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By Pamela Basal
Reserve Component Transition Assistant Advisor
The U.P. is home to many veterans. Throughout Michigan we have some awesome veteran organizations available, both at state and federal levels. However, navigating these services or knowing where to find them isn't always easy. The Department of Defense recognized this and many years ago created reserve component transition assistant advisors to help. This year, they acknowledged that the U.P. needed one of their own, as we previously had one for the whole State of Michigan. I have the privilege of accepting this position. My name is Pam Basal and I live in Marquette, Mich. I recently retired from the Michigan Department of Corrections where I served as an officer for over 28 of my 31 years of state service. The struggles of moving back into civilian life and of career change can be difficult. As caretaker for my late father-in-law, a Korean War vet, I know the difficulties in finding benefits, where to look for them and how to obtain them. I had, and still do have, family members who serve. My love to help service members brought me to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) where I volunteer as the U.P Area Chair. ESGR is a volunteer organization under the Department of Defense. We work with service members in the Reserve Components to help them understand their rights and obligations under the USERRA law. We also work with, and recognize, employers when it comes to the USERRA law and their support of our service members.
My main audience as a RCTAA are those who have served at least 180 days of active duty military service with a reserve component (i.e. Individual Ready Reserve, National Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Army Reserve, etc.). This includes Title 10 and Title 32. I can help guide service members to benefits and entitlements such as: state benefits, physical and mental health well-being (veterans affairs), disabled veteran benefits, employment assistance, education and training, financial assistance, health and life insurance, legal assistance, relocation/homelessness and career change. However, these topics don't just apply to the service members under the description above; they also affect our other veterans in the U.P. So, each month I will write an article about one of these topics to share guidance and information to all of our veterans.
If you need help with your benefits or would like to suggest a topic for one of these articles, please feel free to reach out to me at PBasal-c@gapsi.com or cell # 906-360-3890. You can also scan the QR code for direct benefit questions, fill in the short drop down menu when it appears and it will send your information directly to me. I look forward to hearing from you and serving our Service Members in the U.P.
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Pamela Basal is a reserve component transition assistant advisor for the Upper Peninsula through the Department of Defense.