Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation and Veterans Moving Forward, Inc. announce their new partnership in support of disabled veterans. This collaboration will provide lodging for out-of-town veterans and their families accessing VMF programs during interviews and subsequent introductions to, and training with, their service dogs.
VMF has been bringing dogs in training and those already trained to Vinson Hall Retirement Community to visit residents for several years. From its Canine Training and Veteran Support Center in Dulles, Virginia, VMF “provides service dogs and canine therapy services to veterans with physical and mental health challenges at no cost to the veteran,” whether the illness or injury was acquired during military service or subsequent to honorable service. Veterans from across the continental U.S. come to VMF to be interviewed and matched with a trained and certified service dog. The matching process includes an introductory interview, visit with VMF’s Veteran Canine Committee and an initial meeting with potential service dogs. Upon deciding the appropriate veteran-service dog match, the veteran returns home while the matched dog continues training, which includes training focused on the veteran’s specific needs. This advanced veteran specific training takes place over several months. The veteran then returns to VMF for training with their matched service dog, and upon completion returns home with their service dog.
Previously, VMF provided hotel rooms for veterans and their families during these visits and training sessions, diverting resources that would otherwise have been used to directly support canine raising and training. NMCGRF and VMF’s new partnership will provide veterans and their families with apartments designed for those not as physically mobile. The apartments feature wheelchair accessible showers and also modified kitchens. These spaces are part of NMCGRF Wounded Warrior Transitional Housing located at Vinson Hall Retirement Community.