MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA -- TRIANGLE, Va. -- The United States Marine Corps signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and on November 8, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a ceremony to commemorate the signing was held.
The shared goal in signing the memorandum, that went into effect on the 17th of May, is to provide further services to Active, Reserve, and geographically dispersed service members, veterans, and their families.
“(This is a) top clinical priority in the Department of Veterans Affairs is to reduce service member and veteran suicide to zero,” said VA Undersecretary for Health, Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “VA seeks to engage not only organizations traditionally focused on suicide prevention, but also to bring in new groups and individuals who may have fresh ideas on how we address this issue.”
Headquarters Marine Corps and the VA began working to increase access to non-medical health care and to enhance prevention strategies and mental wellness ecosystems. The MOU is unique because it establishes a strategic behavioral health partnership between the VA and Marine Corps to provide Mobile Vet Centers, non-medical counseling, outreach staff, and other services during training, drill weekends, or outreach events.
This partnership serves to support force readiness and to reduce death by suicide, and other harmful behaviors, by providing community-based counseling centers that offer face-to-face and virtual support services with all Marines, veterans, and their families.
“We continue in earnest our combined efforts to support a "no wrong door" approach for service members to receive behavioral health support, while aiming to utilize the right care, at the right
level, at the right time,” said Marie Balocki, Director, Marine and Family Programs Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
There are 300 Vet Centers, more than 80 Mobile Vet Centers, and numerous satellite locations throughout the U.S. and its territories, used as points of care to enhance the existing support services provided by the Marine Corps.
To find out more about Vet Center programs, eligibility, or to find a Vet Center near you, click Vet Center Locator, or call our 24/7 Vet Center call center at 877-927-8387.