There is a pressing need for more service representatives to assist the island’s veterans in filing for their claims.

A necessity highlighted during a joint oversight hearing today on the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs.

Tanya Eubanks is among the few veteran service officers and she shared, “I’m one of the accredited veteran's services officers with the GOVA, one of five accredited representatives on Guam–five. Five representatives that have the legal authority to assist veterans in filing for their claims.” 

Officials said they need six more like her to operate comfortably. 

Still, Speaker Therese Terlaje questioned why this disparity persists, pointing out Adelup's announcement made three years ago.  

“But in 2021, the Lieutenant Governor announced a 40,000 DOI grant to train ten more and their announcement said we would go from 5-15 after that grant, after that training, so what happened,” she asked. 

But it turns out the plans to train the ten ceased at the onset. 

Guam VA Administrative Officer Joe Meno said, “After the training, an on-the-job training plan was supposed to be implemented. Unfortunately, that fell through, it never progressed, and so, a year later now, they still have not done the on-the-job training.” 

Amy Jackson, a Navy veteran and member of Got your 671, was one of those ten hopeful VSO trainees. She said the Guam VA office isn’t all to blame for the stalled effort. 

“I did all my courses, I did all my advanced courses, I did all my advanced courses. I did all the certifications online. I would call the state clearinghouse, and we were waiting for a ceremony so they could give us our certificate ceremoniously. So, I think it was more of a production than a service,” she said. 

Meantime, senators also urging the GOVA to submit a budget request that is reflective of its needs for at least 30 more personnel to include more VSO’s.