Mass Vets Advisor

If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the VA's Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program—also called Chapter 35. To learn more & find out if you are eligible for this monthly payment benefit, please visit the link above.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides comfort & hope 24/7 through a national peer support network & connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families & loved ones. Some offered programs include: - Care Groups; - Youth Programs; - Suicide Loss Support; - Women's Empowerment; - Peer Support; - Seminars, Workshops, & more. To learn more about available TAPS programs visit the link above. For any questions please call: 800-959-TAPS (8277)

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, tools, & training to ensure service members & their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life prior to separation. DOL's VETS office administers a one-day employment preparation workshop that is mandatory for all transitioning service members & two optional two-day workshops for career exploration, technical career preparation, or general employment preparation. To learn more about the TAP program visit the link above.

The Troops to Energy Jobs Initiative is designed to help veterans & members of the National Guard & Reserves make a successful transition to a rewarding career in the energy industry. Their interactive Roadmap guides participants step-by-step in transferring military training to a new energy job, identifying any additional education & credentials needed while supporting them in their job search. To learn more & register for the program please visit the link above.

The Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP) is the commanders’ primary on-duty education program. BSEP is a refresher course offered in Math & English for soldiers to take to help raise their GT scores when re-testing on the Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT). BSEP is a teacher-facilitated program with computer lessons for learning enhancement. BSEP's goals are to promote retention, increase re-enlistment options, & improve job performance. To learn more & register visit the link above.

Ukrainian American Veterans (UAV) is an organization composed of honorably discharged veterans of the US Armed Forces who are of Ukrainian heritage or descent. The group maintains multiple services such as: - a monument dedicated to all Ukrainian-American service members - a project to register & honor servicemembers of Ukrainian heritage - a scholarship & welfare fund. To learn more or join visit UAV visit the link above. You can also: Call: (847) 825-1717 Email: uavpublicity@gmail.com

USA Cares’ mission is to provide post-9/11 military veterans, service members, & their families with financial assistance & post-service skills training to create a foundation for long-term stability. Their services improve the quality of life for veterans & their families, while reducing potential factors that can contribute to veteran suicide. To learn about programs or see positions on their job board visit the link above. For any questions: Call: 1-800-773-0387 Email: info@usacares.org

The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, & country throughout their service to the nation. USO centers are operated at or near military installations across the US & around the world (including in combat zones), & at US airports to offer around the clock hospitality for traveling service members & their families. To learn more about USO locations services, or to get involved visit the link above or call: +1 (888) 484 3876

The USO Pathfinder Transition Program works with strategic partners to connect service members & military spouses to resources through a holistic approach, focusing on: - Employment - Education (including Skillsoft, IBM SkillsBuild, & Coursera) - Financial readiness - Mentorship - Increased access to local veterans’ benefits To learn more about this program & connect to a transition specialist please visit the link above.

The VA's "Veterans in the Workplace" study gained insight into practices that improve Veteran retention in the workplace. A critical element to workplace retention advocated by study respondents was employer support & development of Veteran mentoring programs. Veteran mentoring programs create peer support among Veterans in the civilian workplace. To learn about the benefits of creating these programs in your workplace along with some helpful tools, visit the link above.