Rangel Applauds Successful Outreach for Veteran Career Assistance

Press Release

Congressman Charles B. Rangel commended the rapid success of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in reaching out to a substantial number of veterans so shortly after the program's inception. The program is slated to cover education costs for a total of 99,000 veterans that seek re-training for career transition.

"The rapid response to the announcement of this program by our nation's veterans is a sign that we have answered their call to action," said Rangel. "We need to give back to those who have served honorably. Assisting our veterans with career retraining is an important way we can show them our gratitude for defending our freedoms."

According to the VA, the retraining program garnered over 12,000 online applications within two weeks of its announcement, over one-tenth of the maximum enrollment number. Up to 45,000 veterans may participate during the current fiscal year, and 54,000 can enroll during the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1st, 2012.

"Spots in this program appear to be filling rapidly, so it is important that all of our eligible veterans apply sooner, rather than later," added Rangel. "I commend the efforts of VA under the leadership of Secretary Eric K. Shinseki in creating such successful outreach for an admirable program that gets our nation's veterans working on the home front."

To qualify for VRAP, veterans must:

* Be 35 to 60 years old, unemployed on the day of application, and have been issued discharges under conditions other than dishonorable;
* Be enrolled in education or training after July 1, 2012, in a VA-approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school leading to an associate degree, non-college degree or a certificate for a high-demand occupation as defined by the Department of Labor;
* Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment;
* Not have participated in a federal or state job training program within the last 180 days; and
* Not receive VA compensation at the 100 percent rate due to individual unemployability

Veterans may also access the VRAP application online at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov through eBenefits, a joint project between VA and the Department of Defense.

Source