Wounded Warrior Project's Impact

Navy veteran Ysabel Cardona found the healing power of women’s peer support groups, the impact of having peer support, and the strength that comes from women supporting women in a safe, welcoming space.

Melissa Krabbe never gave much thought to what it would mean to be a military spouse. With few military ties in her family, it wasn't on her radar. When she met Phil Krabbe, the notion of military life seemed distant. Eventually, they married, had a child, and settled into a comfortable, day-to-day routine.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Long Lead won the National Press Foundation’s inaugural Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Award for Excellence in Coverage of Veterans. The award celebrates outstanding reporting on the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of veterans. WWP partnered with NPF to create the award to inspire high-quality journalism about the needs of those who served.

Challenge coins are small medallions that represent an achievement, membership, or affiliation to a specific group. In the military and veteran community, they often symbolize a special event or mission, anniversary, meeting with a leader, or affiliation with a unit. According to the Department of Defense, challenge coins have been an American tradition for a century.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have emerged as signature wounds of America's longest war, affecting thousands of post-9/11 veterans. As this population ages, experts say their care needs are becoming increasingly complex.