Buying Equipment?

[socomsam]

I've been enrolled in Voc Rehab for almost a year with very little progress. I recently expressed interest to my counselor about becoming a voc rehab counselor as I would like to serve my fellow disabled vets. My original goal was to go to luthier school to learn how to repair and set-up guitars as I do it as a hobby, but my counselor doesn't think it is a viable career.

To become a voc rehab counselor, I need a Masters in Psychology. Long road for sure and I am not guaranteed a job with the VA, so I could face unemployment so I am having doubts.

I was a video production specialist in the Army and did it as a profession for over 20 years since separating from the Army, but haven't been in the industry in several years.

So..this leads to my question..

I can easily get back into the industry if I had some equipment (camera and editing gear). Will the VA pay for equipment without me going to school?

[Pete53]

If you want something bad enough go for it. No guarantees for jobs but the training can be useful for other things.

Good Luck

[Chuck75]

You ask some questions that have some maybe answers.

"Will the VA pay for equipment without me going to school?"

It's possible. There are grants and loans for such things. Not having any experience with this area, I'd not know where to begin, other than the usual initial benefits searches via the web, etc.

" - - -repair and set-up guitars as I do it as a hobby, but my counselor doesn't think it is a viable career."

It might be, if you live in a metropolitan area.

Perhaps you would need to establish connections with retail music stores, etc. as a customer source.

(And, bands that like to smash guitars as part of the performances.) (Heh!)

Getting a small business off the ground is not easy, but it can be done. Think SBA and VA loans for disabled veterans, etc.

You would have to generate a "business plan" that is acceptable to the involved agency in order to even have a chance at a grant or loan.

Edited September 1, 2011 by Chuck75

[Guest]

I was a video production specialist in the Army and did it as a profession for over 20 years since separating from the Army, but haven't been in the industry in several years.

Think about changing you major, find a school/university that offer courses an begin taking classes. Talk with your VA education counselor about changing your career goals and see if she/he will approve the changes for you to take refresher/updated courses in video production. If they approve the course change and you begin taking classes that require equipment then VA will have to pay for the equipment. Good Luck

Edited September 1, 2011 by pete992

[john999]

You might not get a job with the VA even if you are very qualified and a disabled vet. I tried to get a job as a VA couselor. I was a disabled vet with a degree. I got an interview, but someone's girl friend or buddy got the job as I found out later when I actually got a low level job at the VA. Most jobs are already filled when they advertise. They just have to pretend to open them to the public. I must have tried for 50 jobs at the VA as an employee. I always got an answer "qualified but not selected".

[Guest]

You might not get a job with the VA even if you are very qualified and a disabled vet. I tried to get a job as a VA couselor. I was a disabled vet with a degree. I got an interview, but someone's girl friend or buddy got the job as I found out later when I actually got a low level job at the VA. Most jobs are already filled when they advertise. They just have to pretend to open them to the public. I must have tried for 50 jobs at the VA as an employee. I always got an answer "qualified but not selected".

Hmmm, this sounds exactly like what VA did to me. I even got highly qualified letters but I was not selected.

[john999]

Pete992

The VA is looking for health care professionals, but most doctor's don't want to work for them given the limitations placed on them. The VA is the elephant graveyard for medical professionals.