Dear Mr. Shapiro,

Please allow me to introduce myself. As Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), I have responsibility for VA’s education (GI bill), vocational rehabilitation and employment and guaranteed home loan programs.

Additionally, my office assists in coordinating many veteran employment efforts and works collectively with the Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal agencies to promote and impact nationwide veteran employment.

I came across the Reisterstown Patch article entitled “Help Wanted? Hire a Vet” and I would like to personally thank you for the valuable service your newspaper is providing to this deserving group of individuals. 

There is a new benefit called the Veterans Retraining and Assistance Program (VRAP) which is effective for training in a high demand career field beginning on July 1, 2012. This program was established in the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 as a measure to improve veterans employment.  Please visit  http://www.benefits.va.gov/vow/ for additional information. VRAP applications are now being accepted online.

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
1800 G Street, NW, Suite 510 - Mail Stop 20E 
Washington, DC 20420
202-443-6080
curtis.coy@va.gov

Note: Marc Shapiro is the local editor for Owings Mills/Reisterstown Patches.