Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

This program is partnered by DOL and DAV to provide training to Veterans unable to find work. The important thing is to be registered for the program through (VONAPP) on May 15, 2012. Eligibility requirements are listed below.

The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was recently passed by Congress to provide assistance for unemployed Veterans. If you are or know of Veteran between the age of 35 to 60, you may qualify for a new program.
A part of that legislation is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). The program is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL) joint effort to provide training to Veterans unable to find work.

VRAP will provide 12 months of training assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program (currently paying $1,473 per month). Participants must be enrolled in a program approved for VA benefits that is offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree or a Certificate.

To qualify, a Veteran must:
• Be at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
• Be unemployed on the day of application
• Have an other than dishonorable discharge
• Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
• Not be in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
• Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program
• Pursue a program that leads to employment in a high demand occupation
The program is limited to 45,000 participants between July 1, 2012, and September 30, 2012, and an additional 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. DOL will provide employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of their program. Applications will be accepted beginning May 15, 2012.
VA will publish more details on the program as they become available. http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW/

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Finding Jobs for Wounded Vets

Finding Jobs for Wounded Vets

Military.com
We all know about the challenges facing veterans looking for jobs: an unemployment higher than the national average, and that's not even taking into account the challenges faced by wounded veterans who are in the civilian job market. One of the initiatives that aims to help wounded vets is the Network of Champions, a project formed in 2008 by defense contractor Northrop Grumman to help wounded soldiers return to civilian life.

More than 70 employers, including Capital One, Northrop Grumman and General Motors, are part of the network, which is dedicated to hiring vets suffering from injuries or illnesses incurred while deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Essentially, if you apply for a job with any company in this network, if the company does not have a job that fits your skills, they will circulate your resume (with your permission) to other companies within the network.

The companies that belong to the Network of Champions include:

• Able Forces
• Aerotek, Inc
• Bank of America
• Best Buy
• Boeing
• Capital One Bank
• Colonial Circuits
• Cubic

• Deloitte & Touche

• Federal Staffing Resources
• General Electric
• General Motors
• Helmets to Hardhats
• Homeland Security Careers
• Homeland Security Management Institute, Long Island University

• HRworks

• Kelly Connect
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• National Glass Association
• NAVAIR
• NAVSEA
• Nielsen Associates
• Pinkerton Government Services
• PINNACLE Solutions
• Quantum Executive Group
• Raytheon

• Silverstar Consulting Inc
• Smart Solutions

• SunTrust Bank

• TASC
• Team River Runners
• TELEDYNE

• The Sierra Group
• Travelers Insurance Company
• US Naval Sailing Association (USNSA)
• US Naval Sailing Foundation (USNSF)
For more information on the Network of Champions, see the Northrop Grumman website

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