Every year on Nov. 11, the United States pauses to collectively honor those who enlisted or commissioned to serve the nation. As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day, there is no better time to reaffirm what our mission means to us.
Our mission of service
With over 9 million Veterans counting on us for quality health care, every day at VA is Veterans Day, and we believe it’s up to all of us to make sure Veterans can enjoy the health and happiness they deserve.
“There is no more noble mission than taking care of our nation’s Veterans. That’s truly what brought me to VA,” said F. Keith Bradley, chief of police at Biloxi VA Medical Center and a 22-year Air Force Veteran. “The Veteran is always at the center of everything we do. We get to speak to Veterans on a daily basis, talk to Veterans, assist them.”
“VA is committed to Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors,” said Jennifer Silva, a licensed clinical social worker and National Social Work program manager at VA. “We’re really working hard to make sure that our Veterans have the best experience possible. Knowing that my colleagues share that same mission really just makes it a fun place to work, even when there are challenges. I just really enjoy and love my job.”
Care for Veterans, from Veterans
For Veterans and transitioning military personnel, a career at VA can feel like a natural next step. The wealth of training and experience gained in your career makes the move easy. And as a Veteran, you have a better understanding of what your fellow service members need, developed by a shared experience in service.
“Being here feels like being part of a big family,” said nurse Eduardo Alegria. “When they learn I’m a Veteran, I think it puts them at ease and it gives them a sense of appreciation knowing that, like them, I understand what it’s like to serve.”
“A lot of that camaraderie that we have in the military, for me, transfers over into VA. Everybody there has a mission, and that’s one of my favorite things,” explained Paul Gaffney, manager of VA’s Contract Buy-Out Program for physicians and providers. “I’m a very true believer in what we’re doing, and that makes me enjoy my time working with VA.”
Because I CARE
VA’s mission statement is simple: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
To honor that promise, we begin every day with a fresh commitment to making life better for Veterans who count on VA for quality health care. To do so, we uphold 5 core values that remind us of our mission to serve those who served and help foster a supportive, innovative work culture.
- Integrity: We choose to act with the highest professional standards and maintain the trust of all with whom we engage.
- Commitment: We work diligently to serve Veterans and are driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission.
- Advocacy: We are truly Veteran-centric, as we work to identify, consider, and advance the interests of Veterans.
- Respect: We treat all those we serve and with whom we work with dignity and respect, because we believe you must show respect to earn it.
- Excellence: We strive for the highest quality and value continuous improvement.
These values keep us inspired and focused on doing our best for Veterans and their families every day. Each of us accepts the idea that “I CARE” because it’s up to all of us to make sure Veterans can enjoy the health and happiness they deserve.
“As a disabled Veteran myself, I think about the mission that we do as far as taking care of our Veterans,” said Rodney Back, Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP) manager, “and I think [what we do] goes a long way to providing quality health care providers who are able to take care of individuals such as myself.”
Work at VA
The mission to serve Veterans takes many forms, so whatever your specialty or experience, there’s an opportunity for you at VA.
- EXPLORE our resources for Veterans and transitioning military personnel.
- READ more about being of service.
- START your career at a VA facility near you.
