Careers and Continuing Education

CAREERS &CONTINUING EDUCATION

WWW.MILITARYNEWS.COM | WWW.FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM | WINTER 2014

YO U R G U I D E TO E M P L OY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T I E S A N D H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N

2 CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION WINTER 2014

My college doesn’t justthank me for my militaryservice. They give methe credit I deserve.

Offering Associate, Bachelor’sand Master’s Degrees.

Contact Columbia College’s local representativeJim Schermerhorn today at [email protected] call (757) 918-1900.

GoForGreater.org/SPS Lena Atkinson ‘14

WINTER 2014 CAREERS & CONTINUING EDUCATION 3

What’s next?

MNV PUBLISHERLaura Baxter

FLAGSHIP MILITARY EDITORMC1 Molly A. Burgess

CREATIVE DIRECTORTricia Lieurance

MNV EDITOR/DESIGNERRebecca Soorani [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSAllyson Garner | Kyle RaymerRoss Froehlich | Susan Cofer

ADVERTISING (757) [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDS (757) 222-3974

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Phone: (757) 222-3990Fax: (757) 853-1634

The contents of this special sectionare not necessarily the official views ofor endorsed by the U.S. government,the DoD, the DoT or the U.S. CoastGuard. Opinions of contributingwriters do not necessarily reflect theopinions of Military Newspapers ofVirginia or The Flagship®.

The availability of these newspapersand the appearance of advertisingin these publications, includingany inserts and supplements, donot constitute endorsement by thefederal government, the DoD, theDoT, the U.S. Coast Guard or MilitaryNewspapers of Virginia of productsor services advertised. MilitaryNewspapers of Virginia is a privatefirm in no way connected to theDepartment of Defense or UnitedStates Coast Guard.

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CAREERS ANDCONTINUINGEDUCATION

YOU ARE HERE.NOW WHAT?

Are you currently considering the reality of where youwould like to live after the service? It is important to doso carefully and choose wisely. For example, if you were aship navigator during your military career, you could havea difficult time finding a similar job in the Southwest. Onthe other hand, if you were an Army nurse, you may findseveral excellent opportunities virtually anywhere.

Most career placement specialists recommend that jobapplicants choose the type of job they want first, then gowhere the jobs are. In making a decision to relocate, youmight prioritize as follows:

1. Job potential: Which community is most likely to offer jobopportunities that match your skills, experience and goals? |2. Affordability: Consider the not so obvious expenses inaddition to the cost of living. Compare local, state income,property and sales taxes. Does the state tax your militaryretirement pay? Does the location have income and careerpotential? | 3. Community: Do you have family or friendsthere? Can you count on them to help make your transi-tion easier? Do you need to be close to your aging parentsfor economic or medical reasons? Are you seeking upwardmobility with the potential to move, or are you looking fora community to settle for the long-term? | 4. Environment:Would you be happiest living in a city, the suburbs, a smalltown, or a rural area? Does the climate suit you?

Moving out of the area: Before moving, consult your near-est Fleet and Family Support Center, the best source of re-location information and planning assistance. Other usefulresources include: local Chamber of Commerce, libraries,bookstores and the Internet.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Transition GPS

6 Civilian life can be costly: Moneytips for those leaving the military

7 Veteran unemployment continuesto decline, lowest rate in five years

8 Great plans lead to great careers

9 Career guidance resource freefor Sailors’ lifetime

10 Stay in service with Blue-to-Green

12 Resources for veterans,compiled by Joining Forces

14 Resources to assist in yourtransition from FFSC

15 Local college named in top eightliberal arts colleges for vets

16 Department of Educationfinancial aid programs

18 One million now benefitfrom Post- 9/11 GI Bill

19 Understanding yourPost-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits


TRANSITIONGPS WEBSITE:

www.dmdc.osd.mil/tgps

The Transition GPS website is designed to provide separatingservice members access to their Verification of Military Experience &

Training (VMET) documents (DD2586 and Cover Letter) that will assist themin their transition from the military.

After the service member’s completion of the required Transition Sessions andafter their specific supporting Transition Assistance Office has electronically

submitted a service member’s paperwork, the service member orveteran can access their completed transition modules and tracks,

Preseparation Counseling Checklist (DD2648/-1), orIndividual Transition Plan (ITP) Checklist (DD2958)

from the Transition GPS website.

Transition GPSFFSC NORFOLK — Transition Goals,Plans, Success (GPS) is more than amandatory military transition pro-gram, it is also a personal barometer.The 5-day workshop assists servicemembers in gauging their standing inthe transition process. Repeating theprogram, though not required, canand has been very rewarding.

Gunnery Sergeant Devon Smith, NavyConsolidated Brig Chesapeake, firstattended Transition GPS in March2013, uncertain of his goals upontransition. As an active duty spouse,Smith was unsure where he would beliving after transitioning as his spousewas up for orders. He had been over-whelmed after his first time in classbut as the ensuing year progressed,he was able to flesh out many of theclass requirements, including writ-ing a resume, assessing interests, andstrengthening the family’s financialstanding. He returned for a secondTransition GPS class and said it was“confirmation” that he was “on theright track.” A second completion ofthe program allowed him to ascertainhe had indeed made great advancesin his transition, but also his retire-ment from the Marine Corps wouldbe virtually stress free. His spouse hassince received orders to Las Vegasand now Smith knows how to tap intoNevada’s resources for employment,training and other veteran-friendlyorganizations and resources.

