I CARE in Action

In a changing world, VA’s core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (I CARE) provide an enduring description of our culture and the quality of service  VA  provides to Veterans. These values aren’t new—VA employees live by them every day—but formalized, they provide a clear path to our success in fulfilling our mission “To care for him who shall have borne the battle.”

From his appointment as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald has reestablished the importance of living by the I CARE values.

“I am convinced that it is critical that all of us at VA reaffirm our commitment to our mission and our values. Our commitment to serving Veterans must be unquestioned. Veterans must know that we are “all in” when it comes to accomplishing our mission and living by our values,” he says.

Every single employee at VA plays a critical role in supporting the overall vision and mission of VA—to better serve our Veterans, their families, and caregivers—and also contributes to our professional reputation as a caring and quality organization.

VHA National Recruitment Program consultants and the staff of VHA Health Care Recruitment and Marketing can attest to the importance of the I Care core values in attracting qualified health care candidates to VA.  For many health care providers, working in an environment where integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence is the driving force in providing personalized, proactive patient-driven health care to VA.

In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, VA employees who demonstrate I CARE core values in their daily interaction with Veterans and coworkers can share their stories on the VA Careers blog.

Please share your own story in the comments below!

 Watch Secretary Bob’s video below, and learn more about his commitment to I CARE.