By Larry Dandridge
Have you ever wondered what a VA Vet Center does for veterans and their families? You can find that answer on the VA’s webpage titled, “Vet Centers” found at https://www.vetcenter.va.gov.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional counseling to eligible veterans, service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. Counseling is offered to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military.
Counseling Services
Counseling services include:
- Couples/Family; Greif/Bereavement; Lesbian; Gay; Bisexual, and Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) + Veteran Care;
- Mental Health, Military Sexual Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Returning Service Member, Whole Health, and Women Vet Care.
Many Vet Center counselors and outreach staff are veterans themselves. They are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief, anxiety, depression, and transition after trauma.
According to the Vet Centers webpage, “Life isn’t always easy after a deployment. That’s where (Vet Centers) can help. Vet Centers offer confidential support for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a relaxed, non-medical setting. Services include counseling for needs such as depression (and anxiety), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). Vet Centers can also connect you with more support in VA and your community. All services are strictly confidential.”
Veterans and their family members can find a Vet Center at the “Find VA Locations” webpage https://www.va.gov/find-locations/. Vet Centers serving veterans in the SC and GA coastal areas:
- Savannah Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/savannah-vet-center/, 321 Commercial Drive, Savannah, Ga. 31406. Phone: 912-961-5800. 39.1 miles from Beaufort, S.C. and 68 miles north of Brunswick.
- Charleston Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/charleston-sc-vet-center/, 3625 West Montague Avenue, North Charleston, S.C. 29418, 843-789-7000. 47.7 miles North of Beaufort.
- Myrtle Beach Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/myrtle-beach-vet-center/, 1101 Johnson Avenue, Suite 201, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, 843-232-2441. 57.4 miles East of Dillon, S.C.
- Columbia Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/columbia-sc-vet-center/, 1710 Richland Street, Suite A, Columbia, S.C. 29201, 803-765-9944. 37.4 miles NW of Orangeburg, S.C.
- Jacksonville Florida Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/jacksonville-fl-vet-center/, 3728 Phillps Highway, Suite 31, Jacksonville, Fla. 32207, 904-399-8351. 60 miles South of Brunswick, Ga.
- Fayetteville, N.C. Vet Center: https://www.va.gov/fayetteville-nc-vet-center/, 2301 Robeson Street, Suite 103. Fayetteville, N.C. 28305, 910-488-6252. 50.4 miles north of Dillon, S.C.
Suicide Prevention
Veterans and their family members should call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 988 and press 1 to get support anytime day or night.
Veteran Connections
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System (RHJVAMC/HCS) supports the Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Savannah Vet Centers. Vet Centers understand that navigating the variety of resources can be a challenge. For example, Vet Centers can help educate you on topics such as:
- How to get VA medical benefits and register for care with the RHJVAMC, Phone 843-577-5011/Mental Health 843-789-6500 or one of its Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
- How to contact the Beaufort S.C. CBOC, Phone 843-779-0444/Mental Health 843-789-6500.
- How to contact a S.C. County Veterans Service Office or a Georgia Area Veterans Services Office. Find S.C. County VSOs at https://scdva.sc.gov/county-veterans-affairs-offices. Find Georgia VSOs at https://veterans.georgia.gov/locations/veterans-field-service-office-near-you.
Community Engagement
Vet Centers provide private organizations and community agencies with education on their veteran community and military culture. Vet Centers build referral networks to expand support for veterans, service members, and their families. Vet Centers partner with groups such as local veteran/service member support organizations, military installations, National Guard and Reserve units, county and other Veteran Service Offices, universities/colleges, Base Exchanges, law enforcement, and others.
Appointments.
Once you contact a Vet Center, the center will take your information and then schedule your initial appointment. Anyone who is in crisis will be helped immediately.
Contacting a Vet Center
Contact your nearest Vet Center any time during their posted hours. If you need to call outside of those times, National Vet Center is available 24/7 at 877-927-8387.
First-time Visitors or Walk-ins
If you’re a first-time visitor, you may stop by during the Vet Center’s office hours or call.
Building, Parking, and Transportation information
You can find building, parking, and transportation information on the Center webpage.
What to bring
You don’t need to be registered for care at the VA, rated for a service-connected disability, or receiving any other form of VA benefits. On your first visit, Vet Centers ask that you have access to one or more of the following discharge documents (i.e. a DD214), receipt of certain awards, deployment orders, and other documents you may have received that show qualifying military service.
Veterans can request a copy of their Military Service Records through the National Archives web page https://www.archives.gov/veterans. DD214 and other separation documents, Official Military Personnel Files, replacement medals, and medical and health records can be requested online, by mail, or by FAX. The Vet Center will work with you to establish your eligibility.
If you’re a Veteran or service member (including National Guard and Reserves), you’re also eligible for Vet Center services if any of these are true for you:
- You’re a Vietnam Era Veteran who used Vet Center services before January 2, 2013; or
- You experienced military sexual trauma (no matter your gender or service era); or
- You currently use any covered VA educational assistance benefits.
Military family member eligibility
You can use Vet Center counseling and services when your participation would support the growth and goals of the veteran or service member in your family. If the veteran or service member considers you family, so does the Vet Center.
You can also use Center bereavement services if any of these descriptions is true for your family:
- The veteran or service member died while serving on active duty; or
- The veteran was using Vet Center services at the time of their death; or
- The veteran or service member died by suicide.
Safety and Privacy
Vet Center records can’t be accessed by other VA offices, the DoD, military units, or other community networks and providers without your permission or unless required to avert a life-threatening situation. At Vet Centers, you can be as open as you want. No one at a Vet Center will pre-judge you, put you down, or mistreat you.Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 84
