FT. MEADE, MD –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined officials from Ft. Meade and the Maryland congressional delegation at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Soldier and Family Assistance Center, which will provide resources, support services and guidance to soldiers and their families assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU).
 In 2009, Senator Cardin met with Department of Defense officials to secure funding for this new facility.
 

“When I visited the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) last year I made a pledge to the soldiers and their families that I would push for a new facility to meet their needs and the appropriate funding to ensure they have the resources that are needed for their treatment and recovery,” said
Senator Cardin, who visited the WTU in 2008 and in 2009.
  “This new Soldier and Family Assistance Center at Ft. Meade is a direct result of those efforts and I want to thank Ft. Meade for the excellent job it does in providing support and services to our soldiers and their families.”

The WTU was established at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Ft. Meade in June 2007 as part of the Army Medical Action Plan as a temporary WTU location.
  Its mission is to provide housing, case management and medical services to soldiers and to support their families while they recover from their wounds.
 

Since then, the WTU has grown and become an important factor in providing care to wounded soldiers and support for their families.
  The unit has grown from 58 wounded warriors assigned who were assigned to the unit in 2008 to 178 soldiers who are now assigned to the unit.

The new 4500 square foot SFAC facility will include conference, meeting and computer rooms, a reception area, training space, media and recreation rooms, kitchen and children’s activity center. The facility enables comprehensive centralized coordination of referrals and a variety of human resources support elements for warriors in transition and their family members.