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March 2010

Job Search Advice
Recruiters & Services for Veterans & Separating Personnel
Wounded Warrior Programs
Pay Rates / Money Matters / Employment Verification
Education & Training Support

Information for Activated Reservists / Reassigned Military Personnel
including Tax Information || Employment Rights & Assistance
Financial Rights and Assistance

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline
800-273-TALK (8255)

These are resources specifically set up to meet the needs or address the interests of military personnel and their families. You are certainly not limited to these resources, but they may have ideas or topics which speak directly to you. I would urge you to also review the many resources listed under Government and Defense, most especially the Go-Defense site under US Department of Defense. Many contractors are very interested in hiring you (as well as your own government) and you get priority in consideration for jobs with Uncle Sam.

We also have information on the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Military Music Organizations.

Please check GovBenefits.gov, a portal designed to provide improved, personalized access to government assistance programs. You do not need to enter any personal information but you can search for various federal, state, and local programs that you might approach for assistance. There is a category for Veterans, but you can also review other possible sources for aid.

This Google Custom Search will search this site plus select others that we feel will be helpful to you in your search for job and career information.

Custom Search

Job Search Advice

"Leverage your strengths and experiences in building intercultural relations during overseas tours and/or training when seeking civilian work." -- Audrey Prenzel, resumeresources.ca

Military to Federal Career Guide by Kathryn K. Troutman (The Resume Place)

Kathy Troutman of The Resume Place is the expert on the Federal resume, and she has now published a book for you separating military personnel who would like to go from serving your country to working for your country. From this website you can learn about the book, order a copy, and register (free) to begin preparing your new Federal resume.

Henderson, David G. Job Search: Marketing Your Military Experience (5th edition) (2009: Stackpole Books) (book)

I received a complimentary copy of this book in my mail last week, and I am quite impressed with it. Targeted to persons separating from the military, this book walks you through the process of deciding what you want to do and how to make it happen starting before you separate and continuing past your departure. Lt. Col. Henderson (USMC ret.) has worked with hundreds of separating and retiring personnel from across the services, assisting them with resume preparation, interviewing, salary negotiation, and much more, and he is currently works with the Air Force Association's Resume Assistance Service. This books includes listing of services you can (and should) access before separation, associations and organizations designed to assist you after separation, and tasks to be taken care of along the way. He even goes so far as to provide a set of Computation of Salary Requirements for four categories of separating/retiring service members that allow you to use your current Leave and Earning Statements to help you calculate a similar salary level in the civilian world. This book speaks directly to separating personnel (and even separated personnel) and gives excellent guidance as you move out of that life and into this one. You can easily obtain copies through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and other book sellers.

The Veteran's Job Search, Job-hunt.org

This section of Job-Hunt.org begins with an extensive article on how you can make that transition from the military to the civilian workforce, then points you towards several additional articles and resources to guide you along. Courtesy of Susan Joyce, editor and publisher of Job-Hunt.org and a veteran of the USMC. (I know better than to say things like "retired", "separated", or "former" when dealing with Marines.)

Military Transition & Discipline (Ask the Headhunter blog, September 25, 2008)

Marvelous article with advice to a member of the US Army on how to handle a successful job search once he separates from the service. I agree with every word, especially these from the close: "The edge you have is discipline. The military has given you that in spades. It’s something every job hunter in the civilian world needs, because roaming the job boards isn’t a task. Identifying your objective, focusing on it, pursuing it, and not stopping until you attain it requires… well, you get it. You don’t need to transition. Just apply your discipline to the task at hand and don’t abandon what you learned in the Army about getting the job done."

From the Armed Forces to the Work Force, Eilene Zimmerman, "The Career Couch" (NYTimes.com, Sept 6, 2008)

...a short series of questions and answers discussing the best ways for military personnel who are separating from the service to make that transition to the civilian workforce.

Bridging Employment Gaps: Strategies from a Military Spouse, Stefani Schomaker (NCDA.org)

Advice from a Career Counselor and military spouse to other military spouses on how to keep your professional skills and experience current despite frequent relocations.

