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Veterans and former service members urge Sussex County to fund more veteran service officers
Summary
Public commenters at the April 22 meeting urged the county to add paid, full‑time veteran service officers, arguing the current staffing and training do not meet demand for complex federal and state claims.
During public comment at the April 22 meeting, several speakers urged the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners to invest in county-level veteran services and additional veteran service officers (VSOs).
Shannon (Shannon Ellis Almer), a retired Air Force master sergeant, described the role of a VSO as specialized and continuing: "Relying solely on a state employed VSO without additional county level resources or staffing is not enough to meet the needs of this community," she said, urging the board to fund county-level positions so veterans can access timely benefits and case support.
Speakers described case loads and training demands, noting that VSOs must navigate federal and state benefit systems and that delays can materially affect veterans’ access to benefits. Commenters asked the board to consider funding at least two full‑time county positions to reduce backlogs and improve service access.
The board did not take formal action on staffing requests at the April 22 meeting; the topic was raised during the public-comment period for follow-up by county staff and commissioners.
