USDR (Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees)
WARNING = Veterans Affairs Services (VAS)
Message
passed along as received --
Subject:
Veterans Affairs
From: JAKESOA@aol.com
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006
05:06:49 EDT
To: members@specialoperations.org
-----Original
Message-----
From: Heinrichs, John H SGM SMA
CC: Preston, Kenneth O
SMA
Sent: Wed Apr 05 15:49:54 2006
Subject: Veterans Affairs
Services (UNCLASSIFIED)
CSM's,
the SMA asked that I forward this information on to each of you for
dissemination to your Soldiers.
We
have been advised by the VA of an organization calling itself Veterans Affairs
Services (VSA). This organization is gathering personal information on
veterans under a va services website. This organization is not affiliated
with the VA in any way and in reality is a private company based in
California.
It
describes itself as a nonprofit veteran's service organization but they are
actually affiliated with the Military Financial Planning association.
They may be gaining access to military personnel through their close
resemblance to the VA name and seal.
VA's
legal counsel has requested we inform our installations, particularly
mobilization sites of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement
by VA to provide any services.
In
addition, if you have any examples of VAS acts such as VAS employees assisting
veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please
pass these on to Michael.Daugherty2@va.gov, (202)
273-8636. Mr. Daugherty is a Staff Attorney with the Department of
Veterans Affairs here in Washington D.C. I am attaching an info paper
describing the company and their websites. Please pass this along to your
Commands.
v/r
SGM
John Heinrichs