Lt. Cmdr. John Mikols, a demobiliz-ing Navy Reservist considers himselfa Transition GPS “success story”as he returns to his home and hisNOSC in Chicago. He is also re-turning to his job. Two years ago,when he attended the TransitionProgram, he decided to “stay Navy,”become a reservist and maximizehis Post-9/11 GI Bill by obtaining aMasters of Business Administrationdegree from the University of NotreDame. These actions led to what heconsiders a “fantastic” position asa Program Manager with NorthropGrumman, a veteran-friendly in-dustry giant. Demobilizing NavyReservists are required to attend all5-days of Transition GPS unless theyare returning to confirmed employ-ment. Mikols wanted to learn ifthere was more to be gleaned fromTransition GPS and he found justthat. The Uniformed Services Em-ployment and Reemployment RightsAct (USERRA), medical benefits, aswell as veteran-focused websites foreducation and employment underthe Veterans Opportunity to Work(VOW) Act were a few new insightsrevealed to him.

Repeating an intense week of com-plicated information may not ap-peal to all individuals, but for sometransitioning service members, itmay just help to keep them on theright track.

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BRANDPOINT — No right-thinking person wouldever claim that the financial side of military life isthe land of milk and honey. Even so, military lifeprovides some perks that don’t exist in the civilianworld.

If you’re active-duty military and thinking aboutgetting out soon, it pays to understand how yourpersonal financial landscape will change whenUncle Sam is no longer issuing your paychecks.

First, don’t overlook the not-so-small matter offinding a suitable place to begin your post-militarycareer. Take a look at the 2013 Best Places for Vet-erans: Jobs list for metro areas that offer America’snew generation of veterans more opportunities tofind a job that correlates with their military-relatedskills. Houston, Dallas and Minneapolis landed thetop spots in the study, commissioned by USAA andthe U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hir-ing Our Heroes program.

Once you secure that civilian gig, here are two spe-cific areas where USAA Certified Financial PlannerScott Halliwell predicts you’ll see the biggest differ-ences in benefits and pay.

No more tax-free allowances: If you’ve been in themilitary for any length of time, you’ve no doubtrealized some of your pay comes to you free of tax.Basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) and basicallowance for housing (BAH) are two of the mostcommon sources. What you may not realize is justhow much of your hard-earned cash this tax treat-ment saves you.

For example, a married E-6 living in San Antoniowho has one child and has been serving for morethan 10 years would have a taxable base pay justshy of $39,600 annually. His non-taxable BAS andBAH would total just more than $21,300. Lookedat another way, about 35 percent of this family’sincome would be free from taxes. If this BAS/BAHcombo was instead taxable, the service member andhis family could lose around $250 each month totaxes - and that’s just in federal taxes. State taxes, ifapplicable, could make it even more.

In other words, civilian pay and military pay are notan apples-to-apples comparison, so you’ve got toplan accordingly.

No more free health insurance: And while a couple

hundred bucks a month is nothing to sneeze at,that could just be the tip of the iceberg. Healthinsurance in the military is, to put it lightly, verycost-effective. Not everyone is always thrilled withhow the whole system works, but you just can’t getmuch more cost-effective than free.

In the civilian world, the average cost for employer-based insurance plans for a family of four is around$1,300 per month, according to a study conductedby the Kaiser Family Foundation. The good newsis that most folks don’t have to foot that entireamount. Civilian employers typically subsidize thesecosts so that the average monthly employee expenseis about 28 percent, or $360 per month. Even so,costs for health care can vary widely from one em-ployer to the next.

Also, it’s important to know these numbers are justthe premiums employees pay for the insurance.The numbers don’t include co-pays, co-insuranceor deductibles you might have to pay. The nationalaverage for these expenses for a family of four isabout $3,600 per year, according to a study report-ed in the Milliman Medical Index. When you addthese costs to the insurance premiums you’ll haveto pay, health care-related costs can easily be oneof the single biggest cash outflows each month forcivilians. And that’s without adding in expenses forvision and dental care.

These are just two of the big financial changespeople face when they leave the military, but theyaren’t the only ones, so it’s important to have asolid game plan in place ahead of time. To helpbuild out a plan, spend some time with the Separa-tion Assessment Tool and the Separation Checkliston usaa.com.

Civilian life can be costly: Money tipsfor those leaving the military

TRANSITION

ANDPOIN

DID YOUKNOW?

Infographic courtesy of census.gov

“This country owes a profound debtto all veterans and military families.In these tough economic times, we’re

especially cognizant of our servicemembers transitioning to civilian life,as well as our military spouses. Andwe must give them the best possible

tools to succeed in professionalpursuits.” – Former Defense

Secretary Leon E. Panetta


These stats are encouraging. Even though in certain demographic groups we still see a higher unem-ployment rate than the national average, there is a clear overall decline in unemployment. That beingsaid, we know there’s still more work to be done. VA is working daily to help remedy that through col-laboration with the White House and the Chamber of Commerce “Hiring our Heroes” program, and inencouraging businesses to consider hiring veterans.

Efforts in this area also tie into our focus on increasing access to veteran benefits and combating Veter-an homelessness. By making veterans aware of their benefits – in this case the educational and trainingbenefits – we’re increasing access and helping to put veterans on the path towards meaningful employ-ment and a successful career. And veterans who are trained and employed have the resources to get offthe streets.

I know the value of these programs, training and the importance of employment to one’s self-confi-dence. My coworkers – many of them veterans themselves – also know this, and VA’s entire team is com-mitted to helping those who have served us. Our work will continue to help our veterans.

