ksa response with cover

Greetings,

As a County Veterans Service Officer in Northern California and VFW State Service Officer, I have learned the unique issues veterans face. I have the great privilege and responsibility of helping my fellow veterans obtain health care, compensation for disabilities, income-based benefits, housing, insurance and education.

These benefits are life-changing. It is extraordinary to see the positive impact they can have. That is why as a public servant, I must be infallible. The highest standards of practice, knowledge of USC Title 38 CFR and expertise in resources are required for excellent service. I have dedicated my life to this practice. The greatest burden has always been not what has been achieved in helping veterans receive benefits, rather what has not been achieved. This takes special attention. It is more than completing forms and checking boxes that veterans deserve. Veterans deserve representatives in their counties that understand the burdens of generations of veterans. Old veterans deserve care. Young veterans need jobs. Some of us have conditions and exposure to things in the service that last throughout our lives. Some of us just need another person to understand and recognize our struggles.

This work is never done. Let no one boast that they have achieved this. If anyone stops feeling the weight of this responsibility, they have already begun to have lost sight of true service. I have accepted this mission; to be excellent at helping veterans receive benefits and continually help my comrades face the struggles before them. I have tempered my knowledge, skills and abilities to achieve this work. Through study, sacrifice, wise council and will, I continue to see positive strides in the lives of veterans.

One person cannot alone cannot accomplish success. That is why we must be able to work with others who have similar goals. First and foremost, a CVSO must be able to reproduce these knowledge, skills and abilities in others. As an Army Noncommissioned officer who has served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, you can rest assured that your company's name is in good hands.

As a security professional working for the U.S. government, I have operated in both Iraq and Afghanistan on Executive Personal Protection Teams; provided training to dozens of soldiers, marines, airmen and government civilians; and currently maintain two active security clearances. Finally, with my Logistics, Sales and Management experience working for the US Government, along with local and corporate business I have broken sales records, led teams of workers and most importantly provided excellent service to a diverse base of customers.

I have developed many skill sets over the course of my career, but in particular, my ability to manage small teams negotiate with individuals, and make critical decisions have set me apart.

So far in my career, Generals, Senators, and Diplomats have counted on me; not to include the people of the United States, Iraq and Afghanistan. You can too.

Sincerely,

Curtis R. Hodge

[KSA Enhancements of the Last 5 years]by Curtis R. Hodge

[The purpose of this document is to describe the Professional, Educational and Personal activities I have engaged in to enhance my Knowledge, Skills and Abilities in the last 5 years.]

Professional

The professional activities I have participated in the last five years have been formative towards my career in assisting veterans through the administrative processes of receiving benefits. I have tried to use my professional activities to both grow professionally as well as be able to uniquely approach a variety of veteran’s issues from different perspectives.

Professional Event Knowledge Skills Abilities

Homeless Stand-downs

Illinois Veterans Home Visits

In-patient claims assistance for Veterans in Nursing Homes, VA Medical Centers and Catastrophically Disabled.

•Participated in 3 events with homeless specific population.

•Experience reaching veterans with special needs.

•Resolve a complex claims case involving internal and external stakeholders.

•Expedition of claims through use of VA Homeless coordinator.

•Identify and explain appropriate VA benefit programs to a customer •Determine whether the claim is following the claims process appropriately and take appropriate action as necessary.

•Use limited resources to complete claims paperwork. Works with social workers and other hospital staff to provide care and special programs.

•Solicit information regarding an escalated issue and refer to appropriate department.

•Determines the most appropriate action or identifies alternatives to resolve customer needs

Hospital Boards including: Staff, Stakeholder and Travel Board Participation

•Compensation and Pension Activities (General Medical and Psychological)

•Discussion of Hospital Resources to include General, Specialty Healthcare

•Implementation of Travel Programs, Choice Act, VLER, Social Work Programs

•Facilitate a discussion where others can share their differences of opinion

•Identify novel ways of performing work that increases efficiency

•Update stakeholders on changes that may affect them.

•Express needs, concerns or requests to senior staff in order to achieve project results.

•Generate a novel idea to alter a program or process

•Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure programs and policies are integrated with their needs.

Sponsored Events with Hospital Staff

Manages Multiple Office Locations

•Coordinated with HAS Staff and local organizations to host off-site benefits fair.

•Worked with VA Public Affairs to support Benefits Presentation to the public/veterans.

•Conducts phone calls with Veterans, beneficiaries, other customers regarding claims, services and appeals.

•Identify new internal colleagues to partner with to achieve organizational goals.

•Develop a relationship with a peer outside of the work unit.

•Articulate VA’s mission externally to advocate for Veterans.

•Instruct a customer on how to properly fill out forms to file a claim.

•Identify and explain appropriate VA benefit programs to a customer.

•Determines the most appropriate action or identifies alternatives to resolve customer needs.

•Provides customers with consistent information in compliance with established VA policies and procedures.

