Transitioning to civilian life can be challenging. While transitioning service members learn about VA benefits and services during the Transition Assistance Program, some really don’t know what questions to ask until after they actually leave the military.

Since its launch in December 2019, the VA Solid Start program has reached nearly 70,000 veterans to help them connect with VA benefits and services and to help answer those questions.

Through VA Solid Start, newly separated veterans will receive three phone calls in their first year post-separation – around the 90-, 180-, and 365-day marks. Veterans can use these calls to get answers to their questions to better understand and connect with the VA benefits and services that can help them. For example, they can secure housing, identify education opportunities, or gain access to health care. Click here to learn more about Solid Start.

Seeking an even more in-depth and personalized experience? Let our MOAA team members share their expertise and experience to help guide you on the right path forward. We understand the challenges you face because we’re officers who made it through the other side of the military-to-civilian process. 

Is a career transition part of your new year's resolution or something you are confronting in 2021? Whether you are a transitioning servicemember, a veteran changing careers, or a military spouse managing a career on the move, navigating the right career path is an intricate process that affects every member of your family. Getting started and knowing where to find trusted guidance can be the toughest parts of the journey. MOAA’s team of expert consultants are here to help with all of your professional needs, including military benefits and entitlements, résumé development, networking support, and personalized career counseling.

Upcoming Events

• Looking for free, expert advice on navigating a complex benefits system? Join MOAA’s accredited Veteran Service Officer Capt. Paul Frost, AFC®, USN (Ret), on Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern for a tutorial on what you need to know about a VA disability compensation claim and appeal.

• Already in the job search mode? Even in this period of economic uncertainty with many companies and organizations adhering to social distancing restrictions, employers are still actively conducting interviews and making hiring decisions. Join MOAA for a special webinar event Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern to help you polish your phone and virtual interview skills as you prepare to articulate your value, identify what makes you unique compared with other candidates, and why you are the perfect fit for their organization.

• Want to engage and interact with other senior officers undergoing their career and employment transition? Be sure to sign-up for MOAA’s Military Executive Transition seminar, set for Jan. 28. This one-day remote workshop focuses on key aspects of a successful military-to-civilian transition for military leaders and for veterans looking for advancement in the civilian careers.