Jill Schramm/MDN Assistant Veterans Service Officer Heather Dignan and Veterans Service Director Brock Gilstad make up the staff in the Ward County office that is dedicated to assisting veterans. The office is looking to hire an administrative assistant.

The Ward County Veterans Service Office has experienced some shifting of personnel recently, but area veterans will find the same familiar faces on hand to help them with their military benefits.

Brock Gilstad, formerly the office’s assistant veterans service officer, was named veterans service director, effective Feb. 26. This past week, Heather Dignan, administrative assistant, was promoted to assistant veterans service officer. The office is advertising for applicants to fill the administration position.

Although short-staffed right now, the state’s busiest office in terms of numbers of claims filed for veteran benefits is forging ahead.

Dignan, due to previous certification, was prepared to immediately step into her new role. Previously with the Air Force, Dignan will be working with personnel at Minot Air Force Base who are transitioning out of the service.

Having a woman in the position is a positive for those situations in which certain veterans may feel more comfortable with a female, Gilstad said.

“I think we’re going in the right direction. We’re both excited,” Gilstad said. “I think we’re set up to do good. We’re about a month and a half out for appointments. I do think we’ll break that down quite quickly after we get the admin position filled.

“We are hoping to do a lot more outreach than what we were doing. I’d like to outreach to the other towns in our county,” he added, noting Ward County has more than 4,000 veterans.

Gilstad said the office is reviewing files to ensure nothing is overlooked in the staff transition. However, he encourages veterans who have questions about the status of their claims to contact his office.

“We’ve processed a lot, but I’m sure there’s some that are still going to be hanging out there. So, we hope that they’ll reach out and get a hold of us,” he said. “We get calls all the time, and that’s why we’re here.”

Gilstad had started in the office in July 2020 as administrative assistant, later becoming assistant veterans service officer (VSO). Before joining the office Gilstad worked for a railroad among his previous jobs and has taken courses at Minot State University. A New Town native, he spent four years with the Army National Guard in Williston and then 3½ years with the Army, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, Korea and lastly in Fort Riley, Kansas, where he worked with disabled veterans in prosthetics.

“That kind of was my window into seeing care for veterans and care for servicemembers and I enjoyed that part of it,” he said. “I got lucky enough to get into this position, and even as the VSO, it’s enjoyable to be able to help. All the stories are different. You meet so many different people.”

The office is assisting veterans from the Korean War as well as veterans who are just now retiring from the military. It truly is all ages and eras, and benefits are different for each, Gilstad said.

“It’s enjoyable to sit down and hear their stories and be able to visit with them. Then if there’s a possibility for benefits that we can apply for and help them, fantastic,” he said.

Benefits can change over time and Gilstad advises veterans to check in if they hear about changes they think might affect them or want to find out if they now are eligible for benefits that previously were denied. The office may have the updates or can do the research to determine any new eligibility, he said.

The Veterans Service Office also can refer veterans to other local agencies that can help when veterans benefits aren’t available or to fill in a gap while waiting for benefits to come through.