Tom Curcio believes in serving those who served their country.

As a retired U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant, Curcio knows all about transitioning out of the military and reentering the civilian world.  He wanted to do something to help soldiers who do not.

His chance came in September when the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs received a $252,000 grant to start a one-year pilot program dubbed the VetCorps. He was one of 36 members of AmeriCorps - a group that offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups - selected to participate in the initiative.

"This program will be replicated throughout the country," said Curcio. "We are helping to show veterans which door to go through and what resources are out there for them. We tell the soldiers how it is, and we're not part of the food chain."

A second grant was given to start an initiative called the Veteran Navigator program, which was established to assist veterans attending colleges and universities in navigating the higher education system, organizing veterans' clubs, and engaging veterans in community service projects.

"These grants are a wonderful opportunity to establish partnerships and open up volunteer opportunities within our communities," said Mark Fischer, program manager for the WDVA Veterans Conservation Corps, in a press release. "Volunteerism is an attribute shared by many veterans so the VetCorps and Veteran Navigators are a perfect fit and a great way for our veterans to get involved."

Through VetCorps, assistance is provided to soldiers and veterans in a number of ways.  For starters, they work with soldiers recovering from traumatic brain injuries by engaging them in volunteer opportunities that will in turn aid in their recovery.  Also, VetCorps members partner with soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion, or WTB, by promoting community-based activities to meet the needs of military families while a family member is deployed.

Curcio's role is to mentor veterans and soldiers who are assigned to the WTB and to help them transition back into the civilian world.  He gives the soldiers information on where to get benefits and what benefits are available.

"I try to let them know that they have a friend up here that has been through the process," Curcio said. "I want them to know that they can talk to me.  There is a lot going on when they first get here.  During the first thirty days they're really hopping, getting their doctors appointments, occupational therapy appointments, filling out paperwork and getting their work plans prepared.  It's a lot to take in, but we're here to help answer questions and make their transition as smooth a process as possible."

The program is part of in and out-processing for the WTB soldiers. With about 30 soldiers coming through his office a month, Curcio works to ensure that soldiers are informed about all of the available resources.  He provides the soldiers with links for their home state benefits and information to help them get through the transitioning process.

"A lot of soldiers come into my office, and I tell them something, and they say, ‘I didn't know that' or ‘Really?'" he said.  "The biggest thing is that I try to make sure that the soldiers know what resources are available within the battalion."
However, problems sometimes arise when the soldiers do not take full advantage of what is offered within the battalion.  During monthly follow-ups with the soldiers, they often tell Curcio that they didn't use what was offered when they had the chance. Although they have up to two years to use the WTB facilities, often they don't.

"The soldiers tell me in our follow-up discussions that they wish they had paid more attention to how to write a resume or the interviewing process," he said. "I think they forget that the middle name of this battalion is transition ... . You can dress them up, and send them to school, but you can't make them learn."

For information on how to get involved in the VetCorps or Veteran Navigator programs,
contact Mark Fischer at markf@dva.wa.gov or (360) 725-2224.

Program Website: www.dva.wa.gov/vet_conservation_corps.html

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