Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) is operated in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), providing resources to help veterans start or continue careers or set up new businesses. VETS has an official presence at both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the Department of Labor, VETS is focused on finding employment for veterans and service members.
Retiring or separating from the military is a major life change. To help veterans and those about to become retired or separated, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) offers a large collection of resources for transition, job placement, certifications, and adjusting to life in the civilian work force.
What Does VETS Do?
The VETS official site acts as a clearinghouse for services aimed at those separating from military service. There is job board administered by CareerOneStop.org, as well as a variety of training resources, but the VETS site also offers help for veterans in finding local, one-on-one assistance through American Job Centers. Job seekers can search their local area by zip code on the “Find Local Help” page.
VETS also features a page for employers who want to hire veterans. Additionally, VETS protects the employment rights of service members and veterans.
The DOL also has approximately 3,000 American Job Centers that provide job services to all veterans.
HVRP/VWIP Grant Programs
The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program & The Veterans Workforce Investment program
The purpose of the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) is to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment. The Veterans Workforce Investment program is a competitive grant program offered by the VETS. VWIP-funded programs are intended to meet the workforce investment needs of veterans and to perform outreach and public information activities to develop and promote employment and job training opportunities. The primary objectives of VWIP are
Transition Assistance Program
The VETS site features a gateway for transitioning service members who need to access Transition Assistance Program (TAP) training, and VETS also has dedicated resources especially for women veterans.
VETS Programs And Services
Newly separated service members should become familiar with the section on USERRA-the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
Do you know your rights if you left a civilian job to serve in uniform? Do you need to know if those rights have been violated? This section of VETS has important information including how file a claim under USERRA.
Military Skills Translator
The Military Skills Translator is one of the most helpful resources listed on VETS for transitioning service members. You’ll find it linked under the heading “Quick Resources“.
The skills translator allows you to search by military occupation code or by keyword. A search for “dental assistant”, for example, shows a description of the job, and offers a list of resources for civilian certification and matching these military-related skills to a civilian career.