County appoints new VSO

Stephens County appointed Brandon Jeffcoat as the new Veterans Services Officer (VSO), following the retirement of Don Smith, during the County Commissioners meeting Monday, Sept. 26.

Stephens County Judge Michael Roach recommended Jeffcoat for the position of VSO. After discussion among the commissioners, his appointed was approved unanimously.

Jeffcoat is a Breckenridge resident and United States Army National Guard Veteran. Jeffcoat served in the National Guard as a 21E (Horizontal Construction Engineer) for six years and reached the rank of E4/Specialist.

His reporting unit was 822 Engineers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Jeffcoat deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2008 where he served on Camp Slayer within the Victory Base complex, until his return home in 2009.

Jeffcoat graduated with a degree in education from Hardin Simmons University, and took courses in computer science and social media. Jeffcoat taught 6th grade math for two years, 5th grade math for one year, and General Education (GED) courses within the Texas prison system. He will take over as VSO in October.

The county VSO is a part-time position, and duties include, but are not limited to, aiding veterans in filing of disability compensation and pension claims, finding and filing for additional veterans benefits, and assisting families of deceased veterans with post-mortem benefits such as burial rights and transfer of financial benefits to dependents.

Roach spoke on the importance of providing an adequate budget for the VSO position in order to enable veterans to receive services in Stephens County without having to travel to Weatherford or Abilene.

“We have budget restraints, no doubt about it, but when it comes to men and women in our armed forces who have served, we’re not going to pinch pennies when we’re talking about getting you the services, and the equipment you need to provide them the services that they can have, within reason,” Roach said.

Before commissioners voted to hire Jeffcoat, Roach expressed his support of local veterans services.

“Whatever investment to get you up and running to provide everything that we can locally, is a win for everybody,” Roach said.