Driven by a desire to serve veterans

Published on October 31, 2022

During a discussion that featured friendly banter and short stories about their military service in the Air Force, it became clear that a love of military service and a desire to help others is what Weld County Veterans Service Officers Stephanie Davis and James Wicks look forward to each day.

It's also what they hope comes across to Weld County’s veterans who may need help applying for benefits related to their military service but may feel too vulnerable or frustrated to ask for help.

“We can relate to what they’re facing and empathize,” said Davis, who joined County in March after seven years serving as a Veterans Service Officer in Wyoming. “The walls come down when people learn we’re veterans, because we can relate to what they’re going through and how important it is to look into getting someone their benefits. “They don’t have to be nervous to tell us things. We’ve all been in that same boat when it comes to getting benefits.”

Differing from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – which is the benefit provider — Weld County Veterans Services can assist veterans and their families with the process of applying for education benefits as well as benefits related to service connected and non-service-connected disabilities. Additionally, Veterans Services can help with enrollment into the VA health care system and with applications for burial items, like headstones or markers. Once claims are filed, Davis and Wicks can follow a claim throughout the process, keeping a veteran informed of the progress or what other information may be needed to complete the claim.

This individualized approach by Veterans Services continues to have a positive impact. Latest numbers from the National Center of Veterans Analysis and Statistics show that for the fiscal year 2021, Weld County veterans received over $171 million in funding from the VA — over a $14 million increase from 2020. In 2022, Weld County Veterans Services has 6,700 active veterans case files. Correspondence pertaining to those includes in-office visits, emails, mailing benefit packages, etc. Staff has fielded 4,489 phone calls since Jan. 1.

“We owe so much to those who’ve sacrificed for our freedoms,” said Weld County Commissioner Chair Scott James. “Helping veterans and their families get their benefits is an important element of military service, and we’re proud to be able to assist in that process. We encourage veterans to reach out to Veterans Services and see how they can help.”

Learn more about Veterans Services.

Pictured: Weld County Veterans Service Officers Stephanie Davis and James Wicks.