Learn how you benefit from a career at VA

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career comes with unique opportunities and challenges. At the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), we understand that perhaps better than any other employer.

That’s why hiring Veterans is a priority for us. And with National Hire a Vet Day on July 25, we want to remind you and all Veterans that we value the special skills and perspectives that you bring to our work providing high-quality care to those who have served. It’s one of the reasons Glassdoor recently singled us out as a top employer of Veterans and their families.

Enjoy a benefits package with Veterans in mind

A total of 123,608 Veterans — more than 30 percent of the workforce — work at VA, according to the latest federal government data. And with good reason: We’re invested in providing our Veteran workforce with benefits that go beyond premium-paid health insurance and robust retirement plans. (Although we have those, too!)

You can become job-ready with access to VA’s one-on-one career counseling and vocational rehabilitation. Or put more money in your pocket by accessing VA’s education support programs that offer eligible employees tuition assistance, loan repayment, Veteran-focused scholarships and more.

You can get hired more quickly by applying for VA’s many jobs with Veteran-hiring preferences and keep your skills sharp with access to professional development, mentorship and leadership training.

If you’re living with a service-related or other disability, VA wants you to apply. In fact, our goal is for 3 percent of new hires to be people with targeted disabilities.

If you choose to tell us that you are living with a disability when applying for a job, consider VA’s Schedule A fast-track hiring program. Once hired, VA’s policy is that everything — staff meetings, trainings, luncheons and conferences — must be fully accessible, and we offer tools and accommodations to help you succeed at work.

Use your military experience to care for other Veterans

We hire Veterans because we know your deep understanding of Veterans’ issues and shared experiences with both your fellow Veteran colleagues and VA’s patient population allow you to excel personally and professionally at VA.

Through the Transitioning Military Program, we highlight your pathway to well-paying careers tied to your military experiences. Intermediate Care Technicians Ryan White and Anthony Juarez, for instance, are part of VA’s crew of former basic medical technicians, combat medic specialists, basic hospital corpsmen or basic health services technicians who use skills learned in service to care for fellow Veterans. Veterans also serve as medical support assistants, mental health providers, nurses, physicians and other staff.

Discover other VA career benefits

Other benefits of a VA healthcare career include competitive pay, ability to apply military service time to a civil service pension, and the option to receive a pension and participate in a 401(k)-type retirement savings plan. Additional perks include:

 With one active license, work at locations across the United States and the territories.
 Care for your family with premium-support group health insurance.
 Go mobile with telework options, transit support and, in some cases, child care subsidies.

Choose VA today

A VA career offers you the chance to start your next mission serving and caring for fellow Veterans. See if a career with VA is right for you.

EXPLORE how to transition to a VA career: https://rly.pt/VACareer

Darren Sherrard is an Army Veteran who served for two decades and now puts his skills to work for VA as Associate Director for Recruitment Marketing. Darren leads the VA Careers Program, which is designed to attract high-quality healthcare personnel to work at VA.