The Relationship Between Training Program Participation and Gainful Civilian Employment of Gulf War-Era II Veterans

Abstract

The GI Bill of Rights has helped millions of veterans with their transition into civilian employment through education and training programs. In addition to higher education benefits, the GI Bill provides educational assistance for vocational training, entrepreneurship courses, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and remedial courses. Compared to previous studies, this study is unique in three aspects. First, this study focuses on training programs completed by veterans rather than higher education. Second, the training categories are constructed based on job-specific versus general properties of human capital theory. Finally, the study captures all training programs completed by veterans regardless of provider or sponsoring organization by using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) . Generalized linear mixed models are used to determine the relationship between the type of training program and gainful employment. Pre-employment training programs were found to be positively related to the gainful employment of Gulf War-Era II veterans.