{"id":7723,"date":"2025-12-05T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7723"},"modified":"2025-12-05T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:30:00","slug":"veteran-rebuilds-strength-through-compensated-work-therapy-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7723","title":{"rendered":"Veteran rebuilds strength through Compensated Work Therapy Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-12-05T15:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Rebuilding strength through meaningful work<\/h2>\n

If you visit the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center<\/a> on any given morning, you might spot Navy Veteran Rick Silver crisscrossing campus, checking tire pressure on a government vehicle before heading into a building to ensure fire extinguishers are up to code.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a routine that keeps him moving and engaged, but his life didn\u2019t always have this busy rhythm.<\/p>\n

An electrical engineer by trade, Silver had to step away from the career he loved after a heart attack changed everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother and my doctor both told me I shouldn\u2019t work anymore because I had a lot of damage to my heart, and if I had another heart attack, I would certainly die,\u201d Silver said.<\/p>\n

At first, his former employer allowed him to continue working part-time. But when the company asked him to return to a full-time schedule, he faced a hard decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe job I had was actually very stressful,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI was still afraid of working the way I used to, so I quit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the next 12 years, Silver became sedentary, and even light activity left him winded. As his heart condition worsened to the point where he needed a transplant, he felt like every day was the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in the condo and not really having anything that I needed to do except for doctors\u2019 appointments was depressing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was making it harder for me to get up every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when his care team at VA Salt Lake City suggested he consider the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program<\/a>, an initiative that helps Veterans build endurance, skills and confidence to rejoin the workforce.<\/p>\n

CWT program: a path to rebuild strength and confidence<\/h2>\n

\u201cI still have a lot of appointments, and the CWT program has given me an opportunity to build my stamina and get into shape while taking care of my heart,\u201d Silver said. \u201cI started making myself get up earlier to match a typical work schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unlike permanent jobs, CWT is designed as a steppingstone, providing meaningful work in a supportive environment while allowing Veterans to heal, learn and rebuild.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe take Veteran patients who are facing chronic unemployment, and the idea is to place them in a successful work setting where they can learn the habits needed to be a successful worker,\u201d explained Dr. Robert Banz, vocational services coordinator for the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. \u201cWe find cooperating supervisors who are willing to help our CWT patients with those habits and skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there are some limits on the type of work available, Banz says there\u2019s something for nearly everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are very few limitations to who can be in our program,\u201d Banz said. \u201cThey are patients receiving patient care services, and we try to be as broad as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Silver assists the VA Salt Lake City engineering department with daily tasks. The steady movement, light lifting, and varied responsibilities have helped him regain physical strength without overtaxing his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me feel good that I can give back to\u00a0VA,\u201d Silver said. \u201cThey saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silver\u2019s journey proves that sometimes, stepping back is the first step forward.<\/p>\n

If you or a Veteran you know wants to rebuild skills, regain confidence and prepare for meaningful employment, talk to your VA care team about a consult for the CWT Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

This article was originally published on the VA Salt Lake City Health Care site<\/a> and has been edited for style and clarity.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Through VA\u2019s Compensated Work Therapy program, Veterans like Rick Silver rebuild skills, regain confidence, and prepare for meaningful employment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"\nVeteran rebuilds strength through Compensated Work Therapy Program - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Through VA\u2019s Compensated Work Therapy program, Veterans like Rick Silver rebuild skills, regain confidence, and prepare for meaningful employment.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7723\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Veteran rebuilds strength through Compensated Work Therapy Program - 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