Section A: Processing Requests for Counseling under Chapter 36 for
Transitioning Servicemembers and for Current Beneficiaries and
Individuals Eligible under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607

#### Overview

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #          | > This section contains the topics listed in the table  |
| #### In Th | > below.                                                |
| is Section |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

  ------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------
  Topic         Topic Name                                    See Page

  1             Requesting Counseling under Chapter 36 for    2-A-2
                Transitioning Servicemembers and for Current  
                Beneficiaries and Individuals Eligible under  
                Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607         

  2             Processing Requests for Counseling under      2-A-6
                Chapter 36                                    

  3             Counseling Services Available under Chapter   2-A-8
                36                                            
  ------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------

#### 1. Requesting Counseling under Chapter 36 for Transitioning Servicemembers, and for Current Beneficiaries and Individuals Eligible under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on handling           |
| troduction | > counseling requests under Chapter 36, including       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   who may request counseling                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   how requests can be made                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   where to submit requests                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   summary for submitting counseling requests, and     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   supplemental information to be included with the    |
|            |     request.                                            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > December 30, 2005                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > The following individuals may request Counseling      |
|  a. Who Ma | > under Chapter 36                                      |
| y Request  |                                                         |
| Counseling | -   transitioning servicemembers, who are               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   within 6 months of discharge from active duty       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   within one year following discharge under other     |
|            |     than dishonorable conditions                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   current beneficiaries of educational assistance     |
|            |     under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607, and    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   veterans or dependents who are eligible for         |
|            |     educational assistance under Chapters 30, 31, 32,   |
|            |     35, 1606 or 1607.                                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

1\. Requesting Counseling under Chapter 36 for Transitioning
Servicemembers, and for Current Beneficiaries and Individuals Eligible
under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Transitioning servicemembers, current beneficiaries,  |
| ## b. How  | > and eligible veterans and dependents can request      |
| Requests C | > counseling by completing                              |
| an Be Made |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 28-8832, Veteran Application for           |
|            |     Counseling*                                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education      |
|            |     Benefits*                                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   *VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or  |
|            |     Place of Training,* or                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a signed, written request which includes the        |
|            |     minimum information needed to identify the          |
|            |     applicant, including                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   name                                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   address                                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   telephone number                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   social security number, and                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   statement certifying that he or she is within six   |
|            |     months of discharge or release from active duty     |
|            |     under other than dishonorable conditions.           |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Requests from                                         |
| ## c. Wher |                                                         |
| e to Submi | -   servicemembers may be submitted to                  |
| t Requests |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   Military Service Coordinators (MSC) during          |
|            |     pre-discharge briefings                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   any VA office                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a VA Regional Processing Office (RPO) , or          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   VA electronically at                                |
|            |     [www.va.gov](http://www.va.gov/)                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   veterans or qualifying dependents may be submitted  |
|            |     to                                                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   any VA office                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a VA Regional Processing Office (RPO) , or          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   VA electronically at                                |
|            |     [www.va.gov](http://www.va.gov/).                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

1\. Requesting Counseling under Chapter 36 for Transitioning
Servicemembers, and for Current Beneficiaries and Individuals Eligible
under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > The table below summarizes the steps for submitting a |
| ### d. Sum | > counseling request.                                   |
| mary for S |                                                         |
| ubmitting  |                                                         |
| a Counseli |                                                         |
| ng Request |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Requester             | Document              | Processed by          |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Servicemembers within | VAF 28-8832           | -   VA Regional       |
| 6 months of discharge |                       |     Processing Office |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       |                       | -   Military Service  |
|                       |                       |     Coordinator, or   |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       |                       | -   VR&E Division     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Veterans within 1     | -   VAF 28-8832       | -   VR&E Division, or |
| year following        |                       |                       |
| discharge under other | -   Written request   | -   VA Regional       |
| than dishonorable     |     for counseling,   |     Processing Office |
| conditions            |     or                |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | -   [www.va.gov       |                       |
|                       | ](http://www.va.gov/) |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Veterans eligible for | -   VAF 22-1990       | -   VR&E Division, or |
| Educational           |                       |                       |
| Assistance under      | -   Written request   | -   VA Regional       |
| Chapters 30, 31, 32,  |     for counseling,   |     Processing Office |
| 1606 or 1607          |     or                |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | -   [www.va.gov       |                       |
|                       | ](http://www.va.gov/) |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Current beneficiaries | -   VAF 22-1990       | -   VR&E Division, or |
| of educational        |                       |                       |
| assistance under      | -   Written request   | -   VA Regional       |
| Chapters 30, 31, 32,  |     for counseling,   |     Processing Office |
| 1606 or 1607          |     or                |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | -   [www.va.gov       |                       |
|                       | ](http://www.va.gov/) |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Any non-disabled      | -   VAF 22-1990       | VA Regional           |
| dependents eligible   |                       | Processing Office     |
| for educational       | -   Written request   |                       |
| assistance under      |     for counseling,   |                       |
| Chapter 35            |     or                |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | -   [www.va.gov       |                       |
|                       | ](http://www.va.gov/) |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

Continued on next page

1\. Requesting Counseling under Chapter 36 for Transitioning
Servicemembers, and for Current Beneficiaries and Individuals Eligible
under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Servicemembers must certify on *VA Form 28-8832,      |
| ## e. Supp | > Veteran Application for Counseling* that his or her   |
| lemental I | > discharge date from active duty is within six months  |
| nformation | > of the date of the application.                       |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > Veterans must submit a copy of the *DD-214,           |
|            | > Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty* |
|            | > unless it was already submitted to VA in support of   |
|            | > another benefit claim.                                |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 2. Processing Requests for Counseling under Chapter 36