Selecting Professional References, Audrey Prenzel (HireCanadianMilitary.com)

"Once you have decided to hit the civilian job market, at some point you’re going to be faced with selecting professional references. These are contacts that potential interested employers want to question regarding your suitability for their requirements." Ms. Prenzel, a career consultant who works with veterans of Canada's military services, offers advice on who to consider when you need to create a list of professional references, pre-qualifying your contacts to be sure they'll say what you want an employer to hear, and how to prepare a formal reference sheet (to be provided only when specifically requested). Yes, your job search as a civilian is a mission, and this is part of your mission plan. As she says, "Don’t take this step lightly!" Canadian military personnel will also want to visit Audrey's Resume Resources for more information on her services as well as her book "Military to Civvie Street: The Complete Job Transition Guide for those Leaving the Canadian Air Force, Army & Navy". To go along with all this, you can connect with her and access her tips, job leads, and pointers through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Plaxo. All the info is on her page for Military Clients.

21 Strengths Arising from Military Experience (National Veterans' Training Institute)

...a marvelous list specifying what you have gained from your time in the armed forces and how these "soft skills" apply to the private sector. Keep these in in mind when interviewing with potential employers and they ask "so what do you bring to my company?".

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Recruiters & Services for Veterans & Separating Personnel

DOD / Government-Sponsored Services || Other Services

DOD / Government-Sponsored Services

Wounded Warrior Fellowships Program, Office of the Chief Administrative Office, US House of Representatives

"The Wounded Warrior Program was established to create fellowships that provide employment opportunities within the House of Representatives. The fellowships will provide veterans with experience and exposure to ultimately broaden their scope of transition opportunities. Positions are available in Congressional Member district offices nationwide. Wherever possible, those selected for the program will be given the opportunity to transition into full-time employment. " These are paid 2-year fellowships, available to applicants who served on active duty since 9/11/2001 and have a 30 percent or greater service-connected disability rating from either a military Physical Evaluation Board or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements, read the bios of current program participants, and check the list of available fellowships here.

TurboTAP

"Your connection to money, benefits, jobs." "TurboTAP.org is the Department of Defense's official website providing information for servicemembers on transitioning from military service. This site is also supported by the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs. TurboTAP.org is intended to supplement the services offered by the Transition Assistance Offices and other groups." For those of you separating after even a few years of service, this site offers you tremendous information and links to resources available to guide you through the separation process while informing you of the benefits to which you are entitled. I revisited this site in March 2010 and found the Employment Assistance information much improved. Thank you to whoever took the time and revised it. I still have a bit of a beef over links to DOL/ETA websites for job search (career info, yes. job search, no), but I'll overlook it.)

DoD Transportal

No longer available 092209. You are now directed to TurboTAP, above.

DoD Veterans: Opportunities to Use Your Abilities

As the single largest Federal employer of veterans, the U.S. Department of Defense wants to offer men and women who have honorably served the US an opportunity to continue your service as a DoD civilian employee. This site answers many of your questions about the opportunities that exist, how to apply, the selection process, and more. For actual job announcements you are referred to GoDefense and USAJobs, but this site answers many questions and prepares you for the application process, so don't skip this for those.

HireVetsFirst

"The President's National Hire Veterans Committee, which was created by the Jobs for Veterans Act (Public Law 107-288), has designed this website to help employers find qualified veterans, and to help veterans make the best use of a national network of employment resources." There is nothing new on this site, but it links to several existing, extremely helpful resources and services available to veterans who need assistance in finding new employment now that they have transitioned out of the military.

Military OneSource

"Military OneSource is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, toll-free information and referral telephone service available worldwide to active duty, Reserve, and National Guard military members and their families." Under contract to the Department of Defense, Ceridian Corporation operates this resource for the purpose of "providing help with parenting and child care, education, relocation, financial and legal concerns, everyday issues (finding services in a local community, consumer issues), emotional well-being, health and fitness, addiction and recovery, adult or child special needs, military life (pre/post deployment, reunion, etc.), work concerns, crisis support, elder care, TRICARE, and much more." Services are available online or by phone and are targeted to each service branch. Registration is not required in order to call into the service. If you go online, you will be required to become a member in order to read articles, subscribe to newsletters, and personalize the website to your own needs. Membership / access to Military OneSource services is limited to active duty personnel (all branches plus reserves/guards) and their immediate families. Reserves/guards have limited access once their tour of duty has ended. See the site for eligibility information.

