Red Cross and VA Join Forces to Hire More Veterans

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On April 25, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Human Resources and Administration (HR&A), Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Red Cross to provide access to the VA for Vets high-tech, high-touch career readiness services to help hire more Veterans into the Red Cross workforce. Rafael A. Torres, Acting Assistant Secretary for HR&A, commented, "I am pleased that Red Cross has turned to VESO and the VA for Vets program to help increase Veteran employment in their workforce."

This partnership enhances the ability of the Red Cross to fill employment openings with skilled and proven resources and at the same time, help Veterans seeking employment. Melissa Hurst, Red Cross Chief Human Resources Officer, describes their enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "For all the initiatives we have supported in the past five years, we are most passionate about the VA for Vets initiative.  It gives the Red Cross the opportunity to contribute directly to the mission of Veteran employment." VESO will search through the thousands of Veterans in their resume database and provide candidates for Red Cross vacancies such as phlebotomists, development officers, and IT professionals.

VESO considers this partnership a milestone in their program as it represents the first MOU signed with a nonprofit organization.  Extending VA for Vets services beyond Federal agencies has been a core strategy in VESO's efforts to employ Veterans. Mr. Torres noted, "This partnership will help the Red Cross leverage the resources VA has expended in the high-tech, high-touch VA for Vets program.  Likewise, VA can leverage best practices from the Red Cross in its first agreement with a nonprofit organization."

VESO has supported thousands of Veterans through the VA for Vets program by helping them secure employment. VA for Vets provides access to career readiness training and hands-on support from Career Coaches to help Veterans navigate through complex hiring processes. Through this and other MOUs with Federal agencies, these services are extended beyond VA.  VESO recently signed an MOU with the State Department and has others in place with the Departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture and Interior.  

About VESO: VESO supports Veteran recruitment, retention, and reintegration through the development and implementation of the innovative VA for Vets program. The program offers the most advanced online integrated military skills translator and career assessment tool on the market; a resume builder that tailors resumes so Veterans can more easily compete for open positions; and avatar-based technology that connects deployed Military Service Members back to VA during their operational missions. Veterans also have the option to receive one-on-one assistance from Career Coaches located in VA for Vets Call Centers in Virginia and Pennsylvania. 

For more information: 
Matthew Coffee
410-740-8781                                                                                                 [email protected]  

SOURCE U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)