Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) United States Department of Labor Junior Ortiz

1. Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) United States Department of Labor Junior Ortiz Deputy Assistant Secretary 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20210

2. By the Numbers • June 2012 unemployment rate for Veterans was 7.4% (806,000); Gulf War II 9.5% (196,000). • 1 million new veterans expected over the next 5 years

3. VETS’ Mission • Our Mission is to proudly serve our Veterans and Service Members by: • Providing Expertise and Resources • Preparing our Veterans for Careers • Protecting Service Members and Veterans Employment Rights

4. The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 • The VOW Act makes TAP mandatory for most service members transitioning to civilian status. • The VOW Act provides for nearly 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to 1-year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high-demand sectors, from trucking to technology. • It also provides disabled Veterans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits up to 1-year of additional VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits. • The VOW Act provides tax credits for hiring veterans and disabled veterans who are out of work.  

5. The VRAP2011 • VRAP– Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program • Designed for Veterans who are 35-60, unemployed, and have exhausted their G.I. Bill benefits • Eligible recipients receive 12 months of retraining assistance • Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program • Must Lead to: Associate’s Degree, Non-College Degree, Certification, and train you in a high demand occupation (health care, construction, etc) as determined by DOL. • Program began on July 1, 2012 (95,000 slots available until March 31) • 30,000+ applicants have been accepted thus far

6. Employment Workshops • In accordance with the VOW act TAP is now mandatory for transitioning service members • TAP has 3 components to it: Branch Specific Information; Medical/Education Benefits; and Employment Training. • At TAP, transitioning service members will receive: • Help building resumes • Information on how to transfer skills • Tips on Job Searching • Interviewing Skills • Gold Card

7. One Stop Career Center • DOL has over 2600 One Stop Career Centers (OSCC) throughout the United States and its territories. • OSCC provides employment services and training to veterans • Veterans can use their Gold Cards from TAP to receive employment search assistance for up to 6 months. • Veterans also receive Priority of Service at OSCC’s • VETS also has 1 or both of the following personnel at most OSCCs: • DVOP (Disabled Veterans Outreach Personnel) – Work specifically with veterans who have been identified as having significant barriers to employment • LVER (Local Veterans Employment Representative) – Actively engages with local employers for employment opportunities for veterans.

8. DVOP & LVER Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program • Works with Veterans who have significant barriers to employment • Can help by providing outreach to other programs to better help Veterans • VA Medical Centers • VA Voc Rehab • VSO’s • Local Veterans’ Employment Representative • Conducts outreach with local employers and engages in advocacy efforts with hiring executives to increase employment opportunities for veterans.

9. My Next Move • My Next Move (www.mynextmove.org) provides veterans and service members with tools to help: • Translate their military skills • Search Industries that are hiring • Search areas that industries are hiring in • Apply for Jobs

10. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Right Act (USERRA) • Since September 11, 2001, VETS has briefed more than 727,000 individuals on USERRA. • In FY 2010 alone, VETS presented USERRA information to more than 93,000 individuals. • Briefings to mobilizing and demobilizing members of the Guard and Reserves are given in collaboration with ESGR. • The two agencies strive to ensure that every reserve component member receives a USERRA briefing upon mobilization and demobilization from active military service.

11. VETS 100-100A • Since 2008, VETS and OFCCP has supported affirmative action’s to employ Veterans • Legislative mandate—under 38 U.S. Code, Sections 4211 and 4212, codified at 41 CFR Sections 61-250 and 61-300 • Contractors and subcontractors who enter into, or modify a contract or subcontract with the Federal Government—are required to report annually on their affirmative action efforts in employing Veterans. • VETS- will collect, make available to OFCCP, reported data contained on the VETS 100 and/or VETS 100A for compliance enforcement. • Report must be filed no later than September 30th.

12. Credentialing • Job skill certifications from military service do not transfer over • Veterans have to spend time and money in order to re-certify • Current efforts underway across the board to address this issue

13. VET’S Mission