $250,000 to make sure that the golf course stays open next year. >> okay. and you're trying to raise those funds now.

>> december 15th is the deadline. >> and what happens if you don't raise the money? >> if we don't raise the money, any money that's raised goes to the recreation fund for the members that are there, so none of the money is lost. it actually goes to the residents for all of their recreation purposes. but should we meet it, it means that the money will be in place for the administrators to put out a contract so there can be a contract awarded by march 15th. continue to operate if you don't get the money after 2017? >> i'm not, i'm not exactly certain of what happens after december 15th, if we don't meet dead line. the golf course will still be there. but the maintenance for this year would not be met. and they've told us if we don't meet that deadline, the course will be closed for 2017. >> aside from the golf course, what makes the old soldiers home

have walking jewels there. when i go up to play, i don't go just for the golf course. i go to talk to the members up there, to hear their stories of life. they're such wonderful characters. there's one golfer that is working or that i played with is 94 years old and still plays. and she is a wonderful character. and another one who's there is ken fowler, who's an old salty seas. and they are the reason that it is so special. >> we wish you well in your efforts, ed gallaber. and for more information log onto our website, nbc washington.com and search armed forces retirement home. thank you for joining us this

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george's county. >> a crash that claimed a life. >> taking it to the streets. the escalating violation in portland. i'm adam tuss. >> i'm angie goff. so glad you can join us. we'll seeing some of the cooler weather we've seen in a long time. >> you might be able to catch the last fleeting glimpse of the moon. tom kierein is here with that.