VetVoice: If You Can't Say Something Nice... (re: VA employment services)

[babylonsister]

I'm hoping this might help someone...


http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4286


If You Can't Say Something Nice...
by: Chris LeJeune
Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 23:15:28 PM EDT


I have already written about a few (of the many) issues I have had with my local VA. I could also point out many other issues regarding veterans' benefits that need to be addressed on the national level. And make no mistake, I plan to rant about that later as well. But first I wanted to follow up and mention a few of the nicer things that have been going right. I have always adhered to the saying that "it's a soldier's right to bitch," but credit must be given where credit is due as well. Having said that, I'd like to shine a light on VA employment services.

I recently found myself unemployed after five years with the same company. Although I disagreed with the terms of my termination, I have to admit they did give me a fair severance package. As I began to look for a job, my counselor at the VA suggested that I check out the VA employment services. They have a group meeting every Tuesday at Building 3 of the George E Whalen VAMC (Building 3 is right next to Building 47). At the group meeting they discuss things like resume's, cover letters, references, job leads, etc. Most of it is pretty basic but it would be perfect for young vets just starting out in civilian life. After this I met with Aaron Day, the VA Employment Specialist. He was extremely nice and professional. I had expected a dry, rushed pitch about some low paying manual labor jobs or something similar. I couldn't have been more wrong. From the beginning he started to show me jobs in my field (Information Technology, Database Administration) and in the salary range I was used to. He followed up sending me emails on KSA templates, resume formats for federal positions, which OF forms to fill out, etc. He also put me on the track for VR&E.

This is where I the VBA really began to shine. Having already used my GI Bill (long before the Post 9/11 GI Bill ever passed) I thought my educational benefits were all used up. Also, considering I already have a Bachelor's degree (computer science) I didn't think there was any way to get any further financial aid for higher education. Again, I was wrong. The VBA has a program called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E). Their mission is to get disabled vets back on the track towards success in the civilian job market. My first visit there I met with Dan Crandall, my VA Employment Coordinator. He gave me the usual pitch about the programs they could cover and all they would do to get me employed again. I took it with a grain of salt, but I filled out the paperwork anyway. Expecting the usual slow process (nine months to get into the liver clinic) I didn't have high hopes. It was done in two weeks. I'm not kidding. From the time that I started to the time they told me to register for classes it took two weeks. They did a Chapter 31 entitlement that basically said the reason I had lost my previous job was directly related to my disability. They cover the costs of my classes, my books, testing fees (which are very high in the IT field), and they give me a monthly stipend on top of it all. The speed, efficiency and professionalism of the whole process was truly amazing. As I said before, it is a soldier's right to bitch, but this is one time I want to give credit where credit is due.