Milspouse.org

This site closed December 29, 2009. You are now referred to the Military Spouse Resources and the Key to Career Success resource, both at CareerOneStop.org

Other Services

American Corporate Partners

ACP is "a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to private enterprise through career counseling and networking with professionals from some of America's finest corporations. [...] ACP is not a jobs program -- it is designed to assist veterans in their career development." Veterans and the spouses of former service members who were severely wounded or died during service are eligible for this program which matches you to mentors (many of whom are former service members) in your area who can help you network and develop your own career. They are currently limiting membership to personnel who were in active duty after 2001. Locations are also limited due to mentor participation, but if you are interested in mentoring or finding a mentor, please contact them. Application information is online.

Bradley-Morris

...a large military-focused placement firm in the U.S., matching the top leadership, technical, operations and diversity candidates who are leaving the military with the leading job opportunities in the Fortune 1000 and emerging company sectors. They have office all over the US and around the world and operate many hiring conferences which allow candidates to meet with potential employers. Services to the job seeker are free, and I am reading a lot of good things about them.

Career Command Post

....helps bring active duty military personnel and their spouses as well as veterans of the armed forces together with civilian employers. There is a wide variety of positions listed with annual salaries ranging from $20,000 into six figures.

CivilianJobs.com

...another job site working to match separating military personnel to civilian jobs and to serve veterans who are searching for new opportunities. I really liked the Career Planning Guide under Career Advice.

Corporate Gray Online

...military-employment site that links separating and former military personnel with companies interested in hiring them. Online companion to the popular Corporate Gray Series of books -- "From Army Green to Corporate Gray," "From Navy Blue to Corporate Gray," and "From Air Force Blue to Corporate Gray" and the Corporate Gray Job Fairs for the Military Community.

EARNWorks.com

"The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) is the nation’s premier provider of cost-free services to help employers recruit and hire qualified workers to meet their workforce needs. [...] This includes providing jobseekers and service providers with job leads from employers specifically interested in including jobseekers with disabilities in their recruiting efforts. EARN is an initiative funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) under the Department of Labor (DOL)." This free service works to connect jobseekers with disabilities to employers who want to hire them. This site has numerous jobs listed along with resources and connections to services to aid both employers and jobseekers. Registration is not required, but this free service will allow you to store a resume on the site and set up email alerts to let you know when new listings matching your skills and qualifications are posted. The EARNWorks Veteran Initiatives is targeted this special group and offers among its many services an extensive list of resources for veteran jobseekers.

GI Jobs

This is the online companion to the print magazine designed to help you find a career as well as a new opportunity after your military service has ended. Besides the many articles there are employer listings and a career fair calendar to help you meet those who want to hire you.

Helmets to Hardhats

...information on getting into the extremely lucrative building and construction industry for separating military personnel. Many trade and other organizations have listed jobs and apprentice or training programs here. You can look around the site and search the job database without registering, but you will not be able to view specifics of any listing until you register. "Helmets to Hardhats is co-sponsored by all fifteen Building and Construction Trades organizations, as well as their employer associations, which together represent about 82,000 contractors."

HirePatriots.org

...pretty good site established to help veterans and their families find employment after separation or retirement (or in some cases in addition to their current service). You can search for One Day Jobs or Full Time jobs. They are upgrading the search databases (Dec 2009), so please be patient.

HireVeterans.com

...operated by Veterans Today, HireVeterans.com is a job board for military vets. You can easily search the database and apply for jobs without registering, but having a resume in their database makes this a much easier process and makes you accessible to hiring managers who search that database in the hopes of finding good candidates.

IBM Employment

IBM is hiring, and not just IT/software professionals. They have opportunities in numerous fields and in numerous countries, including entry level positions and internships. They are particularly interested in connecting with persons from diverse backgrounds, disabled candidates, and veterans as well as military personnel separating from the service.

