The Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Labor are working together to offer the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program that begins July 1, according to Dan Wilson, commander of AMVETS Post 275.
The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to veterans who:
Are at least 35 but no more than 60.
Are unemployed.
Received an other than dishonorable discharge.
Are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance.
Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability.
Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program.
The program is limited to 45,000 participants during fiscal year 2012 and to 54,000 participants from Oct. 1 through March 31, 2014.
Participants will receive a monthly payment equal to the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI BillActive Duty program. DOL will offer employment assistance to every veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP program.
Participants must be enrolled in a VA-approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an associate degree, noncollege degree or a certificate and train the veteran for a high-demand occupation. The VRAP will provide training for programs of education that lead to a high-demand occupation as determined by the Department of Labor.
The Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications May 15. For information, visit benefits.va.gov/vow/ education.htm.
