About VASCO Assistant
Supporting those who certify benefits for those who served
Our Mission
VASCO Assistant exists to empower VA School Certifying Officials with the resources, tools, and community they need to serve military-connected students efficiently and accurately. We believe that VASCOs play a critical role in ensuring veterans, service members, and their families receive their hard-earned education benefits without delay.
Our platform combines free educational resources with powerful premium software to support VASCOs at every level, from those just starting out to experienced professionals managing hundreds of certifications.
The Critical Role of the VASCO
VA School Certifying Officials (VASCOs) serve as the critical link between educational institutions and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring veterans, service members, and their dependents receive their entitled education benefits accurately and on time. Yet they are often under-resourced, isolated, and navigating fragmented tooling, shouldering full responsibility for every certification while relying on spreadsheets, sticky notes, and siloed regulations. When institutions invest in better tooling for their VASCOs, compliance, audit-readiness, and student outcomes all improve.
Key Responsibilities
- Certify student enrollment for VA benefits
- Submit certifications through Enrollment Manager
- Report status changes and withdrawals
- Ensure compliance with VA regulations
- Maintain accurate student records
- Support VA students throughout their journey
VA Benefit Chapters Managed
- Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill - AD
- Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment
- Chapter 35: Survivors & Dependents Assistance
- Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - SR
Why We Built VASCO Assistant
VASCO Assistant was founded by Blason Taon, a Senior VASCO who has spent years navigating Enrollment Manager, wrestling with training-time calculations, and bracing for SAP audits firsthand. After comparing notes with dozens of colleagues across the country, a consistent pattern emerged:
- Time-consuming manual processes: Hours spent on certifications that could be automated
- Compliance anxiety: Worry about audits and staying current with changing regulations
- Isolation: Limited connection with other VASCOs to share knowledge and best practices
- Scattered resources: Information spread across multiple sources with no central hub
VASCO Assistant is the tool we wished we had, built from inside the profession, for the profession. It brings together community, resources, and powerful automation in one platform dedicated to serving VASCOs.
Our Two-Tier Approach
Free for Everyone
Access our comprehensive knowledge base, calculators, and resources at no cost. We believe core VASCO knowledge should be accessible to all.
- VASCO newsletter network
- Educational content & guides
- Basic calculators & tools
- Policy updates & news
Premium Software
For institutions ready to streamline operations, our premium desktop application automates certifications, ensures compliance, and saves hours every week.
- Automated certifications
- Compliance dashboards
- Advanced reporting & analytics
- Priority support
Our Values
Accuracy First
Every certification affects a student's life. We prioritize accuracy and compliance above all else.
Community Driven
The best insights come from VASCOs themselves. We facilitate knowledge sharing and peer support.
Efficiency Matters
Your time is valuable. We build tools that eliminate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows.
Join the VASCO Community
Reserve early access to our desktop application and explore the free resources we've built for every VASCO.