Toolbox.vet

Tyler Solorio and Victor Inzunza, both former student veterans, discuss from personal experience what other veterans should know before starting college and what they wish they had known.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

One of the biggest concerns about the GI Bill is recognizing the right time to use it. Tyler Solorio and Victor Inzunza discuss their thoughts and experiences using the GI Bill.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

There are numerous education benefits that many are not aware of, which can mean missing out on important benefits you are entitled to. Victor and Tyler talk about these benefits and different ways they can be utilized.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

Victor and Tyler discuss the pitfalls of debt and the need to understand budgeting.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

Victor and Tyler talk about establishing budget goals, savings, and free resources on budgeting.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

Victor talks about the VA Work Study Program in detail as Tyler reflects on not utilizing it in school.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

Tyler and Victor discuss Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE), which can help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, starting your own business, and job seeking skills coaching. They discuss their own experiences and how VRE can benefit you.

Vets Helping Vets is our newest podcast series, a special edition of Toolbox.vet. This series features stories and insights from veterans, for veterans.

Listen to Pauline Lubens, Policy Analyst at Swords to Plowshares, describe ways for agencies to incorporate principles and practices of veteran diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Listen to Amy Fairweather, Director of Policy for Swords to Plowshares, discuss the importance of revisiting your mission and vision.

Listen to Wendy Meluch, Program Evaluation Specialist, discuss the important elements of a structured interview to gather the most important data from veterans in your program.

Making sure you dedicate time and resources to program development and sustainability, creating strategic partnerships, and effective leadership is key to establishing best practices in services to veterans.

Listen to Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, and Tyler Solorio, Army Afghanistan Veteran, discuss the difficulties transitioning to civilian employment and how employers can support veterans in the workplace.

Understand how to help veterans frame their skills for a civilian employment search and encourage employers to apply a culturally-informed approach to hiring and supporting veterans in the workplace.

Listen to Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, and Tyler Solorio, Army Afghanistan Veteran, discuss from former student veteran perspectives how colleges can best support student veterans.

Listen to Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, and Tyler Solorio, Army Afghanistan Veteran, discuss what veterans should know before attending college.

Veterans may feel isolated on campus, navigating a new space so different from their military life. Learning ways to engage and support student veterans will help them succeed in college.

Formerly unhoused veteran, Reina, discusses her experience coming out as transgender, losing community support and ending up unsheltered, then getting placed in housing and employment.

The risk and resilience factors related to military service and homelessness present developers, operators, property management, clinical and support staff with important considerations for housing services.

Listen to Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, discuss active listening and de-escalation techniques in services to veterans.

A veteran tells her amazing story of trauma, institutional betrayal, survival, and seeking care. Content warning: Descriptions of sexual violence.

Listen to Michael Blecker, Army Veteran and Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares, reflect on his transition from the military and how he built up a community system of care for veterans.

Listen to Tyler Solorio, Army Afghanistan veteran, and Victor Inzunza, Marine Corps Iraq Veteran, discuss ways to identify, screen for veteran status, and build rapport in services for veterans.

Understanding effective approaches to care—from outreach, to the physical design of facilities, to trauma-informed interviewing and community collaboration—allows you to translate substantive knowledge to best practices.

Two Veterans Discuss Their Bad Paper Discharges.

Watch a former Swords to Plowshares client discuss his bad paper discharge. By Brave New Films.

A veteran discusses their reasons for seeking care at the VA.

Veterans may require care and recognition for service-related conditions beyond what is provided outside of the VA. Find out how to get veterans connected to VA healthcare and benefits.

Listen to Shannon, Navy Veteran, discuss considerations for TBI among veterans.

Listen to housing and social service providers discuss the isolation and community, ADL, and habitability needs of aging veterans.

Listen to Kevin, Iraq Marine Corps Veteran, discuss his experience with the clinical triad: PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain

In part 2, we interview Paul Sullivan, Gulf War Veteran, who discusses the emergence of Gulf War Illness from toxic exposures and the advocacy of Gulf War veterans for research, diagnosis, and treatment.

In part 1, we interview Paul Cox, Vietnam Veteran, who discusses Agent Orange and the advocacy of Vietnam veterans, and we draw similarities to the current efforts of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to gain recognition for health issues related to burn pits and other toxic exposures.

An awareness of a veteran’s military experiences and health risks will increase your understanding of co-morbidities, provide guidance for treatment plans, and help you explore appropriate referrals and resources.

Listen to Shannon, Navy Veteran, discuss the impact of guilt. Content warning: descriptions of violence and strong language.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, offers insight on how some veterans may develop PTSD.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, describes the bonds that service members have and the inability to describe the sometimes horrific experiences to their loved ones back home.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, describes the bonds that service members have and the inability to describe the sometimes horrific experiences to their loved ones back home.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, describes his deep connection to his rifle during advanced training.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, describes the primary mission of the military and the indoctrination of military members. Content warning: strong language and descriptions of violence.

Shannon, Navy Veteran, describes the changing nature of war and medical interventions.

Listen to Amy Fairweather, Swords to Plowshares’ Director of Policy, define Collective Impact in veteran care.”

Listen to Michael Blecker, Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares, discuss how Swords to Plowshares was formed and came together with the support of the community.

Listen to Amy Fairweather, Swords to Plowshares Policy Director, discuss how war and combat alone should not incite the obligation of society to provide services and support.

Michael Blecker, Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares, discusses how Vietnam veterans responded to the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Listen to Swords to Plowshares Executive Director, Michael Blecker, discuss the poverty draft of Vietnam veterans and its impact.

The Bonus Army’s march on Washington, DC in 1932 shaped veteran advocacy and the government response to veteran needs.

Veteran healthcare and benefits have always been fought for. Knowing about veteran advocacy and how it shaped veteran systems of care will provide context for the support you provide.

An awareness of a veteran’s military-connected experiences and possible service-connected trauma conditions will provide you with context for diagnosis, treatment, and other needed services.

Military service may expose veterans to mental and physical health risks that are best addressed through culturally-informed care and access to veteran-specific resources.

Developed by Swords to Plowshares, Toolbox.vet is an online library that aims to better equip advocates and providers with the tools they need to connect with veterans of all ages and assist them.