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Veterans Affairs, Voc Rehab ProgramOct 08 '00 Write an essay on this topic.I have recently been medically retired from the military with a medical disability. I did not really have time to plan for this sudden change in my life nor did I have time to save enough moneys to return to school. An although the military sounds great in all the adds you see on television. You know the ones "prepare for the future" well to be honest I wasnt prepared I mean how many employers are going to hire someone to blow things up? An I cannot do any heavy lifting with my disability. WHAT WAS I TO DO? As I went through the process of separating out of the military I was briefed on my Veterans benefits. I was told about a program called Vocational Rehab. I did not take much stock in the future of this due to all the uninformed input I received from my peers. Like don't think you will ever get anything from the VA. It took so-an-so 10 months before he got his set up. Then they messed it up to boot. Well this is not my experience as of yet. As soon as it was official that I was getting out of the military I started the process of getting into the vocational rehabilitation program. I had not even had my disability rated by the Army when I sent the paperwork off. I was warned at the time by the VA representative that it would take several months to get finished. And typical to the government about two months later I received a notice that an appointment had been set up for me to take some aptitude test and see if I was smart enough to return to school. Guess they decided I was. I went to take the test about 50 miles from my house. When I arrived I was treated with courtesy and respect. I was given the tests and couselled on what program I would like to go into when I returned to school. I filled out a bit of paperwork and was on my way home. Took about three hours total. The people at the testing center told me I would be hearing from a VA representative in about a month or so. To my surprise about two weeks later I received a check from Uncle Sam for my gas and mileage to take the test. About a month after that I received a notice to come into an appointment with a VA counselor to discuss my case. The date fell right in the middle of my move and was very inconvenient. I called the man who I was supposed to see to get the appointment changed. Yeah Right. He told me yeah no problem Ill just kick it back. I'm thinking great, good deal, when he says a "month". HUh, I think I'll just make it on the day it was originally planned. He said ok, and we went our merry ways. Well i get through with the move and go to see him. On Friday at 10:00 in the morning. Unfortunately when I arrive he tells me my appointment was on the preceding Thursday. He tells me to come back and and he will try to get me in. which he did about three hours later. At this time we did all the paper work required. and I go on my way. Once again receiving a check for my gas and mileage. All in all he did his job but he was not the nicest person I have met in this process. I soon registered for classes and was enrolled wandering if the voc rehab was going to kick in in time. It didn't but the school held my bill until they got the OK from their VA rep. Whom I now fell under for the program. This woman is very nice and seems to be on top of the situation. She took care of getting everything set up so that I just buy my books and supplies at the campus book store and VA picks up the tab. This is a list of some of the benefits offered under this program to disable veterans. 100% Tuition Paid 100% Books paid 100% Supplies paid VA also pays a monthly living stipend to the member. VA pays $11.00/hr for a tutor (not enough) This may not be all of what the program pays but this is what I have gotten so far.  |
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