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Archive Columns from Pat Rowe Kerr
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With this first column let me take a moment to introduce myself to you. As the mother of a Reservist who has deployed to Iraq twice and is currently on deployment INCONUS, we have had the opportunity to learn firsthand the needs and gaps affecting our Global War on Terror Service Members, families, and employers. As I cared for my deployed daughter's 13 month old from the time of her deployment until age 5, at the same time caring for my critically injured husband, it was clear to me back in 2003 that everyone needed to have in place a plan A, B, C, and even sometimes plan D to support this Triad of Patriots!
Now serving as your State Veterans Ombudsman at the Missouri Veterans Commission - your one neutral point of contact for all branches and components - we diligently work to increase new policies and legislation to support the urgent and kinetic - ever changing needs - of America's Veterans.
Through our program, Operation Outreach, we advocate on behalf of service members, their families and Missouri's newest Veterans. We educate regarding finances, medical needs, family issues, transition benefits, employment issues, accessing federal and state benefits and benevolent resources, and the potential impact of Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury. We help navigate through the myriad of complex federal and state systems and benefits and we help coordinate resources for financial support and life planning issues. To date we have coordinated over $2 million in financial resources and have kept 45 families from homelessness. We strongly advocate for individual Service Members for higher Medical Board ratings so that there will not be a long-term negative impact on the future receipt of VA benefits.
Please contact us at:
pat.kerr@mvc.dps.mo.gov,
melissa.wilding@mvc.dps.mo.gov, or
jamie.reed@mvc.dps.mo.gov regardless of your location and continue reading this newsletter as we continue to provide resource information for you.
To reach your state advocacy agency go to:
www.nasdva.com and click on your state.
