Introduction to the USACE Veterans Curation Program

For the last 100 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been accumulating archeological materials that require, by laws and regulations, adequate care that ensures continued preservation. USACE administers one of the largest archaeological collections in the country. However, these materials are in less than optimal condition. Overseas contingency operations have increased the number of veterans that lack the essential skills for the current job market. The Veterans Curation Program (VCP) was created to address these two needs with a single and effective solution. The VCP invests in service members by providing competitive pay and technical training to bolster existing skillsets. At VCP laboratories, the irreplaceable archaeological assets administered by USACE are repackaged and recorded using the most current techniques to ensure the safekeeping of our nation’s cultural resources for future generations. To date, over 400 veterans have benefited from the program, of which 90% have either obtained employment or matriculated to colleges, universities, or certificate programs following program completion. With the passage of Public Law 114-189 in 2016, the VCP was codified, ensuring the program can continue to hire, train, and employ veterans and members of the Armed Forces while assisting in the curation efforts of USACE.