Lucas Group Military

...a division of Lucas Group, a national recruitment firm placing more separating military officers into civilian positions than anyone else in the country, but I don't see anything that limits their services to this audience. "By registering with us your online resume is immediately forwarded to one of our nearly 300 Lucas Group recruiting experts who provide connections to the nation's top companies." This is a free service, and you can create a login/password that allows you to edit and otherwise control your resume in their database. Registration is not required to search the job leads, but you won't see the employer info. When you find a job you like, click on Send me more Info, fill out the registration, and someone will get back to you. Have your resume ready to paste into the box.

Magellan Professional Solutions, Inc

...founded in 2004, Magellan Professional Solutions specializes in the locating, pre-qualifying and placement of prior military candidates who have excelled in their careers and are seeking positions in the public sector. They have filled a wide range of positions from project manager to equipment operator, and commissioning engineer to field service technician in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Field Service, Maintenance, and Distribution. There is no cost to the separating military member and they do not require you to sign an exclusive contract with them.

Military Officers of American Association

..."the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization." With about 360,000 members, this is a strong support group for active duty, retired, National Guard, Reserve, and former commissioned officers and warrant officers of the following uniformed services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Auxiliary memberships also are available for surviving spouses of deceased officers. Among the many services they offer is an Educational Assistance program and a wonderful Career Center which offers career fairs around the country several times a year. MOAA used to be called TROA.

Military.com

...nice portal for the military person who wants to keep up with the news and views of our armed services, but this site is made even better by the inclusion of some great career and employment advice for separating personnel. One of the biggest problems which must be overcome in the transition is translation -- how to describe the skills and qualifications of your military expertise in civilian terms. Military.com has the tools and the process outlined for you right on their pages. They even have other How To guides to help you assess your skills, a career expert who is a former Marine himself, and profiles of others who have made a successful transition from protector to private citizen. As for the job search itself, they have a similar well-planned yet simple process for you to follow here. This includes interviewing advice as well as advice on how to dress for success. Military.com is part of the Monster network of career sites.

Military Exits

...helps former and soon-to-be-discharged military personnel to find new employment opportunities. Also available to their spouses and dependents. Besides the job database, users will appreciate the links to supportive info like the lists of transition assistance centers, relocation guides and military bases, and military medical facilities.

Military Connection

"...a portal of all things military with thousands of pages of resources and information. We specialize in connecting candidates from the military community with outstanding government and civilian employers." You must register to access many areas of the site, including the job listings, employer directory, and scholarship directory, but this only means providing them with your name and email address. It is a full site, so there is much to review here. Nice feature in the jobs: they have an added link to Indeed.com, so if they don't have jobs in a particular category you will still see a good list from Indeed.com. Military spouses will find their section contains a huge amount of helpful links and good resources.

MilitaryHire.com

"This free site has been developed and is maintained by a team of both military veterans and corporate hiring authorities. We have worked hard to create a network where former military personnel can seek careers and utilize their professional skills. " Registration is not required to search the job database or view some of the other resources provided here (company research, relocation and salary info, spouse's cafe), but registration will allow you to store a resume as well as your job search and set up an automated "alert" to new jobs that match your preferences. Registration also allows you to easily apply for jobs found here with a quick click. I'm not impressed with the company research or relo resources, but the job database is very good and easy to search, and that is what is most important.

MilitaryJobZone

...assisting veterans and separating military personnel in their search for new employment in the private sector. The site is free, and you can review job listings without registering, but applying for jobs you see here will mean registering. If you have never prepared a civilian resume, they have a resume builder you can use to help you through this process.

Military Stars

...operates nationwide job fairs for separating military personnel and veterans. They also offer online job and resume databases. Users are encouraged to register to use the site and to "pre-register" for events (gets you free admission), which also means submitting a resume-type form to their website. For each upcoming event, a list of employers who will be there is available 2 weeks before the event. I see some of the big government contractors in these lists, folks who need people with security clearances, meaning you folks are prime candidates!

