Veterans at White Sands Missile Range are encouraged to visit the Vet Center located on base to get assistance with anything from medical needs to educational needs.

WSMR Vet Center here for you

Veterans at White Sands Missile Range are encouraged to visit the Vet Center located on base to get assistance with anything from medical needs to educational needs.

Sam Bothern, Disabled American Veterans Service Officer, is available to assist Veterans with anything from medical needs to educational needs every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. His office is located inside the Army Community Service in Building 250.

“I get to come in once a week to help Veterans with filing claims,” Bothern said. “There are many Veteran service organizations that are chartered by Congress specifically to help Veterans.”

Bothern said he helps people with the process because it can often be frustrating.

“We find forms for them, and we can direct them to the services they need.”

Bothern said these are services that Veterans both need and which they have earned with their service regardless of whether they served in combat or not.

“It is very frustrating to find out that so many Veterans don’t use their benefits because they feel they don’t deserve them because they didn’t fight in combat. But the benefits are here for all Veterans, not just the ones who fought in combat. We all did our part.”

Bothern said he can help Veterans with medical issues, educational needs, and even burial services.

For educational needs he recommends Veterans visit the Veterans Services office at their local college because they have all the information to help them including any state benefits such as scholarships available to them.

Bothern said that many Veterans are also not aware of their burial benefits and don’t know that they can get a last will and testament done at the JAG office on post at no charge.

“There are forms you can fill out to establish your benefit for that.”

Other benefits include spousal benefits. Bothern said many Veterans don’t realize that if they have a disability their spouse also gets benefits.

He said the information is free for Veterans. If there is a question, he can’t answer Bothern will refer Veterans to the Vet Center in Las Cruces, where one of the service officers will be able to answer their questions.

You can call Bothern on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at (575) 678-4529 to set up an appointment or just stop by to see him at the ACS office.

By Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs