 More veterans leaving the military or returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from the DAV’s Transition Service Program (TSP), which has been expanded to cover more military installations across the United States.
“We have been able to expand our Transition Service Program to meet a growing need thanks in part to a $1.5 million, two-year grant from the GE Foundation last year,” said National Service Director Randy Reese. “As a result, we have hired and trained 13 new Transition Service Officers (TSOs) who will provide service to separating servicemembers at 33 military bases and treatment facilities.”
“The Transition Service Program is the gold standard for the 21st century warrior,” said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. “It is carrying the DAV’s mission of service to more of our nation’s enlisted personnel and officers who are making the crucial transition from the military to civilian life or demobilizing guard and reserve units after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“The Defense Department plans to increase attendance at the Transition Assistance Program and Disabled Transition Assistance Program sessions to 85 percent of those leaving military service and demobilizing guard and reserve forces,” said Reese. “It was vital that the DAV have the trained manpower to assist this growing number of veterans.”
In preparation, the DAV planned to expand the number of TSOs and to create a special training program to meet the anticipated increased needs of our veterans. “There were 16 TSO graduates from the training program last November 16,” said Reese. “Three of them were assigned to fill slots at current offices, and 13 new hires resulting from the GE grant are staffing additional facilities.”
The TSP reached two-thirds of veterans separating from the armed services in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available. They conducted more than 2,000 briefings to 105,000 participants. “In that time, our TSOs interviewed nearly 56,000 servicemembers, reviewed 44,000 medical records and filed 31,150 claims for benefits, ”said Reese. “We expect our service to these veterans to grow exponentially in 2008.”
Since 2002, some 1.5 million Americans have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, more than 751,000 have left active duty.
“The mission of our Transition Service Program is to provide our preeminent service to those leaving the armed forces,” said Adjutant Wilson. “It is far better for them to have our expert assistance when they are just leaving the military than years later when service and medical records could be lost.”
“This is an exciting growth period for the Transition Service Program,” he said. “We are maintaining DAV’s position as the best provider of professional service, advocacy and outreach programs for veterans and their families.”
“We are grateful to the assistance of the GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, in expanding our program,” said Reese. “We are working to ensure that their generosity is used effectively to assist our nation’s veterans.”
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