Veterans Resources

 Johnston County Veterans Service Office 

The Johnston County Veterans Services Office assists eligible Veterans, their dependents and/or surviving spouses, children of deceased Veterans, members of the Reserves or National Guard, and active-duty service members in applying for benefits and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs.

We want to honor your service and sacrifice to our country by working with you in whatever way we can to help you obtain the benefits for which you are eligible. Our full-time staff are experienced in dealing with the VA and helping Veterans through the process of obtaining benefits to which they are entitled.

Our Veteran Service Officer, Robert Boyette, is a retired military service member with 30 years of service. He is an accredited representative with the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, American Legion, North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs, and Disabled American Veterans.

See what Veterans are saying about us!

Rally Point

On the 2nd Wednesday each month veterans gather to socialize and enjoy breakfast with  other veterans. Occasionally a guest speaker will talk about a topic of interest. No membership in any veterans organization is required. All veterans are welcome.

Veterans & Mesothelioma: Exposure, Benefits & Claims

About 30% of annual mesothelioma claims come from veterans. You might have a high risk of asbestos exposure if you served in military occupations from 1930 to 1980. Every branch of the military relied on asbestos. VA benefits are available to veterans with mesothelioma.

As a retired servicemember of the United States military, obtaining the maximum VA compensation isn’t a simple task. There are many benefits available to you as a veteran of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Space Force.

Veterans Bridge Home

Women Veterans Support Services, Inc.

WVSS, Inc. was established in 2008 and has the distinction of being the State of North Carolina’s 1st Woman Veteran organization.  Women veterans are the fastest growing underserved population of being homeless and jobless.

WVSS, Inc is committed to assisting in time of trouble, while we are primarily in service for her, we will not turn away people asking for assistance if we can help. Because of the generosity of donors like yourself, we are able to PROVIDE QUALITY service that our veterans need, free of charge.

Established for and by women veterans and women military spouses, the overarching priorities of WVSS include crisis counseling, shelter and economic assistance. Here are some of the unique problems affecting our fellow women warriors that must be addressed:

• veterans who are single mothers needing employment, food and healthcare for themselves and their children
• childcare and child counseling for children of returning women veterans or deployed women military
• homeless women veterans with or without children who need transitional and affordable housing
• women veterans needing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling
• domestic violence victims in need of immediate shelter
• victims of military sexual trauma needing counseling
• women veterans suffering traumatic brain injury and needing treatment
• women vets needing assistance securing existing VA benefits for which they qualify.

What Every Veteran Should Do… Before It’s Too Late

One important detail we should all take care of before it’s too late is making our final arrangements and
letting our family know what those are. Many veterans I’ve talked to assume that when the time comes,
the VA will take care of it. Nothing could be further from the truth! Your veterans burial benefits are
there to help but the decisions about what kind of funeral you want, where you want to be buried, etc.
are up to you.

All too often these details are not discussed because, let’s face it, it’s uncomfortable. Then when the
time comes, the surviving family members want to do the best for their loved one and all too often end
up spending a lot more money than they needed to.

The easiest way to do this is to make an appointment with a reputable funeral director and make your
plans ahead of time. They will present your options and keep a record of your choices so when the time
comes your family will know what your wishes are.

It’s important to have certain information available for your surviving family members. One of the most
important, but often overlooked forms is your DD214. This is one of the first things the VA will ask for
when processing your benefits. Make sure you have a copy available. An easy way to accomplish this
is through the Johnston County Register of Deeds “Thank A Vet Program.”

When you record your DD214 at their office they will issue a photo ID card. This card can be shown at
local participating merchants in order to obtain a discount from that merchant. More importantly, your
DD214 will be kept in a safe place and available when you need it.

Another important task is to complete a Personal Affairs Record. This is a detailed listing of all your
personal and financial information. Basically, it’s a record of your life.

Taking care of these vital details now will save your loved ones a lot of trouble later on.

CPT James Ahn Memorial Scholarship

Military Scholarship Consulting is sponsoring an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a Special Forces Veteran who is working towards the completion of a higher education degree.

The scholarship is in honor of Captain James Ahn, a graduate of UC Riverside and the Claremont McKenna College Army ROTC program. CPT Ahn died in 2015 during a parachute training operation while participating with his Special Forces unit in Washington State.

Hearing Aids From VA

Medicare For Veterans

The U.S Department of Veteran Affairs recommends veterans enroll in Medicare when they turn 65 even if they have VA benefits. To help veterans learn more, we’ve created a comprehensive Medicare for Veterans guide that explores coverage, eligibility, and more.

Please take a look:

Vision Care Guide For Veterans

The Veterans Administration (VA) has provided vision care since it was founded, and those services continue to improve. Preventative care and routine care are included, although glasses and contact lenses are not covered unless there is an underlying condition or service-related injury involved.

NVISION, a community of surgeons, optometrist partners, and employees dedicated to helping people live better by seeing better recently published an educational guide on veterans and vision care. This free resource highlights VA coverage for vision care, common eye injuries/disorders for veterans, treatment for blind veterans and more. Please take a look:

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is common in the United States. Older adults get hurt, are neglected, and even die in the same facilities where they should be receiving proper care.

NursingHomesAbuse.org is an advocacy center whose mission is to be a complete resource center on abuse in nursing homes and to offer any help possible.

VA Retirement Benefits: Pensions, Disability & Annuities

When it comes to preparing for the golden years, veterans and their families have many resources at their fingertips. They include pensions, a civilian income, Social Security (or possible disability income), VA healthcare and tax-advantaged savings.

Find out what benefits are available to you and how eligibility is determined. By combining veterans benefits with Social Security income, savings plans and annuities you will be one step closer to handling your future expenses.