Landing Zone Maryland
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The Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families welcomes you to Maryland. Our state is home to approximately 360,000 veterans and another 100,000 active-duty service members, Reservists, National Guard members, and dependents. Approximately 7.6% of Maryland adults are veterans. The majority of veterans are ages 35 to 54, and we are proud to have a more diverse veteran population than the national average.
Maryland is home to approximately 47,000 women veterans, and the two counties with the largest overall veteran populations are Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County. We invite you to visit the landing zones below to learn more about Maryland and the resources available to you and your family.
Housing
- For renters: Visit MD Housing Search to find apartment and home rentals
- For purchasers: Learn more about the VA-backed veteran home loan and contact a loan center representative
- Transition Assistance Program: VA Home Loan Guaranty Program
- For those at risk of homelessness: Learn more about VA Homeless Programs or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (877-424-3838)
- The Baltimore Station. Call (410-752-4454) for more information about transitional housing in Baltimore for male veterans
- Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training. Call (410-576-9626) for more information about transitional housing in Baltimore for male and female veterans
Driving & Motor Vehicles
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s One Stop Shop for Military and Veterans
- Veteran designation on the driver’s license or identification card
- Vehicle registration information for active duty military personnel
- Lifetime registration for veterans with a 100% VA disability rating
- Vehicle emissions inspection program (VEIP) out of area/military waiver
Healthcare & Nutrition
- Print the US Department of Veterans Affairs Welcome Kit
- Learn more about VA healthcare eligibility and enrollment
- VA healthcare eligibility for spouses, dependents, and family caregivers
- Transition Assistance Program: Women’s Health Transition Training Course
- LGBTQ+ VA Veteran Care Coordinators
- Learn more about TRICARE
- Visit the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange for other healthcare options
- Learn more about VA mental health services
- Transition Assistance Program: Mental Health for Families Courses
- Combat veteran or military sexual trauma survivor? Find a VA Center
- Looking for treatment and support services through the VA, Maryland Department of Health, or the community? Contact Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans for assistance or call 877-770-4801, 24/7
- Struggling with food insecurity? Learn how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help
Children & Youth
Education
- Maryland State Department of Education
- Purple Start Schools
- State Department of Education: Division of Special Education
- Maryland Department of Disabilities: Special Education Services
- Direct links to all 24 Local School System websites
- Maryland Homeschool Association
- Kennedy Krieger Institute: Military Children and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services
Entertainment
- Maryland history
- Maryland state symbols
- Geography of Maryland
- Create Your Own State Park
- Junior Rangers
- Nature Play Spaces
VA Benefits
- Need to apply for VA benefits and not sure where to begin? Find your closest DVMF service officer to assist you
- VA Transition Programs: VA Solid Start. Information for newly separated service members
- Print your US Department of Veterans Affairs Welcome Kit
- Federal and state benefits for service-connected veterans
- Transition Assistance Program: VA Benefits and Services Course
- VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers
- VA Life Insurance
Financial Assistance
- VA resources for managing personal finances
- Transition Assistance Programs: Financial Planning for Transition Course
- Struggling to pay your mortgage, rent, or utilities? The Maryland Veterans Trust Fund might be able to help
- Retirement Pay and Pension Tax Deductions and Exclusions
- State Property Tax Exemptions
- Local Property Tax Exemptions
Employment Assistance
Employment
- Maryland Workforce Exchange- Build a resume, find labor market information, and search for the next career
- Maryland Department of Labor Veterans Program– Find an American Job Center to learn more about employment services for veterans
- Maryland State Government Employment Page– Search for state jobs
- State job veteran credit eligibility
- Qualifying for state employment as a certified disabled veteran
- Waiver of the commercial driver’s license skills test for veterans
- Homegrown By Heroes: Farmer Veteran Coalition
- USAJOBS– search for Federal Government jobs
- O*NET OnLine– Military to civilian job translation tool
- LinkedIn– Limited free subscriptions and LinkedIn Learning platform for eligible veterans
- Easter Seals Veterans Staffing Network– Connecting job seeking veterans with employers
- VA Veteran Readiness and Employment Program– Employment support for veterans living with disabilities
- Syracuse University/Institute for Veterans and Military Families Onward to Opportunity (O2O)– Career training for eligible veterans and military spouses
Starting and Expanding a Business
- Maryland Department of Commerce– Resources to start a business
- United States Small Business Administration/Office of Veterans Business Development
- Project Opportunity– Helping veterans launch their own business
Veteran Institute for Procurement– Training for veteran owned small businesses looking to accelerate their success in the federal marketplace
Education & Scholarships
- Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program (MATP)– Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
- Maryland Higher Education Commission- Scholarships for eligible veterans and dependents
- VA GI Bill Information
- Transition Assistance Program VA Education Benefits for Spouses and Dependent Children
Recreation
- Department of Natural Resources Military One Stop Shop
- Maryland State Parks
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Wounded Warrior and Veteran Outreach Program
- Veterans Conservation Corps: conversation service work opportunities on public lands
- Explore the outdoors- Maryland Office of Tourism
- Maryland’s African-American Heritage
- Request “Destination Maryland- The Official Maryland Travel Magazine”
- Public libraries lead programs, some veteran focused, like book clubs, writing projects, and family story time. Contact your local library system for more information.
- Veterans book groups: Maryland Humanities
- Creative arts therapies at the US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Warriors At Ease: Bringing yoga and meditation to military communities