Veterans Service Officer resigns

The Bandera County Commissioners accepted the resignation of County Veterans Service Officer Dennis Birchall on April 14 at the regular meeting of the Commissioners’ Court.

Birchall’s resignation is effective May 15. “I truly appreciate the great job that he’s done, and I’m sure all the veterans do too.” Expressed Commissioner Jody Rutherford.

Birchall served in the U.S. Army for 30 years. During this time, he was a Radio Teletype Operator in Germany, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1971, and retired in 1998 as a Colonel. Afterwards, he worked as a contractor for the Army managing Satellite Communications Systems.

Birchall, who has worked as Veterans Service Officer for Bandera County for over 7 years, said he has enjoyed helping veterans get the benefits they have earned.

“The job does not pay a lot, but every once in a while you get to make a really big change in a veteran’s life or the life of his survivors, and there is a lot of satisfaction in that,” he said.

The court instructed HR Director Sharon Dowda to officially post the new job opening to the county’s website.

The application process will close on April 27. Interviews will take place on April 28.

According to Birchall, the Texas Veterans Commission provides training, testing, and certification of County Veteran Service Officers with the Veterans Administration. Annual Training is also necessary as Congress passes new laws, then the VA responds with new benefits and procedures.

To view the notice of employment for the Veteran’s Service Officer, go to www.banderacounty.org.