AVU Mission Statement

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American Veterans United, Inc. (AVU) believes in the United States of America. We believe this nation remains great because of the military men and women who risk their lives to protect it and its people.
We are committed to work with veterans and our active duty military, that served or are currently serving in a combat or non-combat status from all US military service branches, and their families. Our primary efforts are focused towards obtaining benefits working with the Veterans Administration (VA), Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and California Department of Veterans Affairs (CALVET) oranizations for veterans, regardless of when or where they served, or the branch in which they served. We also help and support community Veteran Centers at the Sepulveda VA Medical Center and in Ventura, San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield, CA. Our mission is "to help other veterans obtain the benefits they have earned and deserve through their military service to our country". Many veterans are simply unaware of the compensation and health care available to them. These benefits can be life changing, and sometimes life saving, for a veteran and their family.
Advocacy of "Veteran Issues" is our priority and includes government accounting of POW/MIA's, Agent Orange issues, veteran rights, benefits and personal welfare. We will continue to work closely with communities within California and throughout America to provide assistance to veterans and active duty members through programs within the above organizations and our organization.
We know and understand the daunting claims process required to successfully obtain these VA benefits. We help our fellow vets complete the necessary paperwork and connect them directly with the appropriate VA professionals who will properly evaluate their health and process their claims in a more timely manner. Perhaps most importantly, we remain available throughout the entire determination process for guidance or simply to offer encouragement during the processing period. If necessary we will assist the Veteran with an appeal in the event the VA denies their initial claim.
AVU has the actual experience of walking thousands of veterans through the VA process to get the benefits they have earned and deserve. As a result, we have established a unique presence and reputation with the Veterans Administration, which helps our veteran members to go through the process as seamlessly as possible. Where necessary, we coordinate transportation needs for our members to enable them to make the VA appointments.

AVU conducts regular informational meetings and host social events that are designed to help veterans and their families understand the various procedures, policies and laws that can affect them. These meetings and events also foster relationships and establish contacts and camaraderie with our veteran brothers, sisters and their families. We maintain this website (avuinc.org) that provides all types of relevant information to our membership. We support local communities in which we operate through our hardship and scholarship programs.

The AVU organization presently consists of 20 officers & directors. President [1], Vice-President [3], Secretary [1], Assistant Secretary [1], Treasurer [1], Board of Directors [13] Sergeant-at-Arms [4]. 

President  -  Henry Alfaro  

Vice President Area 1 Clettus McDonell  

Vice President Area 2 Frank Renteria  

Vice President Area 3 - Walter (Woody) Woodworth

Secretary  -  Sam de St Jean  

Treasurer -  Silvia Bacolot  

Asst. Secretary  - Darci Sanchez 

AREA 1 DIRECTORS 

Fred Cobb - Glen de St Jean - Roy Hale 

Tommy Lara - Loren Manes & Blas Sanchez

AREA 2 DIRECTORS  

Jim Hughes - Colleen Graven & Bernardo Sanchez

AREA 3 DIRECTORS  

Tony Bacolot - Art Cordova, Raul Guzman & Tom Munoz

Sergeant at Arms 

Area 1 - Tommy Lara   

Area 2 - Jim La Rue & Danny Golson  

Area 3 - Rita Garcia    

No matter where in California and throughout America our organization of veterans, active duty members and their families live, we strive to serve and support them. "So, please join us!" As you elect to join us, we look forward to any suggestions you may have for improving the effectiveness of this organization. You will realize the sense of pride that is justifiably yours for the significant contribution you have provided to the defense of our country.