Connect-A-Vet Resources
Helpful resources especially organized for veterans. These web sites offer a wealth of information to use as you transition from the military to civilian life, search for a new career or seek support for you and your family.
- Education
- Financial - Small Business Assistance
- Employment and Career Services
- Financial Support Service
- Financial - Benefits
- General
- Government Agencies and Programs
- Health
- Health - Support Groups and Grief Counseling
- Housing Services and Facilities
- Legal Support
- Legislation and Public Policy
- Memorials, Cemeteries, and Services
- Professional Organizations and Special Groups
- Statistics, Facts and Research Tools
- Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Family Support Professionals in Times of War
Education
- 2010 Legacy Scholarship for Army women
- Education Benefits and GI Bill Enrollment - Earn education credits, tuition assistance and receive reimbursement for selected certification and licensing tests
- New GI Bill Information - Calculate your benefits, answer your questions. Developed by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services - Independent living services, and employment and counseling programs for disabled veterans
Financial - Small Business Assistance
- VA Center for Veterans Enterprise & Business - Federal web portal for veterans starting and managing a small business
- Small Business Administration’s Programs for Veterans
- VeteransCorp - Doing business with the Federal Government? Check out “Small Business Resources” and “Doing Business with the Federal Government
- VETS Group - outreach, support, training, advocacy and technical services to veterans interested in starting, expanding or purchasing their own small businesses
Employment and Career Services
- Bradley Morris - Learn about Civilian Jobs’ Career Fairs.
- CompTIA Career Center
- Corporate Gray
- Department of Labor - Veterans’ Employment & Training
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
- Federal Careers (veterans)
- G.I. Jobs - your guide to post-military success
- Job Opportunities for Disabled Veterans
- Military Officers Association of America
- Military Connection
- Office of Personnel Management - Veterans’ guide to federal employment
- Premier Writing Solutions - Personal branding, career coaching and resume development. Learn how to identify your transferable skills that apply to the civilian workforce.
- Presidential Management Intern Program
- Salute Our Heroes - A special program offered for veterans by The New York Times
- TA Online - An online single source of transition assistance information and tools for today’s separating military.
- TecAccess - Veterans with Disabilities Training and Employment Program -DVETS
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - Veteran’s Preference and Federal Employment Video Library
- Veterans’ Preference for Federal Jobs - Special rights and privileges for veterans applying for Federal civil service employment
- VA National Veterans’ Employment Office
Financial Support Service
- SSA (Social Security) Program
- OPM Pay Grade Guide
- VFW Unmet Needs Program - For active duty, National Guard, and Reserves
- Home Loan Guaranty Service - Guaranteed loans to help veterans purchase a new home
- VA Life Insurance Program - Offers life insurance plans to disabled veterans and current and separating service members
- Navy Mutual Aid Association - Insurance plans and assistance for dependents or beneficiaries
- Social Security Benefits and Military Service
- Swords to Plowshares - counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Unemployment Compensation for Former Service Members - Unemployment benefits for separated military personnel
Financial - Benefits
- Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
- Armed Forces Services Corporation - A system of services to help you and your family plan for your future and your survivorship needs
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals - Steps and procedures for filing an appeal of veteran’s benefits
- Commissary Benefits: - Nearly 280 commissaries - savings you’ve earned
- Compensation and Pension Benefits (VA) - Receive compensation and pension benefits if you are a veteran and have been disabled as a result of military service
- DoD/VA Benefits for Guard & Reserve Members
- Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
- Summary of VA Benefits (Publication)
- Survivor Benefits Homepage
- Veterans Address Change for Benefit Payments or Medical Records
- Turbo-Tap - transition resources
General
- CinCHouse.com - Online resource for military wives and women in uniform.
- Military One Source
- National Resource Directory
Government Agencies and Programs
- Veteran Benefits by State
- Center for Women Veterans (VA)
- Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS)
- Department of Veterans Affairs - Online services, resources and programs for the nation’s veterans and their families
- House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs - Congressional resources, including legislation and congressional hearings affecting veterans.
- National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators
- Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs - Congressional resources, hearings and legislation on behalf of veterans
- Veterans Service Organizations - Links to congressionally-chartered service organizations such as Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars
Health
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
- African American Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- American Red Cross - Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance, counseling and assistance to veterans
- Blinded Veterans Association
- DisabilityInfo.gov - Federal gateway to disability information and resources for people with disabilities, their families, and employers
- Disabled American Veterans
- DoD New Policy on Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault
- Enrollment in VA’s Health Care System
- Grace After Fire
- HHS Women’s Health
- Hospice Care - The VA’s nationwide palliative care network
- Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
- Medicare
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- National Amputation Foundation
- National Resource Directory
- Return & Reunion Workshop for Spouses
- TRICARE - DoD Military Health System
- United Spinal Association - founded in 1946 by veterans with spinal cord injuries to help enable members, as well as others with disabilities, to lead full and productive lives
- VA Health Benefits and Services - Medical, surgical and rehabilitative care and benefits provided by the Veterans Health Administration
- Veterans Address Change for Benefit Payments or Medical Records - Veterans Affairs FAQ regarding changing address for benefit payments or for medical records
- Veterans Health Library - Latest news, research and educational resources from the National Library of Medicine
- VA Health Services Research & Development
- VA Kids
- VA National Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
- VHA Online Health Eligibility
- Women Veterans Health Program
Housing Services and Facilities
- American Red Cross - Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance, counseling and assistance to veterans
- Armed Forces Retirement Home - The premiere retirement community for America’s veterans
- Armed Services YMCA - The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, that works with the Department of Defense, offering services such as childcare, hospital assistance, spouse support services, food services, computer training classes, health and wellness services to veterans and their families.
