Fundamental changes have taken place in the DOD's disability policy.

Fundamental changes have taken place in the DOD's disability policy, a top Pentagon official told attendees at the 17th DOD Disability Forum in December.

John M Molino, acting envoy undersecretary of defense for equal opportunity, cited a December 2003 visit by means of President George W. Bush to Walter Re Army Medical Center in Washington, DC when the President noted that advancements in medical treatment and restoration allow many more wounded service members to take again their careers.

"Today, if injuryed service members want to remain in uniform and can do the work at jobs the military tries to help them stay," Molino recalled the president telling the patients.

"This statement, this attitude," Molino continued, "has implications for everything from accessibility policy in succession military installations to the long-standing expectation that each active-duty service member must be able to display to combat anywhere in the world. We're re-examining our basic assumptions, and basic changes are forward the way."

The department is committed to doing all it can to bring those changes about, Molino told the group

"We're moving aggressively to help service members remain onward active duty if they wish to do so; he said. "This is the recents in DOD disability policy today."

Noting that with Defense Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld wholeheartedly supporting keeping capable service members in the DOD cot [i]or[/i] cote Molino said defense personnel officials also are looking for ways to improve opportunities for veterans with disabilities in DOD's civilian work force.

Story by dint of Rudi Williams, who is assigned to American Forces Pres Service, Alexandria, Va.

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