The Problem 99% of Businesses Don't Know They Have
The Problem
The problem is that 99% of companies in the United States aren’t certified to work with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, also known as the VA. However, most universities are certified to work with the VA, mainly because if they weren’t, they’d be denying the institution the opportunity to receive funds from the VA as tuition payments on behalf of military veteran students using their GI Bill. The GI Bill, also known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 is a law designed by the American Legion that provides an array of benefits to military veterans including payments of tuition and living expenses to college or vocational training programs of their choice. Since the law passed in 1944, millions of veterans have have earned their post-military education and training using their GI Bill benefits. Though opportunities yielded by GI Bill benefits are vast, opportunities worth billions of dollars are still left on the table each year by businesses. Literally, more than 99% of the 28 million companies in the United States aren’t certified to work with the VA, an opportunity that could be fruitful for both businesses and veterans, but most business leaders ignore this opportunity, don't know about it, or don't know how to navigate the process of obtaining certification.
Companies can be approved via on the job training (OJT), apprenticeships, or educational institutions depending on the needs and infrastructure of the business. Companies like Toyota, Lockheed Martin, and others have achieved such certifications. Approved educational institutions have an opportunity for tuition to be paid by the VA, while businesses have an option to pay a reduced salary of 50% of the market rate for a position for six months with regular pay increases for the duration of a training program. As with educational programs, veterans have access to their GI Bill monthly housing stipend, which has a value of $39,625 in New York City after one year of OJT in addition to the salary paid to a veteran during a training program. Many veterans have to start at the bottom of their industry of choice, which is why adding $39,625 in places like New York City could enhance their transition to civilian life, decreasing monetary stressors so the veteran can focus on performing exceptionally at work.
The Solution
VA certifications can open windows of opportunity for businesses and veterans alike. This is why I aim to help companies obtain VA certifications that enhance businesses as well as the lives of separated military veterans at a large scale through Banneret, a company I helped found. Banneret, the company named after what is an elite knight, makes it easy for other companies to get certified for VA programs. Each year, roughly 200,000 veterans separate from the military, and we hope to help improve the lives of those veterans year after year by connecting them with resources that improve their lives, especially during their transition to civilian life. Through partnerships with educational institutions and collaborations with veteran affinity groups, Banneret will continue to serve veterans and businesses to help companies become certified for benefits that will eventually help all parties involved. Banneret's goal for 2018 is to put a dent in the number of companies that lack certification by helping at least 1,000 companies achieve VA certifications.
For more information regarding the process to become certified, contact Banneret at [email protected] or visit The Department of Veterans Affairs at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/.