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Tour Of Duty
Share PrintThis transformational training is unlike any other at VA. Deployed by the Veterans Experience Office in 2021, Tour of Duty (ToD) is an immersive, interactive experience for all VA staff. The goal is to provide a clear understanding of military culture, highlight the impact of civil service and improve our connections with our customers.
Origin:
January 2021, Veterans Experience Office
Adoptions:
25 successful
Recent Updates
Overview
Problem
VA employees who lack a clear understanding of military service may struggle to foster meaningful connections with the Veterans they serve.
Solution
The Tour of Duty course introduces federal employees to the life of a military member and help them relate it to their own federal service. Participants gain greater competency in working with Veterans by learning military culture and terminology and discussing how aspects of military culture affect their care, behaviors and perspectives.
The program is d ... The Tour of Duty course introduces federal employees to the life of a military member and help them relate it to their own federal service. Participants gain greater competency in working with Veterans by learning military culture and terminology and discussing how aspects of military culture affect their care, behaviors and perspectives.
The program is designed to:
- Strengthen VA employees’ understanding of military history and culture.
- Inspire, motivate and celebrate the impact of civil service.
- Build commitment and trust between Veterans and civil servants.
- Reconnect VA civil servants to the federal Oath of Office and reaffirm the duty 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.” See more
The program is d ... The Tour of Duty course introduces federal employees to the life of a military member and help them relate it to their own federal service. Participants gain greater competency in working with Veterans by learning military culture and terminology and discussing how aspects of military culture affect their care, behaviors and perspectives.
The program is designed to:
- Strengthen VA employees’ understanding of military history and culture.
- Inspire, motivate and celebrate the impact of civil service.
- Build commitment and trust between Veterans and civil servants.
- Reconnect VA civil servants to the federal Oath of Office and reaffirm the duty 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.” See more
Images
ToD Oath of Office
Results
The program has helped staff personalize their interactions with customers, develop trusting relationships with each other and those we serve, and instill a sense of pride in the civil service through shared knowledge, experience and culture.
Satisfaction with the Learning Program: An impressive 89% of participants expressed satisfaction with the training ... The program has helped staff personalize their interactions with customers, develop trusting relationships with each other and those we serve, and instill a sense of pride in the civil service through shared knowledge, experience and culture.
Satisfaction with the Learning Program: An impressive 89% of participants expressed satisfaction with the training, indicating that the majority of VA staff found the content relevant and extremely beneficial.
Willingness to Recommend: 88% of participants stated they would recommend the program to others, showcasing their confidence in its value and impact.
Applicability of Knowledge on Job Performance: 86% of attendees agreed that the knowledge gained from the training is applicable to their job performance, underscoring the program's effectiveness in enhancing skills and competencies.
See more
Satisfaction with the Learning Program: An impressive 89% of participants expressed satisfaction with the training ... The program has helped staff personalize their interactions with customers, develop trusting relationships with each other and those we serve, and instill a sense of pride in the civil service through shared knowledge, experience and culture.
Satisfaction with the Learning Program: An impressive 89% of participants expressed satisfaction with the training, indicating that the majority of VA staff found the content relevant and extremely beneficial.
Willingness to Recommend: 88% of participants stated they would recommend the program to others, showcasing their confidence in its value and impact.
Applicability of Knowledge on Job Performance: 86% of attendees agreed that the knowledge gained from the training is applicable to their job performance, underscoring the program's effectiveness in enhancing skills and competencies.
See more
Metrics
- More than 25 VA facilities across six regional VA networks have initiated the program.
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Implementation
Timeline
-
Month 1
Military Cultural Competency- Learning a “New” Language -
Month 1
“The Oath”- Honorable Civil Service and Shared Ethos -
Month 1
VA Workforce Whole Health-Individual and Team Performance -
Month 1
ImpIementation and Impact- VA Employee Professional Development -
Month 2 and going forward
Employee-centered practice affirms the importance of the relationship + partnership
Departments
- Veteran experience
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
|
PROCESSES |
|
Files
- What ToD is about, how it is structured and delivered, and how to learn more. ToD Overview One Pager
Links
- VEO's Internal Page includes resources such as facilitator guides, presentations, one pagers, scheduling calendar, and best practices for implementing. Tour of Duty SharePoint Page
Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Team does not adopt and work together, lack of patient engagement | Connection and leading by example through multiple disiplines through a team coach. |
About
Origin story
“How can I bring more purpose, meaning and joy to fulfilling President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers and survivors?” It’s the question Army Veteran Michael Broady asked himself when he conceived the Tour of Duty program for VA staff. Recalling his military and VA experiences,
...
“How can I bring more purpose, meaning and joy to fulfilling President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers and survivors?” It’s the question Army Veteran Michael Broady asked himself when he conceived the Tour of Duty program for VA staff. Recalling his military and VA experiences, Broady set out to create a program with two objectives:
1. Provide VA staff with the basic military knowledge needed to connect and build trust with Veterans.
2. Instill a sense of personal pride in serving the United States as a civil servant.
Deployed by the Veterans Experience Office in 2021, Tour of Duty is an immersive, interactive experience for all VA staff.
Original team
Michael Broady
Patient Experience (PX) Consultant/Facilitator
Justin Hoffman
Patient Experience (PX) Consultant/Facilitator
Comment
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