By Debbie Gregory.
San Diego County is one of the most military-friendly regions in the country. From Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, to Miramar’s Marine Corps Air Station, to the naval station and installations on North Island and in San Diego proper, the county is teeming with service members who live and work in the area. And when these service members separate from active-duty, many remain in the area with their families.
During his state of the county address last week, County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn dubbed this year “The Year of the Veteran” in San Diego .
More than one-third of the county’s population is made up of Veterans or active military and their families. Chairman Horn, himself a Marine Corps Veteran, believes that ramping up current county programs that connect Veterans and their families with benefits and resources is a top priority.
“These men and women have made sacrifices that often take terrible tolls on their personal lives. As a county and as a community, we have a responsibility to take care of our Veterans,” Horn said in his address at the County Administration Center.
A brand new Veterans Resource Center is scheduled to open this summer at the North Inland Family Resource Center in Escondido. Horn said that the center will be a one-stop shop for Veterans and would connect them with county representatives, access to programs and services and around 15 organizations that provide support.
The center will also offer benefits counseling, employment and housing services, legal aid, transition assistance and college fee waivers. The center is located under the same roof as the family resource center, making family assistance much more accessible.
Over the course of 2015, the county also plans to convert its Department of Veterans Affairs into a streamlined Military and Veterans Department. San Diego County will also begin a program called Vet Connect, which will allow Veterans to access assistance using FaceTime video calling from library computers. Plans are also in the works for a memory care unit at the Chula Vista Veterans Home of California.
The folks at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors seem to understand that military members (past, present and future) are the lifeblood of their region. Providing resources for this population is an extremely well-thought out way to say “thank you for your service” and “welcome home” in San Diego County.
Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.
Military Connection: San Diego County Honors Veterans
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