July 2020 – For seven years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has trained wounded, sick, or injured veterans to fight in a new war – child exploitation. Before graduating from the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (H.E.R.O.) Child Rescue Corps, veterans learned computer forensics in a 12-week course and participated in a 9-month internship in an ICE facility. They are encouraged that they can still serve the nation by protecting children.
“I had a lot of buddies who weren’t able to make it home and were killed overseas or even individuals that took their own lives when they made it back,” said U.S. Army ranger Chris Wooten.
“Even though we’re all wounded and can’t do our military job anymore, this program allows us to serve our country again, and not only that but help save some kids.”
Wooten served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was injured in a helicopter crash while serving in Special Operations. ICE has trained over 100 wounded veterans such as Wooten to join the fight against child abuse.
