Some of the 'Services' and 'Programs we have available
Also please 'check-out' the Daily postings on our 'Facebook' page, click the 'facebook' logo below.
180 W. Idaho Ave, Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-1978
NEED HELP!!!! PLEASE!!! The Covid-19 pandemic has left many local Veterans and their families in need. If you are fortunate to not need your stimulus money or part of it, please think about donating it to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida. As a non-profit your donation would be tax deductible. Please call me, Thank You.....
Ron Verini - Chairman 541-709-8373
January 2021 By Leslie Thompson, Argus Observer
ONTARIO
In the absence of the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizens of the Year awards, which have been celebrated annually since 1972, the Argus Observer aimed to help fill the gap created by the pandemic and offer the community the chance to nominate a citizen of the year.
Nominations for the Argus Observer Citizen of the Year for 2020 were open Jan. 1-8, and the community’s responses came pouring in for people throughout the Western Treasure Valley.
A unifying theme in all of these nominations was people who put their community’s needs before their own.
The person who garnered the most nominations for this inaugural award was Ron Verini, president and chairman of the board for Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, a nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans. Trailing not far behind, but neck-in-neck, were Malheur County Health Department Director Sarah Poe, who is currently leading the local fight against COVID-19, and Jennifer Tolman, a pharmacist at Malheur Drug in Vale who, according to nominations is a vital part of groups that give back to the community.
Verini mentioned all the work these people do (and there isn’t room to list it all — it is extensive), which includes myriad services, such as running the nonprofit’s food bank, connecting vets with local services, finding housing, hosting a website and Facebook page, sitting and talking with local vets, building ramps, home renovations, setting up a station for the visually impaired to read books and putting together a military museum.
Along with others in the community who nominated Verini, many people from his core group of volunteers say they believe Verini deserves the award.
Haines said Verini is the initiator and motivator behind the nonprofit, which consists solely of volunteers.
“It takes a special gift and desire to motivate and inspire others to do the same,” said Haines. “This year has been unique. Ron has more than passed the test.”
When asked how he keeps inspiring volunteers, Verini had the following to say.
“I stay focused on the mission, and you treat people like you want to be treated,” he said. “I think it’s so important that folks understand that we are all in this together, truly. There is something about the human nature that comes to the surface on a positive level when people are treated with respect.”
Some of the volunteers have their own challenges, Verini said, including in some cases severe physical or mental challenges.
Upon finding out he won the Citizen of the Year award, Verini quickly went from disbelief to saying it was quite an honor “especially for Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida.” Then he quickly insisted (and still does) that the award really should go to the volunteers of the organization, without whom he says, “we don’t exist.”
“I am thrilled,” he said about the award. However, added, “It’s far from mine. VAOI would not exist if it wasn’t for the volunteers.”
He said that a core group of people helps get things done. That group includes Charlene Pelland, Doug Dean, Bob and Janet Metzger, Marilyn Justus, Vince and Claudia Schwartz, Billy Vance, Jan and Phil Jacques, David Looper, Margie Yasuda, Barbara Ogawa, Judy Snyder, Gerald Haines and John Breidenbach.
He furthermore said Veteran Advocates could not operate without community services, such as the Oregon Food Bank, Payette Senior Center and Community Action, nor without donations from businesses, such as the nonprofit’s number one contributor Grocery Outlet along with Albertsons, The Home Depot, Dr. Jeffrey Pitts, the Ontario Masonic Lodge and others.
“This is not my award,” Verini reiterated. “It’s an award that transcends anything I do.”
He said it belongs to the team of people who work together to provide services for vets and their family members.
“It’s unbelievable how many people are in that stream of support,” he said.
"If you give them responsibility and you let them take the lead, give a little bit of direction but respect what they have to say — I think that makes all the difference in the world, whether they are a volunteer, worker, political individual serving on the city council, whatever,” he said.
In turn, volunteers continue serving because they love what they are doing and are passionate about it.
“The volunteers take the lead, and I just give them direction
The Chairman of Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, Ronald Verini, writes two articles every month for publication in a Regional Newspaper,this article "THE VA IS MORE THAN DOCTORS." will be published January 17, 2021. Here is a part of Mr. Verinis' article, and you can read the full article by clicking the red bar below.
