WASHINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Wounded Warrior Project® grant in the amount of $250,000 that will continue to help more transitioning military to receive their earned disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The grant is specifically targeted to support the Pre-Discharge component of the VFW’s National Veteran Service program, an effort that last year enabled the VFW to file nearly 12,000 claims on behalf of transitioning military servicemen and women at more than 20 VFW Pre-Discharge offices across the nation, including the military district of Washington, D.C., area, and some of America’s largest military installations. Collectively, the VFW’s nationwide cadre of more than 2,000 VA-accredited service officers helped secure $152 million in earned disability benefits for transitioning service members in fiscal year 2021. This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families.
“Wounded Warrior Project is truly a trusted and generous partner in our work to assist service members and their families,” said VFW National Commander Tim Borland. “Without the support the VFW has received by WWP over the years, our Pre-Discharge program would not operate at the incredible level it does today. Our service men and women have been given the best possible chance for a seamless transition directly because of WWP’s commitment.”
The grant will help sustain Pre-Discharge site operations at 12 major military installations across the nation: Fort Stewart, Georgia, Fort Riley, Kansas, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Fort Drum, New York, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Membership in the VFW is not required to receive its free, professional claims assistance.
If you are within 180 days of discharge from the military, you can contact a VFW Pre-Discharge representative for more information and to get the VA claims process underway.