The Veterans Employment Toolkit, va.gov/VETSINWORKPLACE/index.asp, was created by the National Center for PTSD, in conjunction with the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Mental Health Services.

The primary development team consisted of a group of psychologists at the Dissemination and Training Division of the National Center for PTSD. The National Center for PTSD is a VA center of excellence for research and education on the prevention, understanding and treatment of PTSD. The purpose of the National Center for PTSD is to improve the well-being and understanding of American veterans who have served our country.

The team included Sara J. Landes, Ph.D., Pamela Swales, Ph.D., Pearl McGee-Vincent, Psy.D., Rachel Rodriguez, Ph.D., Shana Spangler, Psy.D., Robyn Walser, Ph.D. and Josef Ruzek, Ph.D.

The team worked in conjunction with a number of other individuals and agencies to create a useful resource for employers, managers and supervisors, human resource professionals, Employment Assistance Program (EAP) providers and veterans. 

The Toolkit’s was designed to help employers, managers and supervisors, human resource professionals and EAP providers relate to and support their employees who are veterans, and members of the Reserve and National Guard.

It provides myriad resources for veterans, reservists and their families, and employers seeking to hire them: va.gov/VETSINWORKPLACE/docs/em_fullversionResources.asp and va.gov/VETSINWORKPLACE/veteranresources.asp.

Toolkit resources include the following information; log onto va.gov/VETSINWORKPLACE/index.asp to access the links the Toolkit provides:

• Department of Veterans Affairs: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. Some VA services are available to assist with Veteran employment, including vocational rehabilitation and employment.

• National Center for PTSD: The VA’s National Center for PTSD conducts research and education on trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The website offers extensive information on coping, treatment, educational materials and more.

• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): The DOL has a number of resources available for employers, such as Resources for Employers, Veteran’ Employment and Training Services (VETS), Work Opportunity Tax Credit Information, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Compliance Assistance - Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and a Toolkit for Federal Agencies on Implementing Executive Order 13548.

• America’s Heroes at Work: This program is designed for employers and the workforce development system, to help returning service members and veterans living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace - particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It offers online trainings, webcasts and presentations and a Hiring Veterans Toolkit, as well as a TBI, PTSD & Employment Training Tool.

• Feds Hire Vets: This is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) government-wide veterans employment website. On November 9, 2009, then-President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which establishes the Veterans Employment Initiative. The website about this initiative includes sections for federal hiring managers and HR practitioners.

• Federal Occupational Health’s (FOH) Employee Assistance Program (EAP): FOH is a non-appropriated agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that provides occupational health and wellness services exclusively to federal employees. They offer assistance 7 days/week, 24 hours/day at 800-222-0364 or 888-262-7848 (TTY).

• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR): The ESGR operates programs directed toward U.S. employers, employees and communities to ensure understanding of the role of Reserve and National Guard members. ESGR provides the following services to assist members of the Reserve and National Guard and their civilian employers: recognition, information, and mediation. They also offer employer resources and an Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) resource page.

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): The SHRM is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. As one of its many resources, it offers information on military employment, including a military employment resource page.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page: The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. This website offers information and resources for complying with the ADA.

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN): The JAN is the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. JAN offers one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, ADA and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities. 

• Understanding Your Employment Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Veterans: This U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guide briefly explains how protections for veterans with service-connected disabilities differ under USERRA and ADA. It also describes how the ADA, in particular, applies to recruiting, hiring and accommodating veterans with service-connected disabilities.

• Project HIRED Wounded Warrior Workforce Program: Project HIRED supports veterans with disabilities with career services, retraining and wrap-around support services. It also supports employers of veterans with disabilities by providing HR support, management and staff training programs, and customized workshops and consultation services.

• USERRA Advanced e-Learning Course: USERRA is the federal law that establishes rights and responsibilities for members of the Reserve and National Guard, and their civilian employers. USERRA affects employment, reemployment, employment benefits and retention in employment, when employees serve or have served in the uniformed services.

