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Orleans sheriff's deputies are searching for an inmate who walked away from his job at a transitional work program Monday.more>> Orleans sheriff's deputies are searching for an inmate who walked away from his job at a transitional work program Monday.more>> A Baton Rouge Judge has ordered St. Tammany Parish Corner Peter Galvan to turn over 80,000 emails amid allegations of questionable spending practices within the officemore>> A Baton Rouge Judge has ordered St. Tammany Parish Corner Peter Galvan to turn over 80,000 emails amid allegations of questionable spending practices within the officemore>> The Houma Police Department is looking for the owner of a pony that was found wandering in the area of Maple Street Park Monday morningmore>> The Houma Police Department is looking for the owner of a pony that was found wandering in the area of Maple Street Park Monday morningmore>> Tornadoes ravaged portions of central Oklahoma on Sunday, reducing portions of a mobile home park to rubble and killing a 79-year-old man whose body was found out in the open.more>> Tornadoes ravaged portions of central Oklahoma on Sunday, reducing portions of a mobile home park to rubble and killing a 79-year-old man whose body was found out in the open.more>> Hundreds gathered for a second line honoring the victim's of last Sunday's Mother's Day shooting. Participants say last weekend's violence won't keep them from doing what they love. more>> Hundreds gathered for a second line honoring the victim's of last Sunday's Mother's Day shooting. Participants say last weekend's violence won't keep them from doing what they love. more>> In just a matter of weeks uptown residents who live near the Arabella Fire Station will lose a special piece of firefighting equipment.more>> In just a matter of weeks uptown residents who live near the Arabella Fire Station will lose a special piece of firefighting equipment.more>> One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.more>> One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.more>> Amtrak officials say a train departing from New Orleans derailed not far from Chicago's Union Station.more>> Amtrak officials say a train departing from New Orleans derailed not far from Chicago's Union Station.more>> A government report says construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans is $370 million over budget and 14 months behind schedule.more>> A government report says construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans is $370 million over budget and 14 months behind schedule.more>> The State Fire Marshal's Office is asking for assistance in the investigation of a series of fires in St. Charles Parish.more>> The State Fire Marshal's Office is asking for assistance in the investigation of a series of fires in St. Charles Parish.more>>
ATLANTA (AP) - Unemployed veterans may be heading back to school by the thousands under a new federal program that pays for up to a year of education.
Officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs say out-of-work veterans can get back in the job market in high demand fields like health care, management and legal services.
So far, there has been an enormous response to the program called the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP).
More than 27,000 unemployed veterans have applied and 13,083 have already been accepted.
The program is first-come, first-serve for qualifying veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 who are unemployed at the time of the application. Veterans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits or are enrolled in a federal or state job training program do not qualify.
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