11/04/2020
The CBJ team was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Fort Campbell Power Breakfast this morning. The message was incredible, inspiring, and the impact of our veterans and active duty soldiers was highlighted.
In Q3, we had the opportunity to discuss the economic engine our veterans are with Montgomery County Veteran Service Office Executive Director, Andrew Kester.
MCVSO Community Impact:
To begin with the nuts and bolts, the Montgomery County Veteran Service Office is a state mandated free organization created to serve Tennessee veteran populations. According to state law, each county is required to have one part time, 20 hour per week, veteran service officer. Shelby County only has one service officer who serves over 50,000 veterans.
Montgomery County has nine full-time service officers. Counties who only have one can’t do outreach, and therefore cannot get more funding or support because the numbers simply aren’t there. MCVSO is not part of the VA, it was established to help veterans navigate the VA system.
Montgomery County Veteran Service Office Executive Director Dr. Andrew Kester has been at the helm since 2019, and in that time has seen the largest increases in both reach and economic impact in the history of Montgomery County.
Kester attributes their success to the dedicated, collaborative efforts of his team, and the express support of Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett.
Kester says, “Our reach and our capacity is a reflection of Mayor Durrett. I asked Mayor Durrett, 'What’s my breadth?' He said, 'As far as you can go.'”
“This office sees veterans internationally; we have veteran contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan who pass out business cards," Kester continues.
Unlike understaffed counterparts in neighboring counties, having 9 officers allows MCVSO to do outreach. All MCVSO service officers are veterans and collectively have over 100 years of military service and over 40 years of claims experience.
HUMANIZING THE NUMBERS
MCVSO is essential to the health, well-being, and protection of veterans. The following is one of 2020’s greatest accomplishments:
Vietnam veterans were subjected to exposure of Agent Orange. The ramifications of exposure are prolific and lifelong.
To compensate persons exposed to the poison, the Agent Orange Act was passed federally in 1991.
However, Bluewater Navy veterans were not included in the legislation. In order to benefit from the Agent Orange Act, veterans had to be on Vietnam soil or inland waterways from January 9, 1962 - May 7, 1975. Bluewater Navy veterans served on ships off the coast of Vietnam.
Agent Orange run off permeated the seas, and water used on ships was purified seawater. Unfortunately, the purification process did not remove the toxins from Agent Orange. So, our Bluewater Navy was unknowingly eating, drinking, and showering with Agent Orange toxins, yet were never recognized as an afflicted population.
Finally, in January of 2020, through dedicated advocacy from organizations like MCVSO, the VA conceded. The VA now recognizes Bluewater Navy veteran claims from those within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam coast, and the impact has been immediately significant.
Montgomery County Navy veterans have seen massive awards including $200,000 and more in back pay.
From a human standpoint, that impact is unfathomable. The depths of suffering experienced, and the following just recompense received is an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions.
Economically, that is all tax-free income directly being injected into the Montgomery County economy. Kester says, “This is how you get the buy in. You have to show the economic impact.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT
In terms of commonly used vocabulary when discussing veterans, disability is a misnomer. Kester says, “'Disability” causes confusion. It’s a huge stigma.”
Traditionally, tax free compensation for our veterans is referred to as ‘disability’ compensation: we will instead default to Kester’s preferred term – compensation for physical decline. In order to change the stigma and negativity associated with seeking a service, the language must be changed.
In 2019, MCVSO helped Montgomery County veterans receive over $387 million in compensation for physical decline. 2020 numbers are on track to surpass $400 million.
This impact directly translates to new homes built and bought, support of local retailers, restaurants, entertainment dollars, and everything in between.
Montgomery County is also on track to have the highest veteran population in the state of Tennessee. Counties with higher veteran numbers are seeing a steady yearly decline, when Montgomery County sees remarkable increases every year.
Veterans are the proverbial sleeping giant in terms of economic power in Clarksville-Montgomery County, and that number is expected to continue to grow exponentially.
Kester says, “These numbers are only Montgomery County. We have aided in economic impact of other states. We can do that because of Mayor Durrett's guidance and leadership.”
Additionally, core to MCVSO success is outreach. Veterans are not broken; they gave of themselves selflessly to defend our country and often feats of bravery call for physical sacrifice. It is the mission of the MCVSO to aid them in receiving compensation for physical decline.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & OVERCOMING COVID-19
Montgomery County has four main categories of veterans: working class veterans, students, homeless veterans, and veterans in nursing and care homes.
