Mobile Vet Center Will Assist Vets During Carnival
As the county’s new Veteran Service officer, Water Valley CPA Joe Black has already started assisting veterans. He was appointed last week by supervisors.
Mobile Vet Center Will Assist Vets During Carnival
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – The Veterans Administration (VA) is bringing their Mobile Vet Center to the carnival Saturday morning to assist veterans who may be in town for the Watermelon Carnival. The county’s new Veteran Service Office (VSO), Joe Black, said he requested the mobile unit to help reach vets with services such as counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Sexual trauma, bereavement counseling, marriage and family counseling, and resources like VA benefits information and suicide prevention referrals.
“In the past the VA was a little more passive, but they are active now in trying to reach vets,” Black explained. The Vet Center will be located on Central Street, just north of Renasant Bank starting at around 8 a.m.
Black took over duties as the county’s VSO and said he is looking forward to assisting the vets, explaining his new role allows him to help guide the veterans through the VA bureaucracy.
“It’s not my job to determine whether they have a valid claim. It’s my job to get them in front of somebody that can,” Black added. He said statistics indicate that claims are most likely to be delayed when the wrong form is used or is filled out incorrectly.
As a CPA, Black also said he has assisted numerous clients over the years, helping them navigate the VA process.
“A lot of guys don’t have any trouble at all until they are about 55. Many times they find out their problems are related to their service, especially combat veterans.
“They may have been exposed to chemicals or loud sounds years earlier,” he explained.
Black has established a dedicated phone line for veterans to contact him, (662) 934-8145.
“They can call or text that number, if I don’t answer they can leave a voice message,” Black added. Black said he can also be reached at his office, (662) 473-1441. He can also be reached by email at jb7993@gmail.com
“Our veteran service officers in the past have done very good work and I look forward to continuing that tradition,” he added.
