WITH PACT ACT NOW LAW – GOT A VSO? Veteran Service Officers Connect Veterans To Their Benefits



Got your VA Benefits Ninja? Connect with your VSO and secure the benefits you have earned.  (Air Force photo by Kelly White)

The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act Surges Calls To Area VSOs. 

State and County Veterans Service Offices (VSO) Connect The Liberty Coast Veterans With Their Benefits.

A Camp Lejeune Town Hall is scheduled for 4pm to 7pm, Thursday, September 22, 2022 at the Salem Centre, 7235 Bentley Rd in Jacksonville (US1 of JTB).

Keith Brandon is an Army Veteran and the Veteran Services Officer for Clay County Florida. He is fond of saying, “There is a VSO for every Veteran, go find the one that fits you.

Bill Spann is a Navy Veteran and the City of Jacksonville’s Director, Military Affairs and Veterans Department. He is known for encouraging Veterans to seek out a VSO and register with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He routinely says, “Don’t do what I did and leave many thousands of dollars on the table because you didn’t submit a claim or know the benefits that you have earned and have already been paid for by your military service.”

All across The Liberty Coast are Veteran Service Officers (VSO’s) that can assist with the important work of helping Veterans and their families apply for and access their earned benefits, among other services. Benefits include VA disability ratings, healthcare eligibility, GI Bill, other education, vocational rehabilitation, employment programs and others.

The Veteran Health Care ID Card can also be used for access to the commissaries and exchanges on area military bases.

Why use a VSO to help you file a claim? Typically VSOs are Veterans who are very passionate about assisting Veterans. These can be people who are volunteers or have made it their profession. All VSOs are ardent about serving Veterans, many are very schooled and some are certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs and receive regular continuing education. They can answer your questions and guide you through the process.

So, using a VSO means that you will have someone who understands where you’ve been and what you’re up against whether it’s as you transition out of the military or are living the next chapter of your life as a Veteran.

In addition to filing VA Benefit claims, VSO’s can assist in many ways, including: answering questions, advising, and educating individuals and groups on what benefits are available from federal, state, county, and community resources.

VSO For Every Veteran. You can find a Veteran Service Officer at most of the traditional Veteran Service Organizations (also abbreviated “VSO) like the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legions, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the like.  Many Veteran-started non-profits provide volunteer VSO services. The state of Florida, county governments and some municipalities across The Liberty Coast fund and staff dedicated, career Veteran Service Officers. Go find the VSO that is right for you. There are many VSOs out there, so getting a second opinion works too.

Each of the counties here, on The Liberty Coast, as well as the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) operate a Veteran Services Office staffed with usually, very qualified, often certified, Veteran Service Officers. The following presentation is a list of the county and FDVA offices and VSOs on The Liberty Coast.

Note: With the cost of gas these days, Liberty Life recommends contacting the VSO in advance to confirm walk-in or appointment-based services. Also, consider taking both Keith Brandon and Bill Spann’s advice.

Baker County Veterans Service Office:  Tony Esterling, Veterans Services Officer.  Located at 55 N. 3rd Street, A-6 Center Office, Macclenny, FL 32063,  (904) 259-2516, VET@BakerCountyFL.Org.

Bradford County Veterans Affairs:  Barbara Fischer, County Veterans Service Officer. Located at 925 North Temple Avenue, Suite E Starke, FL 32091, (904) 966-6385, Barbara_ Fischer@BradfordCountyFL.gov.

St. Marys Veterans Field Service Office (Camden County):  Roger “Steve” Futch, Veteran Field Service Officer. Located inside the St. Marys VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in the Kings Bay Village Shopping Center. 2603 Osborne Road, St. Marys, GA 31588, (912) 510-3440, Roger.Futch@VS.State.GA.us, Veterans.Georgia.gov/Locations/St-Marys.

Clay County Office of Veterans Services:  Keith Brandon, Veterans Services Officer. Located at 420 College Drive, Suite 107,  Middleburg, FL 32068, (904) 529-4735 or (904) 284-6326, Keith.Brandon@ClayCountyGov.Com. The community liaison, Tramika Chatfield connects Veterans to other services in the community can be reached at Tramika.Chatfield@ClayCountyGov.Com or (904) 529-4737.

