On VBA’s social media channels, people often ask, “What is VA doing about the claims backlog?” or “Why doesn’t VA hire more Veterans?” or “Why doesn’t VA hire Veterans to work on Veterans’ claims?”
The answers, actually, are that “VA has done quite a lot,” and “We have, and we are [hiring Veterans].”
Warrior Fitness Training Program Follow-Up Phase 1 Technical Report: Fitness and health behaviours. Executive Summary The objective of this report is to present results of a 5-year follow up study examining health behaviours and fitness results of Warrior Fitness Training (WFT) Program graduates. The fitness test results. The mission of the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) is to develop, coordinate and integrate the Army's Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) for wounded, ill and injured Soldiers, Veterans and their Families or Caregivers to promote success in the force or civilian life.
In fact, VA did it yesterday.
At Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and at Fort Carson, Colorado, 27 total Servicemembers graduated the Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC), a pilot handshake between DOD and VA to train transitioning Servicemembers into becoming Veterans Service Representatives (VSR) for VA.
These are the people who process disability claims. Not ironically, many, if not all, of the graduates have personally gone through the claim process themselves while still attached to their unit’s Warrior Transition Battalion, a specialized unit where wounded Soldiers can focus on healing to transition back to the Army or into civilian status.
Jarrett Briscoe is one of them, and he’ll soon be working in the Appeals Management Center in Washington, DC.
“No one understands the plight of a Veteran as much as a fellow Veteran, so I can relate,” the former Army staff sergeant said. “I know the frustration. I’ve navigated the claims process. But now I’m in the position to be a change agent.”
Former Army Specialist Noah Prive, soon headed to the Boston regional office, tugged his goatee and smiled. “Obviously, I wasn’t planning on ending my military service,” he said, alluding to his separation, “but I’m proud that I’ll be able to continue serving Veterans.”
Briscoe, Prive, and their classmates will be joining a workforce that’s primarily made up of Veterans. What’s so special about WARTAC is the natural handoff, reintegrating soldiers whose careers ended prematurely into continuing their service, and being placed with a job upon graduation.
“This is like a promotion,” said James Rodriguez, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense—and 21-year USMC Veteran, to the graduates and unit leaders in the crowd. “You are the future leaders of a great organization, but right now, you’re taking the initiative to impact the lives of other Veterans.”
Mark Bilosz, Deputy Director for Operations of VBA Compensation Services, told the graduates: “Servicing Veterans is one of the most noble jobs in the federal government. With your 14 weeks of training, you will enter the VA workforce fully trained.”
Just like in the service, “training will always continue,” Bilosz noted. “VA has made huge strides, and we’ll not stop in continuing to impact Veterans’ lives.”
VSRs, along with Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSRs), do the bulk work in processing Veteran’s disability claims. Since disability entitlements open the door to additional VA benefits, the VSR is a challenging and rewarding position—and one that’s also a fantastic entry opportunity into VA and the federal government.
Eligibility for WARTAC is open to active duty Servicemembers in the transition process. It’s currently only offered at Fort Carson and Fort Belvoir, but the goal is to expand the program nationally. Additionally, applicants must be endorsed by their Chain of Command, and they must be available to attend the 14-week training program and to begin employment within 120 days from initiation of their training.
When the Servicemembers complete training, the graduates can get hired into one of VBA’s 56 regional offices (one in each state, including Puerto Rico and the Philippines, but some big states have multiple locations).
Prive, reflecting on the past 14 weeks, is excited to get started. “When you get your guys to your left and to your right, and if they need something, you’re there for them,” he said. “There’s never a question, like, ‘Well, I can’t help you.’ No, it’s, ‘I got you, man, whatever you need.’”
Warrior Adventure Quest (WAQ) is an Army RESET training tool designed to introduce Soldiers to activities that serve as alternatives to aberrant behaviors often associated with accidents involving recently re-deployed Soldiers. This tool presents coping outlets to help Soldiers realize their own new level of normal after deployment and 'move on' with their lives. WAQ combines existing MWR Outdoor Recreation high adventure activities (e.g. rock climbing, mountain biking, paintball, scuba, ropes courses, skiing, zip lines, white water rafting, and others) with a leader-led after action debriefing (L-LAAD) tool developed by Army Medical Department (AMEDD) center and school.
The WAQ program has been developed into five phases. Phase I, Leader Training, is for all SSG and above participants and teaches them how to facilitate a leader-led after action debrief (L-LAAD) in response to a significant event in an operational environment.
Phase II, teaches these unit leaders how to utilize the same L-LAAD technique when facilitation surrounds an outdoor adventure activity.
