AMVETS ANNOUNCE NEW AND IMPROVED 
SERVICE OFFICE 

Veterans Organization Helps Speed the Delivery of Benefits to Wounded Vets

TACOMA, WA, Jan 20 --- American Veterans’ (AMVETS) Department of Washington Commander Fred George of Spokane WA announced major modifications to the AMVETS’ State Service Organization today. The changes, taking effect immediately, include an increase in staffing at both their Department Headquarters in Tacoma and on site Service Office located within the Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC). “The reorganization is a strong point. It will enable us to increase our total number of Service Officers / Representatives and provide better service coverage in our area. It will also let us start an aggressive outreach program…” he said. 

AMVETS is one of America’s foremost veterans service organizations. Holding the distinct honor of being the first WWII organization to be Nationally chartered by congress in 1947, AMVETS’ over 260,000 members from more than 1,400 posts across the United States and its Territories are daily fulfilling their charter obligation of “Veterans Helping Veterans.” Here in Washington State, the vast majority of that obligation is completed through a network of professionally staffed service offices and dozens of volunteer service representatives. 

Steve Oatney, State Service Director for AMVETS, stated: “As a service office, we assist veterans and their families in filing claims for disability compensation, pensions, educational benefits, burial benefits, and Dependant Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits for widows. This is a free service offered to any veteran seeking relief from the government for the disabilities he or she may have obtained during their tour of duty, whatever the length of service.” He further added that the organization was unique in that his team is also trained to assist veterans with many non-military related claims such as unemployment, or State worker’s compensation. As an added bonus, AMVETS is also closely partnered with the Washington State Employment Security Department (WSESD) and provides limited assistance to veterans in job hunting. Post #1 in Tacoma also sponsors four veterans’ job fairs annually in partnership with the WSESD. “As of June 2005 the amount of money AMVETS helped return to Washington State veterans in monetary awards was over $13,071,000.” He said. Mr. Oatney further added that: “This reorganization will enable us to answer the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Director’s call for greater outreach within the various counties. Since we have hired two new service officers, I will soon be able to work with our other posts to train even more volunteer representatives throughout the State.” 

The reorganization not only doubled AMVETS staff of professional service officers in the Olympia / Tacoma area, but also adapted the office areas to provide greater comfort, privacy, and ease of use. This improved service makes AMVETS locally unique in that a three-pronged approach to helping veterans is now available. The Service Directors Office located in Post # 1 Department Headquarters at 5717 South Tyler Street in Tacoma is the primary outlet for offering assistance and the first prong of this highly revitalized program. In this office the staff focuses mostly on those who have already been discharged from the military and are seeking reevaluations of their VA benefits. With over a dozen walk-ins daily, the two service officers and administrative assistant offer a wide variety of services from helping veterans obtain copies of their DD-214s (military discharge papers) to aiding widows obtain burial assistance for their loved ones. 

Mr. Oatney pointed out that: “The facilities, provided to us here by Post # 1, are far superior to most other service offices in the State. The waiting area is spacious and comfortable. All counseling is performed in the private offices of our service professionals. While membership is not a requirement for receiving our assistance, many vets will ultimately join AMVETS not only for the earned benefits we help them to obtain, but also for the opportunity to become part of a team that is dedicated to the principal of “Veterans Helping Veterans.” All of my staff Officers and I have years of professional counseling experience. As many individuals who come to see us also have either unemployment or workers compensation claims pending, we are able to assist them in those areas as well. We are truly a one-stop shop for many veterans.” 

Vivian Lott, the latest Service Officer to be brought on board with the AMVETS, is excited about the new challenges she has signed up for. Of course, as a battle hardened retired Army Flight Medical Technician who served in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, those challenges my not be quite as dramatic as the nursing back to health of the 56 enemy Iraqi POWs she watched over. However, “I am extremely happy that AMVETS has giving me this opportunity to do what I most enjoy: helping my fellow veterans make it through some of the tough times in their lives.” She said. 

The AMVETS Service Office located within Madigan Army Medical Center is the only one of its kind in the Nation. It is also the second prong of the revitalization effort. Watched over by the highly skilled eyes of lead Registered Representative Ora Roby, this unit is staffed with an additional certified service officer and an administrative assistant. “We provide benefits education and claims counseling for all active duty individuals processing through the MAMC Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) medical discharge procedures.” She said. In addition, the staff is conveniently positioned to assist older hospitalized veterans and their family members through the times of highest stress and greatest need of benefits guidance. Ora further stated, with a proud grin on her face that: “It is an almost daily occurrence for me to be working late into the evening at the bed side of many of our distressed elderly here in the hospital.” As an AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary member, Ora takes great pride in her ability to serve the community in such an important mission.

The third prong of the revitalization effort is dedicated to reaching out to those unable to conveniently come to any of the office facilities in the Puget Sound area. It will include using trained volunteer representatives from the many AMVETS posts scattered throughout the State as well as improving on line access to useful VA and WDVA self help information. The outreach program will act as the first contact point for many veterans confused of how best to go about receiving the benefits they have earned. 

Dave Harris, the AMVETS State Public Relations officer commented that: “Our long range goal here is to improve upon the 90% effective batting average given us by the WDVA. Even though we are one of the highest rated of all service organizations, continuous quality improvement is always called upon. We are exceptionally proud of this program and everyone participating in it. Our past success at handling more claims with less representatives and greater efficiency is admirable. With well over a thousand contacts a month, we believe this reorganization will streamline the process, expand its reach, and bring greater rewards to those who have given their Nation so much through their sacrifices. AMVETS is; after all, Veterans Helping Veterans.” 

For more information on AMVETS please visit: http://www.amvets.org

In comradeship,

Fred George, Cmdr
AMVETS Dept of Washington