Returning veterans unaware of benefits
Posted: Monday, Apr 5th, 2010
BY: Mari Muzzi

Many military veterans returning home are unaware of government and state benefits – especially the five years of government healthcare that isn’t influenced by their income.

This is because they often do not seek assistance from local veterans’ service offices (VS) offices, according to Sublette County Veterans’ Service Officer Cheryl Allen.

“A lot of these guys coming straight out of deployment don’t realize that they have five years of free healthcare coverage,” she said.

A number of Wyoming veterans returned home in late March and early April.

Most VS offices primarily contact returning soldiers by mail but Allen explained if soldiers do not inform the VA of address changes, they might never receive the information.

That’s why she displays forms in the county’s libraries and the courthouse – hoping to catch veterans’ attention.

She said contacting veterans has never been an easy task for VS offices because at the end of deployment soldiers are focused on returning home, not completing paperwork.

“One (form) goes to the bus … to go home and the other goes to the JAG office to update their information,” Allen said. “Which one do you think they’re going to fill out?”

As a civilian and mother of a former Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Allen is doing her part to help military members who risked their lives for their country.

“I wish more than anything that the Armed Services would tell these guys to go see their (local) VS officer,” she said.

Recently, Allen received a call from a veteran in Minnesota who had not learned about the enhanced healthcare available that doesn’t take into account a veteran’s income.

However, it was too late for him to enroll in the program because it had been over five years since his service ended.

Allen said her son Greg could have been one of these soldiers if she were not involved with VS.

Greg said he received a packet filled with monotonous, time-consuming paperwork from the Veterans’ Affairs officer on base.

After looking through the stacks of paper, he quickly tossed them in the trash.

That’s why, according to Cheryl, veterans should utilize their VS offices.

“(The paperwork) can be overwhelming for us,” she said, “and we’re trained.”

It’s her job to make sure newly returning veterans are informed.

“From the government standpoint, they’re not going to tell these guys; it would cost them billions,” she said.

Besides five years of free to low-cost government healthcare available, the state of Wyoming offers veterans reductions on home mortgages and vehicle payments.

The VS also assists veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the emotional stress of war.

“I felt a little bit of separation anxiety when I got out (of the Marines) because I was a team leader,” Greg said. “You

basically raise (members) from low ranks and watch them get promoted – you kind of watch them grow up.”

He explained many soldiers feel as though they have disappointed their peers after returning home.

“I was leaving these guys behind and they counted on me – they trusted me,” Greg said. “I felt like I was abandoning them.”

The VS helps soldiers readjust back to civilian life, which can be a difficult process.

“You’re not over there anymore,” Greg said. “A little piece of garbage on the side of the road is not going to

explode.”

For Cheryl, it’s about making sure soldiers know their benefits and acquire the resources they deserve.



For the complete article see the 04-06-2010 issue.