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on processing         |
| troduction | > requests for counseling, including                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   routing of requests                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   availability of counseling, and                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   processing requests from                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   servicemembers                                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   veterans, and                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   dependents.                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > December 30, 2005                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### a.   | > All requests for educational/vocational counseling    |
|  Routing o | > should be                                             |
| f Requests |                                                         |
|            | -   reviewed to determine eligibility for counseling,   |
|            |     and                                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   forwarded to the VR&E Division of jurisdiction, if  |
|            |     eligible.                                           |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Educational/vocational counseling under Chapter 36 is |
|  b. Availa | > only available in                                     |
| bility of  |                                                         |
| Counseling | -   the United States (US)                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   territories and possessions of the US, and          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.                    |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### c.   | Applications may be received and reviewed by            |
|  Processin |                                                         |
| g Requests | -   Military Service Coordinators (MSC)                 |
|  from Serv |                                                         |
| icemembers | -   VR&E Division, or                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   VA Regional Processing Office.                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     If the servicemember has certified that he or she   |
|            |     is within six months of discharge from active duty  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the servicemember is eligible for counseling, and   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   VR&E Division                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   establishes a counseling folder, and                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   schedules an appointment for counseling, or         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   refers the case to a contract counselor for         |
|            |     scheduling.                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

2\. Processing Requests for Counseling under Chapter 36, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > If request is received by the                         |
| ### d. Pro |                                                         |
| cessing Re | -   RPO, the RPO staff will                             |
| quests fro |                                                         |
| m Veterans | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   review the request and VA databases                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   determine eligibility for counseling, and           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   forward the request to the VR&E Division of         |
|            |     jurisdiction, or                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   VR&E Division, a VRC/CP will                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   review the request and VA databases, including      |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     -   BINQ screen for date of release from active     |
|            |         duty, and                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     -   MINQ screens for eligibility for Chapters 30,   |
|            |         31, 32, 1606 or 1607, and                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   verify eligibility for counseling.                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     If the veteran is eligible for counseling, a VRC/CP |
|            |     will                                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   establish a counseling folder, and                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   schedule the veteran for a counseling appointment,  |
|            |     or                                                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   refer the case to a contract counselor for          |
|            |     scheduling.                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > If request is received by the                         |
| # e. Proce |                                                         |
| ssing Requ | -   RPO, the RPO staff will                             |
| ests from  |                                                         |
| Dependents | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   review the request and VA databases                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   determine eligibility for counseling, and           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   if eligible, forward the request to the VR&E        |
|            |     Division of jurisdiction, or                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   VR&E Division, a VRC/CP will                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   review the request and VA MINQ screens, and         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   determine eligibility for counseling.               |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     If the dependent is eligible for counseling, a      |
|            |     VRC/CP will                                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   establish a counseling folder, and                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   schedule the dependent for a counseling             |
|            |     appointment, or                                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   refer the case to a contracted counselor for        |
|            |     scheduling.                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 3. Counseling Services Available under Chapter 36

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on                    |
| troduction |                                                         |
|            | -   who provides counseling under Chapter 36, and       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   types of counseling services under Chapter 36,      |
|            |     including                                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   counseling for transitioning servicemembers         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   educational/vocational counseling                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   brief adjustment counseling, and                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   required counseling.                                |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > December 30, 2005                                     |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > Counseling under Chapter 36 may be provided by a      |
| ### a. Who |                                                         |
|  Provides  | -   VRC                                                 |
| Counseling |                                                         |
|            | -   CP, or                                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   Contract counselor.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### b.   | > Counseling services provided under Chapter 36 include |
|  Types of  |                                                         |
| Counseling | -   counseling to facilitate career decision making for |
|  Services  |     civilian or military occupations                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   educational and vocational counseling to choose an  |
|            |     appropriate civilian occupation and develop a       |
|            |     training program, or                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   academic and adjustment counseling to resolve       |
|            |     barriers that impede success in training or         |
|            |     employment.                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > Servicemembers within six months of discharge from    |
| ### c. Cou | > active duty and veterans within one year following    |
| nseling fo | > discharge under other than dishonorable conditions    |
| r Transiti | > may request counseling under Chapter 36 to            |
| oning Serv |                                                         |
| icemembers | -   compare military and civilian career opportunities  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   select an appropriate vocational goal               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   address barriers that may impede success in         |
|            |     training or employment, and                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   if qualified for educational assistance, develop an |
|            |     educational program.                                |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

3\. Counseling Services Available under Chapter 36, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > Veterans and dependents who are eligible for          |
| # d. Educa | > educational assistance under Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, |
| tional / V | > 1606 or 1607 may request educational/vocational       |
| ocational  | > counseling and assistance to                          |
| Counseling |                                                         |
|            | -   select an appropriate vocational goal               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   develop an educational program, and                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   address barriers that may impede success in         |
|            |     training or employment.                             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Brief adjustment counseling is provided to current    |
| e. Brief A | > beneficiaries of educational assistance under         |
| djustment  | > Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606 or 1607 who request or  |
| Counseling | > require counseling to                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   address academic difficulties, or                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   consider a change of program.                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### f.   | > If an eligible individual has been rated by VA as     |
|  Required  | > incompetent and wishes to use a VA education benefit, |
| Counseling | > he or she must attend counseling prior to             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   the selection of a program of education, and        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   authorization of an education allowance.            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+