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Information For USA Military Veterans

Prior to deciding to leave the U.S. Armed Forces, military personnel can undertake educational and training programs, which can help them to decide their vocational goals, secure their GED and/or CLEP certifications, and enhance their overall vocational skills at various facilities, or on the internet. U.S. Armed Forces commanding officers, career centers, and Federal Governmental Educational Offices located on or near military installations can assist those who wish to follow up on the above items and improve on them for military career or post-military purposes.

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Using The Tap Program

For those military personnel who have decided to leave the armed forces at the end of their term of enlistment, they have a third chance of securing career and skill counseling by enrolling and participating in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) program while remaining in the military.  Its goal is to help vets successfully return to civilian living.  The implementation of this activity can involve federal workers from the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and with county veterans’ services officers and local employment counselors (DVOPS and LVERS) in assisting military personnel formulate a comprehensive plan to return to the civilian world—from a vocational perspective.  This process consists of creating an individualized ongoing plan one year before the scheduled discharge date of the future veteran and covers a wide variety of issues and the process of accumulating and using information on both the local and federal levels to make this transition easier and to help avoid the possible pitfalls of chronic unemployment, addictive behaviors, family distress, lawlessness, financial ruin, homelessness, poor vocational and educational choices, and difficulties caused by multiple mental health and physical challenges.  And it can include helping an enrollee develop a plan for self-employment. A final reason for enrolling in the Tap Program is that those members of the military who enroll in and complete their Tap Program can also use it to vocationally assist themselves after they have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.

Medical Care, Membership Application, Benefits Claims, Education, Training, Apprenticeships, And Certifications After Being Discharged From The Military

Having secured his or her discharge from the armed forces, an honorably discharged veteran has many options, which, if adhered to, may assist him/her in readjusting to civilian life and in preparing to successfully set up and/or later expand an existing enterprise. First, FCA recommends that all recently discharged veterans who can do so, carry out the following three tasks: 1) file a copy or the original of his or her DD214 at his or her county or parish courthouse; 2) enroll in the U.S. DVA Health Care system; and 3) secure membership in a nationally charted veterans service organization. Second, for those veterans who did not do the following prior to their discharge, FCA recommends that they attempt to secure military benefits relating to any injuries which he or she may have sustained or worsened as because of his or her having served in the served in the military. Strategies to effectively carry out this process include getting a complete copy of one’s military administrative and medical records; securing all non-military medical and administrative records which may help prove the existence of a service-connected disability; collecting “buddy statements” from fellow service members, kinfolk, and friends which corroborate a veteran’s recollection of what occurred; and applying for a free power of attorney with a representative from an accredited and recognized veterans services’ organization such as a county veterans office or a nationally recognized organization such as the American Legion, AMVETS, DAV, PVA, VFW, VVA, or the Wounded Warrior’s Project. In addition to all those options, a veteran desiring to secure these benefits can also secure suggestions or comments regarding his or her case from Federal City Associates by mailing a copy of all the particulars to Federal City Associates, P.O. Box 2270, Youngstown, Ohio 44504-2270. Finally, securing a service-connected disability rating can help a veteran get financial backing to include tuition and fees for additional training or schooling in a particular vocation or field of endeavor at many different educational facilities through the U.S. DVA’s own Disabled Veterans Vocational Assistance Program. Next, having carried out the above as much as is applicable, a vet, with or without a service-connected disability award which again is described above, can continue to undertake additional opportunities to evaluate, upgrade, or enhance one’s skills set. These can offer educational, job counseling, certification, apprenticeship, and training opportunities sponsored by the federal government through the United States of Department of Veterans Affairs’ Regional Offices (www.va.gov) and the U.S. Department of Labor (www.dol.gov). Other such governmental resources include public agencies—such as fire and law enforcement academies, county and state Veterans’ Services Organizations; county and state employment counseling and training agencies which can be described as American Career Centers, One-Stop offices, or Child and Family Services organizations, and county vocational rehabilitation offices.  Additional resources for training (and apprenticeships) are labor unions, business enterprises, universities, internet schools, non-veteran social service organizations, as well as the ABE, GED, and CLEP scholastic programs. Certain National Veterans Services Organizations such as the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warriors Project provide counseling regarding training, education, and apprenticeship resources. The website (www.military.com) also lists the above items. Finally, an individual who has been discharged can find many of the types of opportunities listed above by contacting the offices of U.S. Congressional Representatives, Mayors, Governors, or County Commissioners.  Dialing 211 is another approach to use in getting this information.