The VA is More Than Doctors…
January 17th, 2021 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini
The coffee clutch at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida (VAOI) was discussing the various help programs that are available to ALL, or at least some, of us and the challenge of accessing those services.
At the (VA) Veterans Administration’s- The Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) brings veterans together to support each other by making the connections needed to succeed. They have just announced their “Veterans Helping Veterans Initiative” (U.S.VETS).
The mission of U.S.VETS is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development, and comprehensive support.
Many services are offered to our veterans and their families. The challenge with so many services offered is that they are difficult to find when you need them. That is why the VA and places like the ODVA (Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs), IDVS (Idaho Division of Veteran Services) come in handy. These organizations reach out in various ways to help veterans and their families. Each has its own advantages in helping veterans. Organizations like VAOI, American Legion, VFW, DAV, IAVA and many others are also great resources of help. They help access the services of the VA and local state agencies.
About 48 million men and women have served our Nation since the time it was formed. We today have more than 25 million living veterans who have served in times of war and peace. Veterans today: some in large cities, small towns, farms and rural areas. Some in our local area are homeless and living along the river, under bridges, in shelters and in the mountains surviving where most of us would perish. A few of us still overseas by choice and some not so lucky. Veterans have requirements that are unique to each, so think about the challenge that our government, VA, local services have in helping many of those in need.
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE PLEASE CLICK THE RED BAR BELOW.....
December 2020
After many months of facing the COVID-19 pandemic, many are feeling on edge. Worrying about catching the virus, financial difficulties, isolation: these challenging times are causing a lot of anxiety.
VA’s Veteran Training website offers free online self-help programs to help. VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention developed the programs specifically for Veterans, service members, and their families.
These online tools and resources now work on both computers and mobile devices.
Experiencing stress and anxiety, especially now, is not a form of weakness. If you find yourself struggling to cope, you may find these online programs helpful:
December 2020..
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today, the formal launch of 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), a single access point to all VA contact centers.
The number is available 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year to serve Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
Responding to Veteran feedback on the challenges of knowing the right number for VA assistance, 1-800-MyVA411, serves all members of the Veteran community seeking information or help. Veterans and their families can still reach the Veterans Crisis Line directly at 1-800-273-8255 and pressing 1, by Chat or by texting 838255. The White House VA Hotline is also still available at 1-855-948-2311 for Veterans and their families to share compliments and concerns.
“1-800-MyVA411 is always the right number to reach VA and is a great example of the department’s customer service strategy in action,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “1-800-MyVA411 provides easy access to specialized contact centers as well as an option to immediately talk to a live agent.”
When dialing 1-800-MyVA411, callers have the option of pressing 0 to be immediately connected with a customer service agent to answer questions or provide a warm-handoff to the appropriate VA expert.
During the pilot phase from Oct. 1, 2019–Sep. 31, 1-800-MyVA411 connected more than 1.3 million callers with VA contact centers and experts.
1-800-MyVA411 provides information on:
December 2020
Like many industries, the business world made significant changes to adapt and transition operations.
Many large and small businesses took major hits; however, VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is working diligently to ensure small, Veteran-owned businesses maintain the resources needed to keep their businesses afloat during these unprecedented times.
In its most recent newsletter, OSDBU highlighted many of the virtual resources available to Veterans, as well as new initiatives on the horizon.
In fiscal year 2019, VA awarded over $12.8 billion to Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, with more than $8 billion awarded to date for fiscal 2020.
“We have a dedicated mission centering around the broadening of access for Veteran-owned small businesses to Federal procurement opportunities throughout the government,” said Chanel Carter-Bankston, Director of Strategic Outreach and Communications for VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization work to ensure valuable resources are available online for Veteran entrepreneurs. Some of those training resources include a vast library of interactive tools, webinars, videos, best practices and other information:
What is the White House VA Hotline?
The hotline’s pilot began under direction of the Veterans Experience Office on June 1, 2017, and entered phase two on October 15, 2017.
White House VA Hotline: 1-855-948-2311.
Calls are answered by a live agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The hotline is staffed by more than 60 agents who have had extensive training on VA programs and services. Most of these agents are a Veteran, military family member, caregiver or a survivor.
The White House VA Hotline conducts immediate warm hand offs for at-crisis risk Veterans needing the services of the Veterans Crisis Line.
