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Veteran’s Corner: Sandra McKinney
Veterans Corner
RAYMIE HURLEY
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER
By Sandra McKinney
“Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees, but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us.” ~ Dieter F Uchtdorf
It can be a challenging task for any veteran to sift their way through the myriad of red tape and paperwork when attempting to claim their federal and state veterans’ benefits. There are 16 field offices for the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services located throughout the state. Gallup is fortunate to have one of these offices. Each office is staffed by an accredited Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO) to assist veterans and their dependents.
Gallup is very proud to welcome Raymie Hurley as the new full-time VSO. Raymie is a veteran himself, having served in the United States Marine Corps from 1999-2003. Though he is new to this position, he is becoming well-equipped to recognize the needs of each veteran and to guide them on their quest for benefits.
Hurley hails from To’hajiilee, (Little Canyon) New Mexico. His father, a Baptist Preacher, is from To’hajiilee and his mother comes from Farmington, New Mexico. Raymie has four siblings, a brother who is in the United States Army, plus three sisters, the youngest of whom also serves in the U.S. Army. There is a strong sense of service and dedication in this family.
“I attended Rehoboth Christian School and then went on to Wingate High School, graduating in 1997,” states Raymie. “I was in the boarding school program and it was a trial to study and learn while also being away from my family and home in To’hajiilee. I am grateful though to have received a good education,” Hurley proudly exclaims.
“Following high school, I went to Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) in Lawrence, Kansas. After attending HINU for two years, I felt I wanted to be more independent and selfsupporting, so I joined the United States Marines,” Hurley proudly states. “I was with the Marine Security Guard Battalion at Quantico, Virginia. This is the Diplomatic Security - Law Enforcement Arm of the U.S. Department of State. We were responsible for training the Marines who would go on to guard U.S. Embassies all over the world.”
Raymie felt the call to leave the East Coast and return to his homeland after his honorable discharge from the Marines. He was a Sargent (E5) upon his separation. Utilizing his law enforcement training from the U.S. Marines, Hurley felt the call to continue serving and went to the Navajo Nation Police Academy in Toyei, Arizona, in 2004. He graduated from the Academy in 2005 and spent nine years with the Navajo Nation Police Department, primarily in the Crownpoint-Eastern Agency district. He was a sub-station officer, a member of the tactical team, and worked the registry program for sex offenders. “I received a lot of good training; it was a good experience and I had some excellent supervisors while with the NNPD,” Raymie states.
“In 2012, I left the NNPD and decided it was time to further my education. In January 2013, I was enrolled at UNM-Gallup. I used my Post 9-11 benefits and my GI Bill for my education. It is important to take advantage of the benefits offered from your military service,” states Hurley. “In 2015, I received my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from UNM-Gallup and then went on to Western New Mexico University, where, in 2017, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.”
“I figured with these degrees I would then return to a job in Law Enforcement,” smiles Hurley. “But my father always taught us to be helpful to others, and when I saw the opening for the VSO position, I felt this was another way to help others, especially a way to serve those who have served! It is important to give to others.” Even during his spare time, Hurley enjoys giving back to the community. He has been a coach for cross-country and for basketball at the high school in To’hajiilee. Hurley ran crosscountry himself when he was in high school. He also coaches girls’ basketball at Rehoboth School. He laughs when he says, “The girls are actually more disciplined than the boys, but the girls are a whole lot more emotional!”
“My training was hands-on at the Albuquerque field office. I had an experienced VSO monitoring over my shoulder while I sat at a desk and started working with the veterans in need. It was a crash-course, but I feel equipped to assist those who come to me for help. If I get stymied, I know that a seasoned VSO is just a phone call away; plus I have manuals and internet connections for additional information.” Hurley explains.
Hurley will work primarily at his office in Gallup, but he will also have regularly scheduled outreach visits to smaller surrounding communities, such as Grants, Quemado, Reserve, and Crownpoint. You can call the office to see when outreach
visits are scheduled. As a Veterans Service Officer, Hurley can help veterans from any state to receive their Federal Benefits, but has an employee of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services; he can only help a veteran receive State Benefits for the State of New Mexico.
All honorably-discharged veterans may be entitled to VA and state veterans’ benefits. These are benefits that veterans have earned through their sacrifice and service to our country. Applying for these benefits, however, can be complicated.
In talking with Hurley, you can feel the discipline of him being a Marine, plus he has the take-charge attitude of a police officer. He may be new on the job, but he has an air of confidence and a strong desire to help.
Some of the State Benefits available:
Veteran Tax Exemption Disabled Veteran Property Tax Waivers Veteran License Plates Patriot License Plates Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing Licenses Veteran and Active-Duty Military Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses Disabled Veteran Parks and Museums Pass Veterans Day Recreation and Museum Privileges Vehicle Excise Tax Exemption Military Funeral Honors Veteran Employment Tax Credit Homeless and At-Risk Veteran Services Near-Homeless Veterans Assistance Veterans and Family Support Services Veterans Court Program Veterans Civil Justice Clinics Expedited Professional Licensure
Some other areas where a VSO can help:
Assist in filing VA Claims for benefits Answer turn-downs with Notice of Disagreement Statements or Appeals Offer guidance for where to seek other benefits Always willing to listen and find answers
Veterans Service Officer, Raymie Hurley, may be reached for an appointment at (505) 863-7457 or by e-mail at Raymie.Hurley@state. nm.us. His office hours are Monday thru Friday; 8:00am to 5:00pm. The office is located at 908 E. Buena Vista Ave. inside the Veterans Helping Veterans building at Ford Canyon. VSO Raymie Hurley at his desk ready to assist any veteran
