New Federal Training Program for Unemployed Veterans

Unemployed veterans will benefit from a new federal program known as the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP. National College will be hosting information sessions on the program at the Fort Wayne Campus, 6131 North Clinton Street, on Wednesday, June 27, at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eligible veterans can receive up to $17,676—$1,473 a month for 12 months of training in more than 200 high-demand career fields.

“National College supports this program to show our appreciation to veterans and their families for the sacrifices they made for our country,” said Frank Longaker, National College president. “We are committed to helping veterans develop the skills they need to start their new career.”

When combined with the College’s exclusive Blue Ribbon Grant, veterans could have little to no costs to earn a degree or diploma at National College. The Blue Ribbon Grant will award up to $10,000 in additional financial support to qualified current and former military, Guard/Reserve, and related individuals (spouses and children) interested in pursuing a higher education. This grant may be used with existing military education benefits.

William and Laura Holley, both students at the Danville, Virginia Campus, have benefitted from the College’s military benefits including the Blue Ribbon Grant. “If it hadn’t been for National College, I wouldn’t have been able to use those benefits,” William said to a staff member for Congressman Morgan Griffith during a visit in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

To qualify, applicants must be unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 and must be enrolled after July 1, 2012 in a higher education program approved for VA benefits that will lead to an associate degree, diploma, or certificate.

The VRAP is limited to 45,000 participants nationwide from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. According to the VA, outreach for the VRAP has garnered over 12,000 applicants since May 1.

To learn more about VRAP, to get assistance in completing the application process, and to explore National College’s exclusive Blue Ribbon Grant, call 888-9-NC-MILITARY (888-962-6454) or visit us on the web at www.National-College.edu/Military/VRAP.