WIESBADEN, Germany – U.S. military veterans and their beneficiaries will now have more opportunities to meet with a VA representative in person thanks to the decision to extend their final visit to Clay Kaserne through Nov. 8.

In coordination with Garrison Retiree Services, a team of VA Overseas Military Service Coordinators had originally planned to stay through Wednesday to support last weekend’s Retiree Appreciation Day event.

Jacqueline Bolduc, one of the two visiting coordinators, explained that the decision was made due to the high demand for appointments.

Those who would like to meet with a VA coordinator can schedule an appointment at: Walk-ins can also be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

While these representatives cannot provide the full spectrum of VA services, they offer a way for retirees, U.S. veterans, transitioning service members, and their dependents to meet face-to-face with a subject matter expert. They can help with general questions, manage claims and other VA processes, as well as provide specific resources for veterans living or working abroad.

While Bolduc herself is currently on an 11-month temporary assignment as VAOMSC, she typically works as a disability evaluator at the VA regional office in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“The (VA) Pittsburgh regional office is the one that actually works on claims,” Buldoc said. “We will advise them… we will give them the forms, we will allow them to send us emails and we will be able to verify them, make corrections and even send them on their behalf.

“There’s not a lot of preparation that the veteran has to do because we have access to the VA system, so we can see all of their VA documentation, we can see their rating decisions, we can see their records.”

One of the top priorities for VA coordinators is to ensure that all veterans are aware of the VA Foreign Medical Program, a specific benefit for veterans receiving medical care in a country outside the U.S.

“It’s a reimbursement program that will only reimburse service-connected disabilities, but it’s very easy to enroll in and use,” Bolduc said. “It also closes a gap where maybe there are a lot of retirees here who are on fixed incomes and stuff, so it may allow them to get health care that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.”

Although VA coordinators do not typically visit USAG Wiesbaden on a regular schedule, Buldoc said the VA could explore more frequent visits.

However, those who wish to speak with a VA coordinator can always schedule a conference call at any time, using the same system to schedule any other appointments.

Still, for some an in-person appointment is always preferable, and many veterans still travel from across Europe to meet with a representative.

Ricardo Wilson made an 11-hour trip from Austria to attend RAD over the weekend and stayed to meet with a VA representative on Monday.

Wilson has lived in Europe since retiring to Kaiserslautern in 2014. He first met the VAOMSC when he took advantage of the discharge benefits delivery program, a form that now allows service members who separate or retire apply for disability compensation for up to 180 days. before they finish their service.

Wilson explained that he prefers in-person appointments and doesn’t mind traveling to Wiesbaden for all that RAD has to offer.

“I’m still a face-to-face person in some ways,” Wilson said. “But being here for the RAD is more than the VA, it’s Social Security… there are community events, screenings and flu shots. So just doing telework appointments just for (VA) works, but for RAD, you get all that, so you have to be here for it.”

Michael Shepard, who retired in 1992, traveled from Frankfurt to also meet with a VAOMSC on Monday.

Despite not having a better understanding of VA resources when he separated more than 30 years ago, VA coordinators have helped Shepard through many processes and gotten him the help he needs with his claims.

“A lot of good information on how to file the appeal,” Shepard said. “The team is great.”

Jacquline Afflick, another VAOMSC who has worked at VA for six years, spoke about how she appreciates the support Garrison Retiree Services has provided to her team.

“Wiesbaden has been exceptionally welcoming to our presence here,” Afflick said. “The volunteers here have been top notch. They make sure veterans are where they need to be for their appointments and that our time is booked.”

The USAG Wiesbaden Retiree Council, a retiree organization that augments Retiree Services, plays an important role in this effort by providing phone call reminders and assisting veterans with facility access.

Perry Mason, representative of the USAG Wiesbaden Retiree Council, emphasized that their support is not only for military retirees, but also for veterans and their surviving spouses.

This support also includes assistance with facility access for non-retired ID card holders. Mason said veterans who need to keep their appointment at the post can stop by the Clay Kaserne visitor center at the front door and ask staff to contact the Retiree Council.

“They will contact the office, we will send someone to check them in and then they can come see the VA representative,” Mason said. “It’s not just about retirees. This is for all the veterans. “Everyone who wore the uniform.”

For more information, visit Garrison’s site. Retiree Services page.