Veterans

VA Launches Rapid Retraining for Vets Who Lost Jobs Because of Pandemic

May 14, 2021Hannah Ray Lambert
enduring freedom photographer

US Air Force Staff Sgt. David Donovan at a forward deployed air base in Southwest Asia. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

Veterans who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic may be eligible for up to a year of tuition and fees plus a housing allowance under the new Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP).


VRRAP covers educational and training programs that lead to high-demand jobs in areas such as computer and mathematical occupations, business and financial operations, engineering, construction, the arts, and more. It can be used for associate degrees, non-college degrees, and certificate programs, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.


To be eligible for the program, veterans must meet all the requirements listed here:



  • Between the ages of 22 and 66

  • Unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Not eligible for GI Bill or VR&E benefits (or, if eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the veteran must have transferred all benefits to a family member)

  • Not rated as totally disabled because the veteran can’t work

  • Not enrolled in a federal or state jobs program

  • Not receiving unemployment benefits (including CARES Act benefits)


Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)
Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash.

Visit the VA’s website to find available programs and apply online. Payments will be available until Dec. 11, 2022, or until the program reaches the $386 million funding limit or the 17,250 participant limit.


VRRAP is part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that President Joe Biden signed into law March 11, 2021.


Read Next: In ‘Freedom,’ Sebastian Junger Says US May Be on a Collision Course With Itself



Hannah Ray Lambert
Hannah Ray Lambert

Hannah Ray Lambert is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die who previously covered everything from murder trials to high school trap shooting teams. She spent several months getting tear gassed during the 2020-2021 civil unrest in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and talking about authors and books on her podcast Between Lewis and Lovecraft.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
afghan soldier asylum
Afghan Soldier Who Helped US Weathers Injuries, Uncertainty in Asylum Bid

Afghan soldier who assisted the U.S. now faces uncertainty in bid for asylum.

The Dirty Dozen
‘The Dirty Dozen’: Meet D-Day’s Real Rogue Commandos

The Dirty Dozen was based on a real team of rule-breaking elite paratroopers who jumped into France ahead of D-Day.

d-day 79th anniversary
Normandy Marks D-Day's 79th Anniversary, Honors World War II Veterans

This year's D-Day tribute to the young soldiers who died in Normandy is not only a chance to honor t...

f-22 raptor
The F-22: The Superiority Fighter That Never Shot Down an Enemy Plane

The F-22 Raptor was designed to fight next-gen Russian fighters. So far its only air-to-air kills are a Chinese balloon and a UFO.

Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway: Where America's March to Victory Began

The US Navy outwitted and outfought the Imperial Japanese Navy to secure victory in the do-or-die Battle of Midway.

ukraine russia stalemate
Ukraine Tries To End Stalemate; Russia Says It Repelled Attacks

Ukrainian forces were making a major effort to end months of a battlefield stalemate and punch throu...

dad
Mustaches, Short-Shorts, and MP5s: Rad Dad Operators

With Father’s Day rapidly approaching, take a look back at some of the raddest dads to ever walk the planet.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
  • Request a Correction
  • Write for Us
  • General Inquiries
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved