Veteran Rapid Retraining and Employment Assistance (VRRAP)

Julie Provost

3 years ago

New VA Program, Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP), Now Accepting Applications

Table of Contents

New Stimulus Plan Add $386 Million in Training and Employment Assistance for Veterans

The American Rescue Plan of 2021 was signed into law by President Biden on March 11th. In this law, there is $386 million for the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP). This new program will be able to offer up to 12 months of training and employment assistance for veterans who are unemployed to enter high-demand occupations.

Who qualifies for the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)?

Veterans:

Must be at least 22 years old but no older than 66 years old.
Must be unemployed because of the covered health emergency.
Cannot be eligible to receive educational assistance under Chapter 30, 31, 32,33, or 35 of title 38 or Chapter 1606 of title 10, of the United States Code.
Cannot be enrolled in any federal or state job program.
Must not be receiving compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling by reason of unemployability.
Cannot be receiving unemployment, including any cash benefit of the CARES Act.

What types of programs are covered by this?

Programs:

Approved under Chapter 36, which is the Department of Veterans Affairs Education and Career Counseling program.
That do not lead to a bachelors or graduate degree.
That are for a high-demand occupation, which is determined by the Commissioner of Labor.
Will need to be a high technology program of education that is offered by a qualified provider based on terms of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.

What do I need to know about the amount of assistance given?

Assistance will be paid directly to the educational institution that is offering the program.
50% of the total amount payable will be paid when the eligible veteran begins the program.
25% of the total amount payable will be paid when the eligible veteran completes the program.
25% of the total amount payable will be paid when the eligible veteran is able to find employment in a field related to the program.

Is there a housing stipend?

There is. For each month that a veteran is in the program, they will receive MHA (Monthly Housing Allowance) based on attending full or half-time, or through distance learning. This is similar to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and will be based on the same BAH as an E-5 with dependents, based on zip code.

What else do I need to know about the Veteran Rapid Retraining Program?

This assistance can not be transferred to anyone else.
No more than 17,250 eligible veterans may receive retraining assistance.
Retraining assistance will only be paid up to 21 months after this Act was enacted.
There will be prorated payments for those who did not finish their programs.

In addition to the money given to this program, the American Rescue Plan of 2021 allocates $17 billion in support of the VA’s nationwide response to the pandemic. This also includes $750 million for both construction grants and payments to state homes to help improve the living conditions of veterans in those facilities and $262 million to reduce the backlog of compensation and pension claims.

You can read more about what is included in this plan on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

High Demand Occupations For Veteran Rapid Retraining and Employment Assistance

As a part of this new plan, the government needs to report on the high demand occupations. The following are high demand occupations for the Veteran Rapid Retraining and Employment Assistance program.

Management Occupations

Chief executives
General and operations managers
Legislators
Marketing managers
Sales managers
Public relations and fundraising managers
Administrative services and facilities

Managers

Computer and information systems managers
Financial managers
Industrial production managers
Human resources managers
Training and development managers
Construction managers
Education administrators, all other
Architectural and engineering managers
Medical and health services managers
Natural sciences managers
Social and community service managers
Emergency management directors
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other

Business and Financial Operations Occupations

Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
Buyers and purchasing agents
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Compliance officers
Cost estimators
Human resources specialists
Logisticians
Management analysts
Meeting, convention, and event planners
Fundraisers
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
Training and development specialists
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
Project management specialists and business operations specialists, all other
Accountants and auditors
Personal financial advisors
Financial examiners
Credit counselors
Loan officers
Financial and investment analysts, financial risk specialists, and financial specialists, all other

Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Computer systems analysts
Information security analysts
Computer network support specialists
Computer user support specialists
Computer network architects
Network and computer systems administrators
Database administrators and architects
Computer programmers
Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
Web developers and digital interface designers
Computer occupations, all other
Actuaries
Operations research analysts
Data scientists and mathematical science occupations, all other

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

Cartographers and photogrammetrists
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
Chemical engineers
Civil engineers
Electrical engineers
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
Industrial engineers
Mechanical engineers
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
Engineers, all other
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Animal scientists
Food scientists and technologists
Soil and plant scientists
Zoologists and wildlife biologists
Conservation scientists
Foresters
Life scientists, all other
Atmospheric and space scientists
Chemists
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
Hydrologists
Agricultural and food science technicians
Biological technicians
Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
Geological and hydrologic technicians
Social science research assistants
Forensic science technicians
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
Occupational health and safety specialists

Community and Social Service Occupations

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
Child, family, and school social workers
Social workers, all other
Health education specialists
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
Community and social service specialists, all other
Clergy
Directors, religious activities, and education

Legal Occupations

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
Paralegals and legal assistants

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

Preschool teachers, except special education
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Elementary school teachers, except special education
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Special education teachers, preschool
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
Special education teachers, secondary school
Special education teachers, all other
Substitute teachers, short-term
Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other
Museum technicians and conservators
Librarians and media collections specialists
Library technicians
Teaching assistants, postsecondary
Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
Educational instruction and library workers, all other

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Special effects artists and animators
Graphic designers
Producers and directors
Coaches and scouts
Choreographers
Public relations specialists
Technical writers
Writers and authors
Interpreters and translators
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
Audio and video technicians
Sound engineering technicians
Camera operators, television, video, and film
Film and video editors

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Dietitians and nutritionists
Radiation therapists
Recreational therapists
Respiratory therapists
Exercise physiologists
Therapists, all other
Registered nurses
Dental hygienists
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Diagnostic medical sonographers
Nuclear medicine technologists
Radiologic technologists and technicians
Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
Dietetic technicians
Psychiatric technicians
Surgical technologists
Veterinary technologists and technicians
Ophthalmic medical technicians
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Opticians, dispensing
Medical dosimetrists, medical records specialists, and health technologists and technicians, all other
Athletic trainers
Health information technologists, medical registrars, surgical assistants, and healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

Healthcare Support Occupations

Nursing assistants
Occupational therapy assistants
Physical therapist assistants
Massage therapists
Dental assistants
Medical assistants
Phlebotomists

Protective Service Occupations

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
Firefighters
Fire inspectors and investigators

Personal Care and Service Occupations

Barbers
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
Manicurists and pedicurists
Skincare specialists

Sales and Related Occupations

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Sales engineers

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
Court, municipal, and license clerks
Order clerks
Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
Statistical assistants

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Carpenters
Electricians
Glaziers
Insulation workers, mechanical
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
Sheet metal workers
Structural iron and steel workers
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

Installation, maintenance, and Repair Occupations

Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
Radio, cellular, and tower equipmentinstallers and repairers
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
Avionics technicians
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Automotive body and related repairers
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Recreational vehicle service technicians
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Industrial machinery mechanics
Maintenance workers, machinery
Millwrights
Telecommunications line installers and repairers
Medical equipment repairers
Wind turbine service technicians
Commercial divers

Production Occupations

Machinists
Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Airfield operations specialists
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers