During Social Work Month, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Anthony G. Quiroga, who served an operations specialist and is now a VA social worker.
In 1996, when he was 21 years old, Anthony G. Quiroga was about to graduate with a degree in biology with plans of becoming a veterinarian. However, he wanted to go on an adventure and decided he was not ready to finish college yet. This led to Quiroga’s choice to serve with the Navy because of their ability to travel around the world.
He served in the Navy until 2004 as an operations specialist. During his service, his main responsibilities included advising shipboard warfare operations and navigation.
In 2005, Quiroga decided to return to college. He received his bachelor’s degree in social work from San Jose State University in California, in 2007. Quiroga continued his education at California State University, Fullerton, and earned his master of arts in clinical and medical social work in 2010.
In August 2010, he became a social work case manager for VA, where he continues to work today. Quiroga has worked at the Long Beach VA in Long Beach, California, for almost 11 years. In addition to his work with VA, he currently serves as a social worker in the collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.
Quiroga said the reason he became a social worker was because he saw a need to help other Veterans dealing with psychological and emotional issues. Because Quiroga can relate to those he works with, it often enables him to better help Veterans.
Thank you for your service!
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Contributors
Writer: Katherine Berman
Editor: Julia Pack and Amanda Baker
Fact checker: Monique Quihuis
Graphic artist: Katie Rahill
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That’s a good point. We have social workers at our VA who are also women who served. Hopefully those veterans were asked about being “veteran of the day.”
I am i te VA. I have a 30% disability that is service related, and suppose to get me in Community care. Also receive a small pension, and am in Group tow. Yet when I contact the VA in Seattle, and request service through a specialty doctor, even though I le over 40 miles from Seattle VA where these doctors are are, even though i point out the benefits, (I am turned down. Why? I live in Washington State, closer to the American Lake VA. Gut most of the specialty doctors are at te Seattle VA. How can I get the help and benefits that I need at times?
I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be important to recognize only women during women’s history month. Im sure there are plenty of women veterans even some that are social workers.
The VA should only hire Social Workers who are Veterans…..Period! Otherwise they cannot relate or truly understand what a Veteran goes through. I seen this mistake made at the Hot Springs, South Dakota VA where they have a extremely high rate of Veteran suicides because of inexperienced social workers who are not Veterans