DHS resources help Veterans build a future in homeland security
VA Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence recently sat down with Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar for an episode of "At the Table" to discuss career opportunities for Veterans at the Department of Homeland Security. Their conversation covered why Veterans are well prepared for homeland security work, how DHS is growing across several mission areas, and which resources can help Veterans make the move from military or other work into a DHS career.
DHS is a large federal department that brings together a wide range of security and public safety missions. According to the source, it currently has almost 30,000 open positions across 23 mission components, including law enforcement, maritime security, emergency management, cybersecurity, transportation security and immigration services. About 30 percent of its 260,000 employees are already Veterans, which means a Veteran applying there is entering a workforce with substantial prior-service representation.
The discussion stressed that DHS is not only a law enforcement employer. Veterans can pursue work in border security, transportation security, cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, emergency response, immigration services, laboratory science, forensic work and international operations at embassies, ports and diplomatic missions. Many of these roles center on analysis, operations, planning, engineering and technology. For disabled Veterans who may not want or be able to take physically demanding field positions, that breadth is worth noting, though the source does not address specific disability considerations in hiring.
Two tools were highlighted for translating military experience into civilian terms. The Coast Guard Credentialing Opportunities On-Line program, known as CG COOL, lets service members and Veterans compare their training, education and experience against more than 2,000 possible industry-recognized credentials in fields such as engineering, safety and technical operations. Active duty service members may receive up to $4,500 each year toward these credentials, and Veterans may be able to use VA education benefits to obtain them. MilGears similarly helps people match a military occupation to civilian pathways, identify what additional training may be needed, and it is useful for Veterans who separated years ago and want to change careers.
Maritime work is a major part of the picture. The Coast Guard handles global search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, waterway security, port management and national security operations, and new investments are going toward its personnel, infrastructure, technology, ships and aircraft. The U.S. is also expanding shipbuilding capacity to support construction of 11 new Arctic cutters, with new shipyards opening and existing ones increasing production. That growth requires welders, electricians, engineers, designers, program managers, safety professionals and skilled technicians, and the source says Veterans with ship maintenance, engineering, operations or logistics experience will find their skills transfer directly. Veterans with Navy, Coast Guard or Army backgrounds often move naturally into these roles, and the Military Sealift Command was named as another place to look.
For disabled Veterans, employment is one piece of a larger benefits picture that also includes compensation, health care and education. Credentialing and retraining can matter if a service-connected condition has changed what kind of work you can do. The note that VA education benefits may apply to credentials is worth following up on, since coverage depends on the specific credential and your own eligibility, and the source gives no further detail.
A sensible approach is to start by browsing the DHS careers site to see which components and job types match your background. Then try CG COOL or MilGears to see how your experience maps to credentials and civilian roles, and note any training gaps. Before paying for any credential, ask VA or your education office whether your benefits can cover it. A Veterans Service Organization representative or a VA employment counselor can also help you weigh options in light of your disability rating and any limitations, and can explain how working would interact with the benefits you receive.