1. With the 33rd annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games coming to a close and
athletes heading home, it’s probably assumed that veterans in Florida will be scarce.
Contrarily, Florida is ranked third in the nation in terms of veteran and disabled
veteran population.
This past week has presented veterans with not only opportunities to have some fun
and stay active with sports, but also presented them with an invaluable resource.
Right before the kickoff to the games, a PVA run program, Operation PAVE (Paving
Access for Veterans Employment), formally opened it’s Tampa office doors to
Florida veterans and in surrounding areas.
Operation PAVE is a free resource providing personalized, one-on-one vocational
assistance, benefits counseling, and support to any veteran and family members.
Operation PAVE stands by veterans in the program for life, acting as an ally in
navigating today’s job market, an aide in completing the difficult benefits claims
process, and a partner for other occupational needs.
The Tampa Operation PAVE office opening was held on Friday, July 12th at the James
A. Haley VA Hospital with almost 100 guests in attendance, including veterans,
leaders from congressional, government, non-profit, and corporate sectors. A
strategy session was held following the opening celebration to explore ways those
involved in veterans employment could collaborate to effectively utilize existing
resources for veterans.
With more than 1.5 million veterans calling Florida home, Operation PAVE is excited
to have a presence there. The Tampa PAVE office is one of many around the country
that are made possible by unique public-private partnerships.
The timing for the office opening was impeccable. The games involve a good deal of
camaraderie, but they also provide disabled veterans with something most people
don’t recognize: an outlet to the workforce. Surprisingly, rehabilitative sports and
jobs go hand-in-hand for disabled veterans. Marty Ball is a veteran and former
wheelchair games athlete, participating for over 40 years.
“Competing in the games gives you the confidence and improvement of self-esteem
that allows you to go out and take on a job interview and be yourself,” Marty said.
The games gave Marty the self-assurance he needed to get a job, and they do that for
many others, too. The Operation PAVE office will give these inspired veterans, both
newly injured or not, a place to exercise their abilities to the fullest extent.
With the vast array of resources for veterans employment, Operation PAVE stands
out. PAVE doesn’t just put veterans in a job; PAVE puts veterans in the right job. All
PAVE participants get their own, personal counselor.

2. Instead of pumping out as many benefit claims as possible, counselors make sure
that each benefit claim is done right, ensuring each veteran gets all the financial
support they deserve. Even with their dedication to quality over quantity, PVA was
able to file 29,000 claims in 2012 for veterans and their families, resulting in more
than $250 million in benefits. The Tampa PAVE office has impacted 150 people
since October 2012 and implemented 21 job placements. PAVE currently serves
over 1,500 clients across America.
PAVE continues communication with veterans and employers even post-
employment to ensure satisfaction for both parties. Sometimes employers are blind
to the benefits, incentives, special accommodations, and training needs that come
along with hiring disabled veterans. PAVE understands this and works hard to
provide assistance to employers committed to hiring veterans. Employers need to
realize hiring a disabled veteran could offer them one of the most hard working,
loyal employees they’ve ever had.
With Florida expecting to see some of the largest numbers of returning veterans in
coming years, Operation PAVE’s goal in Florida is to make life a little sunnier for
veterans living in the sunshine state.