Air Force, Dayton VA team up to aid separating vets Published Oct. 30, 2008 By Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- A new Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Department of Defense Transition Center opened here Oct. 30 as Air Force and local officials strive to streamline the transition process of separating and retiring military members from active duty to veteran status. Dayton VA Medical Center officials spent $294,000 to renovate the 2,900-square-foot center in Wright-Patterson Medical Center's basement. The facility, initially manned by three VA benefits personnel, includes rooms for VA compensation benefits education and counseling, physical exams and administrative support. While most customers will be Air Force people separating at Wright-Patterson AFB, the center will serve members from every branch of the military. The plan is to expand the center in phases. First, veteran benefits counseling and classes, enrollment processing for VA healthcare services, and case management and consultation for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom vets will be offered. Assistance for service members pending physical evaluation boards will also be available. Services planned for the near future include compensation and pension examinations, and - eventually - a single physical separation examination for DOD and VA disability determinations. Officials say they expect six VA employees to man the center when it reaches full operational capability, including benefits counselors, clinical healthcare providers and an administrative specialist. The objective is to take two systems -- each requiring different medical exams -- and move toward a single, streamlined process which meets DOD and individual service requirements, as well as those of the VA. One system is focused on determination of fitness for duty and the other evaluation of disability. "Our goal is to provide a seamless continuum of care," said Col. Kimberly Slawinski, 88th Medical Group commander. "We're trying to prevent any 'lost wingmen' in the transition from active duty." The colonel said about 50 military members retire or separate from Wright-Patterson AFB each month. She added that the proximity of many of Wright-Patterson AFB's specialty clinics to the new center will save time and driving for separating military members.