Veterans to benefit from personalized career planning and guidance

In January, VA’s Office of Transition and Economic Development (OTED) changed the name of its Chapter 36 Education and Career Counseling Program. The new name is PCPG, or Personalized Career Planning and Guidance.

PCPG will provide transitioning service members, Veterans, and eligible beneficiaries with tailored education and career services, including resume writing, interview skills, and referrals to VA and community resources unique to the participant’s career and education goals.

“We know that one of the best ways to support the economic success of transitioning service members and Veterans is to ensure they receive the right education and career guidance as early as possible, and at critical times during their military lifecycle,” said Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Tom Murphy.

What’s in it for Veterans and beneficiaries?

Beneficiaries can expect a detailed skills assessment identifying areas of career and/or educational development. Each transitioning service member will receive a detailed action plan to achieve their personal goals. PCPG is also easier to access: users can apply at VA.gov.

Participants can receive support from VA counselors at VA regional office locations, VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) sites, or via tele-counseling with counselors across the country. In addition, a new PCPG contract provides trained and credentialed counselors to expand VA support.

Moving forward, VA will focus contract counseling resources in areas where there are colleges and universities without VSOC counselors on-site. VA is also focusing on areas with high numbers of student Veterans and/or military installations with high populations of transitioning service members.

VA encourages eligible beneficiaries to use the benefit as many times as they need during their period of eligibility.

PCPG represents just one part of a full suite of holistic VA education and career benefits available for transitioning service members, Veterans and eligible dependents.

For more information about PCPG, please visit the VBA transition website at: https://benefits.va.gov/TRANSITION/PCPG.asp.

Questions or inquiries can be sent to VBACO_TED_PCPG@va.gov.

Dr. Lawrencia C. Pierce is the acting executive director of the Office of Transition and Economic Development.