Education and VR&E

The VR&E Self-Employment track, application to funding

Four phases, the mandatory SBA VBOC coordination people miss, and the $25,000 line that decides who signs off and how long it takes.

The VR and E Self-Employment track from application to funding. Phase 1, apply on VA Form 28-1900 and attend orientation at the regional office. Phase 2, the counselor determines whether self-employment is a suitable vocational goal under 38 CFR 21.257(a). Phase 3, build the business plan, which requires coordination with an SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center under 38 CFR 21.257(f)(5); this is mandatory and is the step most veterans miss until their counselor asks for it. Phase 4, a comprehensive feasibility review under 38 CFR 21.257(f) covering economic viability, cost analysis, market analysis, non-VA financing, evidence of SBA coordination, business site and costs, and a training plan. Approval authority then depends on the plan total: under 25,000 dollars is approved by the local VR and E Officer and typically moves in 30 to 60 days, while 25,000 dollars or more goes to the Executive Director of VR and E Service at VA Central Office and typically takes 4 to 6 months. The 25,000 dollar line is an approval-authority threshold, not a maximum, and there is no published statutory ceiling.

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Source: The VR&E Self-Employment track, application to funding — Military Transition Toolkit (https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/vre-self-employment-track)

Embed snippet

<figure>
  <img src="https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/vre-self-employment-track.png"
       alt="The VR and E Self-Employment track from application to funding. Phase 1, apply on VA Form 28-1900 and attend orientation at the regional office. Phase 2, the counselor determines whether self-employment is a suitable vocational goal under 38 CFR 21.257(a). Phase 3, build the business plan, which requires coordination with an SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center under 38 CFR 21.257(f)(5); this is mandatory and is the step most veterans miss until their counselor asks for it. Phase 4, a comprehensive feasibility review under 38 CFR 21.257(f) covering economic viability, cost analysis, market analysis, non-VA financing, evidence of SBA coordination, business site and costs, and a training plan. Approval authority then depends on the plan total: under 25,000 dollars is approved by the local VR and E Officer and typically moves in 30 to 60 days, while 25,000 dollars or more goes to the Executive Director of VR and E Service at VA Central Office and typically takes 4 to 6 months. The 25,000 dollar line is an approval-authority threshold, not a maximum, and there is no published statutory ceiling."
       width="720" height="470">
  <figcaption>
    The VR&E Self-Employment track, application to funding. Source:
    <a href="https://www.militarytransitiontoolkit.com/diagrams/vre-self-employment-track">Military Transition Toolkit</a>
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Where this comes from

This diagram is drawn from The VR&E Self-Employment track, which cites the regulations and rate tables behind every figure shown here. If a rate changes, the guide and the diagram are updated together.

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