For accessibility assistance with documents, links, or information on this website, please contact the Commissioner's Office at (719) 383-3000.

 
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Otero County Veteran Service Officer - Rick Ward

Our Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is Rick Ward, who serves both Bent & Otero counties.

The Veterans Service Office is located in the Otero County Courthouse,

13 W 3rd St., Room 110, La Junta, CO 81050 - on the lower floor, east wing, across the hall from the Health Department.

Hours for both counties are as follows:

Monday: 8-5 Bent County

Tuesday: 8-5 Bent County

Wednesday: 8-12 Bent County & 12-5 Otero County

Thursday: 8-5 Otero County

Friday: 8-5 Otero County


Phone: (719) 468-6406

Office: (719) 383-3148

Email: rward@oterogov.org 

Any comments regarding the Veterans Service Office should be made to the Commissioner’s Office at 719-383-3000 or 13 W. 3rd Street, Suite 212, La Junta, CO  81050

Visit the Official VA Website

Veterans Plaque Memorial

Veteran Transportation Service

American Legion Post 9

La Junta, Colorado

Veteran Transportation Service

to Any Medical Appointments

(VA and Non-VA)

Veterans unable to drive or obtain a ride are eligible.

Serving Otero, Bent, and Crowley Counties.

Monday-Friday-Subject to volunteer driver availability.

Volunteer drivers use personal vehicles

to provide rides at no cost to veterans.

(Veterans cannot apply for per diem when using this service)

Call Jay Alexander to schedule at:

(719) 383-3164

Early notice is appreciated and required.

If you are physically handicapped and special transportation is necessary,

contact your primary care physician to request special VA-provided transportation.

This is NOT emergency transportation –

for emergency transportation, call 911.

Also accepting applications for volunteer drivers from Bent County.

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988, then Press 1
or text 838255

Who is Eligible?
Eligibility status will be determined during the intake process, which a Valley-Wide Health Systems team member does.

Participants Must:
Be a verified discharged veteran or active duty member, cannot be dishonorably discharged, or dismissed because of court.
Have a risk factor for suicide including health, environment, or historical circumstances.
Score at least a low risk on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Form. This is the gold standard suicide screen used across the U.S.

Non-Emergent Referrals:
Bradley Roe
Email: roebra@valley-widehealth.org 
Phone: (c) 719-469-3676
          (o) 800-511-5446

About SSG Fox:
SSG Fox SPGP honors Veteran Parker Gordon Fox, who joined the Army in 2014 and was a sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Known for a life of generosity and kindness to others in need, Fox died by suicide on July 21, 2020, at the age of 25.

Here's more information on the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP).

SSG FOX SPGP
Staff Sargeant Parker Gordon Fox
Suicide Prevention Grant Program

Valley-Wide Health Systems