The Defense Department recently announced expanded commissary, military service exchange and MWR access Jan. 1 and established a standard for physical access to military installations. Below are the top 10 questions Veterans have asked the Defense Department about the expanded access. For more information on expanded access, call Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647.

Cards for Connection is a free resource that puts simple coping skills and VA phone numbers directly into Veterans’ hands. Originally created for Veterans who had experienced homelessness, the card deck has now been updated with information for all Veterans.

The 52 cards in the deck have easy-to-implement coping skills and important phone numbers, such as the Veterans Crisis Lineand the Help for Homeless Veterans line.

The long-awaited Veterans and Military Resources Center opened its doors to the Tyler, Texas community. The East Texas Veterans Community Council (ETVCC) held its Grand Opening for CAMP V (Community Assisting Military Personnel and Veterans) on Saturday, November 9^th, just before Veterans Day. The East Texas Men in Harmony opened the ceremony with their outstanding acapella rendition of the Nation Anthem. The Camp will officially open for business on November 12th, 2019.

CAMP V will eventually cover a 20-acre site established to assist with resources for the Northeast Texas Military and Veteran community. More than 177,000 Veterans call East Texas home. This One-Stop-Shop provides a centralized location for Military and Veteran services.  ETVCC is taking a whole health approach to assisting the Military and Veteran community. The plan includes Horse and Dog Therapy, Chapel, Gymnasium, Women's Retreat, and a host of other resources.

President of ETVCC, Susan Campbell, explained, "We are excited to provide a unique, comprehensive campus of benefits, services, therapies, support groups, equine programs, fitness, and social gatherings.  Our mission is to address mental, physical, and spiritual wellness for heroes and their families.”

CAMP V will bring together Military and Veteran service providers to gain synergy in improving outcomes for Veterans, families, caregivers, and providers at a single location. These initial On-site providers are Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Office; Andrews Center Veteran Counselor; Green Zone; Texas Veterans Commission; Texas Workforce Commission; Texas Heroes Animal-Assisted Therapies Ranch; Dog University; National Alliance of Mental Illness; Cenikor; Honored Warrior Ranch; Texas State Guard, 3^rdBattalion, 19^th Regiment; Smith County Veteran Services Office; Veterans Caregivers and PTSD USA.

Members of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Experience Office were on hand to speak on the Veteran-Friendly Communities Appreciation initiative that aims to thank local communities for their hard work and efforts to meet the needs of the Veteran Community. The East Texas Veteran Community Council Community Veterans Engagement Board (CVEB) is one of 11 Boards in Texas and 160 across the nation.

Mrs. Jennifer Purdy, Senior Executive from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Experience Office, Patient Experience Directorate, provided an audience of more than 300 Veterans, Families, Caregivers, and Survivors, an understanding of the importance of a collaboration between the Veterans Affairs and the local Community Veteran Organizations. Mrs. Purdy stated, “On behalf of Robert L. Wilkie, Secretary of the Veterans Affairs, I am here to thank those of you who pioneered this Community Veterans Engagement Board. Our hope is that through the appreciation program, we can bring awareness to the hard work you’ve accomplished to date and give momentum to continue to work and to demonstrate the VA's continued commitment to our community partners."

Mrs. Purdy presented the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Certificate of Appreciation to ETVCC’s President, Susan Campbell, and Vice President, Jim Snow.

Kenneth Fechtler, a Marine Corps Veteran, summed it all up this way,

"It's awesome in several ways because if the Veteran is having an issue or a problem, you can come to CAMP V and they can help try to resolve the issue."

About the Author: Eric Montgomery served 30 years in the United States Army. He has been a VA employee for the past 9 years and currently works for the Veterans Experience Office.