Pillar I Veterans Affairs & Rahaabilitation

American Legion Post #48
P. O. Box 323
820 South Alamama Street
Chesnee, SC 29323

Pillar I: VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILITATION

    The American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation pillar is composed of programs, services and advocacy efforts that improve the lives of those who served, along with their families and dependents, after discharge from the military. On a national level, the Legion lobbies Congress for a well-funded, appropriately staffed VA that can handle benefits claims efficiently, quickly and accurately. On a local level, Legion volunteers work one-on-one with veterans to help them navigate the complicated benefits application process.
    Accredited American Legion service officers are specially trained to provide expert assistance, free of charge, to veterans and their families. The majority of service officer work involves claims for VA disability benefits, but these compassionate professionals also provide information, referrals and resources on education, employment and business, death benefits and other topics.

    For service officers like John Cloud of Oklahoma, helping veterans with their benefits is a labor of love. After he retired from the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, he took his expertise to American Legion Post 1 in Tulsa, where he has provided assistance for tens of thousands of veterans and advice for VA employees
"John Cloud is the textbook definition of what it means to help veterans and their families," says Matt Stiner, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq war. "He has shown me what one person can do to affect tens of thousands of people."
www.legion.org/serviceofficers

EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS
The American Legion conducts, promotes and supports hundreds of veteran career events nationwide each year. Thousands of veterans land jobs because of these efforts. Meanwhile, the Legion helps place hundreds of other veterans in job-training programs every year. Working veteran-to-veteran with The American Legion Small Business Task Force, along with the Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, VA and corporate associates, the Legion helps veterans understand the federal contracting process and offers personal guidance for career-seeking veterans.
www.legion.org/careers

VETERANS EDUCATION AND THE GI BILL
    The American Legion was instrumental in the creation of the modern Post-9/11 GI Bill, providing veterans with education benefits that better meet today's needs. Following its passage, the Legion has continued to fight for even more improvements to the benefit, making it more helpful to National Guards-men, reservists and those pursuing online education.
www.legion.org/education

COMBATING THE CLAIMS BACKLOG
    VA and The American Legion are working side by side to reverse a massive backlog of unresolved benefits claims. Through its Regional Office Action Review (ROAR) initiative, the Legion travels the nation to pin-point problems and identify best practices in VA claims management.
www.legion.org/veteransbenefits

VA VOLUNTEER SERVICES
    Legionnaires collectively donate nearly 1 million hours of service a year at veterans health-care facilities, working through the VA Volunteer Services program. These volunteer hours save the federal government at least $18.5 million a year and connect Legionnaires with veteran patients and their families.
www.legion.org/volunteers

BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS
    For veterans and families disputing benefits decisions by VA, The American Legion has staff representatives in Washington, D.C., who can help with the appeals process or strengthen a case, free of charge to veterans.

DISCHARGE REVIEW
    The American Legion offers free assistance to those applying to their service branches for corrections to military records and discharge statuses. Legion experts help veterans with claims for Combat Related Special Compensation and with the procurement of accurate records.
VAR@legion.org

HELP FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
    At the local, state and national levels, The American Legion provides support for homeless veterans and programs. Legion posts throughout the country build shelters or provide financial and volunteer support. At the national level, the Legion works with VA to raise awareness and allocate funds to help reverse the problem.
www.legion.org/homeless

FINAL RESPECTS
    The American Legion fulfills a sacred duty by honoring the memories of U.S. military veterans after their deaths. Legion honor guards salute their fallen comrades at funeral services throughout the country every day. Legion Riders provide motorcycle escorts and security at services for fallen troops and veterans. The Legion also works closely with the National Cemetery Administration, Arlington National Cemetery and the American Battle Monuments Commission to ensure their respect and honor are bestowed upon fallen service members.

DID YOU KNOW?
The American Legion offers a free smartphone app that helps service officers and veterans get through the VA claims process. Go to www.legion.org/mobileapps