One of the most comprehensive sources of job-hunting information for veterans is the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Workshop, a three-day series of workshops sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. Service members with disabilities should attend the half-day Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) session. For more information on the TAP workshops, call 803.751.6057.

 

The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) provides education benefits for individuals who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985. Some individuals who had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill are also eligible.

The Montgomery GI Bill provides the following education opportunities:

• College/university courses leading to associate, bachelor, or graduate degrees, and accredited independent study. Cooperative training programs are available to individuals not on active duty.
• Courses leading to a certificate or diploma from business, technical, or vocational schools.
• Apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs for individuals not on active duty.
• Correspondence courses, under certain conditions.
• Flight training. Before beginning training, the veteran must have a private pilot license and meet a commercial license’s physical requirements. Benefits also may be received for solo flying hours up to the FAA-required minimum for the rating or certification being pursued.
• Tutorial assistance benefits if the individual is enrolled in school half-time or more.
• Remedial, deficiency and refresher training also may be available.

For more information on the VA GI Bill Program and to apply online, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/.

 

The Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 provides transitional assistance for service members, education and training opportunities for veterans, and tax credits for employers who hire veterans disabled due to service. For more information, visit http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW/.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Veterans and service members who meet the following qualifications are eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services:

• Suffered a service-connected disability on active service after Sept. 15, 1940, and receiving at least 20 percent compensation or would except for receipt of military retirement pay. Veterans with a 10 percent disability and serious employment handicap may also be eligible.
• Discharged or released under anything other than dishonorable conditions, or hospitalized awaiting separation for a service-connected disability.
• In need of vocational rehab to overcome an employment handicap.

Evaluation establishes eligibility. A disabled veteran may receive employment assistance, self-employment assistance, training in a rehabilitation facility, college and other training. Severely disabled veterans may receive assistance helping them better live independently.

 

Under the VOW Act, veterans who have completed a vocational rehabilitation and employment program and exhausted rights to regular compensation are eligible to participate in an additional 12-month VA-sponsored rehabilitation program. This includes regular state unemployment compensation (UC), UC for ex-service members and UC for federal employees. The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for taking applications for additional Chapter 31 services, and applications must be received before March 31, 2014.

In order to be eligible for additional Chapter 31 services, a veteran must meet the following requirements:

• Previously completed a vocational rehabilitation and employment program
• Exhausted all rights to regular compensation with respect to a benefit year
• Have no rights to regular compensation with respect to a week
• Not be receiving compensation with respect to such week under the UC law of Canada
• Begin the additional program within six months of the date of regular compensation exhaustion.

Visit http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm for more information on Chapter 31 and how to apply online.

 

The Veterans Education and Training department of the SC Commission on Higher Education Student Services Division approves programs where veterans and those eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits can receive training. If you are eligible for GI Bill benefits and have been recently hired or promoted into a job that requires new skills, you may be able to use your GI Bill benefits for on-the-job training (OJT) or an apprenticeship.

NOTE: You must already be employed in order to use your GI Bill benefits for OJT or apprenticeship training programs. The program is specifically for usage of GI Bill benefits. The Commission on Higher Education does not have an apprenticeship training program and does not place veterans in jobs or apprenticeships. For more information, call the Veterans Education and Training department at 803.737.2260.

 

Department of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs administers benefits for veterans, their dependents, and survivors. It provides inpatient and outpatient medical care and burial in national cemeteries. Regional offices administer disability compensation, pension, home loan guarantees, vocational rehabilitation, educational benefits, life insurance and burial benefits. For more information, contact the regional office near you.

Hero2Hired
Hero2Hired (H2H) was created to make it easy for Reserve Component service members to connect to and find jobs with military-friendly companies. H2H also offers career exploration tools, military-to-civilian skills translations, education and training resources, as well as a mobile app. Support for H2H is provided through the Department of Defense’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.