Module 3: Part 2
Partnering with Relevant Stakeholders
Now that you have a better idea of the challenges that military personnel face in preserving their records of service and that you understand the curriculum that we have developed for them, we want to offer you some suggestions to better work with this population. We encourage you to partner with relevant stakeholders, meet active-duty military where they are, and likewise, go where veterans are.
Going where veterans are
There are many government agencies, both at the state and federal level, that will be important allies in your work with veterans. The Military Personnel Records office at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC-MPR) is one such resource. The NPRC-MPR is the repository of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans, as well as records of all other persons treated at military facilities.
The VA lists over 100 veterans’ associations on its website, such as the National Veterans Association, the American Legion, and Service Women’s Action Network. We also encourage you to reach out to your local VA office. The federal VA has 170 offices throughout the country. In addition, there are VA departments at the state level in many states, such as Maryland, Nebraska, and Louisiana. Reaching out to the local branch of the federal VA, plus the state-level agency in your area, is also a means to connect with veterans. Furthermore, you may want to attend the Veterans Conference organized every summer by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA).
Universities also offer different avenues to reach out to veterans. Some colleges, such as the University of Alabama, have offices of veteran and military affairs, which serve both active-service members and veterans. Thus, you may want to reach out to the universities in your area to check if they either have one of those offices or a student-driven veteran and military association. In addition, many universities have a VA certifying official whose job is to verify that a person is a veteran so that they may be awarded the benefits outlined in the GI Bill and similar legislation. While in many colleges, VA officials can be found in a veteran affairs unit, some universities will list them within the registrar’s office.
Beyond colleges, veterans have access to healthcare information resources through the Veteran Affairs Library Network (VALNET). The goal of VALNET is to provide health-related information for veteran inpatients, outpatients, and their families and caregivers.
Going where the active-duty military are
The different branches of the armed forces also have their own academies, each of which has an alumni relations office and a library. Examples of such academies are West Point, which serves the army; the naval academy; the air force academy; and the coast guard academy. Reaching out to these units can be a way to reach out to active military personnel. The Department of Defense (DOD) has a program known as Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Libraries (MWRs). Through this program, military personnel have access to digital collections, such as physical libraries on 250 military bases, and digital content, such as videos, music, and ebooks. It is estimated that up to 450 information professionals work in the libraries ascribed to the DOD.
Military-Oriented Commemorations and Holidays
Finally, you may also take advantage of special occasions to reach out to veterans and active military personnel, attending commemorations of historical dates such as D-day (June 6) and the Gettysburg Address (November 19), or national holidays pertaining to military personnel such as Memorial Day (last Monday of May) or Veterans’ Day (November 1).
Veterans Associations
There are over 100 VA-recognized national Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs). The following section includes a select list of VSOs. The Department of Veterans Affairs publishes a comprehensive directory, most recently in 2019.
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The National Veterans Association (NVA) is “an organization that provides legal assistance, housing, employment opportunities, business ownership, discharge upgrades, medical assistance, family outreach, and other pressing issues that stand as debilitating factors preventing veterans and their families from receiving the “quality care” deserved throughout mainstream society.”
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The American Legion (TAL) is among the oldest veteran organizations in the US. Chartered by Congress in 1919 and comprised of veterans from The Great War, the AL aims “to enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.” Its vision is to mobilize veterans to strengthen the nation. TAL is committed to promoting patriotism and supporting veterans through local community programs. They operate over 10,000 posts and, as the largest VSO, they support over 2.3 million members. They are organized by Departments (states) and local districts (posts). A list of their locations and local leadership can be found here.
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“The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) is the voice of women who have served or are currently serving in the military. We are a member-driven network dedicated to supporting, connecting, and advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women; past, present, and future. Through legislative advocacy and research, SWAN has played a major role in opening all military jobs to service women, holding sex offenders accountable in the military justice system, eliminating barriers to disability claims for those who have experienced military sexual trauma, and expanding access to a broad range of reproductive healthcare services for military women.”
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The American GI Forum (AGIF) is a congressionally chartered Hispanic veterans’ organization. The AGIF is dedicated to addressing the problems of discrimination and inequities endured by Hispanic veterans after World War II. The organization has chapters throughout the United States. “The AGIF has been in the forefront in civil rights struggles, such as advocating for Hispanic Veterans Benefits, desegregation of schools, voter registration, fair judicial proceedings, and combating media stereotyping and distortions.”
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American Veterans (AMVETS) is a congressionally chartered veterans’ organization representing the interests of 20 million veterans. AMVETS aims “to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy, and services.”
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Victories for Veterans (VV) is “dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.”
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Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is a community of more than 425,000 members who “use data and stories to catalyze needed, positive change for America’s veterans.” Their signature program, Quick Reaction Force, “helps veterans navigate the complex road map to quality free services.”
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VWF) mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, serve veterans, the military, and our communities, and advocate on behalf of all veterans. They operate over 4,000 posts throughout the country. A list of VFW locations can be found here.
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Disabled American Veterans (DAV) supports disabled veterans of all generations and their families by empowering them to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. In addition to disability claims support and their chapters, DAV provides more than 700,000 rides for veterans attending medical appointments. You can find the local DAV chapter here.
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PVA’s mission is to change lives and build brighter futures for seriously injured veterans. PVA is dedicated to veterans’ service, medical research, and civil rights for people with disabilities. There are 72 National Service offices and 32 chapters that help empower veterans, and they can be found here.
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AMVETS’ mission is to enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy, and services. They have over 1,400 locations throughout the country, which can be found here.
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VVA’s goals are to support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. VVA’s motto is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”
End of Module 3
Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of the third module. Before moving on, click the link below to test what you’ve learned so far.