Veteran Organizations Near Me in Montana
Montana veteran organizations include the state-run Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD) with nine service offices, major Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) like the VFW (with posts in Kalispell, Billings, Missoula, and Havre), the American Legion (132 posts statewide), and the DAV (Chapter 2 in Great Falls), plus nonprofits offering service dogs, outdoor recreation, food assistance, and tribal-specific support. Most claims assistance is free, and you do not need to be a member of a VSO to receive help.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Benefit | Free claims assistance, peer support, service dogs, outdoor recreation, food, housing, and community connection |
| Eligibility | Veterans, active duty, Guard, Reserve, and often spouses, dependents, and survivors; some nonprofits have specific criteria |
| Application | Contact each organization directly; MVAD offices, VSO posts, and nonprofits have their own intake processes |
| Processing Time | Claims assistance is typically immediate; service dog programs have waiting lists; outdoor program applications vary |
| Official Agency | Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD); Veterans Service Organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV); private nonprofits |
| Required Forms | DD-214, military ID (for active duty/Guard/Reserve), medical records for claims; specific documents vary by program |
| Updated For | 2026 |
What Are Veteran Organizations and Why Do They Matter in Montana?
Veteran organizations are groups that provide services, advocacy, and community for people who served in the military. In Montana, they fall into three main categories: state government (MVAD), congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV), and private nonprofits (service dog groups, outdoor recreation organizations, food pantries, and tribal veterans programs).
Montana has 85,871 veterans, representing 1 in 13 Montanans. Nearly half (47%) are age 65 or older, and 88% are male. The state’s rural geography makes access to services a persistent challenge, which is why MVAD has placed special emphasis on reaching rural veterans, tribal communities, women veterans, and recently separated service members.
Why it matters: Veterans in Montana face higher-than-average suicide rates, and nonprofit leaders note the state is often in the top four for veteran population per capita and top five for death by suicide. Organizations that provide connection, purpose, and practical help are not optional—they are a critical part of the support system.
What veterans should do next: Identify whether your need is claims assistance (start with MVAD or a VSO), community and peer support (VFW, American Legion, or a nonprofit), or a specialized service (service dogs, outdoor recreation). Then contact the organization directly.
Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD): The State Agency
The Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD) is the state government agency responsible for veterans services. It was established in 1919 and operates a statewide network of nine Veteran Service Offices that assist veterans, retired service members, and their families with federal, state, and local benefits claims—free of charge.
MVAD’s 22 Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) are the only state VSOs providing services to approximately 80,000+ veterans, plus their spouses and dependents. The division is administratively attached to the Department of Military Affairs and is overseen by the Montana Board of Veterans’ Affairs.
What MVAD Does
Veterans May Qualify for Extra Benefits
Check available financial assistance, healthcare programs and other opportunities that may apply to you.
Check EligibilityMVAD staff provide the following services:
Prepare and submit VA compensation, pension, survivor, and other claims.
Guide veterans through appeals and VA processes.
Advocate for veterans, including representation at hearings.
Connect veterans to health care and behavioral health resources.
Help families understand survivor and dependent benefits.
Obtain military service records and awards.
Provide dignified, low- to no-cost interment at state veterans cemeteries.
MVAD’s 2026 Biennial Report states that Veteran Service Officers have assisted thousands of veterans and family members with claims, appeals, and benefit updates, helping secure millions of federal dollars for Montana communities.
MVAD Office Locations and Contact
MVAD operates nine service offices across Montana. While specific addresses are not listed on the main website, the division coordinates with county and tribal veteran service officers to provide coverage statewide. Veterans can find their nearest office by visiting veterans.mt.gov or calling the MVAD central office.
Administrator: Matt Young, selected October 6, 2025.
Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) in Montana
Veterans Service Organizations are congressionally chartered nonprofits that advocate for veterans and provide claims assistance. The three largest in Montana are the VFW, the American Legion, and the DAV. You do not need to be a member to receive claims help from a VSO service officer.
VFW Department of Montana
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has posts across Montana, and its Department of Montana provides service officers for filing and managing VA claims. The VFW network includes Post Service Officers (PSOs) covering 56 counties, supervised by a VA-accredited, VFW-certified VSO stationed at Fort Harrison.
Example posts:
| Post | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| VFW Post 2252 (Glacier Park Post) | 330 1st Ave W, Kalispell, MT 59901 | (406) 752-2611 |
| VFW Post 1634 | Billings, MT 59101 | — |
| VFW Post 6774 | 637 Anchor Ave, Billings, MT | Chartered April 26, 1980 |
| Ole Beck VFW Post 209 | 245 W Main St, Missoula, MT 59802 | Established 1921 |
| VFW Post (ATLAS Site) | 328 1st St, Havre, MT 59501 | (406) 265-9201 |
VFW Post 2252 in Kalispell states its mission as fostering camaraderie among veterans of overseas conflicts, serving veterans, the military, and communities, and advocating on behalf of all veterans.