Find more information about education and training opportunities, vocational rehabilitation, and theVeterans Retraining Assistance Program on the VA website.

Writer Yvonne Levardi serves on the Digital Media Engagement team at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

JOINING FORCES—

Last week, the Bureau of LaborStatistics released veteran un-employment data for the month

of December.

The unemployment rate for all vet-erans was 5.5 percent December—adecrease from 6.7 percent in Novem-ber and more than a point below thenational average of 6.7 percent. This isthe lowest veteran unemployment hasbeen in five years.

For post-9/11 veterans, the ratedropped to 7.3 percent in December,compared to 9.9 percent in November– but a when compared to 10.8 per-cent in December 2012 it’s even moresignificant.

In short, more veterans are gettinghired due to a national focus on hiringveterans. That is good news, but thereis still much more to do to ensure vetscontinue to find meaningful employ-ment. We often send out informationon Twitter or Facebook highlightingprograms or opportunities for veteranemployment, and as a veteran I find itgratifying to see the country workingto help get our vets back on their feetin so many ways. From the tech indus-try, to Red Cross-hosted job fairs, totraining in the food service industry,Operation Good Jobs to the NationalCemetery Administration’s trainingprogram for homeless veterans, the ef-forts to combat veteran unemploymentcontinue to put our vets to work.

Above, youcan see themonthlyunemploy-ment rate forall veteranssince Janu-ary 2010.The long-termtrend shows aclear decrease.

For post-9/11(or Gulf WarII-era) veterans,the monthlyunemploymentrate dropped to7.3 percent inDecember from9.9 percentin November.The chart (left)shows the ratessince January2010.

Veteran unemploymentcontinues to decline,

lowest rate in five years

TRANSITION


Great plans leadto great careers

CAREERS

FFSC NORFOLK — Benjamin Frank-lin once said, “By failing to prepare,you are preparing to fail.” Unfortu-nately, many individuals, both civil-ian and military service members,are subject to this idea of failure dueto a lack of preparation. This is notnecessarily due to those individualsnot wanting to prepare. Many indi-viduals have hopes and dreams forthe future, and they understand thatthose dreams can only become real-ties if they create a plan and followthat plan to success. However, thethought of actually creating a planthat may determine where a personends up in life can be extremelyscary. In most cases, a career plan isrequired in order to be successfullater in life. Acquiring a good jobwill not only pay the bills, but willallow for a sense of self-satisfactionand accomplishment. In order tofind a job which does both, properplanning is certainly required.

At Fleet and Family Support Centers(FFSC), we are committed to helpingservice members and their familiesdevelop their plans leading to suc-cess through facilitated one-on-oneand group sessions. During the tran-sition process, service members willattend the Transition Goals, Plans,Success (GPS) workshop. This classallows service members to receive anoverview of the transition process,and the requirements in order toexperience a “smooth transition.”Some service members may needmore than the 5-day workshop. Someneed more instruction and moretime to develop their career plans.In order to assist those individualsfurther, the Career DevelopmentResource Centers (CDRC) at FFSCprovides a workshop specifically de-signed to assist individuals in devel-oping those plans.

The Career Planning workshop isoffered in the Hampton Roads areaat least once every month. Duringthe workshop, attendees are giventime to take assessment tests that

assist in determining which types ofjobs compliment their skills, interestsand abilities. Next, individuals focuson their own personal values withregard to family and financial needs.Other influences, such as labormarket information and geographiclocation are evaluated with variousonline resources including the Oc-cupational Information Network,Department of Labor and Occupa-tional Outlook Handbook websites.Individuals are asked to comparetheir findings with their desired ca-reer path in order to determine if it’sa good fit. Finally, class discussionscenter on networking, informationalinterviews, education and the ele-ments involved in making a careerchange.

Individuals do not leave the work-shop empty handed. They receivevarious skills assessments, job searchand location/industry informationresources. Attendees also leave withan Employment Action Plan thatwill help guide them through theircareer planning. Service membersand their families are welcome tovisit the CDRC at any Fleet and Fam-ily Support Center to discuss theirplan further with one of our trainedprofessionals. If you, or anyone youknow could benefit from our CareerPlanning workshop, call or visit yourlocal FFSC to reserve your spot!

CHECK OUT MORERESOURCES PROVIDEDBY FFSC ON PAGE 14.

Designed with the needs and interests of military members and their family in mind, the Military Career Transition Program (MCTP) is a graduate, evening and weekend initial teacher licensure within the Department of Teaching and Learning at Old Dominion University. Upon completion of the Master of Science in Education with Initial Licensure degree, participants are eligible to receive the Virginia teaching license.

CHOOSE FROM 2 PROGRAMS: M.S.Ed. with Initial Licensure • Graduates of the Virginia state-approved teacher preparation program earn a master of science in education (M.S.Ed.) degree with a concentration in elementary/middle, or secondary education and initial Virginia teacher licensure • Courses are available off-campus, at military bases, on-campus or ODU higher education centers • Courses are offered in the evenings (live or (televised/video) Fridays/Saturdays • Courses are available off-campus at military bases, on-campus, or ODU higher education centers

Ph.D. in Community College Leadership • Courses are offered in a variety of delivery modes • Complete course work in two (2) calendar years • Eligible for in-state tuition

MILITARY CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAM

For Information: www.odu.edu/mctp757.683.3348

PROGRAMS:icensure

Virginia state-approved teacherm earn a master of science indegree with a concentration in

or secondary education ander licensuree off-campus, at military bases,igher education centersthe evenings (live or (televised/video)

ble off-campus at military bases, higher education centers

ollege Leadershipd in a variety of

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For Inforww

POST-9/11 GI BILL YELLOW RIBBON PARTICIPANT

CONTINUE TO

SERVE YOUR

COMMUNITY...

