Tap Into Educational and Career Benefits

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

Understand what educational and vocational benefits VA offers.
Explain what the GI Bill is and how you can apply.
List the tracks available through the Veteran Readiness and Employment program and how they can help Veterans find a job.
Understand whether you are eligible for free Veteran Educational and Career Counseling services and how you can apply.
Describe where to find organizations that focus on providing jobs for Veterans.

Pursue a New Career with VA Help

VA education benefits help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members achieve their career goals. VA’s educational and career benefits include paying for college tuition, helping you find the right school or training program, and providing free career counseling.

Here is a quick overview of the VA programs that offer these benefits.

The GI Bill can help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. The GI Bill Comparison Tool or Veterans Service Organizations can help you explore options and find out what benefits you can get.

Beyond the GI Bill, there is a full range of VA education benefits you may be eligible to receive. These include programs that may help you get added GI Bill benefits. They also include alternative programs if you're a Veteran or a member of the National Guard or Reserve and you're not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

If you’re a Veteran or service member with a service-connected disability that impacts your ability to work, the Veteran Readiness and Employment program may be able to help. It offers five support-and-services tracks to help you find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible.

VA Chapter 36 benefits provide free Veteran Educational and Career Counseling services. You may be eligible if you’re leaving active service soon, if you’ve been discharged within the past year, or if you’re the dependent of a Veteran.

Now, let’s learn a little more about these programs to help you discover what benefits may be right for you.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Other Educational Benefits

The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The specific amount of GI Bill benefits you receive depends on how much active service you’ve had since September 10, 2001. VA calculates this amount based on a percentage of the maximum benefit. When these benefits expire depends on when you were discharged from active duty.

If you are eligible, you can receive up to 36 months of benefits, including tuition and fees, money for housing, money for books and supplies, and money to help you move from a rural area to go to school.

You can use your GI Bill benefits to advance your education and training. You can work toward a degree, train for a specific career, work while you study, or take classes from home.

To prepare to apply for the GI Bill, you need to determine if you are eligible, gather required documentation, and see what benefits you’ll receive at your desired school. After you apply, it takes about one month for VA to make a decision.

Other VA Educational Benefits

There are a few VA programs that offer added benefits for Veterans who qualify for the GI Bill.

Scholarship benefits to get additional training in a high-demand STEM field.
VET TEC Program: This program can match you with a leading training provider to help you develop skills to start or advance your career in a high-tech industry.
Yellow Ribbon Program: This program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover.

Resources from VA Partners

Salesforce and other VA partners offer training, certification, and career resources for veterans and their spouses.

Salesforce Military: Salesforce offers free training, certifications and connections to career opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem for Veterans and their spouses.
Hiring Our Heroes: Hiring Our Heroes partners with both VA and Salesforce to help accelerate the careers of Veterans and Military spouses. The Hiring Our Heroes Salesforce Fellowship program offers 12 weeks of in-person training to transitioning service members and military spouses.
Hire Heroes USA: Offers free job search assistance, resume reviews, career coaching and 1:1 mentorship.

If you don’t qualify for VA’s GI Bill, you may still be able to apply for these alternative programs.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty: Called MGIB-AD (or Chapter 30), this program can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least 2 years on active duty, you may be eligible.
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve: MGIB-SR (also called Chapter 1606) offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Reserves or Guard, you may be eligible.

Job-Readiness for Service-Injured Veterans

As a Veteran, you’re protected under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). This means you can’t be disadvantaged in your civilian career because of your service.

If you’re a Veteran or service member with a physical or mental service-connected disability that impacts your ability to work, the Veteran Readiness and Employment program may be able to help you start a career through five different tracks.

The Reemployment track can help your employer accommodate your needs. You may have the right to the civilian job you held before you deployed.
The Rapid Access to Employment track can help you with your job search if you want to follow an employment path that uses your existing skill set.
The Self-Employment track is for those who would like help starting their own business.
The Employment Through Long-Term Services track offers training to help you find work in a different field that better suits your current abilities and interests.
The Independent Living track can help if your service-connected disability limits your ability to perform activities of daily living or return to work right away.

Educational and Career Counseling

VA provides free counseling for Veterans deciding which civilian or military jobs they want.

You may be eligible if you’re leaving active service soon, if you’ve been discharged within the past year, or if you’re the dependent of a Veteran.

To enjoy these benefits, first you need to apply for education and career counseling through the Veteran Readiness and Employment program. Once approved, you’ll be invited to an orientation session at your nearest VA regional office. Learn how to apply here.

The types of counseling provided include:

Educational and Career Counseling to help Veterans find a training program or job.
Academic and Adjustment Counseling to help Veterans deal with issues that get in the way of success in training or employment.
If you own a small business, you may qualify for certain advantages when bidding on government contracts and other resources and support through the Veteran Small Business Certification program (VetCert).
If you are the dependent family member of a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability, you may also be eligible to receive educational and employment counseling.

Veterans’ Employment Partners

VA Careers is a resource for Veterans, military spouses, and other skilled candidates looking to serve the Veteran and military community. Check out VA’s website for VA career opportunities, including technology jobs.

The DOD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. DOD SkillBridge connects transitioning service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences.

For service members, DOD SkillBridge provides an invaluable chance to work and learn in civilian career areas. For industry partners, DOD SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and leverage the world's most highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost. Service members participating in DOD SkillBridge programs continue receiving their military compensation and benefits, while industry partners provide the civilian training and work experience.

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