A VFW Accredited Service Officer working through MVAD, Sandy Sonju, assists veterans seeking help filing claims, including those in rural communities throughout the state. The VFW’s service officer program is funded in part through state appropriations and is supervised by a VA-accredited VSO at Fort Harrison.
American Legion Department of Montana
The American Legion Department of Montana has 132 active posts, including one in Calgary, Alberta. The department traces its history to the more than 35,000 Montana veterans who returned from World War I and chartered posts in nearly every community in the state.
Example post: American Legion Post 2 in Helena is located at 3095 Villard Ave, Helena, MT 59601. Post 47 in Hamilton provides military honors at veterans’ funerals, color guard at parades and ceremonies, and hosts Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, and its posts provide claims assistance, scholarships, youth programs, and community events. The Department of Montana has focused recently on community outreach and post revitalization, staging veteran outreach events that include access to VSOs for claims and benefits questions.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in Montana
The DAV Department of Montana is based at Fort Harrison and provides free VA benefits counseling, claims assistance, and transportation to VA appointments. DAV service officers help disabled veterans file initial claims, appeals, and increase requests, and DAV advocates at the state and federal level for disabled veterans.
DAV Chapter 2 in Great Falls has Chapter Service Officers (CSOs) available on open business days—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon—to help any disabled veteran file disability claims, resolve claim problems, or get general VA benefits information. The office asks veterans to call first to make an appointment: (406) 452-5803.
DAV Chapter 2 in Great Falls also has a notable connection to national leadership: Joe Parsetich, a service-connected disabled Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, served as DAV national commander and was a chapter service officer and past Department of Montana commander.
Nonprofit Organizations Serving Montana Veterans
Montana has a strong ecosystem of private nonprofits that fill gaps not covered by government agencies or traditional VSOs. These organizations focus on service dogs, outdoor recreation, food assistance, housing, and specialized support for women and tribal veterans.
Service Dog Organizations
Dog Tag Buddies (Billings) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches veterans to train their own service dogs during a two-year program that comes at no cost to participants. Based in Billings, it operates seven training sites across the state and serves veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury.
The organization relies primarily on a federal grant—the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program—for about 80% of its budget. In fiscal year 2026, Congress did not appropriate funds for the program, leaving the organization and others nationwide preparing for a funding loss. Dog Tag Buddies graduated 14 trained service-dog teams with $600,000 in funding for the year, with **20 more in training and 15 veteran applications pending**. Each service dog costs the organization roughly **$30,000** to provide, covering veterinary care, food, equipment, gas cards, and hotel stays for rural veterans traveling for training.
Executive Director DeeDe Baker has helped over a hundred veterans. She notes that the VA does not recognize, acknowledge, or help pay for PTSD service dogs: “I could not serve the number of veterans that I do today without this”.
K9 Care Montana (Livingston) is a nonprofit that provides free service dogs to wounded veterans, children with autism, and first responders. Founded 15 years ago by David Riggs, who has a severe spinal injury and used his own experience to help others, K9 Care Montana focuses on psychiatric service dogs and mobility service dogs for stability and object retrieval. Veterans like Russ Christian and Will Wolcott describe the dogs as life-changing. Wolcott said his dog Valkyrie “saved my life”.
Working Dogs For Vets offers a “No Veteran Left Behind” program that allows disabled veterans who are able to help train their own service dog. Applicants must be disabled veterans and financially, physically, and cognitively capable of providing care for a dog.
Outdoor Recreation and Healing Organizations
Warriors & Quiet Waters (Bozeman) is a 501(c)(3) Veterans Impact Organization founded in 2007 by 34-year Marine Corps veteran Eric Hastings. Its mission is to empower post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones to thrive through outdoor experiences such as fly fishing, hunting, and photography.
Since its founding, Warriors & Quiet Waters has served over 1,600 veterans, offered over 200 fishing experiences, and acquired over 250 volunteers each year. Its Built for More program offers a nine-month online and in-person course in fishing, hunting, or photography for veterans finding purpose in post-combat life. In one year, over 400 veterans applied to participate, but the organization could only accommodate a fraction due to capacity.
Big Sky Bravery (Bozeman) is a civilian-based organization dedicated to providing members of the Special Operations Forces with post-deployment decompression programs in Montana’s restorative surroundings. Programs include winter and family task forces, and the organization has been operating for a decade.
