LAKEWOOD – Veterans Empowerment and Transition Services (V.E.T.S.) recently opened its doors in the Lakewood, Washington area and is within three miles of Joint Base Lewis McChord. It was started by Founder and Managing Director, Michael “Mike” Hill. Michael is a US Army Vietnam Era Veteran. He founded V.E.T.S. in 2012 to be a service provider to Veterans. He frequently speaks to Veterans at American Lake Veterans Hospital and is in collaboration with MerciCorps on a project that empowers transitioning personnel into effective community productivity. Earning his Masters of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship, he has demonstrated unparalleled social cause, commitment and entrepreneurial business experience.
V.E.T.S. services are a coordinated effort that provides Veterans with group therapy counseling, personal growth development and lifestyle empowerment through the 3c’s approach: crisis, credit and career counseling. The class curriculum is designed by Mike Hill’s thesis research for Veterans transitioning from a military lifestyle. The program fosters a philosophy of service which implements a non-clinical holistic approach as the foundational readjustment measure. The program consists of a cohort designed curriculum that is academically sound, cohort designed excellent, and biblically based. V.E.T.S. class outline speaks to the needs and wants of the entire military community. It has been estimated that it would cost $700 per Veteran to participate in the six week course. All services are offered free to Veterans and their family members.
Mike states, “Our mission is to provide effective assistance to active and post-military personnel transitioning to civilian life by aiding them with personal and career readjustment measures. We aim to do this by equipping and empowering Veterans to set aside the “survival mode” which is a key feature of their (past) military culture.” He also points out that there is no quick fix to resume a normal lifestyle upon leaving a combat zone and entering back into a home zone. The Veteran must adjust his or her perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors in order to meet the challenges. “We will assist our Veterans to better deal with day-to-day stresses which will empower them to become victors and not victims.”
V.E.T.S. has targeted the plight of many Veterans as an opportunity to be of service. The program concept is linked to three areas of innovative services known as “The 3 C’s Holistic Approach” and consists of Crisis Counseling, Career Counseling and Credit Counseling.
V.E.T.S. is located in the Family Hope Center, 10402 Kline Street SW, Suite 111, Lakewood, WA 98499. For more information on upcoming seminars, job fairs and Veteran events visit www.vetstransition.org and follow them on Facebook. Veterans Empowerment and Transition Services (V.E.T.S.) is a Non-Profit organization classified as a 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service. Donations or gifts received by V.E.T.S. are tax deductible under section 107 by the Internal Revenue Code.