You Earned Them.
Put Them to Work.
You Earned the Benefits.
Now Build What's Next.
Military service can open the door to education and vocational training benefits designed to help veterans transition into meaningful civilian careers.
For eligible veterans, programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) may provide a pathway toward training for a new career in automotive reconditioning.
Veteran Trade School is designed around that transition — combining practical automotive skills with the business knowledge needed to pursue employment, specialization, mobile services, or entrepreneurship.
Turn Your Education Benefits Into a Hands-On Career.
Eligible veterans may be able to apply their education benefits toward approved career training. The support available can vary depending on eligibility and the approved program.
- Tuition and eligible training costs
- Books and supplies
- Monthly housing allowance where applicable
- Career-focused education
- Approved equipment or training supplies where applicable
Benefit amounts and covered expenses vary based on eligibility, VA rules, enrollment status, training location, and program approval.
Train for a Career Built Around What's Next.
Veteran Readiness and Employment, also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E, helps eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment.
- Education and vocational training
- Required tools and equipment where authorized
- Supplies tied to an approved plan
- Employment and career services
- An individualized rehabilitation plan
Depending on an individual veteran's approved rehabilitation plan, VR&E may support training, supplies, and equipment. Support is subject to VA approval and the veteran's individual VR&E plan.
Compare Your
Benefit Options.
Two programs, two different structures. This overview is informational only — actual coverage is determined by the VA based on your eligibility and, for VR&E, your approved plan.
Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Education benefits for eligible veterans and service members pursuing approved education or training.
VR&E / Chapter 31
An individualized employment and rehabilitation program for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Education benefits for eligible veterans and service members pursuing approved education or training.
- Tuition / Training
- May be available
- Books & Supplies
- May be available
- Housing Benefit
- Where applicable
- Required Tools
- Where applicable
- Equipment
- Where applicable
- Employment Services
- Not a focus of this benefit
- Individualized Career Plan
- Not applicable
- Eligibility
- Subject to eligibility
- Application Process
- Through the VA
VR&E / Chapter 31
An individualized employment and rehabilitation program for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities.
- Tuition / Training
- Based on approved plan
- Books & Supplies
- Based on approved plan
- Housing Benefit
- Subject to eligibility
- Required Tools
- VA authorization required
- Equipment
- VA authorization required
- Employment Services
- Included focus
- Individualized Career Plan
- Central to the program
- Eligibility
- Service-connected disability + eligibility
- Application Process
- Through the VA
Values reflect general program possibilities, not confirmed Veteran Trade School coverage. Verify your specific eligibility and benefits with the VA and Veteran Trade School admissions.
Your Service Ends.
Your Experience Doesn't.
A clear route from the uniform to a skilled civilian career. Each waypoint builds on the last — benefits fund the training, training builds the skill, and skill opens the opportunity.
- WP-01
Military Service
- WP-02
Education Benefits
- WP-03
Reconditioning Training
- WP-04
Tools + Technical Skills
- WP-05
Business + Marketing
- WP-06
Career or Entrepreneurship
Your Benefits Fund
the Skills.
Education and vocational benefits are the means. What you walk away with is a real, hands-on trade you can build a career or a business around.
Learn the Trade.
Learn the Business.
Technical skill creates the service. Business knowledge creates the opportunity. Training is designed to help students understand not only how professional reconditioning work is performed, but also how automotive service businesses operate.
Veteran Trade School does not provide financial or legal advice. These fundamentals build awareness, not certification, and business outcomes are not guaranteed.
Business Foundations
- Business models
- Basic business planning
- Startup considerations
- Business structure fundamentals
- Professional standards
Pricing & Estimating
- Understanding service value
- Estimating work
- Pricing principles
- Profitability fundamentals
- Material and labor costs
Operations
- Scheduling
- Workflow
- Quality control
- Vehicle intake
- Service documentation
Customer Experience
- Professional presentation
- Setting expectations
- Follow-up
- Repeat business
- Reputation
Financial Basics
- Revenue vs. profit
- Expenses
- Cash flow fundamentals
- Basic bookkeeping awareness
- Understanding service margins
A Great Service
Still Needs Customers.