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CAREERS

Career guidance resource free for Sailors’ lifetimeNAVAL EDUCATION AND TRAIN-ING COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS —Sailors planning ahead for an even-tual transition from naval service, areencouraged to take advantage of theKuder® Journey™ career guidance sys-tem; a pilot program available throughthe Defense Activity for Non-Tradition-al Education Support (DANTES).

The program can be initiated at anystage of a military career. “Once acti-vated, the Kuder Journey accounts aregood for a service member’s lifetime,”said Master Chief Hospital CorpsmanDavid Acuff, DANTES Senior EnlistedAdvisor. “The program offers assess-ments, tailored career guidance, andaids with a search that narrows down alist of compatible occupational fields.”

“From those occupations, the educationrequired to pursue that career will bepresented, along with information on

financial aid, job searches, and place-ment tools. Providing tailored careerguidance is important to DANTES,which is why they are providing thisintuitive resource for career guidance.”

Ensign Irving Rosenstein from NavalAviation Schools Command in Pen-sacola is currently transitioning fromactive duty and found the programto be a valuable resource. In assess-ing his civilian career options, heused the Kuder Journey program.“Activating my account and takingthe surveys was quick and easy,” saidRosenstein. “The program generatedsuggested career fields and positionswithin them that I was well suited forand were of interest to me. The pro-gram then provided details about thecareers including the education andqualifications for entry, along withthe projected outlook of growth ordecline over the next ten years.”

Service members visiting the KuderJourney career guidance system willnotice multiple tools to assist militarymembers looking to transition to civil-ian occupations. Users transitioning tocivilian employment can choose theirmilitary specialty from a list and the clos-est matches to civilian occupation areprovided by the program. Scores fromthe Armed Services Vocational AptitudeBattery (ASVAB) may also be entered bythe user and the system will provide oc-cupations for the member to consider.

The program also supplies informationon government-friendly employers,colleges for given locations and careerfields, and military financial aid options,including GI Bill information.

“No middle man, no tokens, no wait,”said Candice Rice, DANTES counselorprogram manager. “In less than 30minutes, active duty, Guard, and reserve

personnel can self-register and take allthree of the Kuder Journey Assessmentsto learn more about themselves.”

To get a Kuder Journey account, thereare just three easy steps to get started:1. Visit www.dantes.kuder.com;2. Watch the User Registration andOverview Tutorials;3. Register as a new user. (Remember toalways select “Adult job seeker or careerchanger,” “I’m a veteran or active mem-ber of the military.”) Note: Following thesteps above will prevent delays in regis-tration and from being asked to submit a$35 payment.

For more information, [email protected] or (877) 999-6227.For more information and trainingmaterials, visit the DANTES CounselorSupport web page or contact DANTESCounseling Support at [email protected].

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Just for kids.Just for you. Stratford’s 34 degree programs are designed to meet the

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Stay in service with Blue-to-GreenCAREERS Benefits

ENLISTEDE1 through E5 will

retain their grade andsame date of rank.

All E5’s and abovewill have grade andMilitary OccupationalSpecialty determinedby EIS IAW with para 5above (E5s will retaincurrent rank, unless,current MOS is overstrength and theyrefuse to retrain in anMOS that allows E5entry level training).

Training – AFSCsor Rates that convertto Army MOS willattend Basic CombatTraining. Retrainingan into other ArmyMOS may be possiblebased on individual’squalifications andtraining vacancies.

Bonuses may beavailable for selectedMilitary Occupa-tional Specialtiesthat convert from anAFSC or Rate.

Assignments –may be available forAFSC or Rate thatconvert to an ArmyMOS.

OFFICEROfficers will retain

their grade and dateof rank.

Officers will re-ceive branch-specifictraining as needed.

Find More aboutOfficer InterserviceTransfers (with AKOaccount)

Learn more at www.goarmy.com/benefits/additional-incentives/blue-to-green.html.

With recent downsizing in the Navyand Air Force, many service mem-bers are being faced with the realityof leaving the Armed Forces. In aneffort to combat this, the Army ishelping service members continueto serve their countries without abreak in service time. According tothe GoArmy website (www.goarmy.com), the Blue-to-Green Programwas established to help good Sailorsand Airmen to continue serving theircountry after being told they don’t“make the cut.” “During this periodof ‘right sizing’ the Air Force andNavy, the Army recognized the needfor our Armed Forces to retain highlyqualified men and women in ourranks. Operation Blue-to-Green willallow you to continue to serve yourcountry, to maintain the benefits themilitary service and to expand yourhorizons by gaining new training andtry new things.”

The program was established in 2004after an announcement from the AirForce and Navy that stated a plan tocut troops by nearly 24,000 membersbetween the two services. When theprogram began, the Army was work-ing to formulate a four-week coursefor service members who were utiliz-ing the Blue-to-Green Program, al-though with the numbers of transfersdropping from 186 Sailors in 2006 tojust 43 Sailors in 2010, the Army hasremoved the training, stating it is nolonger feasible to offer the shortercourse.

