NMDVS News:

Los Alamos RSVP is hosting a free Armed Forces Veterans Benefits Outreach 10 a.m. to noon, April 25 at Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos.

RSVP gets federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, state funding from the Aging and Long Term Services Department and support from Los Alamos County.

Two Veterans’ Service officers from the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) will be on hand to assist veterans and their families with filing for or answering any questions about VA and state veterans’ benefits—ranging from health care needs, mental health counseling, VA pensions and compensation, finding employment, utilizing a veteran’s G.I. Education Bill, and many other VA, state and privately-provided veterans’ benefits and programs.

“We encourage all veterans and National Guard or Reserve members to come find out what’s available for them and their families and the proper channels to go through.”  RSVP Director Irene Powell said. “There are a lot of great benefits and programs which can really help improve the quality of life for our veterans and their families.”

The NMDVS suggests veterans bring copies of theirDD Form 214 “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”—more commonly referred to as their “DD-214 Form” and any other important paperwork to simplify the process.

Veterans or dependents can also request to re-file for any lost documents.

“These are benefits that our veterans haveearned through their military service to our country,” said NMDVS Veterans’ Service Officer David Smith, who will be at the Outreach. “But a veteran can’t utilize these benefits if they don’t know about them—or how to go about filing for them. We will help you do this at this outreach.”

For more information, contact Irene Powell at (505) 662-8923.