Close-to-retiring Fort Carson soldiers get training to tackle VA claims backlog. Thoughts?

CSM Michael Lynch — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:47:46 -0400

This is great news for these Soldiers and our veterans. I don't want to take anything away from these lucky individuals and I know they will benefit our brothers and sisters for years to come.

I am disappointed thought that I personally applied for 10 different VA positions and they either closed them or hired someone within. After the non contact or closures even though many of the positions I was among the best qualified I gave up on wanting to be involved with working with the VA.

Congratulations to all of them and the future classes the have and I wish them all the best of luck with the VA and hope that they all remember where they cam from and who they are there to take care of "our nations finest" and don't get caught up in the VA scandals.

Close-to-retiring Fort Carson soldiers get training to tackle VA claims backlog

A new Veterans Affairs program at Fort Carson aims to solve the agency's mammoth claims backlog while training troops for life after the Army. The federal agency partnered with the Army to train more than a dozen troops who will hang up their uniforms soon to become claims processing experts for the VA.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 9:52 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:52:50 -0400

Great Post SGM Lynch! Sorry it didn't work out for you! Hopefully everything worked out for the best! Please let me know how I can assist you and other great Veterans!

Response by SrA Johnathan Kropke made Jun 8 at 2015 9:53 AM

SrA Johnathan Kropke — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:53:36 -0400

This sounds like an idea that can truly help the VA and the problems they have been facing.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Jun 8 at 2015 9:57 AM

LTC Jason Strickland — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:57:35 -0400

CSM Michael Lynch - agreed! Colorado Springs is one of 25 locations across the country to implement this in partnership with the VA.

Response by COL Roger Lintz made Jun 8 at 2015 10:05 AM

COL Roger Lintz — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 10:05:22 -0400

CSM, I feel your pain. I applied to the VA and was not hired either. I'm a 100% total and permanently disabled retiree with combat related injuries. I was a wounded warrior and completed two internships, one to the FBI and one to the DEA and neither organization was accepting outside hires. Thank you Sequestration. Hell I gave up too.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 8 at 2015 10:47 AM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 10:47:27 -0400

I guess that's kind of the way the cookie crumbles. Soon-to-be/recently separated service members seem to be the ones most at risk for unemployment, so they're the ones who are being offered these opportunities.

I would take a job like this in a heart beat myself, even if it meant a pay cut. Some things are more important than money, and making sure my veterans get their benefits ASAP is one of them.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Jun 8 at 2015 12:04 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:04:51 -0400

Hahahaha I read the article yesterday in the Gazette. It got me thinking... There's a doctor at the WTB who came from the VA. He has got to be the worst doctor ever and does not have the best intentions of the soldiers in mind. I hope these Jose have a great success at the VA. And changes the culture in there.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Jun 8 at 2015 12:34 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:34:09 -0400

CSM....Also if I may....plz think about staying out here in Co Sprg.... we need strong leadership out here to represent the Vets and help the active/reserve here...A lot of higher leadership like CSM McWilliams stayed out here and has been a great impact on both retired, Vet, and active/reserve here in town

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 8 at 2015 4:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 16:07:12 -0400

This is my guess as to what will happen. Extra folks will get hired to work on the backlog, all 140,000 cases, that is a huge number.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Jun 8 at 2015 8:16 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 20:16:28 -0400

As I suggested to another RallyPoint member, according to VA regulations you are entitled to a non-selection debriefing by the "selecting official." Sure, HR will try to give you the standard brush off, but it's not up to them. It's the actual person who made the decision not to hire you. I would ask (and then demand if they refuse) to have a debriefing for each and every position I was denied. If they refuse, I would enlist the aid of my Senator or Congressman/woman to demand the "selecting official's" debriefing. I expect at least two things to come of this debriefing. One it puts them (VA and the selecting official) on notice that I'm not going to give up. Two, it pisses them off and makes me feel better that they feel a smidgen of how I felt when I got the "Dear John" notice. The upside, it gives me the face time I wanted. It also enables me to learn where I can improve my resume to meet their expectation.

I wish you and all my brothers and sisters luck in the job hunt!

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Jul 27 at 2015 1:40 PM

SMSgt Tony Barnes — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:40:26 -0400

Keep trying CSM. It is a tough nut to crack to get that first job. If you are still on Carson, I might have some advice for you...I am AW2 Advocate at the SFAC. Have been a contractor and am now a GS-12 so understand both. Was a corporate defense contract recruiter when I first retired from the AF. I'll buy you a cup of coffee or lunch...your call.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 28 at 2015 10:26 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 22:26:42 -0400

Wont make a difference. The backlog is too large.