Service members, other than Ma-rines, will now be required to com-plete the full 10-week Basic CombatTraining (BCT), which consists ofthree phases. The first phase of thetraining is the Red Phase, “the Armymakes sure every recruit is physicallyand mentally prepared to start basic

training. Upon determining this,recruits are given a haircut, issuedArmy uniforms and are ready to starttraining,” said Sergeant Star, theArmy’s automated help system for theBlue-to-Green Program. The secondphase is the White Phase, “recruits gothrough marksmanship and combattraining to learn to rappel at theWarrior Tower. This training teachesvital Soldier skills and instills themwith more confidence,” said Star. Thethird phase is the Blue Phase, “afterbecoming familiar with the use of au-tomatic weapons and hand grenadesin U.S. Weapons training, recruits puttheir training to the test as they ne-gotiate the night infiltration course,”said Star.

After passing all three phases and allchallenges, the recruits are gatheredfor the Rites of Passage, also knownas graduation.

Baker College is a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges(SOC), DANTES, GoArmyEd, and CCAF’s AU-ABC program. The college is

eligible to receive Federal military and Veteran education benefits.

Contact Baker today for a complimentary evaluation of transfercredit and military work experience. See an online class demo atbakercollegeonline.com/demo.

6463

BCO

An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Institution. Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association / 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504 /800-621-7440 /www.ncahlc.org. Baker Center for Graduate Studies’ MBA program is also accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). For more information about our graduation rates, the median debtof students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our Web site at www.baker.edu/gainfulemployment.


Earn a Bachelor of Science IN AERONAUTICSFly

• Receive college credit for military training

• Apply education credit hours or use the Post-9/11 GIBill toward Federal Aviation Administration licenses

• Access basic allowances for housing and veteran tuition discounts

To apply online, visit www.Liberty.edu/Online. For more informationabout Liberty’s School of Aeronautics, visit www.Liberty.edu/Aviation,email [email protected], or call (434) 582-2123.

To honor your military service as you actively serve our country, LibertyUniversity offers you special benefits to help you achieve your academicand professional goals. Liberty participates in the Yellow Ribbonprogram, and the School of Aeronautics allows you to do the following:

Freedom Aviation

Newport News/WilliamsburgInternational Airport

1 Lear DriveNewport News, Virginia 23602

(757) 969-1600


Resources for veterans,compiled by Joining Forces

President Obama believes that no veteran should have to fight for a job at home afterthey fight for our nation overseas. The president signed “The Vow to Hire Heroes Actof 2011,” a law that combines provisions of the veterans’ tax credits from the Presi-

dent’s American Jobs Act, Chairman Patty Murray’s Hiring Heroes Act and Chairman JeffMiller’s Veterans’ Opportunity to Work Act into a comprehensive package that will aggres-sively attack the unacceptably high rate of veteran’s unemployment. The Obama Administra-tion has also created resources to help veterans translate their military skills for the civilianworkforce, built new online tools to aid their search for jobs and partnered with the Cham-ber of Commerce and the private sector to make it easier to connect our veterans with com-panies that want to hire them:

The Veterans Job Bank connects unemployedveterans to job openings with companies thatwant to hire them. It launched with more than500,000 job listings, a number that will continuegrowing as more companies tag the job postingson their own websites and add them to the Veter-ans Job Bank.

The Veteran Gold Card provides Post-9/11 veter-ans with extra support as they transition out of themilitary. Once a veteran has downloaded the Vet-eran Gold Card, he or she can access six months ofpersonalized case management, assessments andcounseling at the roughly 3,000 One-Stop CareerCenters located across the country.

My Next Move for Veterans is an easy-to-use onlinetool created by the Department of Labor thatallows veterans to enter information about theirexperience and skills in the field and match it withcivilian careers that put that experience to use.The site also includes information about salaries,apprenticeships and other related education andtraining programs.

Hero 2 Hired (H2H) is a comprehensive employ-ment program provided by the Department of De-fense that offers everything a Reserve Componentjob seeker needs to find their next opportunity,including job listings, career exploration tools,education and training resources, virtual careerfairs, a mobile app for iOS, Android and Windowsphones, an innovative Facebook application anda variety of networking opportunities. H2H alsoprovides vast recruiting opportunities for military-friendly employers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is committed toHiring Our Heroes and are sponsoring 100 hir-ing fairs for veterans, and military spouses in localcommunities across the country between March2011 - March 2012.

VetSuccess.gov provides comprehensive transitionand employment resources for veterans, servicemembers and their families. VetSuccess.gov servesas a virtual employment resource center whereveterans can browse job listings, post resumes andapply for positions online. VetSuccess.gov also pro-vides links to more than eight million jobs on theVetCentral site.

Veterans RecruitingServices connects employ-ers and veterans throughvirtual career fairs. VRSoffers services to assistveterans and their spousesas they transition to the ci-vilian workforce and helpsemployers find the righthighly qualified, educatedand well-trained veteransfor their businesses.

The Military Spouse Employment Partnership(MSEP) is a comprehensive web-enabled recruit-ment and career partnership solution connectingmilitary spouses to employers seeking a 21st centu-ry workforce with the skills and attributes possessedby military spouses.

CAREERS onlineVisit www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/resources tolearn more aboutthese programsand to checkout the VeteransJob Bank widget(pictured right).


Navy Retiree Teaches and Learns from Students

Every day, the students and I learn from each other.”

When Caroline Tetschner talks about work-ing with her middle school students, her face lights up. Th e Troops to Teachers participant began her second year of teaching this fall and is currently an eighth grade English teacher at Greenbrier Middle School School in Chesa-peake, Virginia. Before she even thought about retiring in the summer of 2012, the former Navy Public Aff airs Offi cer (PAO) felt a pull to work with children. “I love kids, especially older ones where you can have more intellectual exchanges together. Additionally, I believe all teachers in the public school system are in a position of great trust-- a trust I take very seriously.” Also, because her school is in the Tidewater fl eet concen-tration area, she has many students who come from Navy families.