Phase III, Soldier Training, presents to all program Soldier participants concepts like personal readiness and resilience and Combat Operational Stress Control, and how they relate to the Warrior Adventure Quest program.
Phase IV, is the outdoor adventure activity (e.g., paddling, riding, climbing, etc.) where team building is combined with challenging activity skills.
Phase V, is the actual facilitation of the L-LAAD by the unit leaders with their unit members to realize connections between the activity they have just experienced and the challenges they may be experiencing in their daily lives.
WAQ POC's and Activities by Region
For more information on program and activity locations contact your local Army Outdoor Recreation facility in the list below.
WAQ - POC's and Activities / Atlantic Region
All activities are provided are based on availability, season pending, and are generally chosen by the Command. For more information reference the actual program, your eligibility, and activity availability contact your local Warrior Adventure Quest representatives at the phone number provided.
Fort Benning Activities
Fort Belvoir Activities
Mountain Biking / Paintball / Skiing-Snowboarding
Fort Bragg Activities
Alpine Tower / Broomball / Indoor Sky Diving / Ski Rixen / White Water Rafting / Ziplining
All activities provided are based on availability, season pending, and are generally chosen by the Command. For more information reference the actual program, your eligibility, and activity availability contact your local Warrior Adventure Quest representatives at the phone number provided.
Fort Bliss Activities Challenge Course / Mountain Biking / Paintball / Rock Climbing
Fort Carson Activities
Back - Cross Country Skiing / Mountain Biking / Paintball / Rock-Ice Climbing / Ropes Course / Skiing-Snowboarding / Zip-lining
Fort Hood Actvities Kayaking / Mountain Biking / Paintball / Zero Gravity
Fort Polk Activities Archery / Canoeing / Go-Karts / Kayaking / Paintball / Rockwall / Skeet Shooting / Zip-lining
Fort Riley Activities ATV / Biking / Canoe / Indoor Range / Kayaking / Paintball / Rock Wall Climbing / Ropes Course / Skeet & Trap / Skiing - Snowboarding
Fort Sill Activities Go-Kart Racing / Indoor Rock Climbing / Paintball / Sky Diving
Joint Base Lewis/McChord Contact Us
Back Country Skiing-Snowboarding / Mountain Biking / Sea Kayaking / Skeet Shooting / White Water Rafting, Paintball, and Rock Climbing
White Sands Missle Range Activities TBD
WAQ - POC's and Activities / Europe Region
All activities are provided are based on availability, season pending, and are generally chosen by the Command. For more information reference the actual program, your eligibility, and activity availability contact your local Warrior Adventure Quest representatives at the phone number provided. All USAG Numbers are DSN.
USAG Ansbach Activities
Mountain Biking / Paintball / Snowshoeing / Ski Touring / White Water Rafting
USAG Baumholder Activities
Paintball / Rock Climbing Indoor-Outdoor / Scuba Diving / Skiing-Snowboarding
USAG Bavaria - Grafenwoehr Activities Klettersteig, paintball, high ropes, trap and skeet, wakeboarding, ski touring, and many more.
USAG Hohenfels Activities
USAG Kaiserslautern Activities
USAG Stuttgart
Activities Mountain Biking / Paragliding / Ropes Course / Scuba Diving / Skiing-Snowboarding / White Water Rafting
USAG Wiesbaden Activities Battle Ball / Bouldering / Canoeing / Climbing / Hiking / Mountain Biking / Paintball / Rappelling / Skiing / Snowboarding / Stand Up Paddleboarding and Rock Wall Climbing
WAQ - POC's and Activities / Pacific Region
All activities are provided are based on availability, season pending, and are generally chosen by the Command. For more information reference the actual program, your eligibility, and activity availability contact your local Warrior Adventure Quest representatives at the phone number provided.
Fort Wainwright Activities
Canoeing-Kayaking / Indoor Rock Climbing / Laser Tag / Paintball / Mountain Biking / Skeet Shooting / Skiing-Snowboarding
Schofield Barracks (Hawaii) Activities
Ocean Day (Snorkling, Scuba, Kayaking, and Stand Up Paddle Boarding) / High Ropes / Paintball
Joint Base Elmensdorf/Richardson Activities
ATV / Cross Country Skiing / Gio Caching / Ice Climbing / Ropes Course / Snow Shoeing / Snowboarding-Skiing / Snow Maching / White Water Rafting
For all Warrior Adventure Quest Trainers and Leaders, please visit our new AKO Knowledge Center for training resources. Also Visit MWR Outdoor Recreation ODR / WAQ Facebook Page WAQ YouTube Channel