How the exoskeleton helps veterans walk again

This week, 60 Minutes airs Scott Pelley's November interviews with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, their first major interview since taking over the troubled organization.

McDonald told Pelley that despite the recent problems at the VA, there were also a few bright moments: Since he started the job, the best thing he's seen is the exoskeleton. While wearing the motorized device, veteran Billy Woods has been able to walk on his own for the first time in four decades. (Watch Woods walk using the exoskeleton in the clip above.)

The interviews took place at West Point Military Academy -- McDonald and Gibson's alma mater. While there, the 60 Minutes team witnessed 4,400 cadets lining up in formation in front of Washington Hall -- the same place McDonald and Gibson ate their lunches together as cadets. As you'll see in the clip below, a simple walk to the mess hall becomes a grand spectacle at West Point.

At the time of the interview, McDonald and Gibson had their hands full with more than 100 investigations underway at Veterans Affairs. According to the VA, approximately half of those investigations are now closed (as of June 2015), and the VA says it has taken action at five of its facilities across the country.

"It's a matter of time, and we're on it," McDonald assured Pelley in November. "And both of us are committed to getting this done and to doing it as quickly as possible so we care for the veterans in a better way."

The above videos were produced for 60 Minutes Overtime by Sarah Shafer, Rebecca Chertok and Evie Salomon.They were originally published on November 9, 2014.