Tetschner says she was particularly drawn to teaching when she learned about the Troops to Teachers (TTT) program through former shipmates. So, while still on active duty, she met her local TTT representative, Mr. Greg Coogan, another retired Navy Offi cer at his offi ce. Tetschner says she really appreciated that Coogan also had been a teacher himself. She relates, “Greg guided me step-by-step through the process and was always there for me when

I had the ‘next stupid question.’” She decided to obtain her Teaching Certifi cate in Secondary English by enrolling in Virginia Wesleyan Col-lege (VWC) in Norfolk.

Tetschner’s passion for teaching comes from her love of the content area – English literature, reading and writing, all gleaned during her 27 years in the military and from her professional civilian background. It was a natural transi-tion to go from writing for a living, as a PAO

in the Navy and as a former NPR Reporter, to teaching children

the many joys of writing and reading. When she talks about the importance of verbal and written com-

munication skills for students and adults alike, Tetschner is

clearly enthusiastic. “Whether a child wants to become a police offi cer, music producer, or a pro basketball player who must read and under-stand a 20-page employment contract, all these professions, really most any, require excellent communication abilities.”

Every week, as part of her own self-improve-ment, Tetschner writes herself notes on a take-away lesson she’s learned at school or from her students. Th ere’s always room for improvement, she explains about her practice. “Every day, the students and I learn from each other.”

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FFSC NORFOLK — Change is a good thing right?Absolutely! However, for those service memberscurrently transitioning from military to civilian life,this change may be quite intimidating. Transition-ing service members find themselves asking variousquestions during their transition. “Where am Igoing to live?” “How am I going to pay the bills?”“How am I going to get a job?” “Do I need to goto school?” “What benefits am I entitled to?” Thelist goes on and on. The answers to these ques-tions are, in some cases, not easily found, and mayrequire the transitioning service member to seekthe assistance of others in their search for thoseanswers. For those of you who may require someassistance, here are the top 10 resources for transi-tioning service members:

1. The National Resource Directory(www.nrd.gov)This directory is currently maintained by the De-partment of Defense, Department of Labor andthe Department of Veterans’ Affairs. As an onlinedirectory, service members are able to connect24/7 and receive resources pertaining to Benefitsand Compensation, Education and Training, Em-ployment, Family and Caregiver Support, Health,Homeless Assistance, Transportation and Travel,Volunteer Opportunities, and many more.

2. The Department of Veterans Affairs(www.va.gov | www.ebenefits.va.gov)Probably one of the most popular Veterans’ or-ganizations, the Department of Veterans Affairsprovides services those men and women whohave served in our armed forces. As the websitestates, the mission statement of the Departmentof Veterans Affairs is “To fulfil President Lincoln’spromise, ‘To care for him who shall have borne thebattle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’” TheDepartment of Veterans Affairs offers Health Careoptions for Veterans and their families, as well asother benefits including retirement compensation,education and training, home loans, life insurance,burial benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. TheDepartment of Veterans Affairs E-Benefits websiteis an online portal that allows service members, Vet-erans and their families research their benefits andhave access to these benefit options 24/7.

3. Department of Labor (www.dol.gov/vets)During their Transition Goals Plans Success (GPS)5-day workshop, transitioning service members will

receive a 3-day presentation offered by representa-tives of the Department of Labor. The presentationfocuses of assisting service members in job searches,career decision-making, current labor market infor-mation, the drafting of resumes and cover letters,skills analysis, and interviewing techniques. Post-transition, the Department of Labor assists veteranswith job seeker services through the DOL GoldCard. The DOL Gold Card enables unemployedpost-9/11 veterans with the follow-up services theyneed to succeed in their job search. Certain grantsand other resources are also available through theDepartment of Labor.

4. Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org)The Disabled American Veterans organization isdedicated to “Empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity”. Many tran-sitioning service members feel the physical pain as-sociated with injuries incurred while on active duty.However, some of these service members may notknow where to go to get the assistance they need.The Disabled American Veterans assists servicemembers, veterans, and their families with filingdisability claims, job search, transportation op-tions, and other outreach programs. The DisabledAmerican Veterans has over 60 offices throughoutthe United States, which enables service membersto obtain assistance from virtually anywhere in thecountry.

5. Fleet and Family Support Centers(www.cnic.navy.mil/navylifema )Fleet and Family Support Centers provides service

members, veterans, and their families with numer-ous programs, including relocation assistance,new parent support, deployment services, clinicalcounseling services, financial management, familyemployment services, family advocacy, and transi-tion assistance programs. Transitioning servicemembers are encouraged to stop by one of theFleet and Family Support Centers and requestinformation on upcoming events and workshopsrelating to their transition.

6. Job Fairs (www.vec.virginia.gov)One of the major hurdles for a transitioning servicemember to overcome is obtaining a civilian job thatwill cater to their needs. Networking has a majorinfluence on landing that dream job, and one wayto successfully network with employers is throughjob fairs. State websites frequently post job fairs, as

do various military installations. Being able to writeone’s skills on a resume is one thing, but connect-ing with employers face-to-face has proven to beextremely effective.

