Unemployed? Here are the top five reasons to choose VRRAP today

If you’re a Veteran who lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, VA may have a solution for you. The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) offers education and training for a variety of high-demand jobs so you can get back to work.

Here are five reasons why you should apply:

1. Train for in-demand jobs with comparatively higher salaries.

With VRRAP, Veterans can learn and grow in their career. Interested in law? Study to become a paralegal or legal assistant. Want to work with your hands? You could train to be a carpenter or electrician.

With over 200 jobs defined as “in-demand” by the Department of Labor, you can use your VRRAP benefit to start a new career in one of these fields. With your new skills, you may qualify for a higher-paying job.

Check out the list of participating schools and see which programs you can apply for today.

2. Gain access to even more benefits.

VRRAP can help Veterans who aren’t currently eligible for other VA education and training benefits.

To qualify for VRRAP you cannot be eligible for other education benefits or Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E). If you were at one time eligible for VA education benefits and have already used them, or transferred them to a family member, you may be able to use VRRAP.

3. Change your life.

VRRAP is one of many education benefits that helps Veterans attend college, get vocational training and more. Veterans recognize the positive impact these benefits have had on their lives.

For example, Army Veteran Chris credits VA education benefits with saving his life and his marriage. Navigating life with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chris says “[The G.I. Bill] allowed me to be able to go back to school and earn my degree so that I can provide for my family, which changed my life.”

For Veterans who lost their jobs because of the pandemic, VRRAP can have a similar life changing impact.

4. Get 12 months of tuition and a housing stipend.

VRRAP covers up to 12 months of tuition in full and provides a monthly housing stipend for students enrolled at least part-time.

For full-time, in-person students, the stipend is based on housing costs in your school’s zip code, mirroring the G.I. Bill housing rates. Full-time online students receive $900.50 per month, which is based on the national average for housing prices.

Part-time students receive a prorated housing stipend, so a student attending 75% of the number of classes their school deems to be full-time will receive 75% of the housing stipend.

5. Don’t miss out!

Don’t wait to apply for this program! VRRAP is a limited-time benefit. VA will stop accepting enrollments for training that begins on or after Dec. 11, or when either the $386 million funding limit is exhausted or the 17,250-participant limit is met, whichever comes first.

The sooner you apply for VRRAP, the sooner you can start the path to your new career. Learn more and start your application today! Visit www.va.gov/vrrap.