Coming Home to Work
What is the Coming Home to Work Initiative?
The Coming Home to Work Initiative is a part of VR&E's early outreach efforts. Through this Initiative, civilian work experience is made available to VR&E eligible servicemembers pending medical separation from active duty at major Military Treatment Facilities, with a special emphasis on Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) servicemembers. Participants work with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to obtain un-paid work experience in a Government facility. The intent of this program is for VR&E eligible servicemembers facing medical separation to gain or sharpen civilian job skills at a point in their recovery when they are deemed "work-ready" by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. This program does not replace or conflict in any way with medical treatment or military requirements.
Who participates in the Coming Home to Work Initiative?
This program is ideal for VR&E eligible servicemembers who learn easily in a hands-on environment and have a clearly established career goal OR who are seeking a medical hold work assignment that will be meaningful and applicable to their future in the civilian sector. This program is also well suited to VR&E eligible servicemembers who may have difficulty obtaining employment after military separation due to a lack of civilian work experience. Participants in CHTW must be reliable, motivated, and physically able to commute to the designated work site without aggravating any medical condition.
Benefits of the Coming Home to Work Initiative:
- Medical appointments come first - work experience does not interfere with medical treatment or military commitments
- Provides valuable civilian job skills to servicemembers facing medical separation from the military and uncertain futures
- Provides seamless career transition assistance to OIF and OEF servicemembers at Military Treatment Facilities and veterans after military separation
- Establishes Employment History and expands veterans' ability to hone skills developed under their vocational rehabilitation plan
- Provides exposure to employment opportunities in selected vocational disciplines, and participants may qualify for certain Federal Special Hiring Authorities
- Some veterans who gained work experience at the VA in Washington, DC while in a medical hold status at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were hired under special hiring authorities to fill salaried positions closer to home after military separation, based on their successful work performance as a CHTW participant
Where does the work experience take place?
Work experience typically takes place in a federal, state, or local government office. Types of work may include administrative, clerical, professional, technical, or wage grade positions. Work experience assignments are dependent on the aptitudes, interests, and abilities of the participant.
The government office:
- Works with VR&E to establish training objectives
- Conducts appropriate on-the-job training
- Incurs no cost and has no obligation to hire the veteran participant
- Has the opportunity to evaluate the veteran prior to consideration for hiring in a temporary or permanent position
The following VA Regional Offices provide work experience to servicemembers pending medical separation from the corresponding Military Treatment Facilities:
- VA Washington Regional Office, DC
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center/Naval Medical Center - Bethesda
- VA Regional Office San Diego, CA
- Naval Medical Center - Balboa
- VA Regional Office Houston, TX
- Brooke Army Medical Center
- VA Regional Office Atlanta, GA
- Eisenhower Army Medical Center
- VA Regional Office Denver, CO
- Ft. Carson Army Medical Center
- VA Regional Office Waco, TX
- Ft. Hood Army Medical Center
- VA Regional Office Seattle, WA
- Madigan Army Medical Center
Who can I call for more information about the Coming Home to Work Initiative?
- Brian Radford, VR&E Employment Coordinator
- 202-461-9630, Brian.Radford2@va.gov
