Your Security Clearance Is Valuable To Civilian Employers

By Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW
www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com

When you were issued a security clearance for your military job specialty, you were given a passport to future job positions. Both civilian and Federal employers are currently in great need of people with various levels of security clearances for a wide variety of jobs. As you seek to make the military transition into the civilian world, you certainly want to consider this rich field of hot civilian and Federal jobs.

The type of Federal...
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New Benefits for Unemployed Veterans

VOW to Hire Heroes Act for older Vets too!

While the big push, currently, is to find jobs for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, recently passed legislation also offers assistance to veterans from previous conflicts. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) offers 12 months of retraining assistance to Veterans. Additionally, Veterans with a service-connected disability may qualify for additional vocational rehabilitation (Voc-Rehab) and employment benefits.

To qualify for VRAP, the Veteran must be:
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Goodwill® and Walmart Foundation Connect Veterans with Job Success

SOURCE - Goodwill Industries International

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 14, 2012 -- Operation: GoodJobs empowers veterans and their families with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace

A new program, funded by the Walmart Foundation and administered by Goodwill®, will empower military veterans with the tools they need to find employment, advance in their careers and ensure long-term financial stability for their families. The Walmart Foundation's grant of $1 million will support the program, known as...
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Service Connected Disability

Part 2: Claim with Assistance

By Josh Penner, Veterans Advocate

If you’ve had the chance to follow this newsletter for the last couple months you many remember this is now the third part in a series on Service Connected Disability. Parts one and tow being available here: Part 1 / Part 2. We’ve now covered why you would consider a Service Connected Disability claim and whether or not you may be eligible. This month's topic is who to turn to for assistance in filing your claim.

By all accounts filing your VA Service Connected Disability claim is a big deal. Minor mistakes, missed...
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TAOnline Education Hint of the Month

Seven (7) Texas colleges are offering a unique program where your Military Training and Expertise may be transferred into College Credits. The colleges will provide models for awarding college credit by evaluating military training, including testing and prior learning assessments which other Texas colleges may replicate. There will be a focus on allied health careers, and the initiative will partner with the Military Education Training Center (METC) in San Antonio to provide current active duty service members with an accelerated degree plan. To learn more and determine eligibility, contact the Texas Workforce Commission at (512) 463-8942

Your Security Clearance Is Valuable To Civilian Employers

By Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW
www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com

When you were issued a security clearance for your military job specialty, you were given a passport to future job positions. Both civilian and Federal employers are currently in great need of people with various levels of security clearances for a wide variety of jobs. As you seek to make the military transition into the civilian world, you certainly want to consider this rich field of hot civilian and Federal jobs.

The type of Federal jobs available are indeed many and varied. These openings range from government jobs in Homeland Security and extend to the CIA, DIA, NSA, DoD, and other agencies. The types of positions these agencies are looking to fill include linguists, network administrators, intelligence analysts, intrusion analysts, and many more. This certainly means that there is probably room for someone with your clearance in a Federal job.

In addition to the line of Federal jobs, there is also a whole world of civilian job employers who could use your expertise along with your security clearance. These include defense contractors, companies and agencies that need facilities protection and security, medical records, software engineering firms, and many more. Specific in-demand jobs include engineers, biometrics, security, records, IT, intelligence analysts, network administrators, and more.

Your security clearance is valuable to you. One good reason is that with it you can get a job with an automatic increase of a minimum of $5,000 per year. This amount may go up to about $15,000 simply for having the clearance. Of course, clearances do quickly expire, but the employer requiring them will take steps to see that it stays effective if you apply within about 24 months.

Corporations and government agencies know that it can take a long time and become quite costly to give a Top Secret security clearance to someone who does not have one. In fact, it could take up to a year to go through the whole background investigation process. This is partly because of a backlog of about half a million people who are waiting in line for approval. If someone already had one, though, they could move swiftly into the desired position. The hiring company would also greatly appreciate the chance to save money by avoiding the long and tedious process of investigating someone's background.

Clearances that have already expired, though, can also be renewed. If the process begins within 24 months, then only a part of the process is needed to reestablish a security clearance, depending on the level. This means that if you have already made a military transition back into civilian life, your clearance can still make you a sought-after candidate for a classified Federal job or civilian job.