7. Mentor Groups (www.acp-usa.com)Everyone needs a mentor, whether that mentor is aparent, friend or business executive. Transitioningservice members find that connecting with indi-viduals in their desired career field can be useful ingaining the knowledge needed to succeed. Certainmentor groups, such as American Corporate Part-ners can provide this assistance. These groups areoften free for transitioning service members andveterans, and offer a year of mentorship for that in-dividual. Managerial level civilians offer their helpand advice to transitioning service members on thematters of job search, networking, education, andtransition in general. Mentors are available to chatonline, through phone conversation and sometimeseven in person.

8. College and Career Planning Services(https://dantes.kuder.com)Some transitioning service members may find thatthey may need to pursue education opportunitiespost-separation in order to find a job that will ben-efit them. Others may feel as if they are undecidedon which career path to pursue. In order to assistwith questions associated with choosing an educa-tional program, or choosing a career path, certainskills assessments may be useful. The Kuder assess-ment is designed to assist individuals in answeringthose questions. Services are free for service mem-bers and veterans

9. GI Jobs Magazine (www.gijobs.com)The GI Jobs Magazine is issued monthly and deliv-ered to most military installations. Interested indi-viduals may also subscribe to the magazine and paya fee to have the magazine delivered to their house.This magazine includes information on militaryfriendly employers, military friendly schools, mili-tary friendly cities, and military franchise opportu-nities. The GI Jobs website allows for individualsto navigate through their site, and connect withrecruiters, receive assistance in resume writing, andinformation on business attire.

10. Social Media (www.linkedin.com, etc.)Social media can be used in order for individuals tobe able to network with other professionals in theirchosen career field. LinkedIn, for example, hasbecome more and more popular in the recent yearsfor many different reasons. The social networkallows individuals to connect with people in theircareer field for networking purposes. Individualscan also join interest groups in order to share ideasand welcome feedback. LinkedIn provides jobpostings, as well as information on employers, thatmay be beneficial for anyone looking to enter theworkforce, change careers, or gain knowledge intheir career field.

Resources to assist in yourtransition from FFSC

CAREERS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION


Local college named in top eight liberal arts colleges for vetsCONTINUING EDUCATION

Virginia Wesleyan College has beenselected as one of the top eight liberalarts colleges in the country for veteransby U.S. News & World Report. On Nov.11, 2013, U.S. News & World Report re-leased its inaugural rankings of the BestColleges for Veterans to help veteranspursue a college education under thePost-9/11 GI Bill.

The new rankings provide data and in-formation on schools that offer federalbenefits, including tuition and hous-ing assistance, to veterans and active

service members. To qualify for thenew rankings, the schools had to becertified for the GI Bill and participatein the Yellow Ribbon Program and Ser-vice members Opportunity Colleges(SOC) Consortium.

“While all prospective students seeka good education from a reputableinstitution, our military veterans cantake advantage of expanded educa-tional benefits under the Post-9/11GI Bill,” said Brian Kelly, editor andchief content officer for U.S. News.

“We developed these rankings tohelp them find a top-quality institu-tion that also offers federal benefitsthat ease the burden of applying,paying for and completing a collegedegree.”

“We are truly honored by this rec-ognition,” said Virginia WesleyanCollege President Billy Greer. “Andwe are humbled by the opportunityto welcome our veterans to the VWCcommunity and to serve them in anyway that we can as they pursue their

higher education goals.”

Virginia Wesleyan College is com-mitted to supporting veterans.The College recently established aVeterans Memorial on campus, isa participant in the Yellow RibbonProgram, and is recognized as aMilitary Friendly School by G.I. Jobsmagazine. VWC offers a full rangeof veterans support services—fromfinancial aid benefits and early regis-tration opportunities to counselingand career services.


Department of Educationfinancial aid programs

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Federal Student Aid, an office of theU.S. Department of Education, offersover $80 billion dollars in financial aidthat help millions of students managethe cost of education each year. Thereare three categories of federal studentaid: grants, work-study and loans. Evenif you are still on active duty, you canapply for aid, such as Pell Grants orFederal Stafford Loans. Find out moreat www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.

Applying for Federal Student Aid:You can get this aid by completing thefree application for Federal StudentAid (FAFSA). You can apply onlineor on paper, but filing online is fasterand easier. Get further instructionson the application process at www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You should also applyfor a Federal Student Aid PIN (if youhaven’t done so already). The PINallows you to sign your application

electronically, which speeds up the ap-plication process even more. Apply fora PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

Filling out the FAFSA: There is a seriesof eight questions on the applicationthat ask about your dependency status.If you are a veteran, or are currentlyserving on active duty in the U.S.Armed Forces for purposes otherthan training, you are considered anindependent student and would onlyinclude your information (and thatof your spouse, if married). For moreinformation go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Federal Student Aid Eligibility: Eligibil-ity for federal student aid is based onfinancial need and other factors. The fi-nancial aid administrator at the collegeor career school you plan to attend willdetermine your eligibility. To receiveaid from our programs, you must:

Demonstrate financial need (exceptfor certain loans – your school can ex-plain which loans are not needed).

Have a high school diploma ora General Education Development(GED) certificate, pass a test approvedby the U.S. Department of Education,meet other standards your state estab-lishes that the department approves, orcomplete a high school education in ahome school setting that is treated assuch under state law.

Be working toward a degree or certifi-cate in an eligible program.

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

Have a valid Social Security Number(unless you’re from the Republic of theMarshall Islands, the Federated States of

Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).Register with the Selective Service if

required. You can use the paper or elec-tronic FAFSA to register, you can registerat www.sss.gov, or you can call (847)688-6888. (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567.)

