The Department of Veterans Affairs successfully completed phase 1 of the Readiness and Employment System (RES) deployment nearly a month ahead of schedule, modernizing the case management platform for the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
RES enhances how VA supports Veterans in preparing for, finding and maintaining meaningful employment.
The change results in VR&E reducing manual processes, improving case visibility and integrating features supporting VR&E staff in their day-to-day operations.
Launching RES is a critical component of VR&E’s comprehensive transformation for revolutionizing how Veterans access and receive support. This will drive innovative career support, sustainability and accountability, ensuring Veterans receive personalized and effective services. Phase 1 of RES serves Veterans with a 20% or more service-connected disability rating who have not previously received VR&E services.
Early results show a significant impact: average application processing times have dropped from seven days to just over two days, allowing Veterans to connect with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors more quickly and begin their individual rehabilitation plans sooner.
“We’re building a VA that’s modern, responsive and relentlessly focused on Veterans’ needs,” said VA Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits Margarita Devlin. “RES is just one example of how we’re replacing outdated tools with modern systems that put Veterans first and improve outcomes across the board.”
VA will continue with the RES rollout with phase 2 having started in November 2025. This will expand the system incrementally to include remaining VR&E active cases, including re-applicants and Veterans with a 10% service-connected disability ratings. Phase 3 will follow, covering applicants for educational and career counseling. VR&E helps Veterans with service-connected disabilities that limit their ability to work explore employment options and address career development needs, aiming for lifelong success and independence.
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I was denied VRE entitlement benefits when I tried to finish my MSW-C. I applied twice, and the VRE counselors denied the benefits, claiming that I have enough credentials to pursue a job, even though I sent a transcript to prove that I need to finish my master’s in clinical social work to obtain a license and secure a job with the federal government. Without a permit, I will never get a job.
I requested help with a job without pay program offered in the video in the orientation but I did not know that the VRE counselors refuse to help me find the job with a federal agency so I can have experience, references, and serve my sisters and brothers in arms.
The worst thing about the VRE program is to allow the VRE councelor decide the Veterans’ entitlements for educational benefits. I was in the VRE program, but due to the COVID pandamic I had to stop because I was at high risk for COVID. They put me out, and I have two apply two times and they rejected me.
Hmmm, interesting. I actually applied the first week of October (2025) as I go laid off due to the gov’t shutdown and budget cuts. The job was also exasperating my medical conditions, so that was timely. I haven’t heard anything at all and have called a few times to check the status. During the gov’t shutdown, the online form wasn’t able to be digitally signed due to the website being updated (so I was told), so I also submitted the PDF form digitally signed. I’ve since found and called the Baltimore VR&E office and there is no one to talk to, only voice mail that is not set up and/or full. From what I understand, my submission request will expire soon since no action is being done, so kind of dead in the water there. I guess that I’ll need to restart the process (?).
Tried this program twice and each time ended in failure. This last time I applied I got a letter in the mail stating that I had a meeting scheduled. Sweet! However, the appointment date had already passed and even the time stamp on the letter was AFTER my apointment DTG. Just a few days after this I got a letter reporting that I had been denied for basically missing the scheduled apt.
I called and emailed multiple timies to rectify the situation and was told that I could appeal the decision. So, I appealed it and they denied once more.
There was no explanation on how their mess up was my fault, nor an apology, nor ANY accountability. I am pretty chill but the people I spoke with basically mocked me and the next echelon supervisor, never returned any calls or email.
And no, I did not receive any emails concerning the appointment before it happened. Complete joke of a program.
It all sounds good here on the internet, but the TRUTH of the matter is that so many veterans in the program are not getting the support promised to them.
From non-communication with their counselors, to “red tape” preventing vital deadlines being met, this so-called “New” VR&E seems to be more of the same old Bravo Sierra!
Veterans are making every effort to make this program work, are the Counselors and support staff doing their part?
With all due respect, I have not received any communication from the VR&E program since October 15. As a result, I lost my October classes and have now also lost my January classes, solely because I never received an email, authorization, or Purchase Order (PO) from my assigned counselor.
My counselor has completely disappeared. I have no point of contact, no guidance, and no support. I am completely lost in the process. I have made numerous phone calls to the VA, including offices as far as Cleveland, and I have received no response or resolution.
This situation has placed me in a very difficult academic and financial position, through no fault of my own. I have complied with all requirements, submitted documentation as requested, and acted in good faith at every step.
At this point, the system appears to be broken, non-functional, or severely understaffed, and it is failing to meet the basic obligations owed to veterans who are actively trying to improve their lives through education and rehabilitation.
I agree with every comment on this post. I don’t know what is really going on with the VA, but reading news letters about different departments approving on services like this one, to me are just not true. I have tried so many times to contact my VR&E case manager and I received nothing from him. I have been very active on my part to complete all the paper work and my submissions that he asked and needed to start my program. And now I have missed two semesters of school. The last attempt of communication from VR&E was a generated email asking me if my situation has changed. UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
As an Post 9/11 OIF Vet, the VA has never contacted me back for anything other than to distribute my GI Bill. I have filed claims, I have asked for employment assistance, I have spoke with counselors. I have never received an email or phone call in response to actually delivering anything. The current VA is a massive failure and disgrace to all US veterans.
I was told by a counselor that I had to get a letter from my previous employer stating that I was no longer able to perform physical tasks in my profession (Nuclear Medicine Technologist) before they’d accept me to the VR&E program. As if any employer has the right to judge me medically. I was trying to transition from a somewhat physical job (lifting heavy objects like patients and equipment) to a non-physical as one might do when leaving Active Duty with injuries. They will do anything to avoid actually doing their job.
Sounds like a HIPAA violation in the making. Any medical ADA accommodations and the like are internal HR documents and are only to be shared by the employees at their discretion. Pretty sure that you won’t be able to get prior records from your employer.
While I appreciate the VA’s effort to modernize VR&E case management, my personal experience does not reflect the improvements described in this article. I applied nearly four months ago and, to date, have had only an initial conversation with a counselor. Since then, I’ve experienced months of no contact, missed or late Zoom meetings, unanswered emails and phone calls, and repeated assurances of follow-up that never occurred.
If processing times and case visibility have truly improved, that has not translated into accountability or communication at the individual veteran level. For veterans actively trying to transition, retrain, or stabilize their lives, prolonged silence and missed commitments are not just inconvenient — they are damaging.
I hope future phases of this system focus not only on technology, but on consistent counselor engagement, responsiveness, and follow-through, because those are the areas where the system is still failing many veterans
My current counselor, Ms. Jamella Johnson, has been providing me assistance to further my education in Human Resources. I have not been able to contact her since December 15, 2025. I am asking for someone to contact me because I am in limbo, and a class that I was supposed to be enrolled in started, January 5, 2026. Thank you in advance.
You aren’t alone. The program is definitely not user friendly. I’m not sure if it too much for the staff in place or just sheer lack of competence from the service officers. It’s been like pulling teeth for me. Now the TRIO program I have dealt with was great.
This is a bull shit lie!! I have not heard a thing from anyone and i applied more than a month ago and i have now missed the deadline to schedule classes for the last two semesters! I have called every number I can call emailed every email I can find and no one responds or returns call! It’s typically VA lack of competency!