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VA and Student Veterans of America expand career pathways for transitioning service members
By Insurance Wire Staff, . Insurance Wire.
The Department of Veterans Affairs convened its October VetResources Community Network (VRCN) Monthly Connect with employment and career readiness as the central theme, according to VA News. The session brought together VA leaders and community partners to walk through programs available to transitioning service members, Veterans and their families.
What the VA put on the table
Margarita Devlin, who holds the title of principal deputy under secretary for benefits and is performing the duties of the under secretary for benefits, led the VA's formal presentation. She pointed to two flagship programs: Veteran Readiness and Employment, which funds job training and rehabilitation for Veterans with service-connected disabilities, and the G.I. Bill, which covers tuition and living costs for eligible Veterans pursuing education.
"VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment program and G.I. Bill programs equip Veterans with the skills and training they need to compete in today's workforce and build meaningful, long-term careers, not just find jobs," Devlin said.
She also flagged VET TEC 2.0, a program that funds high-technology training, along with apprenticeships, career counseling and federal job listings through USAJOBS. Devlin noted that VA is actively hiring Veterans across the country and encouraged job seekers to set up alerts for new openings.
What Student Veterans of America is building
Student Veterans of America (SVA) used the session to describe an expansion of its services. Research presented during the meeting pointed to the competing demands many student Veterans manage: school, paid work and family obligations simultaneously.
SVA's MySVA platform consolidates career resources, tools that translate military experience into civilian job language, mentorship connections and employer introductions in one place. An SVA presenter described the organization's design philosophy plainly: "Everything we build moves a member toward opportunity."
Critically, SVA said it is extending its reach beyond four-year degree programs to cover apprenticeships, certifications and trade schools, recognizing that not every Veteran's best path runs through a traditional university.
SVA's 19th annual national conference, NatCon, is scheduled for January 4 through 6, 2027, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The event is expected to draw student Veterans, employers, nonprofits and educational institutions. A VA claims clinic will operate on-site, giving attendees direct access to VA representatives.
Why this matters beyond the session
The VRCN itself is a network of organizations serving Veterans, caregivers, survivors and military families. Its value is connective: partners share resources and practices rather than duplicating effort. Brian Evichin, founder of Veterans Legacy Vault and a new VRCN member, described his first session as "very informative" and welcomed the chance to build relationships within the network.
For employers, brokers and benefits administrators who work with Veterans or military spouses, the practical takeaway is that the pipeline of trained, credentialed candidates is widening. SVA's move into trade and certification pathways, combined with VA's continued push on apprenticeships and VET TEC 2.0, means the talent pool is not limited to four-year graduates. Organizations that have not yet connected with VRCN or SVA's employer-facing tools may find those relationships worth establishing before NatCon in January.
Source: https://news.va.gov/150552/vrcn-connect-employment-resources-opportunities/
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