Madison is in the heart of Wisconsin. Despite this capital city being relatively small in size, the Madison area and surrounding counties are big in their veteran population. Nearly 400,000 veterans claim the state as their home.  With this rather large veteran population, the state has cultivated a host of excellent benefits, programs and services for its most honorable residents. Let’s take a look at the available resources veterans can find in Madison and surrounding areas.

Kicking off the list is the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. This online site is an excellent starting place for Wisconsin veterans seeking help across the state. The organization has helped to drive the creation of many valuable programs, such as: Wisconsin Veterans Homes, Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemeteries, Veterans Administration Regional Claims Office, Military Funeral Honors Program, Veterans Assistance Program and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. These programs are aimed at providing top-notch health, educational assistance, and economic assistance for the state’s current and past military. More information about each of these programs can be found on the site.

Another great program available to state veterans is the Disabled American Veterans Van Program. This fantastic service is operated by the Wisconsin Disabled American Veterans
(DAV) office. The Van Program grants free rides to any veteran needing helping getting to and from VA medical appointments. With over 36 vans across the state, the DAV Van Program is able to help nearly 30,000 veterans get around.  These vans serve major VA medical facilities in Madison, Milwaukee, Tomah, and Minneapolis: and VA outpatient clinics in Appleton, Green Bay, Superior, Union Grove, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids.

Many veterans participating the DAV Van Program use the service to frequent the area VA hospitals and outpatient centers. Located directly in Madison is the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. This hospital holds a unique position among its VA hospital peers. It has continually been ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States. In 2013, Middleton Memorial ranked as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®  for the following services:  heart attack; heart failure; pneumonia; and surgical care. In 2014, the hospital achieved Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission ranking it in the top 6% of medical facilities in the United States.

Years ago, Madison was known for having the most doctoral degree holders. With this emphasis on education, it is no surprise that the state has a robust Wisconsin Veterans Education Portal. Together, the University of Wisconsin Educational System and Wisconsin Technical College System created a portal to make it as easy for veterans to access education benefits, make the transition from military service to college, and find the right fit for their educational pursuits.

Last but not least,while this may not truly be considered a benefit, it most certainly is a perk. Wisconsin, among many other states, offers highly discounted hunting and fishing licenses to its veterans. To learn more, please visit the Wisconsin D​epartment of Natural Resource​s (DNR) veterans website ​ or call 1-888-936-7463

Madison and the state of Wisconsin have a long history of excellent veteran benefits. For even more information on these wonderful resources, check out the Madison Veterans Support Groups and Madison Veterans Benefits articles. Enjoy!

Written by Brook Appelbaum