The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program, or VRRAP for short, is a time-limited program that has a sunset date before the end of 2022. Even though veteran unemployment has remained low at less than 3% for a second month, there are still veterans that lost their jobs due to or during the pandemic and have not found suitable employment since. If you are one of them, consider enrolling in this program and learn a new skillset for a more stable and well-paying line of work in a field where there is more demand then people to fill them.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the retraining program, veterans must meet all of these five requirements:
- At least 22 years old, but not older than 60, and
- Unemployed because of the pandemic, and
- Not rated as totally disabled and can’t work, and
- Not enrolled in other federal or state employment of training programs, and
- No GI Bill education benefits left to use
5 Reasons to Enroll in VRRAP
If you meet the above requirements, but are still unsure if VRRAP is right for you, consider these five reasons to get into the program while you still can.
1. Train for the Future
The Department of Labor has defined over 200 jobs that are high-demand occupations waiting to be filled by trained people. And the demand for these jobs is predicted to remain high into the foreseeable future. The skills learned in a VRRAP training course can qualify you for one of these jobs that pay well and has a stable future, both important in this chaotic world we live in.
2. Take advantage of more education benefits
Many unemployed veterans have already exhausted their GI Bill education benefits and because they are unemployed do not have the funds to pay for a retraining course on their own. While that may seem like a negative, it actually works in their favor as that is one of the eligibility requirements – no GI Bill education benefits left to use.
3. Make a career change in your life
Some veterans that are still unemployed may want to change the direction of their career and do something different. Getting into any of the high-demand jobs on the list is not only a change in the work you will be doing, but all of them pay really well. Having a steady income to support your family can be life changing … especially if you have been struggling since you lost your job due to the pandemic.
4. Get paid while training
Not only does VRRAP pay up to 12 months of tuition for the training, but you also get paid a monthly housing allowance (MHA) while in the program. The MHA mirrors the same pay rate used in the Post 9/11 GI Bill, so the amount you get each month is based on the zip code of the training facility.
Part-time students get a pro-rated amount based on their training status (¾ time, ½ time, etc.). Full-time students taking online programs get a fixed rate of $900.50 per month which is half of the average national MHA rate – same as for online only students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
5. Enroll before it is too late
VRRAP is a time-limited training program that is set to expire once any one of these three conditions are met:
- The program’s expiration date of December 11, 2022
- Once enrollment reaches 17,250 students
- Once the budget of $386 million is exhausted
Right now the program is still accepting applications, but know at best that VRRAP will end within 6 months … maybe sooner if the participant or budget target points are reached sooner. This may well be one of your last chances to get in on this life-changing veterans training opportunity!