Trends identified by the hotline will be used to rapidly respond to systemic inefficiencies and empower VA employees to resolve Veteran concerns quickly.
January 2021 By David Vergun, DoD News
Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger became a famous college football athlete, but he got his big start by joining the Navy in 1968 and serving two years at sea as a yeoman.
Using his GI Bill benefits, he enrolled in Indiana's Holy Cross College in 1972 and then at the University of Notre Dame in 1974, playing in the Orange Bowl in 1975 and the Gator Bowl in 1976 -- the year he graduated.
Despite being undersized for a football player -- 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 165 pounds -- Ruettiger was accepted as a defensive end on Notre Dame's Fighting Irish football team due to his drive and determination.
His claim to fame was brief, but spectacular. On Nov. 8, 1975, he was put in the game against Georgia Institute of Technology. During the final play of the game, he sacked Georgia Tech quarterback Rudy Allen.
Ruettiger's teammates were ecstatic, and they carried him off the field. At the time, he was the only player ever to receive such an honor........
During one such visit to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on Oct. 7, 2010, he told the soldiers that "the Navy actually changed my thinking around, my attitude around, and who I was."
Ruettiger said members of the armed forces are great Americans. "This is an honor for me to come here. I'm real humbled and real privileged," he said.
During his motivational speech, he talked about how everyone has the potential to be whatever they want to be.
"It's not your age; it's your attitude," he said, adding that people who work hard deserve a shot.
Ruettiger also told the soldiers that all it takes to succeed is what he called the four Cs: character, courage, commitment and contribution.
"The little things make a big difference," he said.
January 2021 By Leo Shane III, Military Times
Eugene Goodman, who served in the Army for four years and deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, was stationed below the Senate chamber on Jan. 6 when protestors supporting President Donald Trump moved on the Capitol.
In a video taken by HuffPost, Goodman can be seen attempting to hold back the violent crowd, reaching for his firearm but opting instead retreating to the second floor. He continues talking to the rioters and directs them away from the Senate floor and into an adjacent corridor, where other law enforcement officials join him.
Senate officials have said that officials were securing the Senate chamber at the time, preventing the crowd from engaging directly with lawmakers. Outside officials have praised Goodman’s actions as providing extra time to protect senators and their staff.
Capitol Hill police have not released any details of Goodman’s background or his thinking during the attack.
However, the Washington Post reported that a friend of Goodman said the veteran is unnerved by the attention and publicity, but “he said he’d do the same thing again.”
At least 58 Capitol Hill police and local law enforcement officers were injured in the assault on the Capitol. In addition, two officers were suspended and at least 10 more are under investigation for improper or inadequate response to the attack.
More than 6,000 National Guard troops were deployed to the Capitol on Wednesday in advance of the impeachment vote, to bolster security. As many as 20,000 are expected to be assigned to security roles in Washington, D.C. in advance of next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.....
January 2021 By Harm Venhuizen
Journalism can seem like a difficult field to break into as a veteran, but it’s also one that matches up well with the skills required to succeed in the military.
Military Veterans in Journalism announced its list of the 2020 top veterans in journalism on Jan. 1, and those recognized represent a wide variety of military and journalistic specialties.
From communications to special operations, photojournalism to documentary series, these veterans demonstrate the value of military experience in journalism.
“Veterans have a unique perspective on how the community and government interface,” said John Seward, a spokesman for MVJ’s awards and outreach. “There aren’t a ton of industries where the paycheck that you’re getting is directly supported by the people that you’re doing it for.”
If veterans can find ways to overcome knowledge gaps about how newsrooms operate and build a strong portfolio, their determination and unique perspectives can make them invaluable assets, Seward said.
Knowledge gaps and difficult hiring processes are exactly the types of obstacles MVJ hopes to help veterans overcome by providing fellowships, educational events, and virtual newsroom tours.
Military Times spoke with award recipient Sara Sneath about her experience transitioning into journalism from the military..
January 2021 By Harm Venhuizen. MilitaryTimes
When separating from the military, it’s not uncommon for servicemembers to discover gaps between their resume and the civilian job they want.
Worries about putting food on the table can make going back to school, getting on-the-job training, or taking an internship seem like costly ways of filling that gap. Luckily, there’s a way servicemembers can gain the experience required by civilian jobs while still on the military’s payroll.