National Veteran-Owned Business Association

NaVOBA was launched in March 2007 to ensure that VOBs follow their minority and women business colleagues into the fertile corporate supplier opportunity.

Orion International

... a military recruiting firm with over 80 employees nationwide in eight offices (San Diego, Austin, Nashville, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Jacksonville, Virginia Beach, and Raleigh). "Orion is operated and run by former military members that fully understand the uniqueness and intricacies of military members moving into the civilian sector of industry." Users can review their website for information on the firm, upcoming hiring conferences, and job listings. Visitors may browse the job database, but you must register in order to apply for any openings.

Power-Careers

..."a veteran owned service, providing free transition assistance to active-duty military members, as well as industry experienced prior-military leaders and technicians seeking to launch their careers in a new direction within the Power Generation and Industrial Manufacturing industries." Operated by Magellan Professional Solutions (see above), this site allows their clients to advertise open positions online. All users can review the jobs and check out Resources area with its excellent interview advice and sample resumes. Only registered users will be able to apply for the jobs listed here (registration is free).

RecruitMilitary

...jobs, career information, and a resume database for separating military personnel. Free registration is required for you to review jobs, post your resume, or review some areas under the Career Center. RecruitMilitary purchased MilitaryHeadhunter.com, and has incorporated many of that site's services into this one.

SCORE Help for Veteran, National Guard & Reservist Small Biz Owners

With this new section of their website, the SCORE Association salutes America's service men and women. Here you can find information for the self-employed reservist now called to active duty, help for former military personnel who now own their own businesses, or separating personnel who are interested in becoming small business owners. SCORE's online counseling system now includes the option for you to search for mentors with prior military experience.

TAOnline.com, Transition Assistance Online

...operated by Lucas Group (see Lucas Careers above). There is no charge for service members to submit their resumes to TA0 or to search their wide variety of employment opportunities. TA0 provides information on second career strategies, starting one’s own business, continuing/distance education programs and relocation assistance. Moreover, information on veteran’s benefits, reserve matters and transition resources are provided. You might want to scan the list of all jobs by employer to get a good overview of what is offered. Many of these openings seem well geared for the specialties we see more in the military and less in the civilian market. Don't skip the calendar of Military Career Fairs, complete with description of what type of employment openings will be available and how to make sure you are on the list.

VetJobs.com

...a career sites for separating military members, their spouses and dependents. Owned and operated by U.S. military veterans and The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Search for jobs, post your resume (limited to those who have served with a military organization of the United States and served on Active Duty, with a Reserve component or with the National Guard, AND who have a valid email address), or review their extensive lists of veteran organizations and resources.

Veterans Transition Services, Inc.

Based in California, VTS is an industry partner, under contract, with the Department of Veterans Affairs. They offer free career evaluation, career counseling, job search resources, resume writing, interviewing/salary negotiation training, and small business start-up services to separating and retiring military personnel. Veterans are eligible for our services from two years before their date of separation through one year after their date of separation. "By referral from the VA, we also work with disabled veterans, assisting the VA with vocational evaluation, academic advising, vocational rehabilitation plan development, case management, to job placement." All veterans services must be approved by the VA and are by appointment only, but they have the information and application form you need right on the site. They currently offer services in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, and are hoping to be awarded contracts for Nevada and Arizona, so check the site for locations and updates.

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Wounded Warrior Programs

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647). The new law includes an expansion of the recently-enacted exigency and caregiver leave provisions for military families under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

America's Heroes at Work

...a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) project that addresses the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The project equips employers and the workforce development system with the tools they need to help returning service members affected by TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace. While this site is targeted more to helping employers and workforce development officials to learn about the benefits of hiring wounded veterans and the accommodations that might be needed to assist them, there is much here to support family, friends, and the veterans themselves as they learn what is possible and how to help make it happen.

National Resource Directory

"An online partnership of "shared care" providing information on, and access to, services and resources for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, their families and families of the fallen, and those who support them from recovery and rehabilitation to community reintegration. It is maintained by the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The information in the Directory is from federal, state and local governmental agencies; veteran service and benefit organizations; non-profit community-based and faith-based organizations; academic institutions, professional associations and philanthropic organizations." The National Resource Directory is organized into six major categories: Benefits and compensation; Education, training and employment; Family and caregiver support; Health; Housing and transportation; and Services and resources. It also provides helpful checklists, frequently asked questions, and connections to peer support groups.

