Don’t take our word for it: Learn about VA from Veterans who work here

Did you know one in three VA employees is a Veteran? While you don’t have to be a Veteran to work at VA, the experience provided by our Veterans who continue to serve at VA is invaluable.

But why do Veterans choose to work at VA? What about our mission is so appealing to those who served in the armed forces? Let’s hear from them in their own words.

Why we serve

“Why do I work at VA? It’s simple. To help people that are like me,” said Michael Owens, a national recruitment consultant who served in both the Army and the Air Force. “It’s all about taking care of Veterans.”

“When I left the military, I was unsure about what direction to take. I decided to give the Department of Veterans Affairs a try, because I knew they helped Veterans, and it was something that I really wanted to do,” said Dr. Dennis M. Gaines, Veterans Crisis Line supervisor. “From talking to the Veterans, what I recognize is that their story is just like mine.”

“Law enforcement itself is such a noble mission, but there is no more noble mission than taking care of our nation’s Veterans. That’s truly what brought me to VA,” said Biloxi VA Medical Center Chief of Police F. Keith Bradley, a 22-year Air Force Veteran. “The Veteran is always at the center of everything we do. We get to speak to Veterans on a daily basis, talk to Veterans, assist them. A lot of times these are truly urgent requests, and many times across the nation, every day, VA police are helping Veterans get the care they need.”

“I feel like when I went to work at VA that it was an extension of my service to my country,” said Kendra Wilson-Hudson, a physician recruitment consultant with the VA National Recruitment Service. “Although my military career had ended, I could still take what I learned in the military and use it serving those who served just like I did.”

“Being a Veteran myself, I always knew I would continue to serve in some capacity,” said Laura J. Sarmiento, an Army Veteran and a nurse recruiter. “We offer Veteran-centered care, and all of us have an investment in our Veterans.”

“VA has been my only career outside of the military,” said San Juanita George, a human resources liaison with VA’s Travel Nurse Corps and Army Veteran. “The mission we have at VA is amazing. We understand the mission and we do it well.”

Because I CARE

As with the responses here, much of why Veterans choose to work at VA can be summed up in our mission. At VA, our core values—integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence—define who we are as VA employees and how we will fulfill our mission to care for Veterans.

• Integrity: We choose to act with the highest professional standards and maintain the trust of all with whom we engage.
• Commitment: We work diligently to serve Veterans and are driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission.
• Advocacy: We are truly Veteran-centric, as we work to identify, consider and advance the interests of Veterans.
• Respect: We treat all those we serve and with whom we work with dignity and respect, because we believe you must show respect to earn it.
• Excellence: We strive for the highest quality and value continuous improvement.

Together, these values provide a measure for the standards expected of all VA employees, reminding everyone that “I CARE.”

Work at VA

At VA, we have an unwavering commitment to support Veterans like you, and that includes helping you build rewarding careers within our health care system.

• HEAR more from members of our team.
• WATCH our “Talk About It Tuesday” broadcasts each week.
• LEARN more about working at VA as a Veteran.
• SEARCH for a career near you at VACareers.va.gov.