A feature on the Navy website presents yet another proof of how the Navy takes care of its own no matter what. Project CARE is short for Comprehensive Aesthetic Recovery Effort, an extension of the Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care (C5) recovery program of the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD).

Project CARE brings together “surgical, non-surgical, and mental health professionals throughout NMCSD to meet the common goal of improving the appearance, function, and self-esteem of service members following traumatic injuries,” as explained by Capt. Craig Salt, head of the department of plastic surgery of the NMCSD.

The objective of Project CARE is to provide service members who were injured while serving on Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with assistance in the revision of scars and other skin lesions from injuries, surgeries and burns. An injured service member is evaluated individually and a comprehensive treatment plan is drawn up based on the initial evaluation.

Project CARE can provide anything from skin grafts to laser surgery, with procedures performed by medical professionals and other rehabilitative services are provided by the appropriate professionals. Included in caring for wounded service members are “plastic surgeons, dermatology specialists, primary care providers, psychological counselors and case managers, to provide services such as; plastic, oral, oculoplastic, neuro and general surgery, dermatology, mental health care, chaplain services and support groups.”

Chief Hospital Corpsman Aaron Seibert, who was left with a 2-inch wide scar from his sternum to his navel due to a combat injury, recommends Project CARE: “Project CARE is definitely a resource [wounded service members] should take advantage of.” Of his scar, he said: “Now it looks better, I feel less pain – doing crunches is a lot easier. I don’t have the same twisting, torque feeling anymore.”