Mission Statement

The Veterans Services Office strives to always maintain its “veterans first” motto and achieve its goal of applying specialized knowledge in the best way suited to meet the needs of every individual veteran or dependent who comes to the office for assistance.

FY 2016-2017 Accomplishments

• Conducted more than 450 unique client interviews with veterans and dependents.
• Handled more than 1,782 phone and email contacts.
• Performed an additional 543 client support activities, which encompass activities other than claims and appeals. These activities typically include tasks such as military record requests, VA home loan guarantee applications, G.I. Bill education benefit applications, VA life insurance applications, death notifications, VA cemetery and government headstone requests, income verifications and VA health care enrollments and VCAA Veterans Claims Assistance Act.
• Attended an accredited Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs training and accreditation conference, one FDVA Women Veterans' training conference and 12 meetings with local veterans' organizations. Conducted four speaking engagements and performed 12 outreach benefit processes for disabled veterans who did not have the physical ability to visit an office. Received national accreditation from two veteran service organizations.

Veterans Services Statistics

• There are 41,556 veterans in Escambia County according to the most recent Department of Veterans Affairs reports. Veterans and their related benefits and entitlements continue to have a major financial impact in our area. 
• Total expenditures by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Escambia County equaled $306.31 million.
• Escambia County veterans and their dependents received cash payments of $193.88  million in fiscal year 2016/17.
• Costs associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs' education, vocational rehabilitation and employment services exceeded $29.14 million.
• There are over 1,700 military retirees living in Escambia County, bringing in over $34,000,000 annual taxable income (about $20,000 per retiree).

Client Services

• 2,325 Total Client Contacts
  • Total number of contacts, including telephone, e-mail, in the Veterans Services Office. 
• 543 New Clients
  • Clients who have not been seen before or have not been seen in the last 12 months.
• 1,782 Total Claims Assistance
  • Total new claims and return visits because of development of new information
• 450 Total Unique Clients
  • Total number of unduplicated clients
• 5.17 Average Contact per Client
  • Total client contact divided by total unique clients

Community Relationships

The VSO and the following community partners meet on a monthly basis to share information on veteran programs and to address the current needs and to solve the many issues related among our veteran community:

American Red Cross, Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Florida Veterans Foundation, USO, United Way, Vet Center, Waterfront  Rescue Mission, UWF Military and Veterans Resource Center, PSC Upward Bound, VA Joint Ambulatory Care Center, 90 Works and Career Source Escarosa.