Phillips County onboarded a new Veterans Service Officer recently. Jeremy Kilpatrick takes the reigns following the retirement of Steve Firme. Firme served Phillips County Veterans for five years before passing the responsibility onto Kilpatrick in September.

Kilpatrick grew up in the Akron area and graduated from Akron High School in 2010. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a guided missile destroyer on the DDG 93 USS Chung-Hoon.

As an undesignated Seaman, Kilpatrick drove the boat one day and fell in love with the precision and difficulty of the helmsman watch station. He was responsible for handling the ship during the most precise and dangerous evolutions like underway replenishments, pulling in and out of home-port and rough seas.

"About a year into my career, I struck the Logistics Specialist Rate to become a LSSN," he said. "While also maintaining my Master Helmsman responsibilities and trying to advance my career in a new direction."

Later, Kilpatrick received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his efforts in repairing, cleaning and recertification of the DDGs hazmat plant.

"I began training and assisting the crew in all policies and procedures for hazardous materials long with certification of each divisions' hazmat lockers."

After long and sometimes grueling boards, Kilpatrick received his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification. The ESWS is a program designed in 1977 to reflect a level of qualification above and beyond the normal level of professional criteria for advancement.

"Achieving this qualification as a junior sailor was very rare in the Navy," he said. "I considered it an honor to get it in my first and only command."

Kilpatrick said he enjoyed teaching and training the crew so much that in his final year onboard the ship, he took a position on the Damage Control Training Team, assisting in all forms of mock/simulation damage control operations such as fire, flooding, CBR and collisions.

"Never a dull moment on a destroyer," Kilpatrick said.

Now, Kilpatrick lives in the Haxtun area with his wife, Janice, and daughter Cadence. Cadence is a first grader at Haxtun. Kilpatrick said he returned to a small town in hopes of giving Cadence the best possible upbringing.

"Small towns do it right," he said. "We take care of our neighbors, raise our babies with respect and resilience and anchor it all with our faith in God and each other."

He said his wife Janice of eight years has been by his side through life's most difficult struggles including his own with mental illness and suicide.

"I am a disabled vet myself, so I understand the complexity that is the VA system," Kilpatrick added.

As the Phillips County Veterans Service Officer, Kilpatrick can assist any Veteran, young or old, with a plethora of available resources and services designed for Veterans and their families including health benefits, retirement benefits, death and burial benefits, disability and compensation benefits, education benefits and more.

"We also have connections with non-profit organizations that assist and aid Veterans and their families such as VSAP, NECO and Vets to Farmers," he said. "I can also facilitate outreach to assist and unite the County Veteran population."

In the near future, Kilpatrick hopes to assist in celebrations and events to support troops; past, present and future. One priority Kilpatrick has in his first year as the local Veterans Service Officer is to help form gatherings.

"I heard that the Haxtun Veteran community unfortunately lost its VFW/American Legion posts, leaving a large vacancy in the community," he said. "Holyoke still has a VFW/American Legion, but having another gathering event should be a great addition."

Kilpatrick said he hopes to establish a monthly BBQ on the 22nd of each month to support fallen brothers and sisters to suicide and mental illness. He plans to host the monthly event in Paoli, a center ground for Phillips County. He is currently looking for sponsors to help support the BBQ endeavor.

The Phillips County Commissioners have approved extending the availability of the Veterans Service Officer positions, starting in January 2022; Kilpatrick said that means he will be available to assist Veterans four days a week. In Haxtun he will be available Sunday and Monday in the basement of the Brethren Church located at 137 North Logan Avenue. In Holyoke, he will be available Friday and Saturday. He is currently working on details to collaborate with the Phillips County Economic Development Director to share office space.

"This ensures a weekday and weekend availability for all Veterans and their needs," Kilpatrick said. Veterans can reach him at (970) 466-1848 or via email at [email protected].

Additionally, Kilpatrick said the website http://www.operationveteranstrong.org is a valuable resource for Veterans and their families. "It is a confidential way to support ourselves as Veterans and our families," he said. "Be it in life struggles, career hurdles, mental health and even a tool to show veterans all the available services and discounts available to them within a given zip code, such as coffee meetups and BBQs, training opportunities and discounts. A truly unique tool, and a one-stop shop for all a veteran's needs."

In addition to his local Veterans Service Officer duties, Kilpatrick also volunteers and assists with Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention and serves as a Training Coordinator and a Steering Committee member on the board. He said VSAP is designed to aid individuals struggling with the transition to life outside the military and assist the most vulnerable and damaged Veterans in finding support.

Kilpatrick is also a champion for Operation Strong, the website listed above. He assists in connecting local services with the platform. If any local businesses offering something for Veterans, discounts, jobs, training, etc., Kilpatrick can assist with getting that information onto the website.

Additionally, Kilpatrick serves as the secretary to the Colorado County Veteran Service Officer Association.

"This association is designed to assist and connect each CVSO to the others, giving a true hive of available information," he said. "This ensures every veteran can have the best service with our CVSOs and helps our newer or less experienced Officers like myself, have the support of our most experienced and knowledgeable Officers from around the State."

Kilpatrick is also the founder and Executive Director of Klover Kare, Inc. Klover Kare is a toolbox for use by Veterans, first responders and others within the community. Tools range from mental health to resource networking through the lens of community-based agriculture, empowering those willing to give their lives in the service of community and country.

Klover Kare will be starting next month and offering classes twice a month to learn useful tools from green needs and indoor hydroponic set up to community gardens. Klover Kare will also offer education and methods to mental wellness including dedication, breathing techniques and other ideas for staying mentally present.

"My goal is to bring a resilient and steadfast dedication to our Veterans throughout the county. They have already shown dedication to our freedoms, now I would like to help them navigate the rough seas of civilian life," said Kilpatrick. "They should never wake up and feel alone or discarded. I will help any way I can, even if it's just to listen ... call me and share your story."