The DoD SkillBridge Program lets active-duty personnel from all four branches spend the last 180 days of their military service interning at a civilian job with one of more than 500 industry partners.
Participants continue to receive military pay and benefits, whether they’re getting certified by Microsoft in cloud development, learning to weld, or taking advantage of any one of the hundreds of other opportunities available.
As part of the DoD’s requirements, all training programs offer a “high probability of post-service employment with the provider or other employers in a field related to the opportunity,” according to the SkillBridge website.
In his internship with the Global SOF Foundation, retired Navy commander Chuck Neu says he not only tripled the size of his professional network, but also discovered a talent for sales.
“Without that exposure to cold-call sales from doing SkillBridge with the Global SOF Foundation, I likely would have ended up on-base as a contractor or a government civilian, which is really not what I wanted to do,” Neu told Military Times....
For more on this story click the 'Red Bar' below.
December 2020, by R. Sisk
The term "legend" suffers from overuse, but how else to describe Chuck Yeager?
The retired Air Force brigadier general, who died Monday at age 97, had a permanent eye twinkle and crinkly grin, coupled with a raspy voice right out of the West Virginia hollows, that only lent to his fighter jock aura.
When he chose to, Yeager also had a direct and self-effacing way of speaking about his exploits that made the hero-worshippers he attracted eager for more.
There was that time during World War II when Yeager, flying a P-51 Mustang, shot down a German Messerschmitt Me-62, the world's first operational jet fighter, which wreaked havoc on allied aircraft when introduced late in the war.
In his much-followed Twitter feed, Yeager said in 2018, "First time I saw a jet, I shot it down. … [It was] not very sportsmanlike, but what the hell."
In his autobiography, titled simply "Yeager," he explained that the Me-62 had slowed down to make a landing, and he caught up with it as the jet was over the runway.
He is credited with shooting down 12 enemy aircraft during WWII, including five in one day. And he was himself shot down over France, leading to yet another astonishing chapter in a career that had many.
The French underground sent him on a perilous trek across the Pyrenees into Spain, where he somehow made it to Gibraltar, which was held by the British. The Brits sent him back to England, where he began battling the bureaucracy to get back into the war.
The rule was that pilots who had been shot down and escaped couldn't be sent back into combat for fear that they would be shot down again and tortured to reveal the names of underground operatives.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released in January an updated Department of Defense (DOD) list of locations outside of Vietnam where tactical herbicides were used, tested or stored by the United States military.
“This update was necessary to improve accuracy and communication of information,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “VA depends on DOD to provide information regarding in-service environmental exposure for disability claims based on exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam."
DOD conducted a thorough review of research, reports and government publications in response to a November 2018 Government Accountability Office report.
“DOD will continue to be responsive to the needs of our interagency partners in all matters related to taking care of both current and former service members,” said Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper. “The updated list includes Agents Orange, Pink, Green, Purple, Blue and White and other chemicals and will be updated as verifiable information becomes available.”
Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including an Agent Orange Registry health exam, health care and disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. Their dependents and survivors also may be eligible for benefits.
December 2020
For veterans who think they were exposed to toxic substances during their service, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a mobile application that will help them answer questions about what this potential exposure means for their long-term health.
Originally designed for VA providers, Exposure Ed now lets anyone view a list of service-related exposures -- broken down by type, conflict and date or location of service. It also has a map veterans can use to find the closest VA facilities and exposure-related programs.
For example, veterans thinking they came into contact with the Vietnam-era herbicide Agent Orange can use the "Exposures" button on the home page for immediate access to a list of illnesses related to exposure. Or, veterans can input in the time and location they served to view everything they might have been exposed to.
Related: After Decade of Fighting, the Blue-Water Navy Benefits Bill is Now a Law
The last option sorts exposure risks by conflict, ranging from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom/Op
December 2020
Veterans with iPhones can now view their Department of Veterans Affairs medical records through their phone’s Health app.
VA and Apple began rolling out the capability during the summer but issued formal announcements this week, just ahead of Veterans Day.
“We have delivered veterans an innovative new way to easily and securely access their health information,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said Nov. 6 in a release. “Veterans deserve access to their health data at any time and in one place, and with health records on the Health app, VA has pushed the veterans experience forward.”
Veterans will see an aggregated view of their VA health care information such as lab results, medical history, procedures and medications.
