VETS-Beyond the Uniform Foundation -- $25,000 VETS-Beyond the Uniform Program
Program Description:
The VETS-Beyond the Uniform Program is designed to address the critical needs of unemployed veterans and military spouses by providing comprehensive support for their career transition into civilian life in North County and San Diego City. The project focuses on reducing veteran unemployment, supporting military spouses, and mitigating the risk of veteran suicides linked to joblessness and associated mental health issues.
The program includes specialized assessments, one-on-one coaching, mentoring, and access to over 200 free skills workshops and certification courses. It also provides support to military spouses. Recognizing the career sacrifices made by military spouses, the project gives them access to career support services, training, and certifications to help them achieve career success. The project also emphasizes long-term career success through continuous access to various career support services, including video interview packages and tailored training programs.
Results:
The activities and accomplishments of the VETS—Beyond the Uniform Program closely followed the proposed plan. The training cohorts were increased, and the number of clients in each cohort was expanded. Marketing efforts were implemented utilizing various social media platforms and partnerships to reach a broader audience, which helped attract more applicants to the training programs.
The program successfully provided coaching, mentoring, and training services to hundreds of military veterans and their spouses. From June 2023 to May 2024, the project was able to serve 120 military veterans and their spouses in North County and San Diego City. The outcomes were measured using ongoing surveys and direct feedback, employment metrics, and applicant tracking.
Future Plans:
Plans for the future are to continue to offer their core services while expanding training into other critical areas to help veterans and military spouses become successful in the civilian workforce, whether it be as employees, employers, or entrepreneurs. They are currently in discussions about offering training in such areas as OSHA, Cyber Security, Fiber Optics, and Truck Driving in order to provide a more diversified range of training to meet the changing requirements for real-world employment.
