VETERANS ENVIRONMENTAL ACADEMY PROGRAM

 

With the passage of Senate Bill 5164 in the 2007 legislative session, the Veterans Conservation Corps expansion, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs will be co-sponsoring a ten month environmental training program located at Green River Community College.  We are seeking interested veterans to contact us.  The criteria for enrollment in the program are as follows:

  1. A returning veteran from OIF/OEF/ONE.
  2. An interest in learning skills towards environmental restoration/conservation in one of four areas of your choosing:
  1. A willingness to train and learn intensely for 10 months/40 hours a week.
  2. An ability to get to school every day to Auburn (which may necessitate a geographical relocation for some veterans).
  3. An interest in transitioning from a military mission to a personal mission of working to protect the environment and the future of our region.

 

This program will be a mix of classroom work and on the job training in projects in King County that we will be identifying for veteran work crews to learn from, and complete with the help of natural resource instructors.  We are eager for interested veterans to send us their information.  There will be a $1000.00 a month stipend per veteran for the duration of the program. In addition, veterans will be made eligible for their GI bill.  The stipend will be granted based on participation each month and is part of the enrollment benefit as living assistance.  We will aid veterans with housing transitions when necessary and the program will also provide other support services to ensure that the veteran is getting help in all areas of their life. We will also assist with job placement or small business development during and after the program is completed.   It is important to note that the veterans will be working and learning with each other most of the time rather than mixed in the general college community.  The program has started in September of 2007 at Green River Community College, and a new class of up to 30 veterans will start in September of 2008.   Arrangements for enrollment can be made by contacting Mark Fischer at 360-725-2224 or markf@dva.wa.gov.