A U.S. Veterans Administration official will visit the territory the last week of February to meet with V.I. veterans who are in need of assistance with employment and in securing educational benefits.
“During the week of Feb. 25 through March 1, Maria Rodriguez of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Division of the U.S. Veterans Administration will visit," according to a statement from Harry Daniel, acting director of the V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs.
The V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs has several programs to assist veterans who are unemployed and in need of training to return to the work place.
Rodriguez and employment counselors will be on St. Thomas Feb. 24 and 25 at the Community Base Clinic in the Medical Foundation Building. From Feb. 28 to March 1, they will be on St. Croix at the Community Base Clinic in the Village Mall.
The Office of Veterans Affairs will be at the upcoming V.I. Agrifest on Saturday and Sunday too, Daniel said.
Veterans who have documents they need to turn in to the office can bring them by the Fair’s produce building for processing. Veterans are also invited to stop by to inquire about various programs and services.
Daniel also admitted that some of the hours and services at the Veterans Affairs office have been cut back. "Due to the recent retirement of a few staff persons in the St. Croix office, the Veterans Affairs office is open for walk-in service only on Wednesdays and Thursdays on St. Croix. Persons may call the office Monday through Friday for assistance,” Daniel said.
The office is working diligently to return calls and “efforts are under way to staff up the office to better serve veterans," Daniel said, asking the community for patience.
For more information, call 773-6663 or 774-6100.