Securing Help Regarding Setting Up A Business Or Expanding an Existing Enterprise

USA Military Veterans can start up or enhance their businesses by securing assistance from the following resources.  They include the Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov), the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Wounded Warriors  Project, VETS (www.VETS.org), and www.military.com.  Please again also note the following:  Federal City Associates (FCA)  provides grants to USA Military Veterans aspiring to set up enterprises or expand existing entities when applicants for help provide substantive evidence indicating that they are adhering to ongoing effective planning guidelines and business practices in managing their enterprises that meet the applicable standards promulgated and made available to prospective grantees by the FCA.   To facilitate this program, FCA accepts written applications for assistance sent for review to Federal City Associates, P.O. Box 2270, Youngstown, Ohio 44504-2270 on an ongoing basis.  This organization also encourages those who wish to financially support this charitable effort to make donations specifically designated for that purpose by writing checks or money orders in care of Federal City Associates and sending them to FCA through the use of the U.S. mail to the previously mentioned address.

What About Veterans Who Have Discharges Under Other Than Honorable Conditions

These individuals may already have some applicable and helpful benefits which can help them directly and indirectly secure help in creating a business.  Contacting a veterans’ services organization, county or private—American Legion, VFW, DAV, AMVETS, Wounded Warriors, etc., can help in getting verification regarding this.  And there is always the option of trying to upgrade or re-characterize a discharge.  For info on this, see https://www.statesidelegal.org/step-step-guide-how-apply-discharge-upgrade or www.military.com.

Assistance Readily Available For Small Businesses Held By Veterans

Besides encouraging using the above items, the Veterans Business Outreach Program provides entrepreneurial development services.  They include business training, counseling, mentoring, as well as referrals for eligible veterans owning or starting a small business.  The SBA has 16 different entities participating in this cooperative agreement and holding themselves out as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).  They can give help to veterans who desire to start a business or need help in directing and expanding an existing business.

Additional Monetary And Other Resources For Veterans During That Starting Or Expansion Period

Veterans, current military personnel, and possibly their spouses may have access to the following economic resources:  US DVA health care; service-connected disability payments; homeless veterans’ Stand Downs; widow’s pensions; county veterans services office basic needs payments; and NSO/VSO’s such as the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, the VFW, VVA, Wounded Warriors, Veterans Outreach, NABVETS, PVA, BVA, CWV, ITAM, and MOPH.  Call 211 or visit the internet to find more resources.

Grants And Other Types Of Business Assistance For Women Veterans Setting Up Or Expanding Businesses

Two important resources regarding the above and other items include the Women’s Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program and the Women Veterans Alliance, a private entity.  They are discussed in https://www.kabbage.com/resource-center/finance/grants-for-veterans-statring-a-business/ .

Grant And Organizational Opportunities For Veterans Starting Or Enhancing A Business

Veterans who desire to set up or expand an enterprise have many options which are discussed below, and some of which have been previously referred to in this document.  A starting phone number to get more details regarding the governmental options is 1-800-827-1000.  There are 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBC) in the United States, and they are part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These VBC’s have been described as comprehensive shops for U.S. Armed Forces veterans, fully discharged or transitioning veterans.

Using The Tap Program
Medical Care, Membership Application, Benefits Claims, Education, Training, Apprenticeships, And Certifications After Being Discharged From The Military
What About Veterans Who Have Discharges Under Other Than Honorable Conditions
Assistance Readily Available For Small Businesses Held By Veterans
Additional Monetary And Other Resources For Veterans During That Starting Or Expansion Period
Grants And Other Types Of Business Assistance For Women Veterans Setting Up Or Expanding Businesses
Grant And Organizational Opportunities For Veterans Starting Or Enhancing A Business
Securing Help Regarding Setting Up A Business Or Expanding an Existing Enterprise
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