A new Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor education benefit program helps train veterans in high demand occupations. Veterans may start applying immediately.

In an effort to reduce unemployment among veterans, the president signed into law the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 last November. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for unemployed veterans.

The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to veterans who are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old; received an other than dishonorable discharge; are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program; are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability; are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program.

The program will assist a total of 99,000 participants. For more information and to see if you are eligible, go to www.benefits.va.gov/VOW.

To determine what is considered a high demand occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor, go to www.gibill.va.gov/documents/VRAP_High_Demand.pdf.