VSS
TE DUCAM IN VIA
Welcome to your
Veteran Support Specialist Training
Your path starts here
As you begin the VSS Training program, here’s what this work is all about:
- Giving you the tools to truly help. You'll examine systemic, cultural, and personal barriers that Veterans struggle with when accessing mental health treatment, learn techniques to help communicate with and advocate for Veterans, and explore ways to prioritize professional self-care, and address burnout, secondary trauma, and ethical resilience for those working closely with Veteran populations.
- Being the peer who “gets it.” VSS training is designed to help you serve as a trusted peer, coach, or mentor for Veterans in transition and those who are post transition with unmet needs. We want graduates to understand the Veteran experience and to have the tools to help Veterans as they move into the next chapter of their lives, whether that be reintegrating into civilian society or overcoming barriers preventing them from a happy, successful, and meaningful life.
- Expanding what VSOs can do. You’ll build the skills to address a wide range of needs – from benefits and housing to mental health, employment, and community connection – so you can support Veterans more effectively and completely.
In short, this program is about equipping you to make a real, practical difference in the lives of Veterans and their families.
Being named a Veteran Service Specialist (VSS) is more than just earning a certificate – it’s a recognition that you’ve stepped into a trusted role in the lives of Veterans and their families. It says you’ve taken the time to understand the culture, the language, and the unique challenges of military and Veteran life, and that you’re committed to helping people navigate a system that can feel overwhelming on their own.
As a VSS, you become a go-to person – someone who knows how to listen, ask the right questions, and connect Veterans with the right resources at the right time. Agencies, employers, and community partners see the VSS designation as a signal that you bring added value to your role: you’re not just “aware” of Veterans’ needs, you’re trained to respond to them.
There’s also a deep personal value. Being a VSS means you are part of a growing network across North Carolina, learning from others, sharing what works, and helping to shape a more coordinated, compassionate system of care for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. It’s a way to turn your respect for their service into meaningful, practical support – one conversation, one connection, one Veteran at a time.
VSS