Maintain satisfactory academic prog-ress once in school.

Certify that you are not in default ona federal student loan and do not owemoney on a federal student grant.

Certify that you will use federal stu-dent aid only for educational purposes.

Financial Aid Planning: Federal StudentAid has a new tool called FAFSA4caster,designed to help students and their fam-ilies plan for college. The FAFSA4casterprovides students with an early estimateof their eligibility for federal studentfinancial assistance. Military dependentswho are enrolled in college and are eli-gible to receive Pell Grants should checkout our two newest programs: AcademicCompetitiveness Grants and NationalScience and Mathematics Access toRetain Talent Grants (National SMARTGrants). Visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov for more information.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION advantage of this significant benefitprogram,” said Under Secretary forBenefits Allison A. Hickey. “The scopeof the program we’ve administeredthus far would fund the undergradu-ate student bodies of Virginia Tech,Ohio State University, West VirginiaUniversity, and University of Floridacombined – for eight years.”

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a comprehen-sive education benefit created by Con-gress in 2008. In general, veterans andservice members who have served onactive duty for 90 or more days sinceSept. 10, 2001 are eligible. On aver-age, VA processes the initial claims forPost-9/11 GI Bill educational benefitsin 23 days.

VA’s new automated processing system,called the Long-Term Solution, usesmore than 1,600 business rules to sup-port end-to-end automation of Post-9/11 GI Bill claims, ensuring accuratepayments without the need for manualhandling, also resulting in quickerprocessing of education claims.

See the next page for more information!

One million now benefitfrom Post-9/11 GI Bill

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANAFFAIRS — The Department of Vet-erans Affairs announced in Novemberthat a million veterans, service mem-bers, and family members have benefit-ed from the Post-9/11 GI Bill since theprogram’s inception in August 2009.

The Veterans Benefits Administration,which administers the program, hasdistributed over $30 billion in the formof tuition and other education-relatedpayments to veterans, service mem-bers, and their families; and to theuniversities, colleges, and trade schoolsthey attend.

“This is one of the most importantprograms helping our Iraq and Af-ghanistan veterans reach their educa-tional goals and find a good job,” saidSecretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.

Shinseki. “We’re proud this importantbenefit is making such a big differencein the lives of so many veterans andtheir families.”

“Over the next few years, as more thana million service men and women endtheir military careers and return tocivilian life, education will be at theforefront of that transition,” said Dr. JillBiden. “As a community college teach-er, I have seen firsthand the qualitiesour veterans bring to the classroom –dedication, a sense of teamwork, and acommitment to their work. Helping ourveterans succeed in the classroom sothey can go on to find good jobs to sup-port their families is one important waywe can thank them for their service.”

“We are pleased that the Post-9/11generation of veterans is taking


Individuals serving an aggregateperiod of active duty after

Sept. 10, 2001, of:

Percentageof Maximum

Benefit Payable

At least 36 months 100%

At least 30 continuous daysand discharged due to service-connected dis-ability

100%

At least 30 months < 36 months 90%





At least 90 days < 6 months 40%

Am I Eligible?You may be eligible if you served atleast 90 aggregate days on active duty*after Sept. 10, 2001, or were honor-ably discharged from active duty for aservice-connected disability after serv-ing 30 continuous days following Sept.10, 2001. *Includes active service as aNational Guard member under title 32U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing,administering, recruiting, instructing,or training and active service under sec-tion 502(f) of title 32 for the purpose ofresponding to a national emergency.

What Will I Receive?You may receive a percentage of thefollowing payments (see chart below).

A tuition and fee payment that ispaid to your school on your behalf

A Monthly Housing Allowance(MHA) (not payable to individuals onactive duty or those enrolled at half-time or less) that is equal to:

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)payable for the zip code of yourschool to a military E-5 with depen-dents for students pursuing residenttraining.

One-half the BAH national averagefor students training solely by distancelearning.

The national average BAH forstudents pursuing training at foreignschools.

A books and supplies stipend of upto $1,000 per year.

How Many Months Of Assis-tance Can I Receive And HowLong Am I Eligible?Generally, you may receive up to36 months of entitlement underthe Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. You will beeligible for benefits for 15 years fromyour last period of active duty of atleast 90 consecutive days.

What Kind Of TrainingCan I Take?You can use the Post-9/11 G.I.Bill at colleges, universities, tradeschools and for on-the-job training,apprenticeships and flight schools.To see what programs are currentlyapproved for VA benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov. You can use the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill for tutorial assistance,licensing (attorney license, cosmetol-ogy license, etc.) and certificationtests (SAT, LSAT, etc.). Note: If theprogram you are interested in isn’ton the website, contact your StateApproving Agency (list available onwww.gibill.va.gov) to see if it can beapproved.

Can I Transfer My EntitlementTo My Dependents?You must be a member of the uni-formed services to transfer yourunused benefits to your spouse ordependent(s). Generally, you mustagree to serve four more years whentransferring benefits.

Understanding yourPost-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits

CONTINUING EDUCATION

What Is The Yellow RibbonProgram?The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill can cover all in-state tuition and fees at public degreegranting schools, but may not cover allprivate degree granting schools andout-of-state tuition. The Yellow Ribbon

Program provides additional supportin those situations. Institutions volun-tarily enter into an agreement with VAto fund uncovered charges. VA match-es each dollar of not satisfied chargesthe institution agrees to contribute, upto the total cost of the tuition and fees.

Careers and Continuing Education

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