CSUSM Receives Near-Record Grant to Expand Program for Student Vets

Six years ago, Cal State San Marcos received a U.S. Department of Defense grant that provided funding to help student veterans discover careers in sustainable energy.

The program has been so successful that two more rounds of funding have been provided, and the latest award is not only one of the largest in university history, but it also broadens the scope of the project.

This summer, CSUSM received a five-year grant worth up to $12.5 million from the Office of Naval Research to continue the work of Veterans to Energy Careers (VTEC). But the program has been renamed Veterans to Naval Careers (VNC) in a reflection of the fact that it has expanded to include civilian jobs in all areas of Navy research and development, not just the energy sector.

The $12.5 million award is the largest current federal grant for CSUSM and the second-largest in university history. It also more than doubles the amount that CSUSM received from the Defense Department in 2021 ($6 million, though over three years instead of five) and quadruples the amount of the initial award in 2018 ($3 million, also three years).

"The Navy has been very direct that they like what this program does, that CSUSM is running it well and getting great outcomes, and they want to continue to grow and expand the program," said Josh Loop, the program director of VNC. "The Navy sees this program as a long-term investment and initiative for our student veterans."

Since the advent of the program, VNC has supported student veterans and partners in 27 states, spanning from Hawaii to Maryland. VNC participants have been placed into 313 internships with 31 partnering organizations, including 164 internships at eight Defense Department facilities. And boosted by those internships, 225 participants have secured employment with 143 companies and government entities, with more than 99% of them landing jobs before graduation.

Under the new grant, VNC plans to place at least 100 student veterans into year-round internships lasting one to two years with Navy personnel and ensure that all 100 receive job offers before graduation. That's double the benchmark from the previous grant and more than three times that of the original grant.

The additional funding also will allow VNC to increase stipend amounts for students so that the program compensation stays competitive with similar internships and accounts for the elevated cost of living on the West Coast and other internship sites.

"Veterans to Naval Careers is a veterans transition program run by veterans, for veterans," said Loop, a veteran of the Coast Guard. "As veterans, we understand the challenges of transitioning to civilian life because we've been in their shoes. We're committed to offering the mentorship, resources and paid internships to ensure that veterans gain the skills and experience they need to secure successful careers before they graduate, setting them up for long-term success in their civilian lives."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.