Educational

The educational activities I have undertaken have elevated the platforms from which I can begin new endeavors. Whether it is a new task or a new occupation; the education I have undertaken allows me to have more potential for success than someone without it. I have obtained my education formally through Academic Universities, professional courses and military schools. My degree field of Workforce Education and Development has shown me that education can be obtained in many ways. My diverse educational background has uniquely prepared me for the Legal Administrative Specialist position. I am currently enrolled in a philosophy course and completing my Baccalaureate’s Degree Program.

Educational Event Knowledge Skills Abilities

Southern Illinois University School of Law “Access to Justice for Rural Veterans: Policy, Law and Healthcare”06/26/2015 (5 hours)

VSO TRIP TRAINING11/2015 (40 hours)

•Veteran benefits and eligibility requirements.

•Claims processing phases as they apply.

•Electronic records and appropriate applications.

•VBA forms and their appropriate uses.

•VA and state benefits programs.

•Federal, VA, and other applicable laws and regulations.

•Customer needs assessment techniques.

•Methods for providing accurate, timely, and consistent quality customer service.

•Ability to advise using research methods to include Title 38 CFR, M-21-1MR.

•Use VBA e-folder Programs and remote desktops.

•Assist incarcerated veterans with benefits.

•Accredited with Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with VA Claims and give VA Benefits Advice.



•Establish Evidence Requirements as they pertain to a claim.

EEO Diversity Annual Training04/26/2015 (6 hours)

(Attended Training and Presented Benefits Eligibility Information)

• VA's Mission, Vision, and Goals, and how they impact the EEO Program.

• EEO/Affirmative Employment Team, Office of Resolution Managements, and other components within VA that impact EEO.

•Assess EEO climates and attitudes.

•Understand differences of ethnicity and cultural diversity.





University and Junior College

Southern Illinois University(Spring 2011-Fall 2013)

Rend Lake College(Fall 2010, Present)

• Prepare curriculum, deliver instruction and assess student learning in classroom and laboratory education and training situations.

•Performance

•Demonstrate written, oral, visual and computer skills in organizing and presenting thoughts and ideas as concerns the preparation, presentation and

• Manage workplace education and training programs and provide leadership to individuals and groups concerned with instruction and learning.

•Demonstrate occupational competence by way of documented occupational


improvement; role and responsibilities of specialists in the workplace.

implementation of performance improvement programs and learning materials.

training and work experience.

•Develop Workforce Improvement Programs.

US ARMYPre-phase OCS Training(01/2013-03/2013)

Military Police: Squad Leader/Team Leader(01/2011-01/2014)

*Currently on Non-drilling status (see attached unit letter)

•Learn a variety of leadership skills and small-unit tactics.

•Please refer to NCOER’s (already submitted), Certificates, and Awards attached

•Face both physical and mental challenges that your trainers will use to evaluate your determination and desire to excel.

•Riot Control, Small Unit Tactics, Weapons Qualifications, Leadership, Counsels Squad Members

•Lead a team during an intense 18-day training mission.

•Met all Pre-phase OCS Training Requirement for Highly Competitive Accelerated Course.

•Leads a squad of 13 Military Police Members


Personal

The professional activities I have participated in the last five years have been formative towards my career in assisting veterans through the administrative processes of receiving benefits. I have tried to use my professional activities to both grow professionally as well as be able to uniquely approach a variety of veteran’s issues from different perspectives.

Personal Event Knowledge Skills Abilities

Homeless Stand-downs

Illinois Veterans Home Visits

In-patient claims assistance for Veterans in Nursing Homes, VA Medical Centers and Catastrophically Disabled.

•Participated in 3 events with homeless specific population.

•Experience reaching veterans with special needs.

•Resolve a complex claims case involving internal and external stakeholders.

•Expedition of claims through use of VA Homeless coordinator.

•Identify and explain appropriate VA benefit programs to a customer •Determine whether the claim is following the claims process appropriately and take appropriate action as necessary.

•Use limited resources to complete claims paperwork. Works with social workers and other hospital staff to provide care and special programs.


•Determines the most appropriate action or identifies alternatives to resolve customer needs

Hospital Boards including: Staff, Stakeholder and Travel Board Participation

•Compensation and Pension Activities (General Medical and Psychological)

•Discussion of Hospital Resources to include General, Specialty Healthcare

•Implementation of Travel Programs, Choice Act, VLER, Social Work Programs

•Facilitate a discussion where others can share their differences of opinion

•Identify novel ways of performing work that increases efficiency

•Update stakeholders on changes that may affect them.

•Express needs, concerns or requests to senior staff in order to achieve project results.

•Generate a novel idea to alter a program or process


Sponsored Events with Hospital Staff

Manages Multiple Office Locations

•Coordinated with HAS Staff and local organizations to host off-site benefits fair.

•Worked with VA Public Affairs to support Benefits Presentation to the





•Determines the most

Personal Event Knowledge Skills Abilities

public/veterans.

•Conducts phone calls with Veterans, beneficiaries, other customers regarding claims, services and appeals.

•Articulate VA’s mission externally to advocate for Veterans.

appropriate action or identifies alternatives to resolve customer needs.

•Provides customers with consistent information in compliance with established VA policies and procedures.

ksa response with cover

Documents