Where did you serve and what did you do?

Illinois Air National Guard (AGR), Procurement, Supply/Logistics, Recruiter, CBRNE/Emergency Management.

How are you Still Serving?

My husband (VFW Member, Ron Skeeters) and I assist Air National Guardsman with applying for their military retirement pay. The system is BROKEN in that there is no assistance – not VSO’s nor the Military Facility for Air National Guardsman, specifically those who are commonly known as Traditional Guardsman. These individuals may have retired as much as 22 years prior to being eligible for applying for their retirement benefits. All of the application process for retirement is online with NO physical assistance available. The application process requires 2 factor authentication, only one of which can be a phone, thus requiring the applicant to have a computer. Many of these individuals do not even own a computer let alone know what 2 factor authentication is. We are very fortunate to have a local not-for-profit, The Computer Banc, that provides refurbished computers with software to veterans at a low cost. There is official avenue of assistance for these individuals. When they retired 20 plus years ago, they were provided completely different instructions for retirement application. In the last 2 years, we have watched the process online change numerous times. ANG retirees are eligible for retirement pay at age 60 and the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) website states applications should be submitted 6 months prior to 60th birthday. We personally have worked with 2 individuals who were 62 and still had not applied because they had no idea where to even start. There is no one at the base they retired from to answer questions. They had asked questions on a retiree social media page, but were so confused and frustrated (and embarrassed) they didn’t want to deal with the stress. We reached out to them privately. It took a lot for my husband and I to convince them that not only could we assist them, but that it was not a burden and that we were happy to do so. These veterans definitely feel like they are burdening and that makes me angry is that they feel as if they are not worthy of getting the assistance they EARNED – it’s their retirement, not public aid! We have been unsuccessful in getting Congressional Legislative Liaison’s to understand the problem in that VSO’s do not have the access or the ability to assist these individuals with their retirement application. Our experience with the retirement application submission takes approximately 9 hours in one sitting from start to finish, sitting at a computer with a phone (2 factor auth), side by side with the veteran, provided all the known information available. They are exhausted and relieved when (if) we can get confirmation that the application has been received by ARPC. Then we are told it takes 6 months to process the application.

Why do you do it?

Because we see a need that is not being met and we want to assist these veterans with their earned benefits. If God provides you with a gift, you share it with others! This retirement pay changes people’s lives not only monetarily, but psychologically, by knowing that someone still cares and brings back the camaraderie they remember from serving and what is known to many Guardsman as “The Guard Family.” These are our brothers and sisters!