One year into the Trump administration there are thousands of rank-and-file vacancies and hundreds in key management posts. A government shutdown and hiring freeze has led to a beleaguered workforce.
Veterans service officers often help veterans successfully navigate the complicated benefits process. For instance, not all vets in Indiana know about VSOs or have access to them.
Sometimes veterans don't claim their benefits because they live in remote areas that lack resources. In one Washington state county, Veterans Affairs services are at least an hour ferry ride away.
Nationwide veteran benefits data show a huge variation in coverage from state to state, and even within states. In Massachusetts, access to VA services changes dramatically from Boston to Cape Cod.
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