Military retirees who need information on how to obtain
their benefits or have a problem that needs to be resolved can count on the
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Retiree Activities Office to help them out.
The JBSA-Randolph Retiree Activities Office, located at
Pitsenbarger Hall, building 399, room 104, is run by volunteers whose purpose
is to serve the needs of military retirees, spouses, widows and widowers.
“We are here to support retirees from all branches of the
service,” said Jon Lindgren, director of the JBSA-Randolph Retiree Activities
Office.
The JBSA-Randolph Retiree Activities Office provides
information to retirees on programs and services including hospital/ military
treatment facilities, retiree pay, survivor benefit and casualty assistance,
medical benefits, Veterans Affairs Department and military records.
The office can also provide assistance to military retirees
in their personal affairs, schedule income tax appointments and defensive
driving courses, and can assist in resolving military retiree issues,
inquiries, problems and complaints.
Lindgren, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, is one
of 20 volunteers who helps out at the retiree office.
In 2015, volunteers assisted 1,102 people at the office and
took 1,489 phone calls seeking help or assistance.
When a retiree, spouse, widow or widower comes into the
Retiree Activities Office, Lindgren said the volunteers listen to them about
their concern or problem before referring them to the proper agency or contact
that can help them.
“When they first come in they don’t know where to go,”
Lindgren said. “We point them in the right direction.”
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Doug Martin has been a volunteer
at the JBSA-Randolph Retiree Activities Office for five years. Martin said he
gets personal satisfaction being able to help military retirees or their spouses,
widows or widowers.
“These people are very thankful when we can solve their
problems or put them on the right track,” Martin said.
On April 23, the JBSA-Randolph Retiree Activities Office put
on its annual Retiree Appreciation Day at the JBSA-Randolph Kendrick Club. The
event included representatives from government and local agencies and veterans
organizations who provided information to military retirees on their services
and programs. Lindgren said 125 people attended Retiree Appreciation Day.
Lindgren said the Retiree Activities Office is always
looking for more volunteers to answer phones and help retirees who come in.
The office is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the Retiree Activities Office,
call 652-6880. Anyone who wants to volunteer at the office can visit
http://www.jbsa.af.mil/library/jbsaretiree
activitiesoffice.asp to download an application.