Those interested in learning more about the free services offered by the Bastrop County Veteran Services Office can call 512-581-4006. (Amanda Cutshall/Community Impact)
Based on data from the BCVSO, less than 37% of the county’s veterans used the office's free services over the past five years.
“We’re equipped to handle plenty more veterans,” Swetnam said. “And once you’re in the system, there’s a whole wealth of stuff available to you.”
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Breaking it down
Swetnam said he and DuBose have found that veterans who were not recently discharged from the military are more likely to be unaware of the potential benefits they could be eligible to receive.
Some of those include:
Caregiver allowances
Compensations and pensions
Education
Filing disagreements or appeals with the VA
Health care
Home loans
Obtaining discharge documents, medical records and decorations
Survivor and burial benefits
Tax exemptions
“We also have a mental health provider who comes to us once a week from Austin to do counseling,” Swetnam said. “It’s free and a very valuable resource. We are very fortunate that we have that because we are one of only two counties in the area that offers it—the other one being Williamson County.”
Those interested in learning more can call the BCVSO at 512-581-4006, or visit the office's Facebook page.
From left, Daniel DuBose and Jayson Swetnam, Bastrop County Veteran Services officers, run the BCVSO out of the Grady Tuck Building. (Amanda Cutshall/Community Impact)
Funds raised from the banquet will be distributed to local nonprofits, such as the Bastrop County Veterans Honor Guard, and the Bastrop and Elgin National Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
A portion will also be used to facilitate the Bastrop Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies.
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“We’re both ex-military, and we’ve both done tours. DuBose was in the Air Force, and I was in the Marines,” Swetnam said. “We have an idea, personally, of what some of our veterans may be going through, and we want to help as many as possible. Anybody that needs help, give us a call. We’ll get you everything you need to know.”
