Dun & Bradstreet
Past Performance Evalution
97%

VITAL ®- VETERAN'S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ASSISTANCE LINK NEWS RELEASES

The Veterans Individual Training Assistance Link (VITAL®) was a special program developed by Smart Solutions of Delaware, Inc. Leveraging existing resources, Smart Solutions of Delaware develops Recovering Service Members recovering in Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) to be hired into career Federal Civil Service positions. VITAL® was initially developed for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) to transition recovering Service members into civilian employment within CNIC's IT department (Code N6).

The VITAL® program proactively recruited all eligible service members at the MTFs and made them aware of the opportunities available to them within the CNIC enterprise through onsite briefings and personal meetings. VITAL ® worked with Recovering Service Members from the initial stages of recruiting, goal setting, course selection, through the completion of training/certification to job placement with continuous follow-ups. All applicants were screened regarding their career desires, education and training background, and special accommodations that may be required for a particular type of Federal position.

Support and guidance for the Program has been achieved through coordination with leadership at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD P&R}: Hiring Heroes; Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program (CAP); Director, Transition Policy and Care Coordination; Director, Office of Military Community and Family Policy; and at the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Civilian Human Resources/EEO).

A Smart Solutions of Delaware Mentor were assigned to all applicants to provide personalized assistance and guidance throughout the VITAL® process from recruitment through placement. The Mentor works with the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Recovery Care Coordinators and Case Managers, USMC Recovering Service Members Detachments, Navy Campus for college courses, the CNIC site manager and the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Visiting Nurse Service for assigned VITAL ® Students.

Once the candidate was matched to a position, a Smart Solutions™ Coach in the functional discipline tutored the VITAL® Student. The Coach created an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that included an assessment of any training needs that may have been required for the position, as well as a discussion of the performance goals and measures associated with the proposed position. The coach utilizes Navy Knowledge On-Line and MarineNet on-line education, the Army Center for Excellence in Performance (ACEP Classes), and the OSD Operation Warfighter placement program for experiential learning arrangements.

The Smart Solutions® Mentor and Coach worked with the Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) to ensure that the Recovery Plan and the VITAL IDP was synchronized. Key to success is weekly, and sometimes daily, interaction between the Mentor, Coach and VITAL ® Student.

As a result of the successful CNIC VITAL™ Prototype; the VITAL® Program vision was Adaptable and Scalable to every Recovering Service Members. Adaptable to every CNIC, Navy, and all Federal Civil Service agency positions identified in the President's In-Sourcing Initiative; and easily Expandable with a Mentor for every 8 to 10 VITAL® Students and a Coach in the appropriate functional community for every 3 to 5 VITAL® Students.

The leadership at NAVSEA hosted the first Wounded Warrior Conference in the Naval District Washington. The Veterans Individual Training Assistance Link (VITAL ®) was invited to participate in that ASN (M&RA) sponsored Wounded Warrior Conference hosted by NAVSEA. VITAL ® was initially developed for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) to transition recovering Service members into civilian employment within CNIC’s IT department (Code N6). The photo shows VITAL® Students, their Mentors & Coaches with the CNIC CIO, N-6.

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