{"id":8188,"date":"2024-07-04T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8188"},"modified":"2024-07-04T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T18:30:00","slug":"summer-vetfest-at-fort-worth-va-outpatient-clinic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8188","title":{"rendered":"Summer VetFest at Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-07-04T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

On June 8 with support from the Waco VA Regional Office, over 1,200 Veterans attended \u201cSummer VetFest\u201d at the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic.<\/a> The Veterans were able to file benefit claims, learn about VA educational programs and connect with Veteran Service Organizations. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inside the VA clinic, Waco VA Regional Office representatives met with almost 400 of those Veterans to assist with filing benefit claims and answer questions about the claims process.<\/p>\n

Representatives from the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program, which provides job training, education, employment accommodations, resume development, job seeking skills and coaching were also on hand to help with job opportunities.<\/p>\n

Prior to the event, Veterans were encouraged to schedule face-to-face appointments with a Veteran Service Representative. While waiting for their appointments, Veterans were briefed about the wide array of VA services.<\/p>\n

Filing claim 55 years later<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a>
Aubrey Bradford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Army Veteran Aubrey Bradford, who was drafted in May 1969 and never applied for VA benefits, was one of the 400 Veterans in attendance. Prior to being drafted to a special unit with 11 soldiers, he practiced martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and was an expert in weapons. His skills in martial arts earned him the title of Michigan State Champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why we were chosen for the special unit, because we were already highly trained and skilled,\u201d Bradford said. The extreme trainings while in service left him unable to cope with society upon his return home. \u201cI had extreme post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and needed to learn to control my impulses. Thankfully, my parents were able to help me obtain treatment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Now 55 years later, he is getting additional help. Through the encouragement of his daughter, Bradford is filing a VA benefits claim for the first time. After meeting with VA staff at Summer VetFest, Bradford is adamant about encouraging all Veterans to file for VA benefits.<\/p>\n

Zadie Patterson-Ferguson, Veteran\u2019s Service Center coach, says she hears this all the time. \u201cSo many Veterans view VA benefits as a handout. They think they do not qualify or are taking benefits from someone else. Events like VetFest give Veterans the opportunity to speak face-to-face with VA employees and walk the Veteran through the process of filing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over 1,200 Veterans attended \u201cSummer VetFest\u201d and were able to file benefit claims and become informed about VA programs .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care"],"yoast_head":"\nSummer VetFest at Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Over 1,200 Veterans attended \u201cSummer VetFest\u201d and were able to file benefit claims and become informed about VA programs .\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8188\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Summer VetFest at Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic - 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