Out of all the schools in the United States, Salt Lake Community College has been selected along with eight others to pilot a new veterans support program called VetSuccess. VetSuccess is a program started by The United States Department of Veterans Affairs that will offer United States Veterans information and counseling they might not be receiving.
“Veterans are falling through the cracks; the information isn’t clear about the benefits that they [US Veterans] can receive,” VetSuccess Program Coordinator Dan Crandall said, who is a vocational rehab counselor and works for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Crandall says that The Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC has decided to put some people in charge who can answer questions that veterans might have.
For example, questions in regards to educational benefits like the GI Bill Chapter 30, which states that as long as the veteran is enrolled full-time, he or she can receive over $1,000 monthly for up to 36 months. GI Bill Chapter 31, which is a vocational rehabilitation program, provides assistance for veterans with disabilities. Also GI Bill Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) is a new bill that pays the veterans full tuition to any college in the state as well as a $1,000 stipend for books plus other benefits.
VetSuccess is not all about tuition. Veterans can receive information concerning the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VMAC) that can offer all types of medical help for veterans.
“I get veterans that have no idea where to go to get medical benefits. I helped four or five veterans get information on their medical benefits in my first week,” Crandall said, who has been in charge of VetSuccess since Oct. 1. “I’m here to encourage veterans to come in and find out what benefits are available to them in both education and medical services.”
Crandall also says that he can provide career counseling, readjustment counseling and vocational testing that is great for veterans who don’t know what field they should study and be a part of. Not every veteran will receive the same amount of help or benefits, but the US Government does not want any veteran to slip by without know what is available to them.
Veterans seeking answers can meet with Crandall in the Veterans Center, which is located in the basement of the Student Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. Veterans can also send Crandall an email at daniel.crandall@va.gov.