Information from private medical providers also is available if that provider participates in the Apple Health program. More than 400 companies are on board, including Johns Hopkins, University of California San Diego, Quest Diagnostics and Allscripts.
January 2, 2021, By Todd South,
The Army Times
The Army in 2021 will select from among the three companies vying to build the Army’s replacement for both the M4 carbine and Squad Automatic Weapon.
The Next Generation Squad Automatic Weapon project has been in the works for the past three years and, if completed and implemented, would mark the first substantial change in conventional small arms that the U.S. military has seen since the mid-20th century when it adopted the M16 service rifle in 5.56mm.
Long the source of debate within the small arms community, the Army and its fellow services embarked upon the most recent attempt to shift away from the small caliber round following battlefield reports from recent wars and an in-depth study of adversary arsenals in recent years...
That led to the evaluation of an “intermediate caliber” round for the next step in squad-level small arms. The goal was a round that could achieve distances beyond the reach of 5.56 mm and remain lethal while maintaining manageable recoil and ammunition weight concerns that machine gun carriers of the 7.62mm face.
Ultimately, the project decided on 6.8 mm, similar in size to the classic .270 caliber used by deer hunters and not far off from a popular intermediate caliber favored by the early 20th century Japanese military and nearly adopted by the British between World War I and World War II.
But the military-designed 6.8 mm has other characteristics and ballistics bona fides not found at the local Walmart ammunition shelves.
January 2021
By Molly Parker, The Southern Illinoisan
WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. — In this Franklin County town sits an unassuming museum packed with memorabilia from the region’s men and women who served their country in conflicts dating back to the Civil War.
It is located inside an old train depot off Main Street, a few feet from the tracks that once hauled commuters and loads of coal mined from the county’s belly to places across the nation.
The tracks still serve freight cars, but the depot has been out of service as a commuter hub for many years. In the 1980s, citizens transformed it into a museum to honor the region’s servicemembers.
It offers the perfect salute to their contributions — and the town’s historical significance at the crossroads of America.....,,,,,
Many of Franklin County’s citizens called to serve in foreign wars were the same men who toiled in dangerous conditions in underground mines back home to help fuel the nation’s growth.
Of note, a significant number of the 119 men who died in the Orient 2 Mine explosion just days before Christmas in 1951 were veterans, said Jack McReynolds, a volunteer with the Veterans Depot Museum.
On Dec. 4, artillery units around the world traditionally celebrate the feast day of the mysterious St. Barbara, a Roman-era Rapunzel, who was removed from the Catholic Church’s calendar in 1969 over questions of her historical existence.
The legend goes that young Barbara was the beautiful daughter of rich Roman pagan Dioscorus in the late third century A.D. Attempting to protect her from the outside world he purportedly locked his beautiful daughter in the top of a tower, much like a Disney protagonist, according to catholic.org.
“The festivities are likely to look a bit different this year in order to ensure proper mitigation of COVID-19, but we will still make every effort to honor our traditions in a safe manner,”......
WASHINGTON — Seventy-five years after World War II ended, Congress is honoring thousands of Chinese Americans who served the United States in the war, earning citations for heroism — including the Medal of Honor — despite discrimination that included limits on numbers allowed in the U.S.
Nearly 20,000 people of Chinese ancestry served in the U.S. military during World War II, including about 40 percent who were not U.S. citizens due to laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act. That law made it illegal for Chinese laborers to immigrate to America and limited the Chinese population in the U.S. for more than 60 years.
hinese Americans served in all major branches of the military, including the so-called Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Service that flew missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. For their service to the nation during the war, Chinese-American veterans were honored at a Congressional Gold Medalceremony Wednesday....
BAR HARBOR, Maine — A proposal from New England senators to ensure free lifetime entry to national parks for all disabled U.S. veterans has been signed into law.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine proposed the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act to provide the free access to veterans who suffered or aggravated disabilities while serving in the military. President Donald Trump has signed the proposal into law.
Here are 10 pictures picked for the week
Wooden ships owned by Western Marine & Salvage tied together in 1925, likely on the Potomac or at Mallows Bay.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — An area in Maryland that’s home to abandoned World War I-era steamships has been designated a new national marine sanctuary.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state of Maryland and Charles County announced the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary on Monday. It contains more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels that were built as part of the nation’s engagement in World War I.
