The Veterans Curation Program is hiring.

What is the Veterans Curation Program?

The VCP is a paid five-month employment and training initiative by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Veterans receive education about archaeological processing, and personal growth and development assistance, including time and instruction for resume building and job searches. Furthermore, VCP provides Veterans a bridging transition into the public sector, and its teams process at-risk archaeological collections belonging to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Marine Kim Blanke (shown right), is part of the management team at the Veterans Curation Program in St. Louis chats with fellow Marine and VCP participant Dustin Wood and guests at the recent VCP open house.

Marine Kim Blanke (shown right), part of the management team at the Veterans Curation Program in St. Louis, chats with fellow Marine and VCP participant Dustin Wood and a guest at the recent VCP open house.

Marine Veteran Dustin Wood left the military in 2008. In 2018, he searched “archaeology for Veterans” on the internet. The Veterans Curation Program popped up on that search. Wood applied and was accepted.

Now he’s close to graduating that paid program, and even has a few job prospects lined up.

“Even if my next job isn’t based in the archaeology field, I will continue to be in involved with it in some way,” Wood said. “I currently volunteer with the local historical society.”

Army Veteran Justin Gilbert is a student working on a marketing degree. He’s been with the program since May.

“I didn’t have an interest in archaeology, I didn’t know anything about it,” he said, laughing. “I watched Indiana Jones, that’s the extent of it. And that’s apparently all wrong–they [archaeologists] don’t go tomb raiding. The VCP program is a great networking opportunity that pays well. I’ve learned new skills and maintained my administrative skills.”

Using industry-specific technology and software, Veterans work to repackage, photograph, and catalog important archaeological collections. These collections can include artifacts and their associated records, as well as historic documents and photographs. Veteran participants also get to work on themselves, prepping for job interviews and skill building, all with the support of VCP staff and their fellow Veteran classmates. Veterans Curation Program labs typically have three archaeologists and one Veteran lab manager overseeing operations.

Briana Dorsey, an Air Force Veteran, is another graduate of the spring 2019 VCP program. “Archaeology literally means the study of humans (history). There are tons of possibilities of how this experience can apply to future careers,” she said. In fact, Dorsey recently landed a new permanent position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Munition group.

How do I get involved with the Veterans Curation Program?

The VCP has three flagship lab locations :

Satellite labs in:

The schedule includes either 20-hour weeks or 40-hour weeks, but flexible upon mutual agreement. No overtime, and the period of employment by the program is expected to last up to five months. All federal holidays are paid in addition to up to one week of personal time off, which can be used for medical appointments or other purposes.

Hiring is now open for the next training session that begins November 2019.

For more on the Veterans Curation Program and to apply, visit: https://veteranscurationprogram.org/.

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15 Comments

  1. Beth Lamb October 7, 2019 at 22:51

    Per the Veterans Curation Project website, the program does not provide financial assistance for relocation expenses or assistance finding housing. If you would like more details, please visit http://veteranscurationprogram.org/.

  2. Anthony Bennett October 5, 2019 at 13:02

    I’m located in Charleston SC and I am wondering if you this program is available for veterans here in Charleston I am very interested in getting involved in the program and wondered if you could send me some more information about the the program, thank you.

  3. arturo n avila October 1, 2019 at 21:45

    not all veterans get these type of opportunities. I for one served in 2 combat theaters, after leaving the military i applied to the state police passed the tests and was rejected based on the fact that i wasn’t a national. Go figure they indoctrinate us lead us to do their dirty work and slaughter then we come back wanting to continue to serve and protect but are not allowed due bureaucratic red tape. I then applied to the sheriffs dept. then the city police even tried the sheriffs posse and all denied my application. i became a rebellious bitter and angry veteran. I believe that after my parents one a national one nationalizing and me permanent resident over 30 yrs and graduating college I should have been allowed. Some rules must change especially when it comes to those of us that really mean to make a difference. Hell i even wrote my state representatives all to no avail. Good luck vets and God bless us all because our congress don’t really give a damn.

  4. Judy F Rodgers September 30, 2019 at 12:42

    This would help me so much. But like other vets it seems limit to just a few locations. Too bad for me and other vets that live in Ohio.

  5. keith baranski September 27, 2019 at 15:33

    thanks for posting this beth :)

  6. Daniel J Mahony September 26, 2019 at 08:32

    Sounds like a great program . Are there any housing options available, Thanks

  7. James Tooker September 26, 2019 at 06:25

    I noticed the geographical distribution of the program offices are located primarily in the southern half of the Continental US with the exception of Washington State. If expansion is a real possibility I’m sure the economically depressed northern half and especially the North Eastern region could benefit greatly from inclusion in the program or one similar to this.

  8. Thomas Dickey September 26, 2019 at 02:35

    Question?
    Does this program provide for lodging, travel and expenses?

  9. Jason Huskie September 26, 2019 at 02:26

    Likewise, I am hoping the program will expend to Boston or New England in the near future. As much as I need the money, I would do this for free but can’t relocate my family. I hope more agencies offer similar opportunities in 2020 and beyond.

  10. Mark Joseph Grgurich September 25, 2019 at 23:48

    This IS amazing. I am going to recommend it to one of my friends in Dallas who is trying to get research experience in order to become a professional researcher in health care. I hope they have lodging assistance.

  11. Corey Koch September 25, 2019 at 23:32

    It’s too bad that these programs aren’t available to all veterans. Wisconsin is always left out in these interesting job opportunities.

  12. Abimael Leon September 25, 2019 at 23:12

    What’s the pay for something like this?

  13. Jeff Marshall September 25, 2019 at 22:39

    can fully disabled vets enroll in the program?

  14. Allison Yager September 25, 2019 at 21:31

    This would be an awesome program! Just wish it was open to spouses as well.

  15. Steve Morones September 21, 2019 at 16:01

    This is a amazing program. Hopefully the Veterans Curation program will be available to Nevada, more specifically to Northern Nevada andvthe surrounding states and cities.

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