By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications

Every few months, state agencies get together for a unique event that does something for a very important part of our society: veterans.

It’s almost impossible to overstate the value of our nation’s vets. They defend our freedom and simply don’t get enough thanks.

That’s one reason the periodic Veterans Stand Down is so valuable. It’s a place where services are provided, questions are answered, and problems get solved.

Just a few weeks ago, a number of MVD staff spent hours at the 2017 Maricopa County Veteran Stand Down with veterans who needed assistance getting on the road.

Here’s what some of our MVD team had to say about this great opportunity.

“It is a blessing to know that ADOT and MVD Customer Service can help these homeless veterans. We can help, not only with the driver license, but to get their life back. To me, that’s the main reward,” said MVD Customer Service Office Manager Jon Jenkins, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force – a fact that adds extra significance when working at the event. “I am able to communicate with them and share stories.”

Trenise Miller, a customer service representative in the Apache Junction MVD office, said she too appreciates that the StandDown offers up a unique chance for ADOT employees to talk and listen to veterans.

“ADOT being here is a big thing. A lot of people don’t have IDs,” she said. “I enjoy being able to hear their stories.”

Besides licenses and IDs, MVD was able to offer food and snacks. MVD employees raised money so they could provide hundreds of sandwiches, muffins and bottles of water.

“Everyone did fundraisers in their office or donated some money,” MVD Western Region Manager Kyle Ulibarri said.

Morgan Henling, an MVD office supervisor in the Scottsdale MVD office, said being able to participate is a humbling experience.

“Without an ID, they can’t get a job or any other benefits they’re eligible for,” Henling said. “They’ve served our country, the least we can do is help them out.”

After serving their country, too many veterans face obstacles that can lead to homelessness…

A number of agencies, including ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division, help address the problem by participating in an annual event called the Maricopa County StandDown.

Bringing many services together under one roof, the StandDown allows homeless and at-risk veterans to easily access the resources they need to regain stability. During this year’s StandDown, held Jan. 28-29 in Phoenix, veterans received housing information, legal aid, benefits help, details on Social Security and other assistance. Sleeping areas and shower facilities were available, along with meals, clothing and haircuts.

MVD employees helped veterans obtain driver licenses or state identification cards – vital credentials to have when searching for a job or applying for programs.

An MVD employee takes driver license photos.

“That ID becomes very crucial for veterans to get housing and basic assistance,” MVD Western Region Manager Kyle Ulibarri said. “A license is important, too. It’s another thing that can help them get to a job interview, medical appointments and other services.”

Dozens of MVD employees teamed with ADOT Information Technology staff to bring along 12 full work stations so they could offer driver license applications, renewals, written examinations and even the road skills test. Some worked with county and municipal courts – also StandDown participants – to help clear up motor vehicle record issues that might have prevented someone from getting a license.

MVD employees hand out sandwiches, cupcakes and other treats at the 2016 StandDown.

Besides helping with licenses and IDs, MVD offered food and snacks. MVD employees raised money and reached out to vendors for donations so they could provide more than 1,800 sandwiches, cupcakes and other treats.

Alfonso Sanchez, MVD’s commercial driver license examination coordinator, says participating in the StandDown is very rewarding and a nice way to help those who have served.

“It’s a phenomenal to be able to give back,” Sanchez said. “It’s an incredible feeling to be part of the StandDown.”

Early stats from the 2016 StandDown show that MVD processed 779 transactions on site and assisted 885 veterans. More information can be found on the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance website. To learn about MVD’s participation in previous years, check out these blog posts.

With more than 300 employees having served in the U.S. armed forces, ADOT is an active participant in the federal Transition Assistance Program connecting those leaving military service with jobs.

The Transition Assistance Program, created by a 2011 law and administered by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helps service members develop comprehensive plans to pursue education, search for jobs or start businesses after their military careers.

ADOT’s participation in the program is just one way that the agency works to assist veterans. In honor of Veterans Day tomorrow, we thought we’d look back at our previous blog posts and videos that have focused on some of these efforts…

ADOT rolls out new driver license/identification option for veterans
In 2013, ADOT’s MVD rolled out a new driver license/ID card option especially for veterans. Those who have served or are currently in the U.S. military can have the word “VETERAN” printed on the front of their Arizona-issued driver license, commercial driver license or identification card. At about the same time that year, veterans applying for an Arizona-issued commercial driver license were informed of a new option that allows applicants whose position in the military required the operation of a commercial motor vehicle to request a waiver of the commercial driver license skills test.

ADOT's Construction Academy prepares participants for the workforce
ADOT’s Construction Academy is open to veterans interested in construction-industry careers. This pre-apprenticeship training program gives participants a great start in the field and is funded with federal grant money. It’s free to participants, who get to experience a variety of trades.

ADOT partners with U.S. Army for PaYS program
This video shows how a partnership between ADOT and the U.S. Army helps afford job opportunities to soldiers once they’re ready to leave the service. The U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program also provides ADOT with trained, highly skilled individuals, making it a real win-win for everyone.

Arizona StandDown
For years, ADOT’s MVD has participated in StandDown outreach events, designed to connect homeless and at-risk veterans with resources. On the blog, we’ve highlighted the assistance MVD employees provide to participants attempting to get a driver license or state identification card – important credentials to have when applying for employment, benefits and other services.

MVD assists returning soldiers
In 2011, this video and accompanying blog post showed how more than 300 soldiers returning home to Fort Huachuca were welcomed by family, friends and the MVD. Representatives from MVD were on hand to provide driver license, title and registration assistance through a “Reverse Soldier Readiness Process” that’s intended to help soldiers easily shift back in life stateside.

We’d like to say thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice!