The lion share of the Montgomery County veteran population is working class veterans. Kester has found these veterans generally hold two central fears regarding seeking services from the MCVSO: claiming disability will affect ability and right to work, or affect 2nd amendment rights.
While the MCVSO has impressive reach, there are still underserved veterans. MCVSO works closely with partner organizations to maximize reach. Kester says, “We are here to be a partner.”
Although a county organization, Kester also notes the fluid collaboration with Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts. “Mayor Pitts is also a great partner. One of the first things I found was a transportation need for veterans. There was a concern with the bus drop off at Ted Crozier. The path was unsafe and veterans were having to walk directly on the street. I talked to Mayor Pitts about it, and he went out to see for himself. We are currently working on a solution, and Mayor Pitts is working on a new bus stop by the Veterans Clinic.”
Veteran service office claim numbers are a collective effort through organizations like: DAV, American Legion, VFW, and Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. Connecting all of Montgomery County veteran organizations together is the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition. Kester tells CBJ, “We are part of the community, and part of the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition. It’s a great pipeline and streamline experience for veterans. It operates as a massive referral system.”
The Montgomery County Veterans Coalition is lead by Executive Director Sherry Pickering, and has over 275 member organizations and businesses on the books currently, but that number is continually growing. The Montgomery County Veterans Coalition has been of monumental importance in passing legislation, and works every day to connect and serve Montgomery County veterans. Part of MCVC success is reduced redundancy in service for veterans, through direct connection and collaboration within the coalition. The result is a better, stronger system of support for Montgomery County veterans, and the numbers reflect it.
The test of true strength is lasting through adversity. “When COVID hit, all the outreach stopped, but we didn’t stop. We did not miss one day of work, we did not miss one veteran,” Kester said.
In fact, the office not only maintained numbers, they broke records.
Through the entire quarantine period, MCVSO was able to file claims using a secure email server. Kester tells CBJ, “It didn’t cost anything. EMS uses it all the time, we just activated it.”
Unavoidably, there were some upfront challenges. Veterans who didn’t think the office was open didn’t call. It is also slightly harder to build rapport over the phone, especially harder with new clients. Fortunately, with veterans who have worked with MCVSO in past, that connection already exists.
Remote work also renders budget hearings more difficult. Another challenge is keeping a remote team. Social, loyalty, comradery decreases with loss of office interaction. Kester notes how it is easier to miss life’s important moments when working virtually. Additionally, there is a high turnover rate in remote work.
Through the challenges, the strides outweigh the hardship. The IT department issues laptops and remote servers so service officers can maintain the continuum of care.
Kester tells CBJ, “A lot of things we are taking with us and keeping. Actually, one of the visions was to implement phone appointments, but prior to COVID, the team didn’t have the confidence. COVID changed that.”
“Veterans have the option of in-person or over the phone, and that is here to stay. We have many disabled veterans in wheelchairs, with adaptive equipment, or who have challenges with transportation," Kester says. The MCVSO averages 50 veterans’ appointments per day, and the new office allows for growth over the next 10 years. “We are the largest county service office in the state of Tennessee by leaps and bounds.” Kester says.
At the close of 2020, MCVSO is poised to see the highest single year increase in the history of the state of Tennessee.
Kester highlights his team and tells CBJ that each team member does a different kind of outreach highlighting one of the four previously mentioned categories of veterans.
Kester leads by example, and for him, this position is much more than just a job. Kester lives and breathes advocacy. He tells CBJ, “I am always on. For me this is not and 8:30-4:30.”
Recently, as a veteran himself, Kester applied for the Hunting with Heroes program out of Wyoming. Hunting with Heroes Wyoming was founded by veterans for veterans.
Their mission is to give back to our nation's veterans by honoring them with unique hunting, fishing and other outdoor experiences.
He was accepted to the program, and upon discussing what he does as the Montgomery County Veteran Service Office Executive Director, Hunting with Heroes invited him to speak to his fellow veterans and program mates every night.
No matter what battles veterans continue to fight physically or emotionally, Hunting with Heroes is a community where they are supported. HWH seeks to provide a progressive healing environment where the veteran community can discover hope again.
On a personal trip, Kester is going to speak every night, and will be offering claim service in Wyoming. To reiterate, this is Kester taking vacation, not on tax payer dime. Yet, his heart for service, and his dedication to advocacy continues.
To get connected with the Montgomery County Veteran Service Office, call
931-553-5173.
The new Montgomery County Veteran Service Office is located front and center at Veteran’s Plaza.