Operation Valor (Corvallis) provides meaningful interaction between retired and injured veterans through guided hunting and fishing excursions in western Montana.
Food, Housing, and Emergency Assistance
Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry (Kalispell) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing a “helping hand up” to low-income, at-risk, and homeless veterans and their families. Located at 1349 US Highway 2 East, Kalispell, MT 59901, the pantry is open Monday through Friday and provides clothing and food. The organization also hosts an annual Stand Down event and operates Camp Ponderosa as an outreach program.
Montana Veterans Foundation provides statewide homelessness aid. Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (CAPNM) offers emergency food and rental/utility assistance at (406) 752-6565.
Women Veterans Organizations
Operation Juliet is a Montana-based nonprofit focused on empowering and healing female veterans through peer support and community. It is headquartered in Billings and expanded to Bozeman in 2026 with its first local gathering for women who have served in southwest Montana.
Alongside Women Veterans Outreach creates healing spaces for women veterans and spouses of veterans through outdoor experiences and peer perspective. The Montana Women Veterans Symposium is held annually at Fort William Henry Harrison, the Montana National Guard training facility outside Helena, and focuses on empowerment and mentorship among sister veterans.
Grace Haven (Great Falls) provides housing and support for unhoused women, including female veterans and their children, addressing mental health, addiction, and employment stability.
Tribal Veterans Organizations
Montana is home to 12 recognized tribal nations, and several have dedicated veterans service programs.
| Tribal Organization | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes Veterans | Pablo, MT 59855 | (406) 675-2700 |
| Fort Peck Tribes Veterans Services | Poplar, MT 59255 | (406) 768-2300 |
| Northern Cheyenne Tribe Tribal Office (Veterans Services) | Lame Deer, MT 59043 | (406) 477-6284 |
| Blackfeet Veterans Alliance | Browning, MT | — |
The Veterans Navigation Network supports Native veterans across Montana, focusing on the 12 recognized tribal nations and helping veterans transition back to civilian life through its Warrior Bridge program. The Montana Board of Veterans’ Affairs includes one member appointed by the state’s eight Tribal Councils and one Native American veterans’ representative.
How to Choose the Right Organization for Your Needs
Choosing the right organization depends on what you need. Use this decision tree:
If you need help with a VA claim, appeal, or benefits question:
→ Start with MVAD (free, state-run, nine offices) or a VSO like the VFW, American Legion, or DAV. All provide free claims assistance.
If you need food, clothing, or emergency housing assistance:
→ Contact Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry (Kalispell) or the Montana Veterans Foundation for statewide homelessness aid.
If you are a post-9/11 combat veteran seeking outdoor healing and community:
→ Apply to Warriors & Quiet Waters (Bozeman) or Big Sky Bravery (Bozeman, for Special Operations Forces).
If you have PTSD or TBI and are interested in a service dog:
→ Apply to Dog Tag Buddies (Billings, statewide training sites) or K9 Care Montana (Livingston). Be prepared for a waiting list.
If you are a woman veteran:
→ Connect with Operation Juliet (Billings/Bozeman), Alongside Women Veterans Outreach, or the annual Montana Women Veterans Symposium.
If you are a Native American veteran:
→ Contact your tribal veterans service program (CSKT, Fort Peck, Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet) or the Veterans Navigation Network.
If you want camaraderie, community events, or a local post:
→ Find a nearby VFW or American Legion post. You do not need to be a member to attend many events, but membership is required for some post activities.
Comparison: MVAD vs. VSOs vs. Nonprofits
| Feature | MVAD (State) | VSOs (VFW, Legion, DAV) | Nonprofits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claims assistance | Yes, free | Yes, free | Rarely |
| Appeals representation | Yes | Yes (accredited) | No |
| Service dogs | No | No | Yes (Dog Tag Buddies, K9 Care) |
| Outdoor recreation | No | Some events | Yes (Warriors & Quiet Waters, Big Sky Bravery) |
| Food/housing | Referrals | Some posts | Yes (Stand Down, Montana Veterans Foundation) |
| Women-specific programs | Yes (outreach) | Auxiliary | Yes (Operation Juliet) |
| Tribal-specific programs | Yes (coordination) | No | Yes (tribal programs) |
| Membership required | No | No for claims help | No |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Help in Montana
Assuming you must be a VSO member to get claims help. VSO service officers provide free assistance to any eligible veteran, regardless of membership.
Waiting until a crisis to reach out. Service dog programs have years-long waiting lists. Apply early if you are interested.
Not bringing your DD-214. Claims assistance and most programs require proof of service. Without it, the process stalls.
