Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Personnel through the VA Centers

Reserve Component Members who separated from active duty after serving in a hostile environment, and their Families are eligible for counseling services through the VA Centers (separate from VA hospitals). Individuals seeking assistance are not required to have a medical/mental health diagnosis in order to receive services.

VET CENTER SERVICES

• Readjustment counseling
• Job counseling and placement
• Referral for benefits assistance
• Group readjustment counseling
• Marital and Family counseling
• Substance abuse information and referral
• Sexual trauma counseling and referral
• Community education and liaison with community agencies
• Bereavement counseling

ELIGIBILITY FOR VET CENTER SERVICES

Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President changes eligibility for Vet Center readjustment services, and extends definition of the Vietnam era for war zone veterans (Public Laws 104-262 and 104-275).

Vet Centers serve veterans from the following periods of hostilities:

	War Zone Veterans	All Eras, Including:
		- Vietnam War - 28 Feb. 1961 to 7 May 1975  - Korean War - 27 June 1950 to 31 Jan. 1955  - World War II - 7 Dec. 1941 to 31 Dec. 1946
	American Merchant Marines	In oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, 7 Dec. 1941 to 15 Aug. 1945
	Vietnam Era Veterans not in the War Zone	5 Aug. 1964 to 7 May 1975, eligible until January 1, 2004
	Lebanon	25 Aug. 1982 to 26 Feb. 1984
	Grenada	23 Oct. 1983 to 21 Nov. 1983
	Panama	20 Dec. 1989 to 31 Jan. 1990
	Persian Gulf	2 Aug. 1990 to -
	Somalia	17 Sept. 1992 to -
	Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard, Operation Joint Forge	Vet Center eligibility has been extended to veterans who participated in one or more of these three successive operations in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces above those areas).

SEXUAL TRAUMA / HARASSMENT COUNSELING

Veterans of any era who experienced sexual trauma while serving on active duty (gender neutral).

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

Veterans who serve in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after September 11, 2001, and before a terminal date yet to be determined (e.g., Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom).

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING

Counseling and assistance is now being offered to parents, spouses and children of armed forces personnel who died in service to our country.

Also eligible are Family members of military reservists and National Guard personnel who die while on active duty. Services are obtained by contacting Readjustment Counseling Service at (202) 273-9116 or via electronic mail at vet.center@hq.med.va.gov both of which are specific to this specialized service.

See VHA DIRECTIVE 97-002, Jan. 9, 1997, for eligibility details.

Bereavement Counseling FAQs:

Does VA have bereavement counseling for surviving Family members?
Department of Veterans Affairs offers bereavement counseling to parents, spouses and children of armed forces personnel who died in the service of their country. Also eligible are Family members of reservists and National Guard personnel who die while on duty.

What is bereavement counseling?
Bereavement counseling is assistance and support to people with emotional and psychological stress after the death of a loved one. Bereavement counseling includes a broad range of transition services including outreach, counseling, and referral services to Family members.

Where is counseling offered?
VA's bereavement counseling is provided at community based Vet Centers located near the Families. There is no cost for VA bereavement counseling.

How can you obtain these services?
Services are obtained by contacting Readjustment Counseling Service at (202) 273-9116 or via electronic mail at vet.center@hq.med.va.gov both of which are specific to this specialized service.

For more information:
Vet Center Web Site
VA Center Locations
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) web site - Benefits Information for National Guard and Reserve Personnel