One thing you will need to do, though, as you look for a job requiring a security clearance, is to prepare a military resume. Your best bet is to hire a professional resume writer to help you highlight your training, experience, and qualifications. Keywords related to the job position will also be built in, giving you a resume that will stand out among other candidates'. A professional military resume writer knows what your prospective employer is looking for and can help you fit the bill perfectly.

Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of www.careerproplus.com and www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job.

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New Benefits for Unemployed Veterans

VOW to Hire Heroes Act for older Vets too!

While the big push, currently, is to find jobs for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, recently passed legislation also offers assistance to veterans from previous conflicts. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) offers 12 months of retraining assistance to Veterans. Additionally, Veterans with a service-connected disability may qualify for additional vocational rehabilitation (Voc-Rehab) and employment benefits.

To qualify for VRAP, the Veteran must be:

  • Unemployed
  • At least 35 but not more than 60 years old
  • Have an other than dishonorable discharge
  • Not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g., the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment)
  • Not in receipt of VA compensation due to Individual Unemployability (IU)
  • Not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
  • Enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school

The VRAP is limited to 45,000 participants between July 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012, and to an additional 54,000 from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014. Approved participants may receive up to 12-months of assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty program (currently $1,473/mo). The education program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certification, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

What occupations does the VA deem High Demand? Click here for a complete list

Veterans who’ve already completed a VA Voc-Rehab program and used the initial 26-weeks of unemployment benefits may qualify for an additional 12-months of Voc-Rehab benefits. To qualify you:

  • Must have previously completed a VA Voc-Rehab and Employment program and been considered ‘rehabilitated’ by the VA.
  • Must apply within six months of using up your initial 26-weeks of unemployment benefits. You may still qualify for extended or emergency unemployment benefits.
  • Can apply now, but cannot start any education or training until June1, 2012 and you must apply to the VA by March 31, 2014.

To apply or learn more about VRAP or Voc-Rehab benefits, including how to apply, visit www.benefits.va.gov/VOW and fill out an only application (VONAPP).

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Goodwill® and Walmart Foundation Connect Veterans with Job Success

SOURCE - Goodwill Industries International

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 14, 2012 -- Operation: GoodJobs empowers veterans and their families with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace

A new program, funded by the Walmart Foundation and administered by Goodwill®, will empower military veterans with the tools they need to find employment, advance in their careers and ensure long-term financial stability for their families. The Walmart Foundation's grant of $1 million will support the program, known as Operation: GoodJobs, at Goodwill agencies in the three key markets of Austin, Houston and Tacoma through 2013. Together, Goodwill and the Walmart Foundation will collaborate with a broad array of community partners to help ensure that veterans and their families have every opportunity to succeed.

"Everyone is struggling to find good jobs these days, but veterans face particular challenges and it is our duty as a nation to support these young men and women who are having difficulties transitioning back into civilian life," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "We at Goodwill believe it is absolutely imperative that we give each of these veterans every opportunity they need to thrive."

Operation: GoodJobs assists veterans with job training and placement, but also plans for each participant's continued success by designing individualized, holistic plans that support the needs of their entire family and helps ensure economic security for participants and their families in the long-term. Each participant in Operation: GoodJobs will receive a complete career assessment and an individualized development plan that will include a range of family needs, from basic needs like nutrition, shelter and child care, to specific job training identified in the assessment process.

"As one of the nation's largest private employers of veterans and those on active duty, we share Goodwill's vision of a country where every veteran has a chance to succeed economically and support his or her family," said retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Gary Profit, senior director of military programs at Walmart. "Making that vision a reality starts today through Operation: GoodJobs. These young men and women stood up for us, and now it's our turn to stand up for them."

Veterans return home as proven leaders who have demonstrated their work ethic and commitment to achieving results as part of a team. Operation: GoodJobs will help to provide the necessary career counseling, resume help and skills training, so that veterans can obtain employment positions and in turn, employers can realize their skills and talents and match those skills with available employment opportunities.

If you know of a veteran who would benefit from these services or have questions, please call 800-GOODWILL.

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Service Connected Disability

Part 2: Claim with Assistance

By Josh Penner, Veterans Advocate

If you’ve had the chance to follow this newsletter for the last couple months you many remember this is now the third part in a series on Service Connected Disability. Parts one and tow being available here: Part 1 / Part 2. We’ve now covered why you would consider a Service Connected Disability claim and whether or not you may be eligible. This month's topic is who to turn to for assistance in filing your claim.