Now, in a book that hit shelves Nov. 10, 2020, he details the 10-year journey of building the service-focused organization Team Rubicon to what it is today: 130,000 American military veterans willing to be the first responders to any disaster zone in the world.
Wood sat down with Military.com to talk about transitioning out of the military, the paths open to military veterans and some of the things he thinks we should consider when planning to make that big jump.
Wood would be the first to tell you that he wasn't setting out to create a disaster relief nonprofit when he first left for Haiti 10 years ago. He watched the devastation in the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the island on Jan. 12, 2010. All he knew is that he wanted to do something about it.
In that time and through all that effort, he has some words of wisdom for separating military members.
1. Know Who You Want to Be
2. Plan How to Get There
3. Don't Rush
4. Be Prepared for the Hard Work
5. Surround Yourself With Good People
CLICK THE "MORE ON THIS ARTICLE" TO READ ABOUT THESE 5 LESSONS !
All Vet Centers are currently open and operational, providing face to face and virtual counseling and outreach. Vet Centers will continue to assess the community impact of COVID-19 at a local level and may begin to restrict access or limit foot traffic, transitioning services to virtual care if needed. This would be assessed on a case by case basis and as a last measure. It is VA’s goal of keeping Vet Centers open and operational for Veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Those looking to seek Vet Center services may call their nearest Vet Center or the Vet Center Call Center at 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387). Please check back regularly as this situation may change.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Readjustment counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling is offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are Veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.
What is readjustment counseling?
Readjustment counseling is a wide range of psycho social services offered to eligible Veterans, Service members, and their families in the effort to make a successful transition from military to civilian life. They include:
Does VA have readjustment counseling for family members?
Family members of combat Veterans and Service members have been eligible for Vet Center readjustment counseling services for military related issues since 1979.
Am I eligible for Vet Center readjustment counseling?
If you, or a family member, served in any combat zone and received a military campaign ribbon (Vietnam, Southwest Asia, OEF, OIF, etc.) then both you and your family are eligible for Vet Center services.
Where is counseling offered?
VA's readjustment counseling is provided at community-based Vet Centers located in easily accessable neighborhoods near Veterans, Service members, and their families, yet separate from VA organizational sites to ensure confidential counseling and reduce barriers to care. All Vet Center services are prepaid through military service. Contact your nearest Vet Center through information provided in the Vet Center Directory or listings in your local blue pages. Vet Center staff are available toll free and around the clock at 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387).
So you finally came around to the idea that you might have what it takes to make it in civilian life? What took you so long? You can trudge through mud and rain while training for three days, stand watch through a humid night in the Baghdad suburbs, or maintain the latest in multimillion-dollar aircraft technology, but you weren’t sure if you could commute to an office somewhere for eight hours a day? Son, that might be your only problem.
But there’s a lot of ground to cover before you start writing TPS reports.
Getting out of the military is a big deal, about as big a deal as going in. It’s not something you just want to up and do one day. If all you do is fill out a checklist and then go back to your hometown and think everything is just going to work out, you’re gonna be in for a big surprise. There are actually some things you’ll want to think about before you go back to the block. Starting with what exactly you want to do when you get out of that uniform.
Which, we’re probably going to need back, by the way.
Will you actually be getting a civilian job? Do you want to do the same thing out there that you did in the military? Or will you go to school? Where will you do these things? How will you prepare to pay for them while you wait for benefits … do you even know how to get into the VA system? You may have it all figured out as an E-4. But the mafia doesn’t teach you about Tuition Assistance, the blended retirement system, or getting a VA home loan. Some of that’s what the Transition Assistance Program teaches. (You did know about the TAP class, right?)
We thank all the Supporters, Businesses and Friends for giving their time and resources in helping and caring for our Veterans, Military and First Responders and their Families.
We really appreciate your interest too, in 'Who we are and What we do'. If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to 'volunteer' or 'donate', well please contact us with an email, a phone call, or just drop on into the office.
You are always welcome to come and join us Monday thru Friday from 9am to 4pm. We are a "No Dues' nonprofit organization with the coffee pot always on and lots of conversation always available. Bring your questions regarding any veteran services you are concerned about, and we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Our phone is 541-889-1978, and we are located in Ontario, Oregon at 180 W. Idaho Ave.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.