WASHINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Wounded Warrior Project® grant that will continue to aid the VFW’s efforts to assist and ensure transitioning military receive their earned disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Since its first award to the VFW almost a decade ago, the WWP grant is specifically targeted to support the Pre-Discharge component of the VFW’s National Veteran Service program, an effort that last year helped the VFW to file more than 13,000 claims on behalf of transitioning military servicemen and women at the 12 VFW Pre-Discharge sites, some of which are at located at America’s largest military installations. Collectively, the VFW’s nationwide cadre of VA-accredited Pre-Discharge claims representatives helped secure more than $82 million in earned disability benefits for transitioning service members in fiscal year 2023 alone, powered in part by this grant’s support.
“Wounded Warrior Project’s commitment to ensuring service members can transition successfully into civilian life is phenomenal,” said VFW National Commander Duane Sarmiento. “Year after year, WWP continues to support the VFW’s Pre-Discharge program knowing the impact it is having on the lives of new veterans. We wouldn’t be able to reach as many military men and women, connecting them with their earned VA benefits, if it weren’t for generous partners like WWP. Thank you!”
The grant will help sustain Pre-Discharge operations at more than 20 military installations across the nation and Puerto Rico, supporting transitioning servicemembers at: Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego, California; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Joint Base Andrews and Walter Reed National Military Medica Center, Maryland; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Fort Drum, New York; Camp Lejeune and Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), North Carolina; San Juan VA Regional Office in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Ft. Meade, Annapolis, Navy Yard and JB Anacostia/Bolling, Washington, D.C.; 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. Visit vfw.org/PreDischarge for more information.
This program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project to honor and empower post-9/11 injured service members, veterans, and their families.