Let Kansas Serve You

Kansan active-duty military and Veterans are granted an arsenal of special benefits across the state. KanVet provides a one-stop shop for veteran resources and benefits, from education to employment to mental and physical healthcare services. The Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO) offers a wide-range of programming to support service members, including hiring preferences for veterans seeking state employment.

Additionally, local Chambers of Commerce offer special services to connect active duty and retired service members with career and professional development opportunities. The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, provides employment and professional development resources through their Workforce Advisory Board while creating networking opportunities and building local relationships with their Military Relations Committee. With a thriving defense industry, Kansas is also a hub for veteran employment. Major employers, such as Raytheon in Shawnee or John Deere in Dodge City, offer special preference to veteran job seekers and organizations like the Kansas Hire a Veteran Job Board help connect you to employers looking to hire military-affiliated personnel.

Educational institutions across the state also host specialized resources for military personnel and their families. Kansas State University (K-State) established the Military Affairs Innovation Center in 2016, which focuses on advancing the university’s military scholarship and research, including the 48 Fallen-48 Found Cultural History Project honoring the K-State students who fought in WWI. K-State also developed the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families, which focuses on research, outreach, academic and clinical service programs to identify and address the complex, long-term health effects of wartime service. The University of Kansas additionally serves their military-affiliated personnel through a variety of programming. In addition to waiving application fees for undergraduates, the university has developed interdisciplinary MA programs for U.S. Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) in the Americas, South Asia, Europe, Eurasia, China, North Africa, Middle East, North Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.