A message from Rodney W., FMR Specialist, U.S. Army: 

Seeing the way the folks in D.C. talk about my choices for my school and education, how they keep repeating words like “protect” Veterans, or labeling my path as a “nontraditional” education–as if it’s one step away from being disqualified as an education altogether–, I get the sense that DC lawmakers believe that anyone who doesn’t go to a 4-year college is not doing as well as they should be.

​I’m glad to say that I am much happier than I think I would have been going to a “traditional” college, spending four to six years getting a degree and starting at the bottom again. Going to a vocational school has been by far the best choice I could have made. My family does not look down on me for my education and what I do. I hope that the people in DC start to look at me in the same way.
 
I hear that there are laws being discussed to limit my choice on where I go to school, and it turns out that a lot of those limitations apply to career colleges. But, I think the average Veteran mindset really benefits from vocational training and skilled trades. After separating from the military, the one thing I know I was missing, and what a lot of other Veterans I’ve known were missing, was having a purpose for what you were doing. To me, repairing important equipment and helping businesses stay running when times were hard constantly reminds me that there are people who rely on me. It reminds me of what I learned in the military and what I was missing when I left, that your work supports others and others work to support you. This type of work really gets me up in the morning, and I look forward to every job I do.
 
I also have never had any problems gaining employment, which has been especially important right now during the pandemic with everything shut down. I’ve seen so many people lose their jobs they got with their traditional degree, or struggle to get work at all when they graduate, but I have been employed right out of the gate. Even moving to a different state, I was able to find a great job within a week. I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that there is an amazing support system for employment in the skilled trades.

Last week, during the markup of the College Affordability Act, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx read a letter signed by over 100 members of VCE that are current students or graduates of career, tech and trade schools. She also asked that the letter be entered into the official record.

This is a much-watch video of a member of Congress fighting for Veterans' choice!

Over 100 veterans, servicemembers and military family members that are current students or graduates of a private career, technical or trade school signed a letter against the 90/10 rule change in the College Affordability Act. 

In a stunning press conference led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leaders rolled out a massive bill that includes disturbing language aimed at restricting choice for military veterans, servicemembers and their families at private career, technical and trade schools. 

Buried on page 770 of a bill close to 1,200 pages long, the College Affordability Act seeks to change the 90/10 rule to 85/15 and label earned veteran education benefits, like the GI Bill®, as similar to federal student loans and grants. 

If this bill passes in its current form, Congress is essentially telling veterans that they are incapable of choosing the school that best fits their career goals. 

In a joint letter to the chairman of the committee responsible for higher education policy, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the US (EANGUS) and Veterans for Career Education expressed support for Senator Alexander's bipartisan efforts on higher education policy.