Veterans Outreach Program

The DRI Foundation created the Veterans’ Outreach Program (VOP) as a way to repay the sacrifices made by military personnel who have given unselfishly of themselves to protect our nation. We concluded that helping veterans with the challenges of transitioning from a military life to a civilian one would ease their anxiety and the uncertainty that many veterans face. We were acutely aware of how lack of employment has created a vast homeless situation for many veterans. Providing education and certification, through our non-profit organization, DRI International, as well as no-cost employment placement help is our approach to improving the lives of veterans.

The program has grown from a single business continuity course in 2016 to a combination of courses – some dedicated to only veterans and others that contain both civilians and veterans. Having veterans attend classes with their civilian counterparts has helped reassure veterans entering civilian life. Sharing experiences and understanding the similarities in their day-to-day activities has made veterans more comfortable in addressing the daunting task of applying and interviewing for jobs. It has also provided valuable contacts for job openings within the organizations of civilian attendees of these classes. To date, we have trained and certified thousands of veterans.

The dedicated veterans’ courses are being held at military installations that provide medical care for those who have given the most – Wounded Warriors. By bringing the instruction to them, we can provide the training they need with minimal travel inconvenience, in a setting that caters to their special needs. Additionally, we have opened the classes to the spouses of soon to be mustered out military personnel who are 100% disabled and cannot work, as a means of helping spouses enter the workforce.

As with the rest of the DRI Foundation, this is an all-volunteer initiative which receives no government support. We encourage all interested veterans to apply, and we look forward to even more veterans joining our growing ranks.

Thank you,

Alan Berman
President
DRI Foundation

VOP Mission

Provide transitioning military Service Members and Veterans the opportunity to prepare for a career in the resiliency field.

VOP Vision

At the Veterans Outreach Program (VOP), we honor the men and women of the armed forces whose patriotic service and sacrifice protected our nation. Supporting a seamless transition from military to civilian life, we provide transitioning military and veterans an opportunity to compete, at no cost to the veteran, for scholarships for training and certification as a Business Continuity professional, improving their chances and positioning for both private and public sector Business Continuity roles. Carrying out the VOP’s mission demands a diverse, dedicated, and highly skilled force of volunteers.

VOP Core Values

Commitment: We will respond to our veterans’ needs for transition to civilian life with an abiding sense of gratitude and commitment. We will answer all contingencies with our very best efforts. Like our veterans, we will always be fully committed to accomplishing our mission.

Excellence: We will insist on a standard of competence from our colleagues and ourselves. We will try to exceed the expectations of veterans because they’ve earned our best efforts with their own.

Communication: We will listen to our veterans, to each other, and to people outside of our organization. We will be candid, accurate, and quick to heed their counsel and respond to their concerns. We will never stop trying to improve.

Collaboration: In partnership with DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs, we will support providing Veterans with a seamless transition from military service to Veteran status.

Stewardship: VOP is dedicated to empowering our transitioning military Service Members and Veterans with a broad range of choices that will help them thrive in their civilian lives. This means VOP will focus on mentorship, guidance, and direction in the business continuity career field.