Education and Employment
The Office of Warrior Care Policy’s Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) is a regionally executed effort working in coordination with each of the Military Departments. The goal of E2I is to ensure consistent offerings to all recovering Service members by synchronizing, integrating and expanding the education and employment opportunities for them and their families. E2I will ensure the Service member is engaged early in their recovery process to identify skills and develop a career plan that leverages those skills. Through the execution of their career plan, Service members will ultimately be matched with education and career opportunities that increase their career readiness and better prepare them for a successful transition from their Service.
E2I is a collaborative effort involving agencies from the Office of Secretary of Defense and the Military Departments, and is also supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs and E2I have developed policy that will provide VA’s vocational rehabilitation services for all recovering Service members at the earliest possible point in the recovery process, something that has not been done before.
The E2I Model
This model coordinates the efforts of the Services, Federal agencies, and the community to support the recovering Service member through a six-step process:
1. Identify: The Service member is identified by their chain of command and/or Recovery Team as ready to develop a career plan and engage in education and employment activities.
2. Assess: A comprehensive skills assessment is administered by a VA vocational rehabilitation counselor or other qualified professionals.
3. Plan: A career plan is developed outlining action items for the wounded warrior to complete during rehabilitation to prepare them to transition into an education or employment opportunity at transition.
4. Prepare: Service members work to complete action items in their career plan as part of their compressive transition plan.
5. Match and Place: The Service members meet with an employment support specialist to identify specific career or educational opportunities and placement assistance is provided.
6. Transition: Can include: returning to duty; o separating from Service into an employment, education or vocational training opportunity; or returning home and becoming involved in the local community.
The Way Ahead
E2I has five regional managers across the United States to assist the Military Service programs to find employment opportunities, provide career planning support for recovering Service members before they transition, and work directly with employers to identify opportunities for our Service members.
E2I Regional Locations
For additional information about E2I opportunities in your area, please email the appropriate regional manager.
Northwest (Seattle/Tacoma, WA) Chris “Todd” Burgess – cburgess[at]afsc-usa.com
Southwest (San Diego, CA) Chris Graham – cgraham[at]manconinc.com
South Central (San Antonio, TX) David R. Lefforge – dlefforge[at]afsc-usa.com
Tidewater (Norfolk, VA) Al Welcher – adwelcher[at]pointtransitionsllc.com
National Capital Region Ed Cody – edward.cody.ctr[at]osd.mil
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