All of the State’s Veterans Service Offices will be closed for annual training this week, as the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran Service Officers will be attending mandatory annual training from Tuesday through Friday.  The IDVA’s Veterans’ Service Offices are part of a statewide network that assists Illinois veterans in navigating those benefits, resources, and programs available to them.  Offices are staffed by professionals – men and women who are all veterans themselves – who provide accurate, up-to-date information, answer questions, and assist with preparing and filing of claims for federal, state and local benefits completely free of charge.  Veterans wishing to contact a VSO during this training period are asked to use the “Stand Up and Be Counted” online portal at www.veterans.illinois.gov or to call 1-800-437-9824. Veterans enrolling in SUBC will be assisting the IDVA and their fellow veterans by helping the entire veteran advocacy community to gain a better understanding of the location and number of Illinois’ veterans. This will help in planning future services, seeking additional federal VA funding and facilities, and generally help to serve Illinois’ veterans better.