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The approximately 40,000 veterans within Montgomery County will benefit from the group once it is up and running, McClain said.
“The Voices for Vets Advisory Group will champion the needs of veterans and give them a place to be heard,” he said. “This group will work to improve the quality of services provided to veterans throughout Montgomery County, and focus on the unique issues and concerns of veterans when it comes to how we deliver services and programs.”
Initially, the group will be comprised of seven volunteer members, which will include five veterans and two non-veteran community members. They will meet at least once a month to address veteran issues, concerns and feedback.
The group will also offer assistance to veterans seeking a second set of medals or information about discharge upgrades.
McClain will select the group’s members, and they will serve on a volunteer basis. No compensation will be given to any volunteer for any purpose, he said.
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Last year, McClain started the Veteran Identification Card Program, seeking to connect veterans to earned benefits.
“This is going to be a stabilizing point for our veterans. This is going to be a program that will break down barriers,” he said.
The identification card is free to any honorably discharged veteran (upon the recording of discharge and presentation of two forms of identification), and can help veterans obtain eligibility for hospital, burial, service credit benefits, discounts at local businesses throughout the Miami Valley and more. To date, approximately 2,000 veteran identification cards have been issued.
In May, the Montgomery County Recorder’s Office started recording veterans’ discharge documents.
“The convenience of veterans recording their DD-214’s off-site and registering to obtain a Veteran ID Card will allow our office to reach out to more local veterans who may be disabled and/or immobile and connect them to earned benefits,” McClain said.
To be considered for the Voices for Vets Advisory Group or to report a concern for its review, contact Voices4Vets@mcohio.org. The group plans to begin meeting to address veteran concerns in January 2020.
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