Marine Corps Base Quantico -- Marines and sailors preparing to transition out of the armed forces attended a Disabled Transition Readiness Program recently. Quentin Merrill, a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), shared information about the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program, in which veterans work with counselors to achieve one of four employment options.
“People think it’s jumping through hoops, but it’s just a process,” Merrill said. “It’s not for everyone. It works as you work.
In order to get the service members to try thinking of themselves as civilians, Merrill asked the attendees to introduce themselves with “the name your mom and dad gave you, not your rank.” He also asked the veterans to say what they hoped to do once they left the service. Answers included going into sales or marketing, working for the Marine Corps as a civilian, opening a franchise and traveling to Peru to volunteer at an orphanage.
Service members are eligible for VR&E if they have obtained a service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent or a pre-discharge disability rating of 20 percent or more. They can also pursue the program if they have received a discharge from service that is other than dishonorable. All VR&E services must be used within 12 years of the date of separation from active military service or the date of official notification from the VA of a service-connected disability rating (whichever is later).
Merrill stressed that the “E” in VR&E stands for “employment,” not “education.” The program is focused on getting the veteran employed. The service member meets with a counselor who will work personally with him or her throughout the program. Together, the veteran and counselor will determine which of the four paths to pursue.
“One counselor will work with you throughout the program, so you get that one-on-one feedback,” Merrill said. “He or she will determine if you are job ready or if you are college material.”
One of the four paths is Rapid Access to Employment, which is for those who already have the necessary skills to be competitive in the job market. This path includes assistance with resume development and the job search, mock interviews and ensuring the job accommodates any service-related disabilities.
“Take your disability into consideration always,” Merrill said. “I tell Marines to dial down the toughness. Your disability will catch up with you when you are older and you don’t want to sabotage yourself.”
Another option is Employment Through Long-Term Services, which is for those who need specialized training or education in order to obtain and maintain employment—for instance, Marines coming from an infantry MOS whose skills do not translate to the civilian world.
VR&E pays for college tuition and any books, equipment, or supplies that are required by the service members program of choice. The veteran also receives a monthly stipend based on how many are in his or her immediate family, whether he or she goes to school part-time or full-time and where the school is located.
“This works for two-year college or vocational school, too,” Merrill said.
Other paths to employment offered by VR&E are Self-Employment, which provides assistance in developing a business plan, marketing and financial assistance, and Reemployment (for those who were employed prior to service).
Those whose disabilities are more severe can work with the VR&E to develop a rehabilitation plan. They’ll receive assistive technology and independent living skills training.
“It’s important to communicate in this program,” Merrill said. “You need to contact us immediately if you need to drop out of school or your job requirements change and you can’t perform them anymore. I don’t like setting you up for failure.”
Gunnery Sgt. Charles Dane, maintenance chief for Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, attended the program based on the suggestion of a friend. He will be retiring on Aug. 31, 2016. He said he feels nervous about working with civilians but is looking forward to returning home to Texas.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life away from my family,” he said.
He said he might take advantage of vocational classes through VR&E so that he can become a gunsmith.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Matt Wilson, Marine Corps Systems Command, will be retiring in March. He said he’s looking forward to doing something new but that starting over will be difficult. He came to the Disabled Transition Readiness Program because it’s important to know everything available to him.
“It’s adding tools to the tool belt,” he said. “Too many Marines wait too long to start preparing for transitioning out. It’s nice to know what’s out there. Knowledge helps.”
The next class will be offered in May. For more information about VR&E, visit http://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/index.asp.
— Writer: auphausconner@quanticosentryonline.com