Duval County – City of Jacksonville, Military Affairs and Veterans Department: Rafael Santiago, Veterans Services Office Supervisor. This large staff of specialized military and Veteran professionals are located in Jacksonville’s City Hall (St. James Building, Suite 175) in Downtown Jacksonville. Walk-ins welcome 8:00am-5:00pm, 117 West Duval St, Ste 175, Jacksonville, FL 32202, (904) 255-5550, VetsVCS@COJ.net.

Nassau County Veterans Services: Bob Sullivan, Veterans Services Officer.  Located in Robert M. Foster Justice Center, 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097, (904) 548-4670, BSullivan@NassauClerk.Com, NassauClerk.com/Veterans-Service.

Putnam County Veterans Services: Allen Buquo, Veterans Service Officer. Located in Palatka (2509 Crill Avenue, Suite 800, Palatka, FL 32177, Mon- Fri, 0830 – 1200 and 1300 – 1630), Crescent City and Interlachen as well.  Click Here for Office Hours and Call (386) 329-0327 or 0328 to schedule appointments. allen.buquo@putnam-fl.gov. Fax: (386) 329-0329

St. Johns County Veterans Service Office:  Joseph D. “Mac” McDermott (CVSO), County Senior Service Officer. Located in the St. Johns County Health and Human Services Building with service by appointment. 200 San Sebastian View, Suite 1400 St. Augustine, FL 32084, (904) 209-6160, SJCFL.us/VeteransServices.

The 2022 Florida Benefits Guide is a wealth of valuable Veteran’s benefits information. Download yours today. 

The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) has several Veteran Claims Examiner’s across The Liberty Coast. To contact a FDVA Veterans’ Claims Examiner, call (727) 319-7440 and they’ll return your call within 24 hours. All services are free to the Veteran.

You may also contact them via e-mail at VSO@fdva.state.fl.us. For more information on VA Outpatient Clinics, Vet Centers or VA Medical Centers and Benefits Intake Offices, visit VA.Gov/DIRECTORY. Download the 2022 Florida Benefits Guide for lots of good additional gouge.

 Middleburg Community Outpatient Clinic: AJ Johnson, FDVA Veteran Claims Examiner. 400 College Dr. Suite 200, Middleburg, FL 32068. (904) 213-2700 Ext. 573006.

NAS Jacksonville: Rich Cary, FDVA Veteran Claims Examiner. Bldg. 39, Langley St (VyStar Credit Union Bldg. 39), NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212 Phone: (904) 420-5232. Base Access Required.

Jacksonville VA Outpatient Clinic. 1536 N. Jefferson St. Jacksonville, FL 32209. (904) 475-5871.

Jacksonville University VA Outpatient Clinic. 3901 University Blvd. South, Jacksonville, FL 32216. (904) 732-9801

For-Profit Benefit Support. In general, volunteer and career VSOs are available to assist Veterans  and their families, at no cost, to access their earned benefits. Some Veteran advocates are very passionate about shielding Veterans from ever using for-profit services. There are Veteran’s benefit experts and law firms that specialize in benefit claims and appeals as well as SSDI issues and the myriad of issues that folks can be experiencing.  There are also folks looking to make money off of people. Media outlets are awash in advertisements from law firms regarding the Camp Lejeune water contamination exposure. While, as an American, you can choose to go where you feel comfortable – do your homework.

The Honor Our PACT Act was named for SFC Heath Robinson and the many like him.  (Image: Warfighter 21.)

Should you need specialized assistance, some for-profit benefit services may be worth the cost of having them support your needs. Some are simply a business that attract folks who may not know of or have access to a VSO. As in all shopping for services, do your home work, but go find the claim support or VSO that works for you.

PACT ACT INFO:  To read the VA’s perspective about The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, visit The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits

Danielle Robinson – Widow of the Honor Our PACT Act’s namesake, SFC Heath Robinson shares her experiences and reflections at WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN EXPOSED TO?