OUR HISTORY

The purpose the Robert L Cochran, Jr. (RLC), Chapter 82 (CH82) Disabled American Veterans (DAV) shall be:

•  To advance the interests, and to work for the betterment of all disabled veterans; 
• To foster a feeling of mutual devotion, assistance and comradeship among all disabled veterans;
• To perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and assist their widows and orphans; and
• To support the programs of the Disabled American Veterans as provided in the National Constitution and Bylaws and Regulations of the National Executive Committee.

 The help our DAV Chapter gives our local veterans in winning their claims with the Veterans Administration, has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into our community. And frankly, over these 50 plus years of Chapter 82’s volunteer work, the actual figure of funds generated is in the millions of dollars! 

 We are a nonprofit (501c4), fully unpaid volunteer organization. where 100% of the funds donated are used to help local veterans and their families.  Disabled veterans’ benefits in Charlotte County alone bring in nearly 12 million dollars a year of income.  Much of that income is spent locally for services and goods.  

1441 Tamiami Trail, Suite 349

Port Charlotte, FL 33948-4004 

WEB: 

https://davchapter82.com/ 

---OR---

http://www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/fl/82/default.aspx

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DAV_RLC 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/Davchapter82/ 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/Davchapter82

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/DAVRLC 

PH: (941) 629-2833 

EM: davrlc@yahoo.com 

If you want to make a donation to RLC CH82 DAV, it can done by direct deposited. Call for information to set this up! 

Over the past 56 years the DAV Robert L. Cochran, Jr. Chapter 82 helped Tens of Thousands of veterans and their families in the surrounding area including: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lee and Sarasota Counties. In fact, Cochran Blvd. in Port Charlotte was christened in honor of our namesake, Robert L. Cochran, Jr. 

When hurricane Charley wrecked the DAV office on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, we were forced to move to Market Circle. Nearly 20 years later, we out grew our offices and are in need of a new home in the Port Charlotte area. As our membership is increasing, the chapter will again have a local unit Auxiliary, more service officers, and a need to have a place for meetings and events. 

It is important to not only be able to help the younger individual veterans but also their spouses, significant others and children. Family is everything these days and we need a facility that will sponsor events to bring new veterans into the organization along with their families. Increasing our ability to help veterans that served in Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, 9/11 and the War on Terror, Afghanistan and other recent conflicts is paramount. 

Chapter 82 needs visibility and expanded facilities to accomplish these attainable goals. We need your help: be it a suitable building, a property to build on, help with property improvement, help with construction, help financially, or in fact, help with anything that can allow us to move forward and reach our target of helping more veterans in our area.  We are a community with thousands of veterans, who have given a lot, if not their all, so that we can maintain our freedoms and way of life. 

The men and women of DAV Chapter 82 are all non-paid volunteers that assist Veterans, and their surviving dependents, who file claims for disability medical treatment and compensation. DAV personnel are all disabled veterans who served in either Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, or Space Force.  All volunteers receive training specific to their job description. Most are combat veterans. They typically volunteer one day a week or more.

Some volunteers are front desk personnel, some are service officers, and some serve a dual role on the Executive Committee. Listed below are descriptions of some of the responsibilities and duties of those volunteers: 

When a veteran walks into the DAV front door, the first people seen are the hard-working Front Desk Volunteers. The veteran is greeted and informed that coffee and most days doughnuts if they would like to partake.

The Front Desk Volunteer inquires regarding the service the veteran may need, answers any initial questions, and then introduces the veteran to one of the knowledgeable Service Officers (SOs) who help provide guidance and assistance filing a claim for disability or providing a response to questions regarding the VA, etc.

Front Desk Volunteers are responsible for keeping the office running smoothly, greeting people, answering the phone, making coffee, making copies, and emailing claims to FLDAVHQ in St. Petersburg. From the FLDAVHQ St. Petersburg, the veteran’s claim enters the VA portal.

Our DAV office CANNOT operate if there are no Service Officers and Front Desk Volunteers. If you would like to be a part of an organization that makes a difference in Veterans' lives, join us!! 

  Chapter 82 SOs assist veterans filing claims with VA for medical treatment and disability compensation. There are 16 SOs on staff, which includes females. They are all fluent in English. They typically work a specific day, Monday thru Sat. 

No appointments are necessary. 

Veterans are assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. For any veteran whose schedule may prevent them from coming in during normal business hours,  You are encouraged to see the same service officer (specific day) each time you seek assistance. This helps maintain continuity in approach to care and for no other reason.

To become a Service Officer, a volunteer is encouraged to work as a Front Desk Volunteer to become acquainted with the inner workings of DAV Chapter 82.  The volunteer then begins an apprenticeship with certified SOs to become eligible for joint DAV/VA SO training in Orlando. After obtaining certification, SOs may assist veterans filing claims.  Chapter 82 reserves the right to extend apprenticeship beyond the SO Orlando training until completion of local board certification.

Our SOs assist with filing claims and filing appeals on claims denied by the VA. While it is the veteran’s responsibility to obtain evidence to support their claim, a Service Officer can assist by explaining the type of evidence needed and how to obtain it.

SOs can provide VA forms for medical specialists, forms to obtain medical evidence, Lay Witness statements, as well as the actual forms required to file your claim. SOs assist with filling out those forms if you need them. There is no charge for our services. 

Come in and see a SO. We are here to help you.