Veteran Readiness and Employment, step by step
If you have a service-connected disability rating, Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) may cover vocational training. It works differently from the GI Bill, because a VR&E counselor has to agree that the training fits your employment plan. A typical sequence:
- Apply for VR&E through VA and attend the orientation and evaluation.
- Tell your counselor you want to train as a crane operator, and explain why: the type of crane, the kind of employer, and the physical demands you can handle.
- Your counselor decides whether to approve the training and our school as the provider.
- Once VA authorizes it, contact us with the authorization and pick a start date.
We are approved for Chapter 31 and for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33). Our VA compliance policy explains that we do not block enrollment or charge late fees while VA payment is pending.
If you're using the Post-9/11 GI Bill instead
Chapter 33 is the more common route for veterans who left service recently. Request a Certificate of Eligibility from VA before you enroll, and ask VA how much of your entitlement a non-college program like ours would use. VA, not the school, decides what it pays and whether any housing payment applies. More detail is on funding options.
Two ways north from the east side
Kirby sits between I-10 East and FM 78, so you have a choice. The direct route is Loop 410 to I-35 north, through Austin and Waco and on toward Dallas. Some east-side drivers prefer to avoid Austin traffic altogether: they take I-10 east to Seguin, then the SH 130 toll road north, which rejoins I-35 above Georgetown. It adds distance and tolls but can be steadier at busy hours.
Either way, figure four and a half to five hours, then east from the Dallas area to Seagoville. Flying from San Antonio International to Dallas Love Field or DFW is possible too; you would still need a car for the drive to class.
Where to stay for the course
The distance rules out commuting, so plan for lodging near Seagoville. Students on standard courses arrange their own. Our premium courses keep the same approved hours and add an option for room and board in Seagoville; several are listed below. If you are using VA benefits, confirm with VA how a premium course is handled before you book.
Physical side of the work
Veterans often ask whether crane operating suits them. The work means climbing on and off equipment, long stretches seated at the controls, outdoor heat and staying sharp for a full shift. Riggers and signal persons spend their day on their feet around the load. If you have questions about how your situation fits, raise them with your VR&E counselor and with us before you enroll; the what to expect page describes a training day.
Paperwork to gather before you leave Kirby
VA-funded students lose the most time to missing documents, so collect these before travel day:
- Your Certificate of Eligibility for Chapter 33, or the authorization your VR&E counselor sends for Chapter 31.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- Your DD-214 if VA or your counselor asked for it.
- Contact details for your counselor, in case a question comes up during enrollment.
Email or bring copies to us before the start date so enrollment is settled when you arrive. The admission page lists our general enrollment requirements, and our staff can tell you what we still need on a quick call.
Our staff can also send you the dates for the next few classes so your counselor can match the authorization to a real start date, which saves a round of paperwork later.