Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment

• For current Chapter 31 eligibility requirements, visit VA.gov’s Chapter 31 Eligibility page. Eligibility For Veteran Readiness And Employment | Veterans Affairs 
• If you think you qualify Chapter 31, apply on VA.gov.

• Please read this entire page for instructions on using your Chapter 31 VR&E benefits at Mason.
• For questions or assistance utilizing your Chapter 31 benefits at Mason please contact our Chapter 31 School Certifying Official at Ch31@gmu.edu. 

• Once you have been accepted to Mason, your Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) will require a degree plan known as a Chapter 31 VR&E Academic Worksheet.
  
  • This document can’t be completed until you have been officially admitted to George Mason University. 
  • This document gets filled out by two people. Your Mason Academic Advisor and Mason’s Chapter 31 School Certifying Official (SCO). 
    
    1. Email the form to Mason’s Chapter 31 SCO at Ch31@gmu.edu to get Mason’s Tungsten information.
    2. Email the form to your Mason Academic Advisor to complete it and sign it. 
    3. Once the form is completed and signed, email it back to your Chapter 31 VRC

• Your Chapter 31 VRC will then submit a series of Purchase Order (PO) numbers through a third-party vendor system called Tungsten. Your assigned Chapter 31 VRC will also provide you with the PO#. 
• You will need two separate PO#’s. 
  
  • A PO# for Tuition & Fees and a semester parking pass, 
  • A separate PO# for the GMU Bookstore (Barnes & Noble) to buy books and school supplies.

• Every semester that you want to use your Chapter 31 VR&E benefits at Mason you will need to submit a Veterans Registration and Reporting Form (VRRF).
• You need to submit a VRRF:
  
  •  By the first day of each semester that you want to use benefits. 
  • If you make a change to your schedule after you initial VRRF for a semester has been submitted to the VA. 
• Click here to submit a VRRF. 

• If you submit a VRRF by the first day of classes and you have a PO# on file, a memo for expected payment from the VA will be placed on your Student Account. 
• Once a memo is on your account for the expected payment from the VA, financial aid can be refunded. 
• A refund is not automatic. 
• A Refund Request Form should be submitted via email to saccount@gmu.edu and tpbill@gmu.edu. 
• Please allow 10-15 business days for processing. In order to expedite the process, we recommend setting up Direct Deposit through Patriot Web Self Service. The option is located under the Personal Information Tab in Patriot Web Self Service.

• For every semester that you want to use your Chapter 31 VR&E benefits to pay for a semester parking pass you will need:
  
  1. A valid Purchase Order (PO) number. 
  2. To submit a VRRF for that semester. 
• Once you have the above two things I will put your name on the Semester - Chapter 31 VR&E Parking Pass Authorization List. After that you can go in person to parking services or email transpo@gmu.edu and request a semester parking pass. 
• In your email to them include:
  
  1. Full name
  2. G#
  3. Which campus you need a parking pass for
  4. That you are using Chapter 31 VR&E to pay for your parking pass and that you name in on the Semester - Chapter 31 VR&E Parking Pass Authorization List.

Your Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) will then submit a series of Purchase Order (PO) numbers through a third-party vendor system called Tungsten. Your assigned Chapter 31 VRC will also provide you with the PO#. You will need two separate PO#’s. One PO# for Tuition & Fees and a semester parking pass, and a separate PO# for the GMU Bookstore (Barnes & Noble) to buy books and school supplies. Please be aware turnaround time is about 48 hours. The Book Store will not immediately have access to your PO number. 

• In-Person: Corporate Barnes and Noble provides a list of names to the GMU Bookstore. You must take your ID to the bookstore and identify as a Chapter 31 student. If you are not on the current list, reach out to the Chapter 31 School Certifying Official. The SCO will assist you.
• Online: Proceed to checkout and select the payment option Financial Aid. In lieu of a student ID number, please use your Bookstore PO#. The VA will only cover ground shipping. If renting a textbook, you must add credit card information to secure the rental. Your card will be charged if you do not return the rental.

  GMU Book Store POC:

  Ashley Ludwig

• Assistant Store Manager
• George Mason University Bookstore #366
• aludwig@bncollege.com 
• 703-993-3890

Instructions for purchasing a laptop, laptop accessories, and expensive school supplies over $50.

• Contact Clayton Crowder in person or via email.
• Let him know you want to purchase a laptop/accessories using your Chapter 31 VR&E PO#.
• Give Clayton a list of items you are looking for (laptop, laptop warranty, laptop carrying case, printer, external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.).
• Clayton will give you a list of available/in-stock items.
• Email the VR&E Counselor, Ch31@gmu.edu with the in-stock items you prefer along with pricing. 
• If your Chapter 31 Counselor approves the items, they will send a one-time PO# to the Bookstore/Patriot Tech for the laptop and accessories. 
• The Bookstore/Patriot Tech may also ask for a confirmation email from your Chapter 31 VR&E Counselor.  

  Patriot Tech POC:

 Clayton Crowder

• Tech Supervisor
• ptech@gmu.edu
• 703-993-4100
• George Mason University Bookstore
• Website: gmu.bmcollege.com

We suggest that all veterans with active cases who are experiencing difficulties with responses reach out to their assigned VRC via the following email: EVA@va.gov. Please remember to use the email address you have registered with EVA, this may or may not be your George Mason email address, typical it is NOT your school email address. The communication will go directly to the electronic case file, so even if there is a counselor change, VR&E will get it. If an email is sent to the counselor’s government email, VR&E may not receive it if the counselor has left or been changed.

The main Veteran Readiness and Employment office for most GMU Chapter 31 students is the:

National Capital Regional Benefits Office (NCRBO) (D.C.)
1722 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20421

There are two primary Veteran Readiness Counselors (VRCs) for GMU:

Xavier Thompson

• Xavier.Thompson@va.gov  
• 202-530-9262 ext. 23234
• Works out of the NCRBO office

Shelby Holley

• Shelby.Holley@va.gov           
• 202-530-9262 ext. 23104
• Shelby is also Mason’s VetSuccess Counselor. He is on campus on the Office of Military Service 2 days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30am to 4:00pm.

There are two Supervisory Veteran Readiness Counselors (VRCs) in the NCRBO Office:

Glenn Cassis

• Glenn.Cassis@va.gov 
• 202-530-9262 ext. 23138
• Shelby’s Supervisor

Astrid Mcdermott

• Astrid.Mcdermott@va.gov     
• 202-530-9262 ext. 23104
• Xavier’s Supervisor