ADOT and MVD offices will be closed tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen for normal business hours on Thursday, Nov. 12, but you can always check az511.gov for travel conditions around the state. You can also visit ServiceArizona to complete many MVD transactions online.

Sadly, homelessness is a problem faced by some who have courageously served their country.

In an effort to assist those men and women, an outreach event called the Maricopa County StandDown is held each year to connect homeless and at-risk veterans with needed resources.

ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division has participated for the past several years…

Just one of the many agencies on hand to help, MVD can assist veterans who are attempting to get a driver license or state identification card – important credentials to have when applying for employment, benefits and other services.

At this year’s StandDown, held Feb. 12-13 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, about 35 ADOT employees staffed a temporary, full-service MVD office on-site.

As in previous years, veterans were able to conduct transactions for driver license applications, renewals, written examinations and the road skills test (Courtesy Chevrolet provided vehicles to be used for those who did not have one of their own). They were also able to pick up a snack – MVD employees contributed money throughout the year in order to provide 1,800 sandwiches, 1,600 cupcakes and water at the event.

MVD Manager Jon Jenkins conducts a road test at the 2015 StandDown.

Besides MVD, other agencies were at this year’s StandDown to offer housing assistance, legal aid, benefits help and even veterinary services for the pets. Sleeping areas and shower facilities were also provided, along with meals, clothing and haircuts.

MVD Metro East Area Manager Anne Yanofsky serves on the executive board of the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance, the group that organizes several StandDown events around the state. Yanofsky explains that veterans who obtain a license or identification card at the StandDown don’t have to pay fees – those are covered by the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness and the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance.

“They raise money throughout the year,” she said.

Early numbers show that more than 1,000 veterans were served by MVD at this year's StandDown event.

MVD Western Area Manager Dave Jackson, a veteran himself, said the StandDown offers a great opportunity to assist those who have served.

“To most of these guys, a driver license or identification card could mean a job,” said Jackson, adding that the credential can also aid with education, housing and other benefits. “It gives them an identity.”

MVD Customer Service Lead Cynthia Marin agrees.

“StandDown helps the community, it helps our veterans,” she said. “We just really appreciate their sacrifice.”

More information can be found on the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance website. To learn about MVD’s participation in previous years, check out these blog posts.

The 2013 Arizona StandDown began with the ceremonial cutting of red tape – a fitting kickoff to the annual outreach event aimed at connecting homeless and at-risk veterans with needed resources.

Held March 8-10 at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, this year’s StandDown included more than 92 housing, healthcare and support service providers.

All were on hand to cut through that red tape and assist the state’s homeless veteran population.

As in years past, MVD was there to help the veterans obtain driver licenses or state identification cards – vital when job searching or applying for programs.

“Having that credential really gives you an identity,” said MVD Director Stacey Stanton. “Hopefully that credential will give them access to other services they need.”

MVD Regional Manager Dave Jackson agrees…

A veteran himself, Jackson serves on the Arizona StandDown executive committee and says getting an identification card or license is often the first step to a better path.

“It’s one of the major things they need to have in order to get jobs, services, anything,” he said.

Just like last year, dozens of MVD employees were on site. They brought along 12 complete work stations, which were set up like an MVD office. Veterans could conduct transactions for driver license applications, renewals, written examinations and the road skills test (Courtesy Chevrolet provided vehicles to be used for those who did not have one of their own).

Besides the typical MVD services, the veterans were also treated to homemade sandwiches, cupcakes and other edible treats – all courtesy of MVD employees.

Jackson explained that being at the StandDown and providing a service means so much to the MVD employees.

“It’s just a big deal for all of us,” he said.

For more on the Arizona StandDown, visit Maricopa County StandDown.

Some of the men and women who have bravely served their country are now homeless or at risk …

Instead of letting that sad fact stand on its own, several organizations work to provide assistance to these veterans through an annual event called the Arizona StandDown.

ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division was one of more than 50 agencies to take part in this year’s StandDown held last weekend at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

ADOT employees were there to help veterans get their driver licenses or state identification cards – important credentials to have in hand when applying for employment and other services.

To make sure they could process people on site, MVD employees brought 12 complete work stations to the Coliseum. Those work stations were set up just like an actual MVD office. Veterans were able to conduct transactions for driver license applications, renewals, written examinations and the road skills test (Courtesy Chevrolet provided three vehicles to be used for those who did not have one of their own).

MVD has participated in the StandDown for the past seven years. Dozens of MVD employees are always on hand to help and according to MVD Director Stacey Stanton, it’s a very rewarding experience.

An ADOT employee-based volunteer group – Developing Outstanding Vision in Employees (D.O.V.E.) –  obtained donations and raised more than $1,000 for various sandwiches, water and snacks for the veterans.

“It’s a fantastic event … it’s almost indescribable,” Stanton said, adding the StandDown is an ideal situation in that it lets veterans take care of many issues at once. “It’s a one-stop shop.”

StandDown coordinators certainly did think of everything …

Besides MVD, some of the other services available included court registration, housing assistance, substance abuse counselors, VA help, DES employment and benefits assistance, information on Social Security, legal aid and tax services.

There were even sleeping areas for men, women and families. Meals

were provided along with clothing, haircuts, showers, storage and pet care.

One veteran who attended this year’s event and wished to remain anonymous called the Arizona StandDown a “homerun” as he was waiting to get his driver license reinstated. MVD employees say several veterans return each year to provide an update on their progress since the last StandDown they attended.

MVD Regional Manager Dave Jackson, a veteran himself, serves on the Arizona StandDown executive committee and says planning for the event takes place year round.

But it’s worth it …

Jackson said he talked to a veteran who was homeless five years ago but is now in a position to give back.

“We see that every year,” Jackson said.

Visit the Maricopa County StandDown website for more information.