- Bayside at Fort Howard - Retirement Community Designed Especially for Veterans
- Housing and Homelessness Resources - Veterans’ resource center at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Fisher House Foundation - provides “a home away from home” at no cost that enables family members to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury; currently there are 38 houses
- National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
- State Veterans Homes
- VA Homeless Veterans Program
- Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc. - established to operate transitional housing programs for military veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Risk Factors for Homelessness Among Women Veterans - Issue Brief: Journal for Health Care for the Poor and Under Served 2010
- Women Veterans who are Homeless: Characteristics, Risk Factors, Needs - Power Point Presentation: National Forum on Homelessness Among Veterans,Arlington, VA December 7, 2010
Health - Support Groups and Grief Counseling
- American Gold Star Mothers - An organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country
- Blue Star Mothers of America - Mothers supporting each other and our children while promoting patriotism
- Compassionate Friends - Grief support
- Gold Star Wives of America - A military survivors’ organization serving war widows from all conflicts and service connected disabilities since 1945
- National Resource Directory
- VA Vet Center - counseling and bereavement services
Legal Support
- American Bar Association - Legal assistance for military personnel and veterans
- E-laws e-Vets Resource Advisor - Advice and tools for veterans entering the job market from the Department of Labor
- National Veterans Legal Services Program
- Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) - National, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and related forms of intolerance.
Legislation and Public Policy
- Get Active with BPW Foundation Advocacy Center - BPW Foundation encourages its supporters to contact their Members of Congress and State Legislators about critical women’s’ issues. It’s easy with our online Advocacy Center.
- Women’s Policy
- Center for Minority Veterans
- VA Advisory Committees
- VA Public Affairs for News Releases
- Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES)
Memorials, Cemeteries, and Services
- VA National Cemetery Administration
- Arlington National Cemetery
- The Ceremonial Bugle
- Gravesites in VA Cemeteries - Locate veterans buried in VA cemeteries in the U.S.
- Gravesites of Veterans in American Cemeteries on Foreign Soil - Information and assistance for visiting gravesites, from the American Battle Monuments Commission
- Korean War Veterans Memorial - Located in Washington, DC, this memorial honors those who served in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Pay tribute at the memorial in Washington, DC, maintained by the National Park Service
- World War II Memorial - Located in Washington DC honoring those who served in WWII
- World War II Memorial Registry - Remember an American who contributed to the war effort by adding a name
- Women In Military Service For America (WIMSA)
- Burial and Memorial Benefits - Locate VA National Cemeteries and find out if your loved one is eligible for a headstone and marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, or military funeral honors
Professional Organizations and Special Groups
- ALL NAVY WOMEN’S NATIONAL ALLIANCE
- American Ex-Prisoners of War
- The American Legion
- American Nurses’ Association (ANA)
- Air Force Sergeants Association
- AMSUS The Society of Federal Health Agencies
- AMVETS
- The Army and Navy Union - The oldest veterans’ organization in America
- Army Nurse Corps Association
- Business and Professional Women’s Foundation - the Women Joining Forces: Closing Ranks, Opening Doors initiative offers programming and resources to support women veterans and families
- Catholic War Veterans
- DAV National Service Foundation
- Fleet Reserve Association - Works to preserve and enhance benefits and quality-of-life programs for members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
- Italian American War Veterans of the USA
- Jewish War Veterans of the USA
- Legion of Valor of the USA
- Marine Corps League
- Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America
- Military Officers Association of America
- Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A.
- Military Order of the World Wars
- Military Spouses for Change
- National Association of American
- National Association for Black Veterans
- National Association of County Veterans Service Officers
- National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs - Information for each State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and resources
- National Native American Veterans Association (NNAVA)
- Navy Club of the United States of America
- Navy League of the United States
- Non Commissioned Officers Association
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- The Retired Enlisted Association
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
- Veterans of the Vietnam War
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- WAVES National
- Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association
- Women Marines Association
- Women Veterans of America
Statistics, Facts and Research Tools
- Womens Veterans in Transition - research project on women veterans transitioning from deployment to civilian life
- Directory of National Veterans Service Organizations
- Federal Citizen Information Center
- History of Veterans Day
- HyperFAQs - Find information, forms, and answers to frequently asked questions
- Military Records Correction (SF Form 293)
- Military Women Veterans History
- Personnel Records Center (Military Records)
- Request a Copy of Your Military Personnel Record- Obtain copies of military personnel, health and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces.
Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Family Support Professionals in Times of War
*Providing these links does not constitute an endorsement by Business and Professional Women’s Foundation of any web site, information, products or services contained therein. BPW Foundation does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find.