ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), a national non-profit organization bridging the gap between military and civilian life, is partnering with CollegeRecon, a military and education resource that empowers service members, Veterans, and their families through education and tuition assistance program information, to provide best-in-class information as they pursue their educational goals in civilian life. Nearly 200,000 service members transition from the military into civilian life each year. For many, navigating the challenges of relocation, employment, housing, and medical care can be overwhelming. Despite the number of organizations dedicated to preparing active-duty service members for transition to civilian life, obstacles remain. From accessing earned benefits to applying for medical care, Federal programs do a good job providing useful information but with 40% of new Veterans seeking to pursue educational goals after military service, it's critical they get objective, accurate information about the entire range of options and benefits available. CollegeRecon is uniquely able to address that need. "Going back to school can be a daunting task for anyone. Military students earn substantial financial benefits to cover the high costs associated with earning a college degree so choosing the right school to utilize those benefits is imperative," said Garrett Fitzgerald, CollegeRecon CEO. "Our tools and resources are built exclusively for the military and veteran community to educate men and women on their benefits, degree-program pathways and collegiate opportunities that fit their specific needs." The CollegeRecon ETS-SP partnership gives enrolled service members access to free informational tools from detailed descriptions of schools and universities with strong Veteran support networks to helpful insights on maximizing educational benefits they earned while on active duty. "This partnership offers our servicemen and women relevant, unbiased information about educational options in their chosen location, degree, and field of study while they are still on active duty, allowing them to plan for success and meet their educational goals immediately upon leaving the military," said Brigadier General (ret) Mike Eastman, ETS-SP Executive Director. Up to a year before their active duty ends, transitioning service members enrolled in the ETS Sponsorship Program are connected to a trained sponsor in their destination community to ensure a successful transition into civilian life. They work together developing a personalized plan focused on employment, education, family needs, and housing while the new Veteran accesses benefits and services in their future post-military community. About CollegeRecon: CollegeRecon, the largest college discovery platform built exclusively for the U.S. military and veteran community, provides resources, tools and information to prospective students interested in utilizing their GI Bill or Tuition Assistance benefits. Our mission is to improve outcomes in higher education for the military community by supporting those seeking the right opportunities at the right schools. More at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=O1khiGaUkS6JcfzofRwCycSzxpcxHj7DkV-VZskZxyj4Jr2Utnh0NzApIBQ4rdDw1rR2Y-S6H2Ua6DTAgScHtRdzdAw_L-ZyDOa_FrZJVtI=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.collegerecon.com</a>. Contact Information: Garrett FitzGerald CEO &amp; Founder, Recon-Media <a title="garrett@hfalliance.com" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=RKdsD_JmCD3qQyRnt3pph0GdZex1I9a6_yoXAUEKUmkg1-6NL_ZmMw-L-QIXLH15aQ9GbYX-NEXmnC_nVEShnbKEJu6xHFxepPCkXr0fxmA=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">garrett@hfalliance.com</a> 414.350.6638
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College Recon Partnership

We are excited to spotlight one of our program partners AAFMAA today! AAFMAA knows the military. Military community members benefit from their expertise through tailored resources related to military life insurance, personal finance, financial planning, government benefits, and beneficiary information. Visit AAFMAA&rsquo;s Learning Hub for educational resources to get you started on your journey toward greater financial wellness.<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Fira Sans', Ubuntu, Oxygen, 'Oxygen Sans', Cantarell, 'Droid Sans', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff;"> <img src="https://cdn.app.onwardops.org/dIvSjyey4eAUdk2CfWMfdaOmqffN3N0LnUG0eLxl.jpg" alt="" width="940" height="788" />

AAFMAA Partnership 

Each year, more than 200,000 service members transition from active duty to civilian life, 4,000 of whom resettle in New York State. The transition from military service to civilian life can be challenging. The combined stresses of a perceived loss of purpose, geographic relocation, financial uncertainty, and underlying medical and psychological issues have led researchers to deem this period as the &ldquo;deadly gap&rdquo;&mdash;when new veterans face suicide rates more than two times higher than their civilian counterparts. A lack of communication and coordination at the federal, state, and local levels also hampers service members from getting a head start on their transition and being connected with the resources they need for a successful reintegration. New veterans are often left to navigate reintegration on their own. The Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP) has created a scalable program that proactively addresses veterans&rsquo; needs before they leave active duty by using unique data dashboards and pairing veterans with peer mentors and resources in their destination communities. In 2022, NYHealth awarded ETS-SP a grant to expand its program within New York State and connect service members leaving active duty and transitioning to veteran status with peer mentors and community resources. Under this grant, ETS-SP will expand the reach of its program into New York City and 13 counties in the Finger Lakes region. It will establish formal partnerships with local organizations to serve as community integration coordinators, which will train peer mentors to be paired with transitioning service members. Mentors will receive training through a VA-certified cultural competency/mentor training program that was previously supported by NYHealth. ETS-SP will also conduct outreach to veterans leaving the military and with plans to settle in one of the identified regions. Finally, ETS-SP will create virtual dashboard to provide a snapshot of data and information regarding transitioning veterans and the services most often requested in each region. Dashboards will also be a secure way for veterans to share medical or discharge information with local providers. ETS-SP will aggregate dashboard data to provide monthly needs assessments to each region and share vital information with the VA, the State, and each city&rsquo;s Department of Veterans&rsquo; Services on the number and types of requests from transitioning veterans, demographics, and regional differences.
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