New help for vets

WASHINGTON - War veterans who have lost a limb will relearn tasks such as shooting a weapon, driving a car, or rappelling down a cliff at a rehabilitation center opening today at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The 31,000-square-foot facility will offer physical and occupational therapy, sports programs, virtual-reality systems, and training with prosthetics to help troops regain a range of abilities, said Lori Calvillo, a Walter Reed spokeswoman.

The Military Advanced Training Center for Soldier Amputees is for outpatients, troops who have already completed initial rehabilitation for their wounds while in the Walter Reed hospital.

Construction on the center began in November, but the money for it was approved in 2004, before a national commission decided Walter Reed would be closed eventually in a base realignment.

Officials said the center was designed with that in mind - that is, so equipment can be moved.

Plans for the center also predate the reports of shoddy outpatient treatment at Walter Reed that caused a national outcry.

Walter Reed has treated 501 of the 681 amputees from the Iraq and Afghan campaigns who have been treated in Army medical centers, though some received treatment at more than one location over time, the Army said.

Only 47 of those have remained in the service, officials have said. Most serve as instructors or in desk jobs or other positions.

No soldier who has requested to stay has been turned down, though they must work with assignment managers to find appropriate jobs.

Among the equipment available at the center is a weapons simulator. "It's like virtual reality to teach the soldier how to shoot a weapon again," Calvillo said. "Even if they are not going back into the military, a lot of them are hunters."

There is an automotive engine repair area where troops can work on their fine motor skills and dexterity, and climbing ropes, a climbing wall and a rappelling wall to work on overhead skills and build confidence.

The center also has treadmills, elliptical trainers and cardiovascular equipment as well as a running track and equipment to help patients work on their balance, gait and other skills.

A vehicle simulator is available to reteach driving so patients can regain their independence, Calvillo said.

Patients currently move from clinic to clinic within the hospital for outpatient services. The new $10 million center will put the services in one place.