AW2: The U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program

...central source for information on and connections to the many services available to those Soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty as well as their families. Among the many resource here is a job database listing employment opportunities for those who are separating from service due to their injuries. You must be a registered member of the AW2 Community in order to access this database, and all registration applications will be reviewed for eligibility (requirements are posted on the site). When I checked this site November 11, it was having certificate problems (just click through). It appears the server migration has been completed.

Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program

"An Air Force Wounded Warrior is any Airman that has a combat or hostile-related injury or illness requiring long-term care that will require a Medical Evaluation Board or Physical Evaluation Board to determine fitness for duty."

Navy Safe Harbor

..."the focal point for the non-medical case management of severely wounded, ill, or injured (WII) Sailors and their families."

USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR)

"Our Mission: Provide and facilitate assistance to wounded/injured/ill Marines, Sailors attached to or in support of Marine units, and their family members throughout the phases of recovery." When I checked this site October 23, it was having certificate problems (just click through).

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Pay Rates / Money Matters / Employment Verification

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

Need to double-check your pay rate due to a status change? Want to compare your current pay rate to past rates? Need to check on the taxable status of your Veterans Affairs (VA) Compensated Work Therapy? This the place to go. Civilian DOD employees will also find much of their need-to-know pay and benefits info here.

MilitaryHub.com

"We are a dedicated organization seeking to make the lives of current and former military professionals and their families better and more fruitful. We do this by providing relevant information to military families about managing and saving money, career growth, and lifestyle." They have some excellent advice on Insurance needs (home, auto, health, life), getting the most from the GI Bill and other education opportunities available to current active duty members, and much more, all of which is designed to help you make the best military financial choices, build wealth and save money while serving our country.

MilitarySaves.org

No, the US Armed Forces are not the best paying gigs in the world (benefits are pretty darn good), but they are some of the most important. Unfortunately, many military personnel face problems managing their money and incur huge debts which affect their personal lives as well as their security status. The Military Saves program, part of America Saves and the Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign, is designed to help service and family members, retirees, veterans, civil servants, contractors, NAF employees, and friends build wealth, not debt. It is a free and confidential service, and one I highly recommend to all veterans and their families.

Tax Information for Members of the U.S. Armed Forces (irs.gov)

"The tax laws provide some special benefits for active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those serving in combat zones. For federal tax purposes, the U.S. Armed Forces includes officers and enlisted personnel in all regular and reserve units controlled by the Secretaries of Defense, the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Coast Guard is also included, but not the U.S. Merchant Marine or the American Red Cross. However, these and other support personnel may qualify for certain tax deadline extensions because of their service in a combat zone."

Verification of Military Employment, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service

Organizations who need to verify the current or former employment of members of the U.S. Armed Forces will find the information they need here. This page includes guides on how to read the Military Leave and Earnings Statements for each branch of the military along with a link to the website where you can access that information. A service of the DFAs, above. If you get a notice about the website security certificate, just click past it.

Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) documents (DD Form 2586) from the Defense Manpower Data Center

Individuals with military service on or after 10/1/90 in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force may log in to view their own information. The server-side security certificate has expired, so you have to click past that. (This link was provided at the request of a career counselor working for the U.S. Army who said it would simplify things for separating personnel.)

Military Service Records (nationalresourcedirectory.org)

A list of links to the information on where and how to obtain military service records (including the Coast Guard). This list includes information for the general public, survivors who need to obtain records for the purpose of applying for benefits, how to apply for corrections to records, the DD form 214, and much more. A service of National Resource Directory (NRD) is a Web site for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them.

We have more information on Budgeting & Financial Planning.

