What is a VSO? It is a Veteran Service Organization…but what does that mean?

A Veteran Service Organization, or VSO, is a group formed to help veterans navigate life after military service. These groups help with the VA bureaucracy, support veterans who find themselves homeless, secure employment, and provide that familiar camaraderie to men and women no longer in uniform.

VSOs train volunteer service officers to help their fellow veterans free of charge. They are especially useful in helping a veteran gather their paperwork to determine their disability rating, apply for services, and file a claim. Securing benefits include everything from dental services, partial paralysis, PTSD, and toxic exposure, as recently brought into law under the PACT Act. A trained and accredited volunteer can also represent a veteran when communicating with the VA.

Depending on their charter, some groups allow active duty and members of the Guard or Reserves to join. Many also have an auxiliary group established for spouses and family members to join. VSOs do not require membership in their organization for a veteran to receive help.

VSOs are also helpful in helping service members transition to civilian status. One action often recommended is for the member to gather a complete copy of their military records. This includes not just medical and dental information but copies of their education record, awards and decorations, and everything else. Why? Because the VA is more than medical benefits. Education and home loan benefits, VA Pensions, death benefits, and life insurance exist.

If you or your spouse are preparing to retire or separate from the military, this is a good time to check out what the VA offers. However, dropping into the website for the first time can be like trying to take a drink from a fire hose. Set up a member account and explore what you and your spouse have earned with your service. If you desire assistance from a veteran who has already gone through the process, the VA can help you find a VSO and an accredited representative near you to help get started.

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