In an April 15 news flash, the Chester County Department of Veteran Affairs (CCDVA) launched the Peer Ambassador Program (PAP). The program stems from Innovate Chester County, an organization that seeks to improve the lives of citizens living in Chester County. According to the CCDVA, PAP focuses strictly on the livelihoods of veterans in the area and aims to inform veterans of benefits gained through their service, such as educational assistance, healthcare and assisted living. To manage the organization, PAP has selected three ambassadors, Sarah Mears, Vincent Perez and Eric Stetson, to manage the organization.
One of these ambassadors, Stetson, served as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, joining the force in 1991 and retiring in 2015. The primary role of peer ambassadors like Stetson is to advocate for the program and expand its outreach. By hosting one-on-one and small group meetings, peer ambassadors can help support veterans through adversities.
“I work with some others in the community on formulating the program and just talking about what the ambassadors would or would not do and how to prepare them,” Stetson said. “I want to help expose the Chester County Veterans Program to more veterans in the area and to the services provided by the Chester County Veterans’ Office.”
According to the CCDVA, PAP serves as a way for veterans to connect with each other through shared experiences and reflect on the abilities they have gained through service. Stetson feels that veterans often develop many lifelong skills from their service, such as resiliency and strength.
“It’s a demanding and unique lifestyle,” Stetson said. “I wish more people would realize that these folks that serve in the military really are highly developed people, and their family members are as well.”
According to Stetson, the best way for family or community members to help veterans reorient themselves into normal life is to coach or introduce them to new people. The CCDVA said that PAP aids veterans by educating them on opportunities to pursue support for issues, such as housing, mental health and employment.
“Veterans don’t want a hand out,” Stetson said. “They want a hand up into returning to society, like finding a good job, starting a new career and learning how things happen in the civilian world.”
Dave Heimbach, a Conestoga parent and former veteran, served as a radio operator and communication center operator in the United States Marine Corps. Heimbach feels that PAP and the general community should focus on providing better support for veterans’ mental and physical health in veteran administration facilities that are typically underfunded.
“Life in the military can be very difficult, and many veterans have lived through experiences that would be impossible for a non-veteran to understand,” Heimbach said. “These experiences have a lasting impact and it is important to respect a veteran’s boundaries when discussing their service with them.”
Teagan Penny can be reached at [email protected].
