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VA Welcome Home salutes Charleston OIF/OEF

  • Published
  • By Michael Dukes
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --  Hundreds of veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn attended a free welcome home event May 5 presented by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center aboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Charleston.

A job fair was one of the more popular attractions at the event offering nearly 60 employers on site to meet veterans, accept their resumes and applications and answer job announcement questions. Besides employers, the VA partnered with community organizations to offer information on health services and other services for veterans and their families.

The main inspiration for the VA Welcome Home is to let current era veterans know that the VA is not just for their fathers and grandfathers - today's VA offers world-class health services for younger veterans, too, according to Pat O'Leary, transition patient advocate for the VA Southeast Network.

"It's important for these vets to know that they can receive cost free medical care for any condition related to their service in the Iraq/Afghanistan theater for five years after the date of their discharge or release. In order to take advantage of these benefits, OEF/OIF vets need to enroll in VA's health care system," O'Leary said. And for those who showed up with their DD-214 discharge papers in hand, they took advantage of this benefit and enrolled with the VA.

The 315th Airlift Wing's mini-C-17, which was set up in the parking lot next to a fire truck and the mobile Vet Center was by far the most popular attraction for the kids of all ages. Mini C-17 team members for the event included Master Sgt. Beth Holzbaur, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Master Sgt. Cindy Learn, 315th Security Forces Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Chris Fabel, 315th AMXS, and Staff Sgt. Mark Graveline 315th AMXS. They showed up early that morning to set up the mini, and stayed until after the event to take it back down and pack it up.

Besides the mini C-17 team, a couple of other 315th members attended the event to meet face to face with employers at the job fair. 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron's Master Sgt. Rose Ragin, her daughter SrA Tiffany Baines, of the 315th AW Staff Judge Advocate's Office, as well as retired Senior Master Sgt. Alma Lowery were among those who showed up to find job information at the event.

Men and women who served in OIF or OEF who have discharged the military can find out more information about VA services online at www.oefoif.va.gov/ or for general VA benefits and eligibility call 1-800-827-1000.