Intrepid Spirit Centers

Hundreds of thousands of military personnel have been diagnosed with some level of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the past decade, many as a result of combat. TBI and post-traumatic stress (PTS) can have long-term and sometimes severe effects on service members’ lives, affecting their ability to work, manage basic living tasks, and interact with others – even with their own families. Depression and more tragic consequences, including suicide, can result. Proper and immediate diagnosis and early treatment are crucial to addressing this vital need among America’s military personnel.

Following the opening of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) in 2010, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund launched its current effort: building Intrepid Spirit Centers (ISCs) to serve as satellites to NICoE to extend care to the home base of many of the troops suffering the effects of TBI and PTS. Nine centers are completed and in operation. Our tenth and final center is currently under construction and will be completed as sufficient funds are raised. View the full map here.

 

Each ISC is approximately 25,000 square feet and costs about $13 million to build and equip. The centers are designed around the patient-centered interdisciplinary model of care developed at NICoE, which brings all disciplines together under one roof, and provides a comprehensive means of delivering treatment. Patients with TBI can manifest many different symptoms, including physical indicators, such as headaches, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, mood swings, vision, hearing and balance issues. They may also exhibit mental health symptoms, such as verbal or physical outbursts, impulsive behavior, poor judgment, inflexibility, depression or anxiety. The ISC model of care permits all medical disciplines to address these various issues together. Clinical and other professional services involved in treatment include: neurology, nutrition, physical therapy, speech and hearing therapy, psychiatry, occupational therapy, speech pathology, neuropsychology, ophthalmology, and nursing, among others. Experts provide specialized care using traditional methods, such as neurological exams, physical therapy and sleep studies, combined with integrated health treatments, including acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness, art and music therapy. This model of care has enabled more than 90% of patients to continue on active duty with many of their symptoms reduced or controlled.

Nine Intrepid Spirit Centers are open and operating:

Fort Belvoir, VA

Ground was broken for the ISC at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia on June 13, 2012, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 11, 2013.

Camp Lejeune, NC

Ground was broken for the ISC at the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on June 13, 2012, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 2, 2013.

Fort Campbell, KY

Ground was broken for the ISC at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, on June 13, 2013, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 8, 2014.

Fort Liberty, NC (Formerly Fort Bragg)

Ground was broken for the ISC at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on January 24, 2014, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2016. On June 3, 2023 Fort Bragg was renamed Fort Liberty.

Fort Cavazos, TX (Formerly Fort Hood)

Ground was broken for the ISC at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas, on June 12, 2014, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 9, 2016. On May 9, 2023 Fort Hood was renamed Fort Cavazos.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA

Ground was broken for the ISC at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, on October 29, 2015, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 5, 2018.

Camp Pendleton, CA

Ground was broken for the ISC at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton at Camp Pendleton, California, on May 9, 2017, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 4, 2018.

Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Ground was broken for the ISC at Eglin Air Force Base Hospital, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on May 2, 2019, and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 29, 2020.

Fort Carson, CO

Ground was broken for the ISC at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado on May 13, 2021 and the center was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 13, 2022.

Fort Bliss, TX

Ground was broken for the tenth and final ISC  at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, Texas on December 1, 2022 and construction is currently underway.

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