Claims on campus DAV mobile office visits are underway in communities, colleges nationwide By Charity Edgar City College to assist student veterans. “The MSO enables veterans to come see us and get assistance when they normally might not be able,” explained Countryman. “Some people prefer the face-to-face interactions, and the MSO provides that throughout California and across the country.” The Afghanistan veteran welcomes the opportunity to bring DAV services to college campuses. “Too often, student veterans don’t know about their benefits beyond the GI Bill—if they even know about that,” said Countryman. “They may not know about Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, for example, which I have personally benefited from.” Marine Corps veteran Aaron McCrae, one of the students Countryman met with on campus, said he was grateful for the assistance. “Sometimes you might put [claims assistance] off because it takes time. That’s what I did, because I got out and got a job. But now I’m back to school and refocused on taking care of myself,” said McCrae, a communications major. “I learned about my benefits, and now, I can take advantage of them.” S ince 2001, DAV’s Mobile Service Office (MSO) program has traveled throughout the country to underserved small towns and rural communities to counsel, assist and educate veterans and their families on the benefits they are eligible for through their service. And with more than a million veterans using education benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, finding veterans on college campuses is increasingly common. That’s why DAV has extended its reach of MSOs over the past few years to also cover a number of colleges and universities. In 2017, MSOs visited 665 sites—including 37 college campuses— facilitating 6,335 interviews with veterans, their families and survivors that resulted in 3,507 claims for benefits. In total, the fleet covered 56,318 miles. Navy veteran and benefits advocate Raymond Countryman traveled from his office at the VA regional office in Los Angeles to four stops throughout California in March aboard a DAV mobile office. His first destination was Long Beach 16 DAV MAGAZINE MAY | JUNE 2018
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Visit Article: https://digital.dav.org/article/Claims+on+campus/3083388/495380/article.html.