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Wounded warrior returns to serve Air Force

  • Published
  • By Tammy Cournoyer
  • Air Force Wounded Warrior Program
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Gunar Moschner knows all too well the pain and anxiety that follows a devastating combat-related injury, but he also knows help is available through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program.

Thanks to the program -- and his own perseverance - Mr. Moschner is once again serving with the Air Force.

His life today is a long way from where it was Oct. 18, 2004, when he was injured in the line of duty. As a senior airman assigned to Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Mr. Moschner was deployed to Qatar. As cargo was being downloaded from a 747, the mechanized roller was activated while he was pushing a pallet out of the aircraft. Mr. Moschner's right foot became caught between the wheel and the rail system, basically twisting his leg from the knee down.

"I pretty much lost all of my meniscus (fibrous cartilage within the knee joint), and it severely affected my muscles and ligaments," explained Mr. Moschner, a native of Bogota, Colombia.

The injury led to his being medically separated from the Air Force in August 2008. Unfortunately, he was not aware of the Air Force's program for wounded warriors until he was going through the Airman and Family Readiness Center's Transition Assistance Program before separating.

"I didn't realize the enormous help that the military can offer through (the AFW2) program until it was introduced to me during my TAP class," Mr. Moschner said. "I wish I would have known about it during my medical process on my way out of the Air Force. The information, support, assistance, and care they offer should be mandatory knowledge for all wounded Airmen before they get to the separation point."

Upon contacting the AFW2 staff at the Air Force Personnel Center, Mr. Moschner was designated an Air Force wounded warrior which means a team of professionals ensures he receives the support and care he deserves, including help seeking employment. He indicated that he wanted to continue his college education, but was also concerned about taking care of his family financially.

In Mr. Moschner's case, he used the AFW2 Employment Program that ensures all combat-related ill/injured and medically separated Airmen receive complete information about special hiring initiatives they may be entitled to receive. Air Force personnel officials established the program to assist Airmen injured in combat with a 30 percent or higher disability who wanted to continue working for the service.

"We worked with him to locate suitable employment through the program, but because Pope was impacted by BRAC, the base couldn't offer permanent employment," said Scott Hand, an AFW2 benefits and entitlements specialist. "After several months of searching, Gunar expressed a desire to live in Florida. His experience, coupled with his education achievements, put him in a prime position to find employment at several Florida bases. I worked closely with civilian personnel officials to find him the right job at the right place."

Today, Mr. Moschner is serving as a transportation quality assurance evaluator with the 325th Mission Support Group at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Although he cannot perform any impact activities or bend his knee to a full 90-degree angle now, he does not let his physical restrictions get in the way.

"Eventually I will get a full knee transplant; however, since my body is not currently able to receive a knee transplant, I have to keep up with constant pain," he said. Because the pain gets worse during winter, he appreciates finding work in Florida.

His military background as air transportation specialist armed him with the logistics skill set needed at Tyndall's Logistics Readiness Division. His supervisor, Michael Young, wasn't apprehensive about hiring a wounded warrior and is glad to have Mr. Moschner on his team.

"Gunar's knowledge of the Air Force and how we operate is a plus," Mr. Young said. "On top of that, we were fortunate that Gunar is a 'loggy.' He is very persistent and does not let up in any aspect of his duties, and continually strives to improve his skill sets."

Mr. Moschner is looking toward the future. He has a bachelor's degree in professional aeronautics from Embry Riddle and is currently enrolled in the master's program with plans to graduate next January. After that, he will start the doctorate program.

Mr. Young admires his ambition and what it means for the Air Force.

"His personal drive to pursue an advanced degree shows that even with the demands of the job you can still continue educational goals for personal reasons that also benefit the organization," Mr. Young said.

When he is not studying or working, his hobbies include remote controlled planes, playing drums, and photography. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Diana, and their 1-year-old daughter, Nicole.

Even after a devastating injury, Mr. Moschner is still able to serve the Air Force.