By all accounts filing your VA Service Connected Disability claim is a big deal. Minor mistakes, missed mail inaccurate information, inadequate evidence, and more can take what seems like a straightforward claim and muddle it in years of appeals-causing anguish, heartache, undue financial burden and more. This alone is grounds for educating yourself on the different options for assistance in filing your claim.

Some of you, perhaps many of you, will be more than capable and willing to deal with the rigmarole of self-presentation, while others - either by nature or because of your disability will not be best served by spearheading this process on your own. For those that wish/require assistance there are four options:

Option 1: Service Officer -
According to the VA website there are approximately 90 Veterans Service Organizations. The most popular of these being (in no particular order): the VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, (DAV), AMVETS, Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), etc..

Each of these organizations has VSO representatives that are trained and certified by their organization to assist you in your VA claim. To be quite frank, the quality and availability of service officers varies greatly. Many of them are unpaid volunteers and while they cannot deny assistance to you, they may have difficulty providing the best service possible to your particular claim. Others are fantastically capable, but overworked. A good service officer is worth their weight in gold, but a good service officer that is overwhelmed seems to be the status quo.

If you chose to have a Service Officer represent you, you will then sign a power of attorney (POA) over to the Service Officer and they will begin the process (in coordination with you) of getting your claim filed. Then, if they/you haven't already done so, they will start to gather and submit in support of your claim, supporting evidence (medical records, official military records, buddy statements, historical and legal precedent, and more).

Option 2: Claims Agent -
A VA accredited claims agent is an independent contractor that is not an attorney (though they may be one), or a service officer (though they may be/been this as well). To become an accredited claims agent, one must pass a test administered by the VA requiring extensive knowledge of the laws governing VA benefits, rules, and regulations. A list of accredited claims agents can be found here.

Many claims agents work for attorneys in a paralegal type role as their subject matter experts on VA claims. Though, there are many who operate independently as well. We'll cover more of their services in the upcoming article concerning Service Connected Disability appeals.

Option 3: Attorney -

Attorneys need to be VA certified in order to practice VA case law. This means the VA must file the VA Form 21a and be approved by the Office of the General Counsel. Specific knowledge of 38 C.F.R. (the law of the claim), as well as procedural knowledge is variable depending on the attorney and their experience. A list of VA accredited attorneys can be found here.

The process for using an attorney to represent you is similar to a VSO and a Claims Agent in that it will require you to submit to a POA so that the attorney can build your case and represent you. You should be aware though, that many attorneys will not represent you on an initial Service Connected Disability application as there is no monetary benefit available for them in doing so. We'll cover the attorney option more in the before mentioned future article on appeals to Service Connected Disability denials.

Option 4: Another person -
A person may assist one time in materially assisting Veterans in claiming their Service Connected Disability. What this means to you – you have the option of working with another un-affiliated, un-credentialed person to file and process your claim. Perhaps you know another Veteran that successfully lobbied their own claim, or someone who is otherwise highly capable that you trust implicitly?

A few key facts to know about your initial claim:

  • You can change your representative at any time by filing a new POA with the VA.
  • No one is able to charge you for the initial application. Including attorneys or claims agents.
  • Anyone not listed above is legally forbidden from providing assistance to you in your claim. Being an attorney or a Veteran is not good enough, accreditation is key (except option 4).

As we wrap up this article though, I want to leave you with clarity of thought. Each of the four options I've detailed to assist you in your claim will in reference to the other three, often describe why you should not use the other three. I would say that the success rates of any of them are not entirely great. This is the time to do a 'gut check' and figure out what it is you really need. Are you best served by working with someone else? Can you deal with difficult people? Do you have someone in your life that you think can assist you better than someone who does this every day? For each of us, the answers to these questions will be different. Thus the help we may need will be just as different.

Next months article will cover the process/procedures for 'going it alone' and filing your own Service Connected Disability claim.

Josh Penner, Veterans Advocate:
Owner, Core Values Consulting - www.vetsCVC.com
Josh served in the United States Marine Corps as a Radio Operator from 2004-2011. He is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and uses his experiences as well as his business education to advocate for and assist Veterans in connecting to resources and benefits. In addition to providing direct services to Veterans, Josh is a regular speaker on Veterans Benefits topics, and regularly consults with businesses and organizations wishing to gain insight in to the broad spectrum of Veterans Benefits and Resources from the Federal, State, County, and Local levels

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