October 2, 2003 - New Year's Deadline for Veterans to Register at Local Vet Centers
Veterans who served in the military during the Vietnam War era, Aug. 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975, but who weren't actually assigned to the Republic of Vietnam have until January 1, 2004 to be seen at local Vet Centers. Those who are seen by that date will be able to take advantage of the centers' group, individual and family counseling at a later date. If they do not register by that date, they will no longer be eligible.
The deadline also applies to veterans who served between those dates in other combat zones during the Vietnam War in places such as Thailand and aboard ship, but didn't actually serve in Vietnam and includes those veterans who served state-side or in other countries.
Ed Dax, Team Leader of the Fort Wayne, Indiana Vet Center, cautions that Vietnam era veterans should register at their local Vet Center even if they don't need to use it at the present time. Registration now, guarantees they will be able to use the center in the future.
There is no deadline for registration for veterans who served in-country in Vietnam at any time during the period from Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975. The deadline also does not apply to veterans of WWII, Dec.7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946; Korean War, Jun. 27, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955; Lebanon, Aug. 25, 1982 to Feb. 26, 1984; Grenada, Oct. 23, 1983 to Nov. 21, 1983;
Panama, Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 21, 1990; Persian Gulf War, Aug. 2, 1990 to present; Somalia, Sep. 17, 1992 to present; Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard and Joint Forge, who are veterans who participated in one or more operations in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzo- govina & Crotia, aboard U.S. Naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or air spaces above those areas), and those returning from present operations in Iraq (dates yet to be determined), and all veteran victims of sexual abuse, regardless of when or where they served.
The Vet Center, establish by Congress in 1979, out of recognition that a significant number of veterans were still experiencing lingering readjustment problems, is a community-based program providing readjustment counseling services to eligible veterans and their families. Veterans may have varying degrees of difficulty making the transition from military to civilian life. Issues requiring services may include fitting into a new life, the impact of military service, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Vet Center personnel are there to help veterans successfully make
the change necessary to adapt to civilian life. Other services include, individual, group and family counseling, career and employment guidance, assessment and referral to other community services, VA benefit information and referral, and community education.
Vet Centers in Indiana are located at:
528 West Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Phone: (260) 460-1456
311 N. Weinbach Ave., Evansville, IN 47711 Phone: (812) 473-5993
6505 Broadway Street, Merrillville, IN 46410 Phone: (219) 736-5633
3833 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 Phone: (317) 927-6440.