• Hero Health Hire: This offers a place where business leaders, government officials and citizens can learn, share information, and commit to helping our nation’s wounded warriors find and retain meaningful employment. It offers information, tools and guidance in recruiting, hiring, training, and supporting wounded warriors in the workplace. 

• Northrop Grumman, Operation IMPACT (Injured Military Pursing Assisted Career Transition): Operation IMPACT assists severely injured service members with the transition to civilian careers.

• Military Cultural Competence Online Course: This online course offers more information about military rank structure, branches of service, the difference between active and reserve components, demographics of military personnel, and general and deployment related terms.

• Hire Veterans: This allows employers to advertise job postings to veterans, and allows veterans to post their resumes for search by employers.

• VetJobs: This allows employers to advertise job postings to veterans, and allows veterans to post their resumes for search by employers. It also offers a number of resources for veterans and employers. 

• U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Dictionary of Military Terms: This is a dictionary of military definitions, acronyms and abbreviations.

• VetNet: This is a technology-based platform positioned to assist veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses, find and prepare for meaningful post-service careers. VetNet is a dynamic and interactive platform, where each week live content is delivered and focused across three tracks of workforce preparation and training. These tracks include:

o Basic Training Track: Get ready for the workplace with resume-writing workshops, learn and understand paths to work, school, or self-employment, and connect directly to a database of more than one million veteran-preferred jobs.

o Career Connections Track: Learn about different career options and opportunities by participating in weekly video chats with industry experts, and get advice from veterans eager to share their career experiences.

o Entrepreneur Track: Is business ownership is right for you? If so, then participate in online seminars focused on the nuts and bolts of business ownership, and weekly hangouts with experienced entrepreneurs.

• Troops to Teachers: This is a U.S. Department of Education and DOD program that helps eligible military personnel begin new careers as teachers in public schools.

• Helmets to Hardhats: This connects veterans to promising careers in construction.

• Veterans Green Jobs: This helps veterans transition into their communities and find career opportunities across all environmental sustainability sectors of the economy. It offers training and experience, directly employs veterans and provides entrepreneurial opportunities.

• Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program: The United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters’ (UA) program provides returning veterans with 16 weeks of accelerated welding training. The program is preceded by an additional two weeks of transitional training to help returning veterans to adjust to civilian life.

• Wall Street Warfighters Foundation: The program prepares veterans with disabilities for careers in the financial services industry.

• Real Warriors: This provides a descriptive list of Tips for Finding a Job and Achieving Success in the Civilian Workplace. The list includes the America’s Heroes at Work, the JAN, the National Resource Directory and the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) booklet ADA: Know Your Rights Returning Service Members with Disabilities.

• VA: It offers a number of resources for helping veterans obtain and excel in employment both within and outside VA. These resources include:

o Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO): This is a strategic program management office that provides employment and career management resources designed to attract, retain and support veteran employees at VA and across the federal government, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

o Compensated Work Therapy: This is a VA vocational rehabilitation program that focuses on matching and supporting work-ready veterans with competitive jobs.

o Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E): The Vet Success Program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VetSuccess offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.

• American Corporate Partners (ACP): This is a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping recently returned veterans transition to the civilian workforce via mentoring, career counseling and networking.

• Combat to Corporate: This is a website developed by a veteran that helps explain how to apply your military training to succeed and excel in the business world.

• DOL’s My Next Move: This is a website that helps you find out more about careers - including describing types of jobs, education needed, and skills and abilities that will help one succeed - browse careers by industry, and find careers like your military job.

• Call of Duty Endowment: This is a non-profit public benefit corporation that helps military personnel transition to civilian careers by assisting organizations that provide job placement and training to veterans, as well as engaging the media and public forums to raise awareness about the issue.

• Student Veterans of America: This is a coalition of student veterans groups on college campuses across the U.S. The coalition’s mission is to provide veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation.