United Warrior Survivors Foundation

WHAT KINDS OF SUPPORT DOES UWSF PROVIDE?

WHAT SETS UWSF APART FROM OTHER NON-PROFITS?

The United Warrior Survivor Foundation (UWSF) is the only organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of the surviving spouses of Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel killed in the line of duty since September 11, 2001.

We strive to serve the spouses’ needs through:

Unique Bi-Annual Survivor Conferences
Peer-to-Peer Support
Survivor Transition Assistance
Emergency Financial Aid and Financial Planning
Bereavement Counseling
Tender Loving Care

Peer-to-Peer Counseling and Mentorship
We have learned that, barring personal experience, the unique circumstances and grieving process that ensue following a military death are virtually incomprehensible. This notion that “only someone who has survived the experience can understand” led to the development and implementation of our unrivaled Peer-to-Peer mentorship program which pairs newly widowed Special Operations wives with trained counselors who have themselves lost a spouse under similar circumstances. Peer-to-peer mentorship offers the grieving spouse a safe and truly understanding ear while, at the same time, helping the counselor progress in her own healing process. All counselors undergo training and must have a minimum of two years to grieve their own husbands’ deaths prior to becoming a counselor.

Survivor Transition Assistance
The United Warrior Survivor Foundation defines Survivor Transition Assistance as programs and services that directly impact the survivors’ ability to rediscover peace, security and happiness.

Bereavement Counseling
UWSF ensures that survivors have access to trained, professional counselors and social workers. Counseling sessions and services can be arranged in the survivor’s home town or within reasonable geographic proximity to her home.

BI –ANNUAL SURVIVOR CONFERENCES

Each four day Survivor Conference is designed to be a practical learning experience providing measurable, real life coping mechanisms; but it is the bonding and connections forged amongst the survivors that are of truly priceless value!

The women relish the opportunity to spend time and form bonds with other women who, were it not for these events, they would likely never have the good fortune to meet.

"The survivor reunions bring all of us together and we form this amazing bond. Before my first reunion, I would wake up in the mornings and wonder how I was going to make it through another day, feeling all alone in what I was facing.
I left that reunion renewed and with a new group of friends that are walking this path along with me.
UWSF gives us the chance to come together, share experiences, and help one another through the grieving process. That is priceless and has truly changed my life."
--Army Special Forces surviving spouse

The United Warrior Survivor Foundation relies upon the generosity of private donors and corporate sponsors to defray the costs of the conferences and the travel, lodging, meals and participation costs for the surviving spouses and their children.

Participants need only accept the invitation to take part – and UWSF foots the entire bill. It is our belief that they have already paid the ultimate price!

UWSF is committed to ensuring that the surviving widows and children have a future that their fallen husbands would have wanted for them. You can help provide this invaluable experience for our ever-growing community of Special Operations Forces surviving spouses and their children. DONATE

The Power of Prayer
Finally, UWSF always includes the surviving families in our daily prayers.

Daily Benefits Summary for Life
UWSF ensures that all spouses have a clear understanding of their benefits, that they are indeed receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled, and that they are aware of their current status under those benefits both for themselves and for their children, in order to ensure that benefits do not lapse without warning.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR UWSF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS?

UWSF programs and services are available to all surviving spouses of U.S. Special Operations personnel who have died in the line of duty since September 11, 2001 and to surviving spouse of those who were on volunteer support or re-supply missions to Special Operations teams.

If you are unsure if your husband was supporting a Special Operations mission, please call us. UWSF has well established relationships with other casualty assistance organizations, and we will gladly help you find the services you need and deserve.

Please call us at (800)804-UWSF, or contact us today!

Because NO ONE should have to go it alone!

UWSF SCHOLARSHIPS

Are you a college bound Special Operations Surviving Spouse? From now through June 1, 2009, we will be accepting applications for our UWSF Scholarship Awards. The deadline for these applications is June 1, 2009 with awards disbursed on August 1, 2009. Click below for application and guidelines.

APPLICATION

GUIDELINES