News Releases
June 13, 2012
For Immediate Release
For additional information:
Barbara Kerr, APR
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 360-992-2921
Email: bkerr@clark.edu
Getting the job done
The Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011
provides new educational and training opportunities for unemployed veterans
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor (DOL) program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs.
As part of a provision of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) allows qualifying veterans to receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty rate, currently $1,473 per month.
Veterans can apply now on a first-come, first-served basis for VRAP for programs that begin on or after July 1, 2012. Assistance under this benefit program ends on March 31, 2014.
How to apply
The application form is available on the GI Bill® website: www.gibill.va.gov.
To qualify, veterans must:
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Be at least 35 but no more than 60 years old,
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Be unemployed on the date of application,
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Have received an other than dishonorable discharge,
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Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill®, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance),
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Not be in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability and
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Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program.
The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012 and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014.
Participants must be enrolled in a VA-approved educational program offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an associate degree, non-college degree, or a certificate, and must train the veteran for a high demand occupation.
To complete an application, a veteran will need to know his or her direct deposit information (bank routing number and account number), the name and location of his or her school, the program the veteran wishes to pursue, and the applicable high-demand occupation.
Mike Gibson, Clark College Program Specialist for Veterans Affairs, said, “Applications are being accepted now, and we anticipate a high demand. I would encourage interested veterans to submit their applications as soon as possible.”
If you have questions
The Clark College Veterans Affairs office can be reached at (360) 992-2112 or by writing to veterans@clark.edu.
The Clark College Career Center can provide helpful information on selecting a program. Their website is www.clark.edu/cc/careerservices. Drop-in services are available, or you can call 360-992-2155 to make an appointment.
Clark College’s Financial Aid office can provide information related to FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid). Financial aid staff can be reached at (360)
992-2153 or by writing to finaid@clark.edu.
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