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Education & Training Support

GI Bill website, US Dept of Veteran Affairs

...originating after World War II, the Montgomery GI Bill provides for education benefits to military personnel and their dependents seeking additional training or schooling. In 2008, many changes to this benefit were approved by Congress. Applications are now being accepted (May 1, 2009)

The GI Bill: 2008 GI Bill Update (military.com)

Many post-9/11 veterans and servicemembers will soon see be eligible for a new comprehensive education benefits package that goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition. Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefits. This article includes helpful info on the new benefits and links to documents necessary to claim the funding.

Certify Your Future, Pearson VUE

...a resource where military personnel and their families can find information on certification and military-specific benefits for which they may be eligible. The site currently covers the benefits of pursuing certification, testimonials, information about military-specific reimbursement programs and direct links to register for exams. They also point you to on-base testing facilities so you can access and complete the certification process as quickly as possible. Certification exams currently cover Academic/Admissions (a few programs are represented); Employment, Human Resources & Safety; Financial Services; Health & Medicine; and Information Technology. This resource is the one part of a year-long campaign focused on raising awareness of certification and benefits available to military personnel and their families. Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is a global leader in computer-based testing for information technology, academic, government and professional testing programs around the world.

CompTIA Educational Foundation Creating Futures

This program "provides people with the funding and the training to enter the information technology industry. We fund training and scholarships for students, veterans, individuals with disabilities and others in need." CompTIA works with employers to determine what emerging skills are necessary to work on the latest technologies, and creates certification and non-certification training programs designed to fill these needs. The form is online, and it is easy to complete. Not everyone who applies for the program will be accepted as participation is based on eligibility and available opportunities in your region, but you cannot be selected if you never apply.

Army COOL (Credentialing Opportunities Online)

Army personnel can use COOL to

• Find civilian credentials related to your military occupational specialty (MOS)
• Understand what it takes to obtain the credentials
• See if there are available programs that will help pay credentialing fees

At this time, Credentialing requirements information currently includes enlisted MOSs only, but they do plan to add Warrant Office MOSs. (Officers are referred to America's Career Infonet for similar information.) This replaces the former UMET: Use Your Military Experience and Training site operated by the DOL.

The Fund for Veterans' Education

"The Fund for Veterans Education was established to provide scholarships to veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan or Iraq since September 11, 2001 and who are now enrolled in college or vocational-technical school. We are committed to helping veterans close the gap between rising educational costs and GI benefits that have not kept pace." US and non-US citizens are eligible as long as the military service requirements have been met.

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Information for Activated Reservists / Reassigned Military Personnel

If you are a reservist now called to active duty, there are things you need to know about your rights to reclaim your job when you return plus financial assistance rights. Active military personnel who are reassigned have various financial rights available to alleviate the costs of moving your household.

Tax Information from the IRS

Tax Information for Members of the U.S. Armed Forces (IRS Newsroom)

"The tax laws provide some special benefits for active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those serving in combat zones." This press release links you to relevant information and IRS resources for active service members (particularly those service in combat zones) and their families, including the Military Family Tax Relief Act President Bush signed into law November 11, 2003.

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Employment Rights & Assistance

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Employee/Employer Advisor

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Advisor helps Veterans understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the Act. USERRA is intended to minimize the disadvantages to an individual that occur when that person needs to be absent from his or her civilian employment to serve in this country's uniformed services. USERRA provides employees with Department of Labor assistance in processing claims. USERRA potentially covers every individual in the country who serves in or has served in the uniformed services, and applies to all employers in the public and private sectors, including Federal employers. The law seeks to ensure that those who serve their country can retain their civilian employment and benefits, and can seek employment free from discrimination because of their service. This information is provided by the Veterans' Employment & Training Service of the US Department of Labor.

You can also review The Guide to Reserve Family Member Benefits from the Reserve Affairs website (under Family Readiness). Please note this is a PDF document and will require access to the free Adobe Reader for viewing and printing.

Reserve Officers Association

The Professional Military Association representing the officers of the seven U.S. Uniformed Services. Right on their front you'll see information on Operation Enduring Freedom for both Reservists / Guard and their employers.

National Committee of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is an agency within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. It was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

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Financial Rights and Assistance

The following articles and documents outline the financial protections provided for by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) and to invoke these benefits if you are reassigned or called to active duty from the reserves.

• Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act Provides Umbrella of Protection

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