{"id":14733,"date":"2022-01-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/24\/service-disabled-this-program-can-help-your-transition-to-civilian-life\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:05:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:05:48","slug":"service-disabled-this-program-can-help-your-transition-to-civilian-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/education-transition\/2022\/01\/24\/service-disabled-this-program-can-help-your-transition-to-civilian-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Service-disabled? This program can help your transition to civilian life."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Veterans Readiness and Employment Program<\/a> or VR&E (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment or Chapter 31) is an alternative program to the GI Bill <\/a>created to assist disabled veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VR&E individual support options<\/a> cover a much broader spectrum of needs than just education. For those who are disabled due to service-related injuries, it goes beyond in terms of assisting those transitioning, discharged, and active-duty personnel preparing to enter civilian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specific services are offered and tailored to match the needs of the individual regarding job training, employment accommodations, resume development, job-seeking skills, and services to assist veterans in starting their own businesses. In addition, independent living services are provided for the severely disabled and those unable to work in traditional employment situations, according to the VA website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program offers employment evaluation, vocational training, rehabilitation planning, job training, employment support and counseling, employment assistance, apprenticeships, education, rehab, and independent living assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A professional vocational rehabilitative counselor is assigned to each veteran or servicemember to coordinate a personalized plan fitting the individual\u2019s goals and needs. To be eligible for the VR&E, veterans must be at least 10-percent disabled with a service-connected injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active duty troops can also benefit from VR&E<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Active duty troops may also be eligible for VR&E benefits and services if they meet at least one of two requirements: they must have a 20-percent or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating), or they\u2019re separating from the military soon or awaiting discharge due to a severe illness or injury that occurred while on active duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Service members who\u2019ve been wounded, injured, or who\u2019ve become ill while serving but can\u2019t perform their duties should ask to see a VRC at their current or nearest military installation that hosts an Integrated Disability Evaluation System site. This is where they\u2019ll receive the disability evaluation and the proposed VA disability rating required to take advantage of the VR&E program prior to leaving service. After referral to the Physical Evaluation Board at one of these sites, a mandatory meeting with a VRC is assigned and the process begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VR&E services to get you back in the game<\/h4>\n\n\n\n