Overlooking MVAD. Many veterans search only for national VSOs and miss the nine state-run offices that provide free, expert claims help across Montana.
Assuming the VA pays for PTSD service dogs. It does not. Nonprofits like Dog Tag Buddies and K9 Care Montana cover the cost, often relying on grants that can change.
Not asking about rural access. Many Montana organizations offer remote services, travel assistance, or training sites across the state. Ask before assuming you must travel to Billings or Bozeman.
Common Questions
What is the main veterans organization in Montana?
The Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD) is the state agency with nine service offices providing free claims assistance. Major VSOs include the VFW (posts across the state), the American Legion (132 posts), and the DAV (Chapter 2 in Great Falls). Private nonprofits fill gaps in service dogs, outdoor recreation, food, and specialized support.
Do I need to be a member of the VFW or American Legion to get help?
No. VSO service officers provide free claims assistance to any eligible veteran, regardless of membership. Membership is only required for certain post activities, events, and voting privileges.
How do I find my nearest MVAD office?
Visit veterans.mt.gov or call the MVAD central office. MVAD operates nine Veteran Service Offices and coordinates with county and tribal veteran service officers to cover the state.
Is claims assistance free in Montana?
Yes. MVAD services are free of charge, and VSO service officers (VFW, American Legion, DAV) provide free claims assistance. Nonprofits may offer services at no cost or with optional donations.
What if I need a service dog in Montana?
Contact Dog Tag Buddies (Billings, seven training sites statewide) or K9 Care Montana (Livingston). Both provide service dogs at no cost to eligible veterans, but both have waiting lists. Apply early.
Does the VA pay for PTSD service dogs?
No. The VA does not recognize, acknowledge, or help pay for PTSD service dogs. Nonprofits like Dog Tag Buddies and K9 Care Montana cover the cost, often relying on grants and donations.
What organizations help homeless veterans in Montana?
Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry (Kalispell) provides food and clothing. Montana Veterans Foundation provides statewide homelessness aid. Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana offers emergency food and rental/utility assistance.
Are there organizations specifically for women veterans in Montana?
Yes. Operation Juliet (Billings/Bozeman), Alongside Women Veterans Outreach, the annual Montana Women Veterans Symposium, and Grace Haven (Great Falls) provide peer support, healing, housing, and community for women veterans.
Are there tribal veterans organizations in Montana?
Yes. The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes, Fort Peck Tribes, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and Blackfeet Nation have veterans service programs. The Veterans Navigation Network supports Native veterans across Montana’s 12 tribal nations.
What outdoor programs are available for Montana veterans?
Warriors & Quiet Waters (Bozeman) serves post-9/11 combat veterans through fly fishing, hunting, and photography. Big Sky Bravery (Bozeman) provides decompression programs for Special Operations Forces. Operation Valor (Corvallis) offers guided hunting and fishing excursions.
How do I contact the DAV in Montana?
DAV Chapter 2 in Great Falls has service officers available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Call (406) 452-5803 to make an appointment. The DAV Department of Montana is based at Fort Harrison.
What is the difference between MVAD and a VSO?
MVAD is a state government agency funded by the Montana Legislature. VSOs like the VFW, American Legion, and DAV are private, congressionally chartered nonprofits. Both provide free claims assistance; MVAD also operates state veterans cemeteries.
Key Takeaways
Montana has 85,871 veterans, and veteran organizations range from the state-run MVAD to VSOs and private nonprofits.
MVAD operates nine service offices and provides free claims assistance, appeals representation, and survivor benefits help.
The VFW has posts across Montana, including Kalispell, Billings, Missoula, and Havre, with Post Service Officers covering 56 counties.
The American Legion has 132 active posts in Montana, providing claims help, scholarships, and community events.
DAV Chapter 2 in Great Falls offers free claims assistance on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings; call (406) 452-5803.
Dog Tag Buddies (Billings) and K9 Care Montana (Livingston) provide service dogs at no cost, but the VA does not pay for PTSD service dogs.
Warriors & Quiet Waters and Big Sky Bravery offer outdoor healing programs for post-9/11 combat veterans and Special Operations Forces.
Operation Juliet and the Montana Women Veterans Symposium support women veterans; tribal veterans programs serve all 12 recognized tribal nations.
You do not need to be a VSO member to receive free claims assistance.
Bring your DD-214 when seeking help; it is required for claims assistance and most programs.
Official Resources
Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD): https://veterans.mt.gov
Montana Department of Military Affairs: https://dma.mt.gov
VA Benefits and Services: https://www.va.gov/benefits/
VA Montana Health Care System: https://www.va.gov/montana-health-care/
USA.gov — Veterans Benefits: https://www.usa.gov/veterans-benefits
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