- (1) The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) was established in 1945 by a legislative act that merged into a single, consolidated agency, the State Service Commissioner, a part of the Governor’s Office, and the Veteran Service Officers who were throughout the counties. The ADVA’s vision is to ensure that all veterans and their families understand and receive all the benefits, support, care, and recognition that they have earned and are entitled to, by expertly administering all current programs, anticipating future needs, and taking appropriate action to meet them. To achieve this, it is the ADVA’s mission to promote awareness, assist eligible veterans, their families, and survivors to receive from the U. S. and State Governments any and all benefits to which they may be entitled under existing or future laws.
- (2) The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs’ executive official is the Commissioner, who reports directly to the Governor. The agency is assisted and overseen by the State Board of Veterans Affairs. There is one Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. The agency is divided into both functional and administrative programs. The programs include the Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship, the State Veteran Cemeteries, Outreach, Field Operations, and State Veterans Homes. The administrative programs include support services, accounting, and legal services.
- (3) Internal policies and the Employee Handbook are updated and distributed annually to ADVA employees.
- (4) Open Records Request: Alabama makes public records available to Alabama citizens, subject to exceptions specified by law and in accordance with Executive Order 734. Citizens may request access to the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs’ public records by accessing the “Public Records” link on the agency’s website, https://va.alabama.gov.
(5) Contact: The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters is located at:
RSA Union Building
100 N. Union Street
Suite 850
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-242-5077
https://va.alabama.gov
Correspondence should be mailed to:
Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 1509
Montgomery, AL 36102
Other locations can be located by contacting the headquarters or visiting https://va.alabama.gov.
- (6) Under extenuating circumstances, the ADVA may limit or otherwise bar an individual from entering an ADVA facility. In these circumstances, the ADVA will issue a letter informing the individual of the action. The individual may petition the ADVA Commissioner to remove the limitation after one (1) year.
Author: Jeffrey L. Newton
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 31-5-5, 31-5-6.
History: New Rule: Filed January 4, 2001; effective February 8, 2001. Repealed and New Rule: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.