Students interested in self-employment or business ownership should understand how to present, promote, and grow an automotive reconditioning service. Training covers practical, actionable marketing — not hype.
Marketing knowledge supports growth but does not guarantee customers, revenue, or specific results.
Brand Basics
- Business name
- Positioning
- Professional presentation
- Brand consistency
Online Presence
- Website fundamentals
- Google Business Profile
- Local search visibility
- Reviews & reputation
- Basic SEO principles
Social Media
- Before-and-after content
- Photography & video basics
- Social proof
- Educational content
- Portfolio building
Local Marketing
- Dealership relationships
- Fleet opportunities
- Body shops
- Local partnerships
- Networking
Sales
- Explaining value
- Quotes
- Customer conversations
- Follow-up & referrals
- Upselling appropriate services
Customer Retention
- Reviews
- Repeat services
- Maintenance programs
- Referral systems
- Relationship building
Build a Career.
Or Build a Business.
Automotive reconditioning can support more than one future. The training is designed to prepare you for either direction — or to move between them over time.
Work for an Automotive Business
Put your skills to work inside an established operation. Graduates may pursue employment based on available opportunities and qualifications.
- Dealerships
- Reconditioning centers
- Detail / reconditioning shops
- Fleets
- Auctions
- Specialty automotive businesses
Veteran Trade School does not guarantee job placement or specific employment outcomes.
Build Your Own Operation
Use your training as the foundation for a business. Entrepreneurship requires technical ability plus marketing, pricing, customer acquisition, operations, and financial discipline — which is why VTS includes business education alongside technical training.
- Mobile reconditioning
- Specialty service business
- Detailing / reconditioning shop
- Dealer-focused services
- Multi-service recon business
Business outcomes depend on many factors and are not guaranteed.
Real People,
Not a Call Center.
When you reach out about benefits or enrollment, these are the people you will actually talk to. They can walk you through program options and what to confirm with the VA.
Cher O'Neil
Admissions Director
Michelle Scher
School Director
Ria Tuvalu
Admissions Specialist
Tasi Tuvalu
Admissions Representative
Benefit
Questions?
Straight answers on how benefits generally work — and where to confirm the details that apply to you. The VA makes final eligibility and coverage determinations.
Eligibility depends on VA rules and whether the specific program is approved for benefits. We cannot confirm approval status here. Speak with VTS admissions and verify your benefits directly with the VA.
For eligible veterans with a service-connected disability, VR&E (Chapter 31) may support approved training when it fits an individualized rehabilitation plan. Support is subject to VA authorization and your VR&E counselor’s approval.
Required tools, equipment, or supplies may be eligible for authorization through VR&E when included in an approved rehabilitation plan. Approval is determined by the VA and is not automatic.
Some benefit programs may provide support for books and supplies where applicable. Amounts and eligibility vary by program and VA rules. Confirm the specifics with the VA.
A monthly housing allowance may be available under certain benefits and enrollment situations. Eligibility, amounts, and conditions are determined by the VA.
The VA maintains your benefit entitlement. You can check your remaining eligibility through the VA (va.gov) or your VA representative. VTS does not determine your entitlement.
Benefit eligibility and applications go through the VA. VTS admissions can help you understand training options and where to start, but the VA makes final benefit determinations.
You may still have remaining entitlement depending on your history. The amount remaining and how it can be applied is determined by the VA. Verify your current entitlement with the VA.
[Placeholder: confirm enrollment eligibility for active-duty and transitioning service members.] Contact admissions to discuss your situation and timing.
[Placeholder: confirm spouse enrollment and any transferred-benefit considerations.] Some benefits may be transferable in certain cases; verify transferability with the VA.
Verify Your Benefits.
Start Your Training.
Speak with our admissions team about Veteran Trade School programs, then confirm your education benefits directly with the VA. We will help you understand your options and where to begin.