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By Blake Boles – RENO, NV (October 21st, 2016)
At the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Marie Holcomb was barely able to lift her eyelids. The Veteran Service Officer for the Nevada Department of Veterans Services had just arrived at 1 AM, with the rest of the VSO’s, after their plane was rerouted to Sacramento due to high winds. They had left Las Vegas that morning at 8 AM, and sat for hours on a tarmac. “I still have homework to do after this,” said Holcomb. It was amazing she was conscious, let alone working.

Why was it so imperative for the VSO’s to be in Reno? Because NDVS had scheduled a two-day Nevada Veteran Advocate (NVA) seminar, something NDVS takes very seriously. The expansion of the NVA program is vital for the plans of its Director, US Army veteran Kat Miller. Miller, upon implementation of Nevada Vet Corps, will utilize NVA’s, AmeriCorps State members, and AmeriCorps VISTA members to expand services to Nevada’s veterans wherever they may be. At the moment, NDVS has over 200 NVA’s to assist with outreach to rural veterans, as well as veterans living in major metropolises like Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno. Miller would ultimately like to see 5,000.

At a recent ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, Nevada Vet Corps was officially announced. Several NVA’s and AmeriCorps VISTA members were honored and inducted, while dignitaries from the Corporation for National Community Service honored those who serve. CNCS state director Matt Johnson described it as “a beautiful ceremony, and something that Nevada’s veterans need.” Johnson is more correct in his analysis than he realizes; Nevada has almost 300,000 veterans. They are spread out all over the state, with more coming every day. A full 60% of those veterans are over the age of 55. In some rural areas, like Pahrump, veterans make up almost a quarter of the population. That means Nevada’s 110,000 square miles are covered by just over 200 veteran service officers, NVA’s, and AmeriCorps members. That’s one person for every 550 square miles.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder why NDVS is hoping to lure in more volunteers for its NVA program. At this seminar in Reno, 100 registered to join, with around 50 individuals showing up and taking the courses. The next live seminar will be in Las Vegas, around mid-March, 2017. However, those who would like to become Nevada Veteran Advocates can being taking the courses now, online, and become certified upon completion. To sign up, go to: http://veterans.nv.gov/community/veterans-advocacy/ and register.