WELCOME to the Veteran Support Network (VSN) ~ Missoula Region
Who "WE" Are
WE are HERE for YOU!
The Missoula Region VSN is a group of Veterans, service providers, volunteers, non-profits and businesses who have built relationships in order to provide a complete portfolio of resources to help Veterans, service members, and their families obtain the services they need for transition, personal growth, and community belonging.
Veteran Service Provider (VSP) Meetings
The Missoula Region VSN meets on the 3rd THURSDAY of every month at 3pm:
Ole Beck VFW Post 209, 245 W. Main St., Missoula
The meetings are called Veteran Service Provider (VSP) Meetings; however, EVERYONE is welcome!
The VSN also has an ANNUAL event called the "Heroes at Home"
It's usually the Heroes at Home BBQ & Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention (VSAP) RUN / WALK / RUCK; however, due to COVID, on September 19, 2020 we had the HEROES AT HOME & MILITARY APPRECIATION OPEN HOUSE (the VSAP & BBQ portion has been postponed until 2021): vsnmontana.org/bbqandvsap
Veteran Suicide Awareness ~ Community Action
Student Veteran DOCUMENTARY by Sanai Abell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkEpiTFqxh8
** Photos of Anton & Shannon by the Veterans Portrait Project (VPP) 7/11/19
Stacy is an award-winning military photographer, disabled combat veteran, and hopes to photograph Veterans in every state by the end of the year! Visit veteransportraitproject.com for more info!
Veteran Support Network ~ Leadership
Making A Difference
"Creating Community for Veterans from Finding Homes to Whitewater Rafting" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHDlWtnNnM
Anton Johnson (U.S. Army Veteran) ~ VA Readjustment Counseling Technicians
Missoula Vet Center, 910 Brooks St. Ste 101, Missoula, (406) 721-4918, Anton.Johnson@va.gov
Vet Center Call Center 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387)
Commander, Ole Beck VFW Post 209, 245 W. Main St., Missoula, (406) 728-7749 (vfwpost209.org)
Director, XSports4Vets.org, (406) 396-8390, xsports4vets@gmail.com
Erick Kahila, MSW (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran) ~ VSAP Coordinator & HUD VASH
Veteran Suicide Awareness & Prevention (VSAP) Coordinator, (406) 224-3334, kahilaem@gmail.com or Erick.Kahila@va.gov
HUD/VASH Case Manager, David J Thatcher CBOC, MT VAHCS, 2685 Palmer Street, Suite B, Missoula (406) 493-3706, C (406) 202-5640
Member - American Legion Post 27, 825 Ronan St., Missoula
Rebecca Stancil, C.W.S, W.P.D.P. (U.S. Navy Veteran) ~ Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program Director
Missoula Housing Authority, APPLY: missoula.house, 1235 34th St., Missoula, (406) 549-4113, ext. 106, rstancil@missoulahousing.org
Housing Services Leader & Spokeswoman for the VSN
International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP)
American Legion Post 27 & the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 27
Shannon Noble (U.S. Navy Veteran) ~ Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP)
Job Service – Missoula (Montana Department of Labor & Industry), snoble@mt.gov
Veteran Service Provider (VSP) Meeting Coordinator
Outreach Specialist, Web Master & Social Media Administrator for the VSN
American Legion Post 27 & the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 27
Tate Jones (Son of U.S. Air Force Veteran) ~ Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History
2975 General Foster Ave. (Building T-316), Fort Missoula, (406) 239-7738,
Museum exhibits on War of 1812, Frontier era, Civil War, Imperial Age, World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Mideast conflicts, Montanans in battle, and Civilian Conservation Corps.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, (406) 728-3476, ftmslamuseum@montana.com
Northern Rockies Heritage Center, Heritage Hall, 3255 Fort Missoula Rd, Missoula, Heritage Hall, (406) 396-4750, ; Event calendar for Heritage Hall http://nrhc.org/calendar/cal.html
Tom Curran (U.S. Air Force Veteran) ~ Missoula Vet Center
910 Brooks St., Suite 101, Missoula
VSN Events CMTE “Event Commander” (623) 229-1225, currant1973@gmail.com
VSN Leadership - PODCAST:
"Coming Home: Family and Community Returning Veterans"
(University of Montana's Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development)
http://health.umt.edu/ccfwd/aboutus/montana_minute/montana-minute-2018/family_veterans.php
VA Welcome Kit:
https://www.va.gov/welcome-kit/
Questions / Regional VA Rep: Bob Mortenson, Veterans Experience Office (https://www.va.gov/ve/) Department of Veterans Affairs, "Veterans, Family and Community Engagement" https://www.va.gov/ve/engagement/index.asp
Contact: Bob (360) 568-4592, C (206) 554-1491, robert.mortenson@va.gov
Community Veteran Engagement Boards (CVEB) ~ Nationwide MAP of Veteran Support Networks
https://www.va.gov/ve/engagement/communityBoards.asp
Office of Community Engagement (OCE) ~ Quarterly newsletters
https://www.va.gov/HEALTHPARTNERSHIPS/newsletter.asp
Rest in Peace, US Army Major Angwin (Ret)
A true "Heroe at Home" ~ he helped the VSN w/the annual BBQ from the beginning and knew it was important to honor our Veterans by having a community led / non-partisan event to say, “We appreciate you; we want you to feel safe; we want to honor you; you are part of this community, and we have your back.”
On 10/25/20 RMMMH reported, “RMMMH regrets tonight to report the loss of one of our own, Trustee John Angwin. John passed peacefully in his sleep this weekend, and is survived by two sons and a daughter. The son of a Professor of Military Science at UM, John enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Major. In retirement he was involved extensively in Missoula community affairs, including the Pachyderm Club, American Legion Post 27, and first as an early supporter, then a board member of RMMMH. His service to the Museum aided in all aspects of operations, and he was a constant presence at fundraising events and presentations.”
VSN ~ John did so much for Veterans, our community, our VSP, and he was such an important member of our VSN Leadership Team & Events CMTE. He was “Veterans first!” We were all blessed to have known him and he will be missed BIG TIME. Our sincere condolences to all of his friends and family!
Gary Swartz, Colonel - US Army (Ret) wrote a very nice piece for John on the WMMOA website: https://wmmoa.org/
Susan, UVC - John was a leader in the United Veterans Council of Missoula and Ravalli Counties and was the primary force for the relief board that helped veterans in emergency need.
Garden City Funeral Home ~ Obituary: https://www.gardencityfh.com/memorials/john--angwin/4373846/obituary.php
Jim Weber, Seattle WA ~ I was a good friend of John's in high school. I had lost contact over the years, and am saddened at his passing. Glad to hear he made a difference for many vets in Missoula. Rest in peace, John.
James Alan Sherman ~ I also was a good friend of John's in high school. John was very active in Debate Club, Yearbook, varsity football, and other activities - and still got top grades. Coach Trenary once said "at 175 pounds, John is probably the smallest down-lineman in the league, but he rarely gets beat - because he is smart, fast, tough, and works hard at his game". I miss his great spirit.
Click on "More" at top of page to view resources for:
*** Accessing Benefits, Counseling, Disability, Health & Wellness, Retirement
*** Supportive Services: Financial Assistance, Housing / Homelessness, Legal Assistance & Volunteer Network
Click on "More" at top of page to view resources for:
*** Education & Employment Opportunities
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*** UPCOMING EVENTS
*** Veteran Networking, Recreation, and Support
